Our Montville

Montville's Mastrangelo wins GOP nomination

Challengers Parsippany Councilwoman Ann Grossi and Montville businessman Tom Mastrangelo claimed two of the three open nominations for Morris County freeholder in the Republican primary, denying incumbents Jack Schrier and James Murray a return to their seats.

Incumbent Douglas Cabana was the only incumbent to be renominated Tuesday.

Grossi was the leading vote-getter with 12,481 votes, with 100 percent of the vote tallied. Cabana got the second-highest number of votes, 11,468, and Mastrangelo was third with 10,769 votes.

Continue Reading Daily Record and Star Ledger.

Budget Message from Mayor Jim Sandham

My personal perspective as 1 member of the Township Committee is that Montville Township voters have twice in the last 6 months - in November and on last Tuesday – spoken vociferously that their taxes are too high and they want relief!

 

The BoE presented the school budget above the 4% cap, which is at least part of the reason for the defeat of the budget.  So I believe the voters at a minimum want the Township Committee to bring it down under the 4% cap and even lower, if possible.

 

No group of professionals has been immune to the economic downturn, so I believe the voters expect our teaching professionals to be part of the solution.  73% of the BoE budget is salaries and related costs, so that has to be the area where most of the additional savings are derived.  The only real option available to the Township Committee is additional layoffs, unless the teachers provide concessions.  So far the union has ignored the request of the BoE to change health plans.  However, that is only one potential solution to avoid layoffs. 

 

Neither the BoE nor the TC want layoffs as they reduce service levels - to our students and to our citizens!  If it would avoid layoffs I am confident that the Township Committee would agree to a wage freeze, increased benefit contributions or other concessions proposed by the teachers union, just as we would welcome such concessions from the Municipal workers and Police.    

 

But the ball is in their court and we are into overtime - they must act quickly!

 

Mayor Jim Sandham

Township of Montville - 2010 Municipal Budget

As the Township of Montville works toward finalizing its budget, it would be beneficial for our residents to understand the development of the budget.  A preliminary budget was prepared at the end of 2009 and since the beginning of the year the Township's 2010 budget has experienced two (2) major hits due to loss of revenues.  The first was a loss in surplus principally due to tax appeals and then over $500 thousand in state aid.  These losses total almost $1.5 million and drove the municipal tax increase to 6.82%.

The Township Committee has proposed a municipal tax increase of 1.75% and has been working diligently to reduce expenses.  Cuts have been made - the Police Department fleet maintenance has been outsourced, capital projects have been deleted, public event funding has been significantly reduced.  One additional primary area of savings available to the Township is reduction in personnel costs.  Due to constraints caused by union contracts and the New Jersey Civil Service Commission, The Township's ability to affect personnel savings is very limited; the one feasible method is layoffs.  The Township has prepared a layoff plan that impacts employees ACROSS THE BOARD - office workers, public works staff, police and non-union staff.

In an effort to avoid layoffs the Township has approached ALL four (4) unions (PBA, Superior Officers, Blue Collar, and White Collar) and non-union employees, in order to discuss voluntary union concessions that would AVOID layoffs.  These concessions might include but are not limited to the following: giving up 2010 raises, contributing toward health benefit costs and furlough days.  The Township has raised these alternatives to give the unions a number of options to consider, however the central point is this: if all employees in the Township simply gave up their 2010 single year raise, that savings would mitigate the necessity for layoffs.

The Township continues to meet with the unions on a regular basis to work on concessions that could eliminate the need for layoffs, in the hope that the Township can rescind the layoff plan that has been submitted to the New Jersey Civil Service commission before it is implemented on July 1st.

From http://www.montvillenj.org/

Mayor Sandham: Montville stays on fiscal course

Long-term financial planning has kept the township fiscally sound over the last four years, and officials plan to continue reducing debt in 2010, incoming Mayor Jim Sandham said at the organizational meeting of the Township Committee.
Sandham was appointed mayor and Tim Braden deputy mayor by the five-member committee, while new Committeeman Donald Kostka was sworn in to his first term. Kostka ousted the committee's sole Democrat, Jean Bader, shaking up the committee's makeup.

While the governing body in 2010 has only Republicans, the goals remain the same as in the past few years, Sandham said.

The township has reduced its debt by $12 million since 2005 and plans to reduce debt another $18 million over the next six years while still investing more than $15 million in infrastructure and open space, Sandham said.

Continue Reading Daily Record.  See also Sandham facing 'many tough decisions'.

Board and Commission Members Needed

Are you interested in serving on a Township Board, Commission, or Advisory Committee?  The Township Committee will be making appointments at their Reorganization Meeting in January.  Various boards include the Planning Board, Board of Adjustment, Board of Health, Economic Development Committee, Environmental Commission, Historic Preservation Review Commission, Design Review Committee, Drug Awareness-Municipal Alliance, Housing Committee, Recreation Commission, Library Board of Trustees, Residents with Disabilities Advisory Committee, Open Space Committee, and Long-Term Financial Planning Committee.  For information on the functions of the boards and commissions, please visit their respective pages under Township Committees and Boards.

If you are interested in serving, please contact the Township Clerk for the necessary forms to submit.  The forms must be submitted to the Township Clerk by November 30, 2009.   

PUBLIC HEALTH ALERT

It has been reported that a number of infants in China who have consumed Chinese manufactured infant formula are suffering from kidney stones, a condition which is rare in infants. The Chinese manufactured infant formula may be contaminated with melamine. Melamine artificially increases the protein profile of milk and can causes kidney diseases such as those seen in these Chinese infants.

The FDA is asking local officials to work with the Agency to assist with the removal of any Chinese infant formula found on store shelves, and to warn residents, especially members of the Asian community to avoid using Chinese manufactured infant formula.  See Fox News.

Thinking of leaving NJ? - Join the club!

Elizabeth Cotter of Montville's Towaco section said she gives Corzine an F.

Cotter said her family is planning to leave New Jersey within the year, most likely in favor of a low-tax state like Texas or Florida.  "We are getting annihilated with taxes," the 43-year-old Republican said. "Our car insurance is through the roof. Food is very expensive. Health insurance is more available in these other states."

"Obviously, I'm disappointed we're leaving," said Cotter, a mother of three who is earning a nursing degree. "But my bank account is being strangled. We can't survive here any more. So we're migrating -- like so many other people are being forced to do."  See Daily Record.

Dumb as we want to be - American "energy policy"

It is great to see that we finally have some national unity on energy policy. Unfortunately, the unifying idea  is so ridiculous, so unworthy of the people aspiring to lead our nation, it takes your breath away. Hillary Clinton has decided to line up with John McCain in pushing to suspend the federal excise tax on gasoline, 18.4 cents a gallon, for this summer’s travel season. This is not an energy policy. This is money laundering: we borrow money from China and ship it to Saudi Arabia and take a little cut for ourselves as it goes through our gas tanks.   See New York Times.  Discuss on OurMontville blog.            Hat tip:  Dennis

Wonder why?

It snowed last Tuesday. So, the state, as is its custom, paid 700 private sector snow plow drivers the agreed to rate of $120 per hour to plow state highways. But because last Tuesday was Lincoln's Birthday, a state holiday, the drivers got another $13 an hour in holiday, or overtime, pay. These were not even state workers.

See Don't like the deal? Then quit county job.  Hat tip: Fred Snowflack

There's Always Time to Play!

Montville's Recreation Department hosts an amazing variety of programs, trips, educational seminars and, of course, fantastic youth and adult sports programs.

Click here to learn more!