Meet the Candidates – August 7 – CORRECTED

RSVPs have been received from the GOP and Democratic candidates for the August 7 Meet the Candidates Night, which will begin at 7 p.m. at the Vermeule Community Center.

Mark Williams writes in:

“as of Monday night, the following have confirmed their intent to participate in the Meet the Candidates Night (listed in alphabetical order): Robert Gatto; Michael Giordano; Frank D’Amore Sr.; Barbara Habeeb; Paolo Lorenzi; Frank “Skip” Stabile.”

Not available due to prior commitments: Robert Hitchcock; Frank Righetti; Tom Mullen

Here are the candidates listed by party and office they’re seeking.

Democrats:

For Mayor – Mike Giordano – mgior59203@aol.com

For Council (4-year seat) – Robert Hitchcock – bhitchco@aol.com

For Council (4-year seat) – Frank Righetti – rocco97@hotmail.com

For Council (4-year seat) -Skip Stabile – s_stabile@yahoo.com

The Democratic candidate for the 2-year seat (formerly held by Daniel Soto, Santiago Soto and Jenny Flynn, currently filled by Barbara Habeeb) is still unknown.

Republicans

For Mayor – Robert Gatto – robertgatto@verizon.net

For Council (4-year seat) – Barbara Habeeb – barhab@aol.com

For Council (4-year seat) – Frank N. D’Amore, Sr. – franksr@comcast.net

For Council (4-year seat) – Paolo Lorenzi – paololorenzi@yahoo.com

Tom Mullen, the GOP candidate for the 2-year seat, is unavailable August 7.

Thank you to all those planning to attend the Meet the Candidates Night, and to Mark Williams and his team for their event coordinating efforts!

FORMAT

The tentative format – currently subject to collaborative negotiations between the candidates and NPCCR leadership, is for opening remarks by NPCCR (5 min); opening remarks from the candidates (20-30 min); written audience questions read to the candidates in turn, followed by candidate answers (60 min); and then a 30 minute Meet and Greet portion.

Since the event is a “Meet the Candidates” opportunity, and not a debate, audience members who wish to pose questions will be given instructions to frame their questions in a future oriented context; past oriented questions will not be read. [Future oriented = "How will you...." Past oriented = "Why have/did you..."]

Local news media have been invited to cover the event. Spread the word to friends and neighbors to come on out and meet the candidates.

BLOG EDITOR’S NOTE – My family will be doing the second leg of our move starting Thursday, July 31, so the blog will not be updated again until Saturday afternoon, August 2, when I will have some time to escape to a wi-fi library with my laptop.

Have a good weekend!

Heather DeGeorge Responds to Antoinette Rinehart

By Heather DeGeorge

While I certainly agree with your sentiment of non-partisan-ism (is that a word?), I don’t see what you see. But I’m having an open mind and moving forward assuming that I will see it in time. I am trusting that it is there unless and until it smacks me in the face otherwise.

But I see Republicans. And even though I have no party affiliation/loyalties and don’t believe in parties at all, the history of this town is fraught with bitter Republicans and aloof Democrats.

Honestly–I stopped posting on the blog because it was just more and more of that bitter, angry, attacking Republican stuff that I hoped we would move away from. In fact, any attempt I had at “talking up” NPCCR was quickly cut short with facts I couldn’t get away from: the bitterness of the blog, the people that were primarily involved, the group came across as “the Republican party under a new name” and really, I couldn’t disagree that it did look like that.

I am not a huge fan of Robert Gatto as a mayor. I do not see the things you see and perhaps I will in time. I am equally not a fan of Michael Giordano as a mayor… for the things I HAVE and have not seen… and partially he is suspect to me just on the premise that he is with the Dems. That does not mean that I cannot work well with either of them.

While I certainly understand the need to look ahead to a bright, new future, I feel that this is a town that has a hard past to heal from. So my suggestions may sound like I have a foot stuck in yesterday, but my interest is in overcoming it (the quicker the better)–not in living there.

My interest is in making sure that people “get” that this group is different from all the other efforts–because there are still those who will (and do) hear about the group and roll their eyes with “oh–another one” and those are some of the people I think we need to reach. They are long-time (or lifetime) citizens who may or may not have been involved in the town–and they vote. They are sometimes people who have tried themselves to make change against the tide. But they are all citizens of our community.

