NOVEMBER 2002

Bill restricting telemarketing passes Senate

TRENTON - New Jersey residents will have the opportunity to put their names on a no-call list to block annoying telemarketer calls if a bill passed by the Senate on Thursday becomes law.

Under the legislation, the Department of Community Affairs would create a no-call registry and update it on a quarterly basis. Consumers could join the list by calling a hotline number twice a year and leaving their phone number.

The bill passed 37-2. It now goes to the Assembly for concurrence before heading to the governor's desk for final approval.

A similar bill in the Assembly, sponsored by Assemblyman Jeff Van Drew, D-Cape May and Assembly Assistant Majority Leader Linda Greenstein, D-Middlesex, received approval several months ago.

"These are the instances when you feel very good about becoming a legislator," Van Drew said after the bill's passage. "This is a bill that will tangibly and visibly improve people's lives."

The "no-call" list and phone number would be ready for operation within one year of being signed into law by the governor.

Shortly before the Senate vote, Gov. James E. McGreevey held a news conference with members of the American Association of Retired People to encourage the bill's passage.

"We don't want your phone calls," McGreevey said. "We want the strongest, most effective no-call list in the nation. I look forward to signing tough legislation recommended by the AARP."

Consumer advocate groups said the bill leaves large loopholes because it allows companies to call existing customers and push additional offers. Companies that sell a product to a consumer are exempt from that consumer's no-call list for four years.

New Jersey would be the 27th state to set up such a list. When Pennsylvania started its "no-call" list earlier this year, 1.6 million residents joined in the first month.

AARP spokesman Doug Johnston said 94 percent of New Jersey residents support the bill.

"This bill has been floating around for 19 years," Johnston said. "It was only until the AARP stepped in that something happened."

The bill also protects consumers not on the "no-call" list by forbidding telemarketing calls to cellular phones and requiring telemarketers to state their name, company and purpose within 30 seconds of a phone call. Calls placed between 9 p.m. and 8 a.m. would be banned and telemarketers would not be allowed to block their name and number from appearing on caller ID.

Telemarketers would pay an annual fee to fund the maintenance of the list and would face up to $10,000 in fines for a first offense if found guilty of making an illegal phone call.

Perhaps sensing its popularity, New Jersey lawmakers from both parties lined up to co-sponsor the "no-call" legislation. Six separate bills aimed at telemarketers were introduced in the Senate. The Senate Commerce Committee combined the bills last month.

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Committee candidates go head-to-head in Buena Vista

BUENA VISTA -- Democratic incumbent Sue Barber will face Gary Levari today in the race for one seat on Township Committee.

Barber, who is seeking a second term, inaugurated the township's senior awareness health fair, which brings together residents and members of the health care community.

"There are a lot of (health) resources people are not aware of," said Barber, 45. "I wanted to bring the resources to the community."

Barber also is largely responsible for the township's "Kindest Town in New Jersey" designation. She introduced the campaign to residents, challenging them to perform random acts of kindness.

At last count, residents performed about 1 million acts of kindness last year.

"This is a great community and I'd like to continue with that progress," she said.

If elected, she pledged to help bring more businesses into the township to keep taxes low, without losing the town's rural integrity.

"I want to help keep taxes low, maintain good parks, roads and services to the community," she said.

Gary Levari ran unsuccessfully for Township Committee last year. He finished third behind incumbents Peter C. Bylone and Mike Rivera.

The Daily Journal made several attempts over a four-day period to contact Levari at his home for this article.

A woman who would not give her name told reporters she would not forward messages to the candidate.

"Even if he were here, do you think I'd let you talk to him?" she told one reporter.

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BVT democrat wins second term

BUENA VISTA -- Township Committeewoman Sue Barber won a second three-year term in office Tuesday.

Barber, a Democrat, pulled 1,107 votes. She defeated challenger Gary Levari Jr.

Levari -- who also ran and lost last year -- received 692 votes.

Neither Barber nor Levari could be reached for comment after the returns came in.

But prior to the election, Barber emphasized her efforts to promote health resources to members of the township and introducing the "Kindest Town in New Jersey" campaign to residents. The township eventually won the distinction.

A total of 1,891 of the township's 4,325 registered voters cast votes in Tuesday's election. They included five write-in votes.

That equates to 43.72 percent turnout.

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Barber keeps Buena Vista seat

BUENA VISTA TOWNSHIP - Democratic incumbent Susan Barber retained her seat on the Township Committee on Tuesday, soundly defeating Republican challenger Gary Levari Jr.

