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gWhen will EnCap start listening and stop planning without community input?

EnCap, Pitman continue to forge ahead no matter what homeowners want or think!

 It seems EnCap and there #1 supporter Mayor Russ Pitman could care less what the voters or residents think.

Mr. Pitman, a lame duck who was soundly defeated in the Democratic Primary lends his name to flowery press releases promoting a project no one seems to want nor endorse other than Pitman and the people at EnCap.

Now EnCap wants the Borough to move out sixteen companies that don't want to move. They want the Borough to do the dirty work of implementing eminent domain and condemnation. It's important to note that none of these companies want to move. That all of these companies pay property taxes and employ hundreds of North Arlington residents.

Despite that reality, Mr. Pitman continues to infer that eminent domain seizure is a last resort.

The hard reality is that eminent domain will be the action of first resort. Encap will not occur without the application of eminent domain.

When will Mayor Pitman and EnCap admit this simple fact?

While EnCap tries to move at wharp speed to get what it wants in this lopsided agreement, a majority of council members are forced to call a special meeting so that funding can be secured to evaluate this awful proposal. Despite the overwhelming opposition, the majority of North Arlington voters and the majority of the governing body is being stone-walled by Pitman and his appointees.

And while this new coalition of council members who want to put the best interests of the community first, Pitman and the minority want this governing body to approve a so called "Fair Share" plan that will officially saddle North Arlington with low income housing!

This governing body needs a third-party evaluation of this agreement before approving any COAH mandated, low income housing.

This is just another example of political appointees trying to drive long-term public policy decisions they have no right to decide. These political appointees will be replaced along with Mayor Pitman come January 1st no matter who wins on November 7th.

The time has come for these people to step aside, not force their will on a community that does not agree with this course of action.

Now EnCap has announced the acquisition of 22 acres from the the NJMC that was formerly owned by the BCUA, the site of the now dormant garbage transfer station.

Funny how EnCap never discloses the purchase price of 22 acres 10 miles west of midtown Manhattan. This property is one of the last open space opportunites with pristine views of the New York City skyline.

Isn't it strange that the cost is a secret to North Arlington homeowners?

Why is Mayor Pitman aware of this acquisition and press release celebration while the majority of countil members remain in the dark?

EnCap has purchased this property to saddle North Arlington with nearly 400 condominium units.

Who in North Arlington was part of this decision?

What resident, elected official or community group had a say in this unilateral approach to the urbanization of the Borough?

Once again, EnCap offers zero impact costs, just more rhetoric how they know what's best for North Arlington!

When will EnCap read the handwriting on the wall? When will they realize this in-your-face, we'll do what we want approach doesn't work?

When will Mayor Pitman take into consideration the electorate's wishes?

How can you be a neighbor when everything your proposing is full of holes, questions, criticisms and challenges for the Borough of North Arlington?

The process in which EnCap has received approvals from this community by a majority of four is almost Orwellian. The fact that EnCap and Mayor Pitman simply ignore election results, verifiable polling data and other reliable gages of public sentiment is almost unprecedented.
EnCap has failed to produce a single piece of evidence, documentation or data that shows any support for anything they represent despite spending tens of thousands of dollars on cable ads, direct mail and full-page ads in the area's weekly newspapers.

How do you continue to move forward without a shred of public support? How do you not look in the mirror and say, we need to rethink our plan and garner some semblance of community support?

The fact that state legislators continue to ignore the people of North Arlington while raking in large campaign contributions from EnCap's lawyers borders on an arrogance that will be exposed in next year's legislative elections. Those who pretend to support the community will be defeated in 2007. The same way Mayors Kaiser, Guida and Pitman met their fate at the polls, the same will happen to those who have no interest in what the people of North Arlington really want when it comes to redeveloping these meadowlands parcels with a plan that has true grass roots support.

One man and one ticket in this race continues to stand alone in their fight against EnCap.

Councilman Peter Massa along with his running-mates Al Granell and Sal DiBlasi stand tall when the rest of the elected officials of this region run and hide.

These three men are what stands between overdevelopment, eminent domain and construction of low income housing here in North Arlington.

flagNew Jersey's budget blues only add to North Arlington's financial woes.

"North Arlington homeowners will find themselves taxed out of oblivion."

What a difference five months make.

After easily defeating a Republican challenger who couldn't seem to get out of his own way, Democratic Governor Jon Corzine now must deal with the financial realities that face New Jersey.

