Wednesday, May 15, 2013
The Township Council reductions bring the average homeowner's tax increase down from $270 to about $110, while one council member says the cut is not large enough.
The Belleville Township Council voted Tuesday night to reduce the tax levy portion of the nearly $63 million 2013-14 school budget by $760,000, a decrease that did not satisfy one council member. The amount trimmed means the average household tax increase drops from about $270 to approximately $110, officials said. The cuts were approved by the council one day after the Board of Education unanimously approved a resolution to accept that amount and not to appeal to the county to restore all or part of the amount. The decision comes after one councilman who was supposed to help decide what to cut said he still favored trimming spending from an average increase of more than $270 back down to zero, less than the amount that is now cut from the…
Monday, March 18, 2013
Councilman Kevin Kennedy says the move means nothing as long as current tenants remain and the building is not going to be put up for sale.
After spending money to brace the steeple at a historic Belleville church last fall, the Belleville Township Council voted to place a tax lien on the church's owners. Councilman Kevin Kennedy did not attend the meeting, but said the lien will not help and the money should not have been spent to fix the weakened steeple. The steeple had to be braced to keep it from collapsing after Superstorm Sandy caused damage last October, Kevin Esposito, Belleville township manager, said. "The lien is useless," Kennedy said. "The congregation would have to sell the church for us to get any money, and they never will." He said the congregation did not have insurance on the structure then, and does not have any now, to his knowledge. "The money should …
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Councilwoman talks more about the progress of the new, scaled-down version of the Friendly House recreation center being constructed in the township's Silver Lake district.
During a meeting of the Belleville Township Council Tuesday a council member confirmed that the construction of the Friendly House recreation center is nearing completion. Councilwoman Marie Strumolo Burke was the driving force behind the use of a $469,000 Community Development Block Grant to rebuild a scaled-down version of the old two-story recreation building on Florence Street in the township's Silver Lake district. Burke said in a separate interview that she is "very happy with the progress" at the site in her fourth ward, but stressed again that the facility if for the entire town to use. The building is getting closer to final completion, Burke said. Right now, air conditioning/heat duct work is being put into the interior of the …
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Belleville's First Ward Councilwoman says new gray brick building has recently had windows installed and landscaping should come next as facility moves will open in 2013.
A question from an audience member at Tuesday night's Belleville Council meeting led to Councilwoman Marie Strumolo Burke updating the progress of rebuilding the Friendly House recreation facility. The facility is being built using a Community Development Block Grant. Councilwoman Marie Strumolo Burke pushed for the council to use $469,000 in CDBG money to rebuild a scaled-down version of the old two-story recreation building. Burke said the new building with two different colors of gray bricks, had the windows put in recently. "The building was put up sideways on the property, for two reasons," Burke said. "We wanted to fit as much parking as possible, and we want kids to be able enter off the main street on Florence Street." The new …
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Councilwoman Marie Strumolo Burke presents Police Officer Vinnie Carnicella with a proclamation for his years running township's community service program.
The Township Council and town officials Tuesday night rewarded a police officer's years of service in running the township's community service program. Councilwoman Marie Strumolo Burke presented a proclamation to Belleville Police Officer Vinnie Carnicella thanking him for his service the town's Second Chance program, which gives people convicted of non-violent minor crimes a chance to work off their debt through community service. "Vinnie doesn't know what the word 'No' means when it comes to helping this township," Burke said. "He has helped so many residents in many ways for a lot of years." Carnicella said he had just one requirement for agreeing to take the leadership of the program. "The only thing I asked was to let me run the …
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Former Commissioner takes officials to task for abandoning efforts to have the Belleville Dutch Reformed Church designated as historic landmark as steeple needs repair.
A former commissioner clashed with Belleville Township Council members Tuesday night over failed efforts to have the more than 300-year-old Dutch Reformed Church designated as an historic landmark. A successful designation would help bring funds to pay for needed repairs to the church's damaged steeple and the entire structure. The steeple at the church was braced to keep it from collapsing after Super Storm Sandy caused damage more than two weeks ago. Vincent Frantantoni, a former commissioner and frequent critic of the council, told officials, "We only needed about six months to a year to get the historic designation, and all we needed was the local designation, but it was never done." Councilman Vincent Cozzarelli said the township's …
Monday, October 29, 2012
Officials from Belleville and Nutley urging people to stay off the roads as Hurricane Sandy looms
[Editor's note: This story originally published at 1:17 p.m. Monday. It has since been updated with new information.] Belleville and Nutley officials are warning residents to stay safe – and stay off the roads – with the swelling Passaic River threatening flooding just hours before Hurricane Sandy will make landfall in New Jersey. Residents and police officials in Belleville said flooding problems are beginning near the Passaic River in the township’s Valley section, near Mill Street and by the Second River on Fairway Avenue, all areas that are affected by heaving rains. Residents are urged to check the township website for the latest updates. In Nutley, Mayor Alphonse Petracco said Nutley and Lyndhurst officials have agreed to close the …
Friday, September 28, 2012
Council talks about increasing garbage collections, street sweeping
The Belleville Township Council is trying to make the downtown business area of Washington Avenue cleaner in a bid to attract more shoppers. Residents have complained at public council meetings for years that trash cans are overturned, the street is not swept regularly and that neglect hurts business. At September meetings, officials said that increased garbage collections and street sweeping are two easy ways to improve the look of the avenue, and both changes are now being worked out. Deputy Mayor Vincent Cozzarelli proposed increasing garbage pick-ups. "We need to change the way we pick up garbage on Washington Avenue," Cozzarelli said. "There are too many overturned trash cans." Township Manager Kevin Esposito said discussion is …
Annual Belleville event featured food, fun -- and Batman
Thousands came out on a cool late summer night to enjoy a variety of foods and activities at the seventh annual "Just a Party" held at the Walgreens shopping plaza on Franklin Avenue last Friday. The evening included outdoor dining and dancing and musical entertainment by the bands Jersey Sound, Beauty and the Grease along with other entertainment, like the Batmobile and Batman posing with kids of all ages. Carol Smith of the Belleville Lions Club said the event allows the club to share free information about programs that help keep children safe. “It’s a great night,” she said at the event. Lauren O’Connell of Bloomfield took photos with her friends. “I’m here to support Michael’s Roscommon House,” O’Connell said of the popular Joralemon …
Monday, September 24, 2012
The Belleville Township Council meets Tuesday night, while the Belleville and Nutley boards of education each Monday night, and both libraries continue to offer programs.
Here are some events happening in town that may be worth checking out: There are also some also programs coming up this week at the Belleville Library, at 221 Washington Ave.
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11:52 am on Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Why do we have a question on the election time where the majority rejected the taxes increase and rejected the budget increase ? This is not responsible and is a slap in the face of tax payers who already have difficulties to pay their bills! more ›