According to unofficial election results, the Township Clerk's Office reported that Barber received 1,107 votes, while Levari received 692.

Barber, 45, has served three years on the Township Committee and also served on the township Zoning Board, the Citizens Advisory Board for Community Development, and the Municipal Drug and Alcohol Alliance.

Barber could not be reached for comment by deadline.

During her campaign, Barber stressed the need to maintain a stable tax rate. The township is located in the pinelands, she noted, which restricts development.

Barber cited the need for safe and clean ratables, such as information technology companies.

Levari couldn't be reached for comment Tuesday.

Barber, a resident of the township for 17 years, is scanning manager for Village Supermarkets at ShopRite in Absecon.

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Township's leaf blower comes to rakers' rescue

BUENA VISTA -- The 10 oak trees on Wilma Mattia's De Rosa Drive home are a disarmingly gorgeous sight.

Their leaves -- blushing with fall's first kiss -- are a resplendent mosaic of red and yellow.

But looks are as ephemeral as they are deceiving, Mattia warns.

One by one, the leaves will fall, and the dreamy trees will become her worst nightmare. The 70-year-old woman and her grandchildren will spend days raking thousands of leaves this fall.

But thanks to the township's new state-of-the-art leafblower, set to debut this month, Mattia will be saved the additional chore of bagging them.

"It will be a lot easier for us," said Mattia.

The same sentiment is shared by many residents of Collings Lakes, Newtonville, Cedar Gardens and De Rosa Drive, who now will only be required to rake the leaves to the curb.

From there, they will be swept up by the new passing leafblower.

The new Canadian-model machine cost the township about $85,000, nearly three times that of a standard leafblower. The extra cost accounts for greater reliability and a better machine, said Mayor Chuck Chiarello.

It picks up leaves and has the ability to pulverize them into mulch. The mulch will be deposited into a dump truck that will travel with the machine as it makes its rounds through town.

The mulch can be used by local farmers and at township parks.

The township sold its last standard leafblower about 10 years ago after repeated breakdowns. The cost of repairing the machine just "didn't seem practical," Chiarello said.

The new machine also will let the township eliminate another expense.

Previously, bagged leaves were picked by the Atlantic County Utilities Authority, which disposes of them at a cost of $25 per ton.

The township no longer will bear that cost, which ranges from $12,000 to $15,000 a year.

"In the end, the new leafblower will pay for itself," Chiarello said.

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County roads get $500,000 from state

Nearly $2.1 million in state transportation trust funds are slated for road projects in the 1st Legislative District of Cape May, Cumberland and Atlantic counties.

"It's good to see that South Jersey was not forgotten in keeping with the state's commitment to maintaining and enhancing our transportation system," said Assemblyman Jeff Van Drew, D-Cape May, Cumberland, Atlantic.

About $1.1 million of the 2003 fiscal year Transportation Trust Fund slated for the 1st District will occur in Cape May County.

Another $500,000 will occur in the Cumberland County towns of Maurice River Township, Vineland and Millville. The remaining $450,000 will go to projects in the Atlantic County communities of Buena Borough, Buena Vista Township and Somers Point.

State Sen. James S. Cafiero R-Cape May, said the funding would help ease congestion of local roadways. State Assemblyman Nick Asselta, R-Cape May, Cumberland, Atlantic, called the funding for Vineland's E. Grant Avenue reconstruction project a critical part of the region's continued growth.

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Buena MUA OKs 2 new water rates

BUENA -- The Municipal Utilities Authority approved two new water rate classes Wednesday to ensure major commercial businesses pay their fair share for city water.

The standard rate class charges $63.50 quarterly for 1-inch and 2-inch water connections.

The new rates were established for businesses using larger pipes to tap into the city's water lines.

For example, Fibertech and Buena Vista Camping Park soon will connect to the city's water lines with 4-inch and 6-inch connections.

Four-inch pipe connections -- like the type FiberTech will use -- carry 16 times the volume of a 1-inch pipe, MUA chairman John Brunini said.

Buena Vista Camping Park's 6-inch pipe has 36 times the carrying capacity.

Beginning Dec. 1, 4-inch connections will be charged $1,016 for usage up to 240,000 gallons over a 90-day period. Those businesses will pay $1.50 per 1,000 gallons on the next 240,000 gallons.

Usage over 480,000 gallons will be charged $2 per 1,000 gallons.