Thank you for inviting me in. I hope you will continue to invite me in. I’m sorry if my concern comes across as negativity–that was not my intent. I guess when you discuss less pleasant things, it is hard to sound positive.

Antoinette Rinehart Responds to Heather DeGeorge

By Antoinette Rinehart

Strangely enough, I was thinking along Heather’s lines when I sat down to read my emails this morning. I was so pleased by her presence because I believe she can make a huge contribution to the group’s goals and ideas.

But I was thinking a bit more positively…and here’s how.

I am amazed that this strange conglomeration of republican, democrat and independent thinkers have managed to come together on so many important issues and in just one year have managed to hang together and affect some small degree of success, and even progress, in our community.

And I decided it is because we are positive thinkers, willing to put our necks on the block, caring individuals who put our hometown first.

Take a look at this conglomeration…a pony-tailed, boot stomping guy running for mayor (Robert Gatto); a traditional, long tenure generation Irish-American with deep roots to this town (Gary Lewis); a law officer who, despite the political move of the incumbents to destroy his career continues to lead our community by
example, and appears at every Council meeting (Frank D’Amore); youth – evident in the age diversity(Jerry Jacala & Hal Hirsch); a fiery chair of the Shade Tree Committee whose life goal is to achieve a tree balance that will improve the environment for our future (Thalia Saloukis); a talented writer with skin like a crocodile who has withstood the insults and absorbed the abuse of the current administration’s staff through it all (Katherine Watt); a lifetime product of our town with roots of three generations to drive her (Toni Rinehart);
and our black “Joe Namath,” who inspires us to reach forward and upward on behalf of future generations (Mark Williams).

This is Our Gang. We are non-partisan. We put what is best for North Plainfield in the forefront. We do not endorse any political party. We are non-partisan, drawn together by mutual goals.

Maybe we should publish a photo of the group and let any doubters view the faces of this truly remarkable group. Let the residents relate to the representative faces of those who are banding together to improve by change the future of our hometown.

And now I’ll get down off my soapbox and say, Heather…I appreciate the perspective you bring. Welcome!

Dr. Joshua Lambert on Local Government Acts and the Public Good

By Dr. Joshua Lambert

[Disclosure: Josh Lambert is the blog editor's husband. He lived in North Plainfield for more than six years, and moved to PA in late June.]

The Los Angeles City Council is getting ready to vote on a one-year moratorium on new fast-food restaurants in South Los Angeles [Article at MSNBC].

The reason?

Public health.

The rate of obesity in South LA is more than twice the rate in the more affluent parts of Los Angeles. The ordinance would ban new fast-food joints from opening in South Los Angeles in an effort to encourage restaurants with healthier menus to move into the predominately poor neighborhood.

That’s right. The City Council is acting to prohibit a certain kind of development to protect the health and well-being of residents.

It’s not the first time the Los Angeles City Council has acted to ban certain types of big business to protect the local citizenry. Last week, they banned the use of plastic bags by retailers. Again, the City is trying to protect the environment, reduce litter, and generally look out for the health of LA residents.

LA is not alone in standing up to big business to protect its residents. Port Jefferson, NY, Carmel-by-the Sea and other local governments have taken steps to regulate fast-food restaurants, and, by extension, regulate the types of businesses that they allow to come to their towns and cities.

What does this have to do with North Plainfield?

Well, for one thing, it’s an example for the local government that you can, indeed, pass ordinances to regulate the businesses that come to your town. You can use your powers as local governments to protect the health of your residents and the character of your town…if you’re willing to take a chance and show some leadership.

Maybe Los Angeles will get sued by McDonalds and Burger King, and will be presented with a claim that the City Council members have infringed on the right of the Clown and the King to use their corporate personhood to do what they want, people with regular personhood be damned.

Maybe not.

The article that I read made little mention of whether the residents of South LA supported the measure or not.

In North Plainfield, it’s more clear.

Many residents have invested considerable time and energy to let the Borough Council, the Planning Board, and others know that they don’t want Villa Maria developed as single family homes or condominiums. Too much traffic, too much burden on the schools, too much crowding, too much housing stock….North Plainfielders have investigated the impact of the development on the environment, traffic, and the character of the town, in lieu of any effort by the Borough.

There is broad support for an ordinance to prevent the development of Villa Maria. Yet for all its hand-wringing claims of “We do care. We are listening, but we can’t do anything. We’ll get sued,” the Borough government seems not to care.

