Retired policeman has many
memories
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TRENTON - Gov. James E.
McGreevey said Wednesday that he will freeze state aid to municipalities as part
of an ongoing effort to address an anticipated $2.8 billion state budget
deficit.
"I know it wasn't what you wanted to hear, but I have to be straightforward,"
McGreevey told mayors from across the state.
During the New Jersey State League of Municipalities conference at the
Statehouse, McGreevey also promised to bring a mayor's perspective to the
Governor's Office.
The freeze is part of an ongoing effort by the new governor to address a budget
shortfall that he blames on the "irresponsibility" of the previous
administration.
Recently, McGreevey called for 5 percent reductions in the operating budgets of
every state department. He also said he would cut aid to public and private
colleges by 5 percent as well.
On Wednesday, 600 state employees received layoff notices. Another 600 were
asked recently to submit their resignations.
"When Trenton was telling all of us (as mayors) over the past decade to live
within their means, ironically they were saying do as I say, not do as I do,"
McGreevey said. "Well, now, there's a mayor in town."
Before the budget troubles, state aid to municipalities had been expected to go
up.
The state constitution requires a balanced budget each year. McGreevey must make
up the anticipated deficit by June 30.
Buena Vista Township Mayor Chuck Chiarello, who also serves as the Atlantic
County Democratic Party chairman, called Wednesday's session a wake-up call.
"It's a belt tightening," Chiarello said. "The biggest problem in the past has
been that the belt tightening never affected the Statehouse. Now he is saying
very clearly that the belt tightening will affect the Statehouse.
"He wants us to be conservative," Chiarello continued. "I think we're already
doing that, and we can meet his objectives if the state meets theirs."
McGreevey's appearance was filled with obvious, and perhaps planned, populist
symbolism. Rather than standing behind the podium, the governor stood in the
middle of the crowded room of mayors with a wireless microphone.
Early in his presentation, he removed his suit jacket and rolled up his sleeves
before answering about an hour's worth of questions.
From questions on health-care and education costs to shared services and traffic
congestion, McGreevey offered to help and often referred the question to a
member of his staff or a department head.
"This will be the most mayor-friendly administration ever, and I commit to that,
because I understand the challenges you face," McGreevey said. "I want to make
sure that mayors have the power to improve the quality of life in their
municipalities."
Chiarello raised a concern with statewide implications - the recent
discontinuation of the state's clean-communities program.
The outgoing Republican Legislature failed to act on legislation sponsored by
former Assemblyman Jack Gibson, R-Cape May, Cumberland, Atlantic, to reauthorize
the state's tax on litter-generating products that pays for the program.
"For property-tax payers, it's a no impact and it's a win-win for towns in
getting their communities cleaned up and helping civic groups litter patrols,"
Chiarello said. "It affects every town in the state."
McGreevey said he would "look at that."
Some mayors said the freeze in state aid could mean higher property taxes for
their residents.
"If they realize any negativity, it's going to come through their property tax,"
said Robert Jackson, Republican mayor of West Cape May.
Gary Buck, the Republican mayor of Estell Manor, brought up his concerns about
dealing with the state over the possible replacement of a railroad bridge on
Route 557.
Buck said he was encouraged by McGreevey's promises to be a partner, and by the
new governor's background as a mayor.
John DiMaria, the Democratic mayor of Somers Point, said the effects of the
state-aid freeze would depend on the health of each city's economy.
"If, hopefully and fortunately, I don't need that (extra) money, then I'll be
fine," DiMaria said.
(The Associated Press contributed to this report)
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Agriculture grows
with rezoning of Buena Pinelands
More than 800 acres of the Pinelands in Buena Vista Township have been rezoned
from forestry reservation to agricultural production, making some local farmers
very happy.
"This is a good change," said Charlie Bylone, a farmer who has owned 80 acres in
Buena Vista Township since 1960, with 40 of that cleared and being farmed.
"Before, the state Agricultural Development Board wouldn't give us easements on
the land zoned forestry," he said. "Now you can sell your easement and still
preserve your land."
An easement is a legal transfer of right to use all or part of a property for a
certain purpose. Since the transfer is of some but not all of the property
rights, it is known as a transfer of "limited rights."
Usually the owner gives up the right to develop, improve or modify his or her
property and the buildings on it, but keeps the right to sell, give away or
transfer ownership of the property. He or she may continue to live on the
property, develop a portion of it excluded from the easement and keep any
subsurface mineral rights.
In a conservation easement, such as in the Pinelands case, the limited rights
are transferred from a private landowner to a nonprofit conservation
organization or government agency. The organization or agency is given the right
to enforce the easement.
The rezoning also affects density requirements in the four parcels included in
the rezoning. With forestry designation, one house per 33 acres is allowed,
Bylone said. With agricultural production designation, one house per 10 acres is
allowed.
Approval for the rezoning went through the Township Committee before the
15-member Pinelands Commission voted for it on Friday.
Buena Vista Mayor Chuck Chiarello, also a member of the Pinelands Municipal
Council, said that he supports the change.
"We feel that the root of our community is the farm community," Chiarello said
Wednesday. "And we felt it was a change that would help our farmers be able to
preserve their farmland for the long term. It was something where the farmers
are not mandated to go into preservations and aren't mandated to go into
farming.
"They can do what is best for them. We're very happy the Pinelands Commission
was able to work with us to right some wrongs that were done when the zoning
designations were done in our community," he explained.
Bylone agreed. "This change doesn't necessarily mean the farmer's going to sell
his easements," he said. "It just gives him the privilege to do so if he wants
it. It gives the farmer more flexibility.
According to Pinelands Commission spokesman Fran Rapa, the Pinelands were
designated by federal legislation in 1979, but Buena Vista Township didn't adopt
the rules until 1990.
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Pinelands Commission OKs
zoning revision
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Buena Vista still seeks cell tower
BUENA VISTA -- The township
will turn back to Unexpected Road in hopes of finding land suitable for a
cellular phone tower.
The tower could generate $12,000 to $20,000
in revenue, said Mayor Chuck Chiarello.
The Pinelands Commission last year turned
down a proposal for a tower on Unexpected Road because it was a few acres too
small and was part of wetlands.
Township Committee then turned its focus to
the Martin Luther King Center and Newtonville Park.
Newtonville Park appeared the perfect
solution because, per Pinelands Commission rules, the ground already was
cleared. The tower also would be relatively isolated.
But an existing tower in Hamilton Township
rules out the possibility of one at Newtonville Park or near the King Center.
That's because the radius between towers must be at least five miles, said
Township Administrator Ron Trebing.
Now the Pinelands Commission wants the
township to reconsider locating the tower in the northern part of the township.
Township Engineer David Sheidegg, who will
examine places near Unexpected Road, will meet with the Pinelands Commission on
Tuesday.
It could take at least two months to
determine a location and at least another three months for the Pinelands
Commission to review the site proposal.
Once a location is determined, a cell phone
company willing to sponsor the plan would have to build the tower.
The township can find a sponsor by putting
out bids. If companies don't respond after two bidding rounds, the township can
negotiate on their own with a specific company.
The township previously received bids from
Sprint and Mount Union Telecom for the Unexpected Road site before the Pinelands
Commission intervened.
Once a
sponsor is declared, the Pinelands Commission must approve an application.
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Buena Vista Township Art Exhibit
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