The additional 50-cent charge is "a way to conserve on tremendous excesses in water use," Brunini said.

A 6-inch connection will be charged $2,286 for up to 540,000 gallons over 90 days. The next 540,000 gallons will cost $1.50 for every 1,000 gallons.

Water usage over 1,080,000 gallons will be charged the higher $2-per-thousand-gallon rate.

FiberTech, a manufacturer of nonwoven materials and one of the borough's largest employers, averages about 2.97 million gallons of water usage over a 90-day period, said MUA superintendent Anthony Casadia.

Because the company exceeds 1,080,000 gallons, it will pay an extra $945 with the new 50-cent rate increase.

Despite the extra cost, switching to city water made more sense than investing in a new well, according to vice president of strategic planning and investor relations Robert Johnston.

The company is taking steps to reduce its water consumption, he said.

"City water is potable water, it's a reliable source, and we're making efforts to use less water ... so our expenses will decline," Johnston said.

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Super Wawa gets Zoning Board's OK

BUENA -- Residents and travelers soon may be able to fill their gas tanks and coffee cups in the same place.

That's because the Zoning Board on Tuesday unanimously approved site plans for the borough's first Super Wawa.

The current traditional Wawa at routes 40 and 54 will have to be demolished to make room for the expanded 5,740-square-foot store, which will have eight gas pump islands.

"This is good news," Mayor Joseph Baruffi said. "This will bring a new ratable and new jobs to the borough."

Nine employees could oversee the indoor retail side while up to four attendants staff gas pumps.

Three homes occupying the parcel will be torn down to make room for the new facility.

The new Super Wawa will force the closure of the Wawa in Minotola. Wawa officials have promised not to close the Wawa at Central Avenue and Wheat Road until the fiscal year after the new Super Wawa is opened.

Baruffi will ask Wawa officials not to deed-restrict the property when it is put up for sale, as they traditionally do with their stores.

That way, he said, a similar type of mom-and-pop business may operate there in the future and preserve a hometown flavor.

Because the parcel at routes 40 and 54 is in a residential zone, Wawa attorneys asked the Zoning Board to approve a use variance. The board granted a similar use variance 14 years ago to build the existing Wawa.

The land is more suited for commercial use given its location and proximity to other commercial developments such as a Burger King, two gas stations and an Econo Lodge, Wawa attorneys said.

A Super Wawa would "enhance" the cluster of commercial development, said professional planner William D. Crane.

The intersection at routes 40 and 54 is "not compatible with" residential development, traffic engineer Dave Shropshire added.

About 1,000 vehicles travel along Route 54 per hour at peak times, and Route 40 is a popular road for shore travelers in the summer.

Zoning Board officials worried a new Super Wawa could add traffic to an already busy intersection.

Shropshire disagreed.

"The character of traffic generated by Wawa is the pass-by type," he said. "Seventy-five percent of the trips generated are already on the roadway. It doesn't add new traffic."

Attorneys also asked the N.J. Department of Transportation to extend the green light signal time along Route 54, which would further minimize traffic delays at the intersection as cars turn into the Super Wawas two driveways.

The Super Wawa might even alleviate traffic in the borough, Shropshire said, because people would be combining multiple errands into one site.

Wawa attorneys say they received a certificate of filing from the Pinelands Commission. That, Crane said, is "essentially approval."

About 38 percent of the site will remain open space. Buffers will skirt two wetlands areas on and near the site. Landscaping also will be added.

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McGreevey disappoints mayors, no hint of state aid

ATLANTIC CITY - Budget-strapped mayors looking for an indication of how much they'll get in needed state financial aid next year were left disappointed by Gov. James E. McGreevey on Wednesday.

McGreevey made no mention of the state-aid outlook during a lunchtime speech to mayors attending the 87th annual New Jersey State League of Municipalities conference here.

The league listed the topic of the speech as "Budget Update: The Municipal Agenda." Several hundred mayors and other municipal officials packed the ballroom at the Sheraton Convention Center Hotel in anticipation of getting at least some idea of what they can expect in state aid.

McGreevey instead gave a long speech about the state development plan and smart growth. State Department of Community Affairs Commissioner Susan Bass Levin and state Treasurer John McCormac were also listed as speakers.

But Levin also made no mention of state money and instead gave out some public safety awards. McCormac wound up not even addressing the gathering.

When McGreevey's speech was over, mayors and other municipal officials were disappointed over what they didn't hear. Many just sat and shook their heads, and a collective low moan was heard throughout the ballroom.