Glowing rhetoric about no new taxes or fully funding the state's popular homestead rebate program have been replaced by a proposed penny increase in the sales tax and a $13 million cut in Extraordinary Aid to municipalities like North Arlington where taxes are scheduled to increase once again.

With Democrats controlling the executive and legislative branches, it will be hard for the Corzine Administration to blame the other side of the aisle. While municipalities and school districts prepare for the worst, one must wonder what North Arlington is doing in wake of this impending budget crisis?

North Arlington is now under a county order to fund a property revaluation which will cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. With real property assessed at 61% of market value, homeowners should mentally prepare themselves for higher values and even higher tax rates upon reassessment!

The chilling effect of state deficits and shrinking revenues has caused the state to under fund state pensions by nearly 30%. That fiscal woe now asks the state's 536 municipalities to pony up more in pension expenditures as well as the spiraling cost of employee health benefits. With North Arlington increasing salaries and adding new employees, how will the Borough close the estimated $2 million dollar budget deficit that currently exists unless a quick deal with EnCap plugs that budget hole?

Add to the equation decreasing host fees and the eventual addition of tipping fees as an anticipated expenditure, and North Arlington homeowners will find themselves taxed out of oblivion.

Some semblance of financial leadership is sorely needed.

North Arlington simply doesn't have the revenue base to sustain the current size of local government. With all the host fees and state aid squandered beyond the municipal tax levy, North Arlington continues to live beyond it's means.

Someone needs to step forward and say enough is enough.

The fiscally responsible thing to do is put a freeze on all new spending for at least one year. Raises need to cease and painful decisions need to be made.

The only way to stop the bleeding is to stop the spending.

Democrats initially made the right choices but have strayed from that fiscal discipline.

If homeowners are ever to get a break, they need to put pressure on local government and demand fiscal accountability.

The band-aid approach to fiscal management needs to cease.

flagNA's failing test scores.

Who's going to take responsibility for poor performance?

By any reasonable standard, the North Arlington school district continues to flounder and lag behind in standardized test scores.

North Arlington public schools continue to limp along despite voter approval of school budgets and generous raises to teachers and administrators.

The question must be asked, who's to blame?

This year's results were no better than last year's horrid performance.

In 11th grade testing, the statewide failure rate for math was 24.5% and 15.0% for Bergen County districts.

The failure rate in North Arlington was 31.8%!

The failure rate for language testing was 16.8% statewide and 10.8% here in Bergen County.

In North Arlington, the failure rate was a ridiculous 29.7%!

A problem clearly exists and it's time the district put forth an action plan to increase test scores!

Year-in and year out the district makes the tragic mistake of apologizing and rationalizing academic failure.

When "special needs" school districts in Hudson County are out performing North Arlington students, the time has come to look in the mirror and accept the reality that change should have been implemented yesterday!

In last year's school board race the incumbent candidate virtually ignored these academic inefficiencies and was rewarded with another term of office.

When will this school board take real action? When will this school board demand academic accountability from the superintendent, administrators and the teaching staff?

Parents and homeowners certainly have a right to be upset given the continued failure on these state tests.

When 55% of your property tax dollars is dedicated to public education, you expect the money to wisely invested in some semblance of academic success.

That just isn't the case here in North Arlington.

This year the incumbent trustee decided not seek re-election. Given the poor test scores and continued mediocrity when compared against like districts, it's easy to understand why he seek another term.

The two candidates in this race for one seat have a moral obligation to the parents, students and voters to develop a platform and agenda that addresses the issue of failing test scores.

Mr. McDermott and Mrs. Bellucci owe the voters and taxpayers of community an explanation as to why we don't compete academically when stacked up against area public schools.

With a soft economy and real estate sales cooling off, homeowners don't enjoy approving school budgets that raise taxes while lending no lift to student achievement. The time has come for the parents of this district to demand public accountability in the delivery of education here in North Arlington.

If apologists for academic failure and employees of the school district continue to dominate the voting in school elections, nothing will change.

The time has come for Superintendent Stringham and this school board to develop standards and procedures that translate into academic achievement.

This upcoming school election must become a referendum of student testing. Those who truly care about public education and this community's children can no longer watch test scores continue to slide.

flagBeverly Murphy: Pioneer in Local Reporting

Former Managing Editor of The North Arlington Leader was the source of local news for a generation of readers!