The same could be said about the Shade Tree commission, the uncontrolled traffic intersections, the roof of the library, and the lack of a coherent strategic plan for the Borough. They just don’t care. They won’t use (or try to use) their power as local government officials to protect the health and well-being of the townspeople. They hide behind the potential issue of getting sued and the potential increase in property taxes that would result. They won’t discuss the long-term consequences of overdevelopment and lack of environmental protections for public health and town character.

Are the residents of North Plainfield less worthy of protection by their local government than the residents of South Los Angeles?

Next time there’s a Borough Council meeting, maybe someone should ask.

And “We’ll get sued.” is not really an answer to the question. It’s more of an excuse.

UPDATE: Josh Lambert writes:

The LA City Council passed the moratorium on new fast food restaurants in South LA by a vote of 13 – 0.  It’s waiting for the approval of the Mayor.  It covers a 32 sq. mile area and could be extended to two years.  Link to Reuters article.

Heather DeGeorge: “So if NPCCR is nonpartisan…”

By Heather DeGeorge

…why is there a link to the NPGOP blog…?

I get that it’s a community club, but given that NPCCR is all about bringing the community together beyond parties…AND supporting/organizing an initiative to abolish the party system–it seems pretty off-putting to people who are already weary of NPCCR being “the bitter Republicans in disguise”.

Look…I’m no fan of either party. But as someone who is sick of the parties (as I believe many of our residents are), it really DOES undermine the credibility of the organization when it screams so loudly Republican sometimes. We can talk all about how it should be, but we have to get there and you can’t disregard the common sentiment in the meantime.

I will, of course, continue to be a big fan and contributor however I can… if you’re okay to tolerate my two cents once in a while.

Oh–and when you want to know who the Dems will run, always look at new appointments to the Planning Board. I have no clue why, but that’s what they do. Frank Kreder has been there for a while and “doing the right things.” He, Joe Tevlin or Maureen Coxwell (Nathan Rudy’s wife–although I highly doubt it) are my guesses. Or Ruth deBang (the Glicklich’s daughter).

School Board Meeting Report – July 23

By Mark Williams and Linda Darge

Report from the regularly scheduled School Board meeting held at the Board of Education Offices on July 23rd:

Public Comments

During the comments from the public section, Mark offered the following for the record.

Board President Bond-Nelson, Superintendent Birnbaum, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Board, I appreciate the opportunity to speak to you tonight and to hear your thoughts on what I hope you will consider an important issue.

The issue I refer to is the recent action by the New Jersey State Board of Education to raise the minimal test scores for students to achieve proficiency in Math and Reading from grades 5 through 8.

Not fully understanding the implications, I can only guess that this will have some effect on the Board’s best laid plans for the coming school year and possibly the next few, specifically in terms of current and future school budgets, administrative salaries and New Programs/Enhancements to Math and Language Arts Literacy.

I would like bring to the Board’s attention the District Statement of Priorities contained in the current school budget. The Board emphasizes that there will be a focus on improving programming and increasing services for students at different ends of the proficiency spectrum particularly targeting at risk students in Math and Language Arts.

I raise the following questions:

• How will the new, so called “cut scores” impact on the current criteria for determining a child at risk? ["Cut Scores" Article from Start Ledger July 16th]
• Is there a very real likelihood that the percentage of children determined to be at risk will increase, considering that the new “cut scores” will be retroactive to test scores from last spring?
• Will the new minimal “cut scores,” and their application to North Plainfield’s 5th through 8th graders, result in a significant redistribution of district resources to meet the needs of those students not having previously met the criteria for “at risk?”
• What budgetary relief can we expect from Gov. Corzine’s New School Funding formula, which sets a 2% minimum increase in overall funding, to help provide for funding of additional resources?

This board is responsible and accountable to the tax-paying residents of North Plainfield. Current and future negotiated administrative salaries, particularly nonsalary compensation add-ons, must reflect the Board’s understanding that the time has come to stop incentives that push total compensation packages up by tens of thousands of dollars. This results in an overwhelming tax burden on the community and becomes harder and harder to bear.

Report from the Superintendent

Dr. Birnbaum stated that the Summer Academy ends on July 29th and was a well-attended summer program.

Buildings and Grounds

Mr. Sternberg reported that the demolition phase of the bathroom remodeling is done and the construction phase has begun. All other construction projects are reported to be on schedule. Note: A list of school construction protects for the summer can be found in the 6/18/2008 school board minutes.