With the state facing another shortfall for next year's budget, mayors say they're expecting the worst.

"We'll have to start looking at budget cuts now," Millville Mayor James Quinn said.

"Truthfully, I wasn't expecting an increase, but I was at least expecting to hear if we would get what we got (under the current budget)," Egg Harbor City Mayor James McGeary said.

Buena Vista Township Mayor Chuck Chiarello, who also is Atlantic County's Democratic leader, said McGreevey is most likely waiting to get more firm numbers before dealing with state-aid allotment estimates.

"I think he would rather wait and not get hopes up needlessly," he said.

Questioned later by reporters, McGreevey indicated he never planned to address state aid in his speech.

McGreevey said his administration is still working on the next budget and is waiting for more information before discussing how much state aid will be available. The state will get a better handle on the situation after the Christmas holidays, he said.

State budget issues - including state financial aid to municipalities - will most likely be discussed with mayors during a meeting at Drumthwacket, the governor's residence, in January, he said.

There was a least some glimmer of fiscal hope for municipal officials on Wednesday.

Assembly Speaker Albio Sires, D-Hudson, said during a session on property-tax reform held after McGreevey's speech that state legislators don't want a freeze on state aid.

The Assembly will likely "put together some bills" regarding state aid that would hopefully give some financial relief to municipalities, he said.

The state Constitution requires a balanced budget.

McGreevey froze state aid as his administration struggled to close a $6 billion shortfall in the current budget.

That had dire consequences for municipalities, which depend on state aid to keep local budgets in line. A Press of Atlantic City study showed 63 of 68 municipalities in its coverage area had increases in their local tax bills.

The situation may not get better soon: The state Office of Legislatives Services estimates that the McGreevey administration will have to deal with a budget shortfall of almost $4 billion in its next budget.

Meanwhile, McGreevey's speech about development and smart growth was met with mixed reviews by some southern New Jersey mayors.

McGeary said he likes the idea of his city hosting a transit village - a mix of residential and commercial development surrounding a transportation-related core. Egg Harbor City could have one built around its train station on the NJ Transit's Philadelphia-Atlantic City line.

Quinn contends that while Millville could be a focal point for development in the region, McGreevey's plan appears more suited for congested and urban northern New Jersey.

And, Avalon Mayor Martin Pagliughi said he doubt's McGreevey's proposal will ever come to fruition.

The issue has been discussed for years, and there's never been any agreement on a final plan between the Legislature and whoever occupied the governor's office, he said.

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Committee prepares for aid freeze

BUENA VISTA -- A cameo appearance by jolly ol' St. Nick at township hall Monday was a tough act to follow, Assemblyman Nicholas Asselta quipped as he took the floor to address Township Committee and the public during Monday night's televised meeting.

Asselta asked committee members to draft a letter urging the state department of education to approve an administrative law judge's decision that would grant Abbott funding to Buena Regional schools.

Committee followed suit in a matter of moments and passed a resolution pledging their assistance.

Asselta also kept committee abreast of the latest developments in Trenton, including the proposed freeze in state aid for the upcoming fiscal year.

"Flat-funding appears imminent," he said.

When legislators balance the budget this year, they would "hope for the best but prepare for the worst," he warned committeemembers.

In other news:

The boys of the Buena Regional Soccer Team stepped out of their uniforms and into button-down shirts and khakis to receive Making Buena Vista Proud awards on Monday night. The boys reached the South Jersey Group II semifinals -- the farthest any soccer team has gone in the school's history.

Mark Cohen, 9, and Joshua Cohen, 8, were named honorary junior auxiliary members of the Collings Lakes Ambulance Association on Monday.

The two Collings Lakes residents demonstrated true heroism when they administered first aid and provided emotional support for an injured boy last month.

John Hill was appointed the township's Animal Cruelty Investigator for the remainder of the year.

Hill, of Tri-County Animal Control Services, is certified to provide animal cruelty investigative services. The appointment comes at no additional cost to the township.

Hill will now be able to issue summonses.

"He knows our town, he knows our community, he knows our dogs," Mayor Chuck Chiarello said.

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        Address:    Buena Vista Township
                         890 Harding Highway, PO Box 605
                         Buena NJ, 08310

        Phone:      (856) 697-2100  or  (609) 561-5650
        Fax:          (856) 697-8651
        E-mail:       buenavistatwp@comcast.net

Copyright © 1999 [Buena Vista Township]. All rights reserved.