We would be remiss not to acknowledge the passing of former North Arlington Leader Editor Beverly Murphy, who served as a conduit for local news in an era of "single source" information.

Beverly Murphy was without question a reliable source for local news and the one individual who kept local government responsible and accountable!

In an age where reporters seek everything but the news, Beverly Murphy was a fixture at council meetings, planning board meetings and meetings of the board of education. Murphy not only reported the actions of these events, but asked the tough questions when it came to the government's expenditure of our tax dollars!

Murphy's front-page of The North Arlington Leader not only addressed the news, but it set the standard for how government would relate to the electorate. A fiscal conservative, Murphy was unafraid in her tough questioning of elected officials and served voters very effectively as this single source for local government.

Tall, attractive and fashionable with a flair for good conversation and humor, the news seemed to find Beverly Murphy.

Her Ridge Road office was a right of passage for the politically ambitious and those making the news. Mayors, council members and trustees to the North Arlington Board of Education would regularly visit her to "spin" their side of the current issue of the day!

Either in person or on the phone, the politically connected wanted to be in Bev's good graces!

For most North Arlington residents, The Leader was the only source of hard news about NA. While the dailies from time to time would assign beat reporters to cover a specific political campaign or issue, it was Beverly Murphy who framed the local political dialogue.

Murphy's insistence on providing her readers on the cost of government was a sore spot for many public employees and union leaders who frowned upon her decision to post the salaries of teachers and other municipal personnel on the front-page for all to see.

Like her or not, Beverly Murphy was gutsy and let the chips fall where they may!

While The Leader's editorial bias was Republican, Murphy had strong working relationships with members of both political parties. Not a Republican or a Democrat, Beverly Murphy was a strong personality who resisted political interference and protected her political independence.

It was Beverly Murphy's close coverage of the operation of local government that led to the formation of a citizen's group named The Alert Citizens. It was this group that unsuccessfully sought a change of government in 1979 that would have eliminated partisan elections and instituted a municipal manager within the proposed charter.

It was Murphy's coverage of local government that brought the governing body to hire its first full-time administrator.

It was Beverly Murphy who covered the actions of an ambitious young councilman named Len Kaiser who would eventually become the borough's longest serving mayor!

In age where the weekly's sole purpose was to cover hard local news, Beverly Murphy had no peer.

Today, North Arlington has three weeklies, two dailies and this website that tries to accomplish much of what Beverly Murphy did alone on a manual typewriter in her Ridge Road office.

NA TODAY salutes the passing of Beverly Murphy. A tough and independent reporter who told it like she saw it!

EnCap: Partner or Profiteer?
 
As time winds down on the governing body to approve the EnCap proposal, who is protecting taxpayers and homeowners from a plan that will bring close to 4,000 new residents to North Arlington upon completion?
 
Sources close to the negotiations now tell NA TODAY that the proposed agreement doesn't even address EnCap's tax appeal seeking an assessment reduction on properties never exposed to the open market.
 
How can you partner with an entity that rejects the very assessments of land that will be worth millions upon rehabilitation?
 
EnCap now doing business as Cherokee Investments will apparently urge this governing body to impose eminent domain on profitable firms and companies to move forward with this redevelopment scheme.
 
Why should North Arlington's governing body even consider eminent domain as an option to assist a private developer? Where is the public interest? How is there a public concern?
 
Who will pay North Arlington's legal fees to fight in court with companies that pay taxes and provide jobs?
 
Where is the public interest in assisting a developer who is seeking to "relocate" companies that actually pay property taxes to the community while Encap challenges property assessments in court?
 
The ratable myth has come full circle.
 
Increased ratables do not lower taxes on homeowners.  
 
EnCap is determined to get an agreement signed, sealed and delivered without a shred of public input or consent. The last line of defense for homeowners is the North Arlington Borough Council.  Is this governing body going to let the developer provide it's own impact consultants to rationalize approval? What is different from this scenario than the previous scenario under the guise of the now defunct Redevelopment Authority which sought to do exactly the same thing?
 
The timeline of determination of this proposal needs to be set by North Arlington, not EnCap.
 
If the borough needs additional time to properly evaluate the proposal, where is the harm in such a decision? Why the rush to judgment on the dubious advice of lawyers and consultants? 
 
What public interest do they represent? Who really cares what they think?
 