The Board accepted the resignation of Board member Edwin Estevez, who will be relocating out of state. Mr. Estevez appeared to be well-liked by the Board, and according to one teacher in the audience he was a truly an asset to the children he came in contact with in our school system.

Schedule of presentations for upcoming School Board Meetings:

• 9/3 – Filed Use
• 9/17 – Up date on language/arts scores
• 10/3 – District Service Milestones
• 10/15 – Violence/Vandalism

Report from the Assistant Superintendent

Dr. Rich, Assistant Superintendent, gave an informal preview to the Board of the state’s planed Preschool Expansion program. Basically, an essential component of the School Funding Reform Act of 2008 will require school districts to offer preschool education to 3 and 4 year olds. This was formally exclusive to Abbott School Districts.

This is a program that will have a significant impact on our community and require increases in funding from the community. For more information please visit this New Jersey Department of Childhood Education website which contains a slide show.

Homestead Rebate Applications Due August 15

Sent in by Jerry Jacala:

Reminder – 2007 Homestead Rebate Applications Are Due August 15

Applications for the 2007 Homestead Rebate have been mailed out and are due Aug 15.
For more info, go to: http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation/

Call 1-877-658-2972 to file by phone.

Call 1-888-238-1233 for Info and Assistance

Barbara Habeeb on FEMA and Floodplains

By Barbara Habeeb

The National Flood Insurance Program from FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) floodplain website:

What is Floodplain Management?

Floodplain management is the operation of a community program of corrective and preventative measures for reducing flood damage. These measures take a variety of forms and generally include requirements for zoning, subdivision or building, and special-purpose floodplain ordinances.

A community’s agreement to adopt and enforce floodplain management ordinances, particularly with respect to new construction, is an important element in making flood insurance available to home and business owners. Currently over 20,100 communities voluntarily adopt and enforce local floodplain management ordinances that provide flood loss reduction building standards for new and existing development…

The FEMA flood maps have changed for North Plainfield. Half of North Plainfield is considered a flood zone. FEMA maps show this. An insurance company informed my friend of this information. He lives in a flood zone and his flood insurance rates have nearly doubled.

Though Villa Maria is not completely a flood plain (only a portion is), building on that parcel could still adversely affect the surrounding areas, especially the ones whose flood insurance just went up because the flood maps have changed. It could even possibly create a situation where more people will be required to buy flood insurance.

The flooding situation in North Plainfield is addressed in the 1974 Master Plan. It listed concerns even then. If I remember correctly, 3 people died in the flood of 1973.

I believe this situation needs to be looked at more closely by the North Plainfield Environmental Commission, the North Plainfield Planning Board and the Green Brook Flood Control Commission before any more decisions are made regarding Villa Maria.

Borough Council Moving Ahead with Open Space Referendum

Councilwoman Barbara Habeeb reports that the Borough Council intends to move ahead with placing an open space tax referendum on the November 4 ballot to measure voter support for a 1 cent per $100,000 assessed value tax ($20 on a $200,000 home) for 3 years. She’s working on gathering sample referendum language.

In the meantime, here’s a draft information flier: Flier – Open Space Tax

Much more detail is in this ANJEC publication: ANJEC Open Space

Getting a majority on the measure come November will require a fairly intense public information campaign between now and then. Pro or con, think about it and talk it over with your friends and neighbors!

Open House at the Rescue Squad – August 2 – Noon to 4 p.m.

By Lieutenant Larry D. Lee

The North Plainfield Volunteer Rescue Squad, located at 334 Somerset Street, will hold our annual Open House on Saturday, August 2nd, 2008 from 12pm-4pm, within our building.

We invite you to come for the festivities and be part of it. We enjoy events like this, for it’s a time that we can meet and greet Borough residents and residents of surrounding communities, without the cause being an emergency.

We provide Emergency Medical Services to the people of North Plainfield and surrounding communities  including (but not limited to) the City of Plainfield, Watchung, and Greenbrook.

All services done free of charge! We are a nonprofit organization, run strictly by volunteers who dedicate their time outside of their busy schedules – people just like yourself, who hold full time jobs, go to school, and have families.

Now we are asking all North Plainfielders to do what you do best: Please help your neighborhood volunteers by promoting and participating in this event!

See you there!