Thursday, May 9, 2013
The Board of Commissioners disagree about the need to change zoning to allow only industrial development and no more garden apartments for the River Road area.
The Nutley Board of Commissioners on Tuesday night split over whether or not to change zoning and allow industrial business while preventing any new garden apartments along part of River Road. Commissioner Joseph Scarpelli agreed to table the change after another commissioner said the board needs more information and discussion about the need for the move. One major issue is determining how many new students have been added to schools by new apartment construction in the East Centre Street area. Nutley officials have said they are concerned with an increase in the housing density in Nutley and how that change affects increased needs for services and rising school enrollment. Scarpelli proposed changing the zoning from the existing uses of …
Friday, April 5, 2013
The Board of Commissioners rewarded by the state for sound finances, while it also supports the opposition to draining reservoirs and goes out to bid for annual road repairs contract.
The Nutley Board of Commissioners approved a 2013 municipal budget self-audit, going to bids for road repairs and supported opposing drainage of three reservoirs, at the Tuesday night meeting. First, Commissioner Thomas Evans told the other board members that the township's financial record-keeping history allows the board to conduct its own annual budget examination. "We are approved to self-audit because of the quality of our financial situation," Evans said. “Normally, the DCA (state Division of Community Affairs) would insist on doing this itself, but it allows a municipality to do its own if we're in good financial standing." The resolution from Evans states that, "the state Division of Local Government Services has determined that …
Sunday, March 31, 2013
The Nutley Board of Commissioners, Health Department and Board of Education all joining forces to demand information about removing possible high levels of dioxins from the river.
The Nutley Board of Commissioners said residents worried about pollution very nearby should know that the board and town officials continue to monitor the cleanup of contaminated mud from the Passaic River. “I received the EPA factsheet with information about the Passaic River cleanup that was promised to me by representatives of that agency, and I am distributing the fact sheet to my colleagues tonight, as well as providing it to the Nutley Board of Education," Commissioner Steve Rogers said at Tuesday night’s Board of Commissioner’s meeting. “We are very concerned about reports of high levels of dioxin, a cancer-causing chemical, in the river, and those concerns are heightened because Hurricane Sandy brought the river’s waters onto our …
Sunday, March 24, 2013
The Board of Commissioners Friday reduces $329,000 from the operating budget and $900,000 from capital improvement projects after spending extra days looking for cuts.
The Nutley Board of Commissioners introduced a preliminary $50 million 2013 Municipal Budget Friday morning after trimming an additional $329,000 from operating expenses and nearly $1 million more from capital improvement projects. About 57 percent of properties assessed values stayed the same, but 43 percent lost value, so computing any average tax increase is not possible, Commissioner Thomas Evans said. Evans said the majority of the $629,000 increase in the operating budget came from increases in health care costs, while the second largest increase comes from money set for economic development projects. The total loss of assessed value was more than $100 million, or nearly 2.5 percent of the $3.41 billion in total property values, …
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
The Board of Commissioners aims to cut a minimum of $180,000 before introducing the 2013 municipal budget Friday, and also vows to reduce capital improvement spending by $1 million.
The Nutley Board of Commissioners aim to slash the 2013 municipal budget by at least $180,000 and trim at least $1 million from capital improvement spending. The board is scheduled to introduce a budget of approximately $55 million at a special Friday morning continuance of Tuesday's meeting. The introduction and spending cuts are needed to meet the state-mandated deadline and to reduce the budget to less than a 2 percent increase, according to Commissioner Thomas Evans, director of the Department of Revenue and Finance. "I need you all to really look at all of your department budgets, and to cut as much out as you can, then give the numbers to my department by Thursday morning," Evans said. "We have to cut at least $180,000 to get our tax…
Sunday, March 10, 2013
The Board of Commissioners continue to explore ways to make Nutley more business friendly, this time focusing on restaurants with outdoor seating.
The Nutley Board of Commissioners talked more about how to make the township more business friendly last week. The board agreed in February to appoint members to an Economic Development Advisory Committee to entice businesses and families to come to the township. Discussions focused on encouraging outdoor seating at restaurants and more generally the board's ability to change existing regulations to favor business. Commissioner Thomas Evans was absent Tuesday but had told the board last month that residents with skills, experience and professional expertise will be asked to recommend ideas about the broader aspects of business and development in Nutley. The purpose of establishing the committee is to have a small, but inclusive group of …
Friday, March 8, 2013
The Board of Commissioners agrees Tuesday to increase costs per 1,000 cubic feet, increasing water bills an average of $48 a year.
Nutley property owners will see their water bills rise after the price was raised by officials Tuesday night. The Nutley Board of Commissioners passed an increase in water usage charges, from $35.98 per 1,000 cubic feet used by $4.50 to $40.48, Commissioner Joseph Scarpelli said. The average customer will see their bill go up about $48 per year, Scarpelli said. "We normally look at the rates every four to six years," he said. "We haven't changed the price in six years." From now on, water usage will be checked every year, said Scarpelli, director of the Department of Public Works, the department that oversees water meter reading. "By going through this every year, we all feel we will have better management of our water usage," he said. …
Monday, March 4, 2013
The Board of Commissioners approves placing emergency generators in town buildings, applies for a walking trail handicapped accessibility grant, and hires a grant writing company.
The Nutley Board of Commissioners moved to improve safety at town buildings in an emergency, applied for a grant to make walking trails handicapped accessible and hired a grant writer at the Feb. 19 public meeting. Mayor Alphonse Petracco introduced a resolution placing emergency generators in five buildings as part of the township's official Hazard Mitigation Plan. The buildings "provide critical life-saving and life-sustaining community services as a priority," according to Petracco's resolution. The plan includes the Department of Parks and Recreation building at 44 Park Ave., which is used for shelter capabilities in an emergency, along with the Department of Public Safety on Chestnut Street, for use as an emergency operations center. …
Friday, February 22, 2013
The Nutley Board of Commissioners is soliciting residents with professional expertise for ways to attract businesses and families to the township.
The Nutley Board of Commissioners this week agreed to appoint members to an Economic Development Advisory Committee tasked with enticing businesses and families to come to the township. Commissioner Thomas Evans told the board that residents with skills, experience and professional expertise will be asked to recommend ideas about the broader aspects of business and development in Nutley. "The purpose of establishing the committee is to have a small but inclusive group of folks prepare a report on how to make Nutley a more friendly place for businesses and families," Evans said. "We would decide then which ideas are ultimately feasible, both economically and for other reasons." As an example Evans said Superintendent of Schools Russell …
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
The Board of Commissioners on Monday night say goodbye to township nurse leaving for Montclair, while officially announcing the 2013 St. Patrick's Day Parade dignitaries.
The Nutley Board of Commissioners on Monday night said thank you to the township's public health nurse for 10 years of service, while officially recognizing the 2013 Nutley St. Patrick's Day Parade dignitaries. Margaret "Peggy" Brodowski thanked the board and her colleagues, saying, "I consider myself lucky to have been able to live and work in such a wonderful township." Commissioner Thomas Evans, after a proclamation thanking Brodowski was read, joked, "And also, my flu shot didn't hurt too much." Her service was called "above and beyond the call of duty" in the proclamation. Commissioner Steve Rogers joked about how Brodowski began checking his blood pressure after he became a board member last May. "And she made sure I got some …
John LaCorte
8:10 am on Saturday, May 11, 2013
try cleaning up area around it first east centre not the nicest area more ›