Where in this region has EnCap enjoyed any public support? Lyndhurst? Rutherford? Kearny? North Arlington? What report or document exists that homeowners want this massive development taking place in their backyard in the first place? What public official has politically benefited from allying themselves over taxpayers in support of this highly controversial and questionable leap of faith?
 
As stated time and time again, what is the financial benefit to EnCap versus the impact on North Arlington? How do current homeowners benefit from this project? How will schools and services be impacted? Who will make those determinations?
 
EnCap or a credible third-party? More specifically, wasn't a committee being appointed to look at this very proposal? Is there a single objective point-of-view being considered in this process as it applies to impact and cost to the homeowners of North Arlington?
 
The details and fine print of this proposal have been presented. It's up to those elected, not appointed to protect the community from a process that can't be changed a year or three years from now. Lawyers don't speak for the public. Lawyers and political appointees don't set public policy.
 
You can't close the barn door after the horse has left the stable.
 
Elected officials set the tone and agenda for the weary voter begging for tax relief.
 
The time for credible and sensible evaluation of this project is today and now.
A redevelopment strategy that seeks a return on investment
 
Porete Avenue could be transformed again under plan offered by Cherokee
 
It's too early to speculate what will be the final plan for North Arlington as it applies to Porete Avenue and the borough's Meadowland parcels in wake of the major revisions offered by Cherokee Partners last night.
 
What was once a marketed as a golf community and resort has been changed to reflect more open space, recreational facilities as well as more housing. While the proposal is no longer vertical, the amount of housing and its impact on essential services needs to be closely monitored and scrutinized.
 
Local Democrats in the late 1980's and early 1990's were highly critical of the Kaiser Administration's commitment to revitalizing Porete Avenue calling the folly a "white elephant." A charge that so deeply infuriated local Republicans they handed out white chocolate elephants at a press conference touting the highly controversial policy.
 
Fifteen years later and several million dollars in capital improvements now finds Porete Avenue being drastically altered once again.
 
While the previous efforts were noble, the latest proposal to transform this blighted portion of the borough has a component that Porete Avenue never had before - an investor seeking to make a profit.
 
The reality is that the previous redevelopment of Porete Avenue just didn't work. There was is no market for industrial space with no access to Route 3 or 17 when you could easily find better locations in Lyndhurst, Rutherford, East Rutherford or Kearny. With the exception of the one large warehouse constructed, the area for the most part remains unproductive and unprofitable to the borough given the level of investment by taxpayers.
 
But as North Arlington grapples with this new proposal, other serious questions loom in the process.
 
For one, the closure of the baler facility will cause North Arlington homeowners to assume the cost of tipping fees like most municipalities. The fees could be as high as $1 million dollars annually.
 
This lost revenue needs to be considered in any final agreement.
 
The issue of traffic also demands expert analysis. Previous efforts to link North Arlington to 3 & 17 have died in other planning efforts. Given the potential for thousands of new residents, what is the strategy to provide new access to this portion of the municipality? What state and federal funds are available to help cover the costs? Is light rail or links to PATH options that could in fact take place down the road?
 
Most importantly, what is North Arlington's financial exposure should this real estate market begin to correct itself as inflation seems to set in?
 
How will increased interest rates effect buyer activity when so many units will be available for purchase?
 
Mayor Pitman has instituted a series of what has been dubbed "circuit breakers" to effect any changes or conditions that could have an adverse effect on North Arlington. It will be interesting to see how this policy could be applied and how it effects the long-term conditions of any final agreement.
 
If nothing else, this departure from industrial redevelopment to residential housing is a process that deserves to be public and open.
 
We trust that this will be the case and that other issues surrounding North Arlington's long-term financial health will also be addressed from the standpoint of protecting the homeowner.
Solve the problem.
 
Sunset Avenue resident Bob Norcia seems to be on a seven-year odyssey to get anyone to investigate his claim that a neighbor is using his residence to conduct some sort of scrap metal business.
 
Mr. Norcia wrote to the former mayor in 1998 which resulted in a ticket being issued in 2000.
 
But five years later according to Mr. Norcia, the problem still persists.
 
Mr. Norcia has apparently brought the problem to the attention to the North Arlington Board of Health as well as the borough's construction official.
 
Nothing has changed.
 
Thousands of local monthly Meetups - find oneMr. Norcia brought his case back to the North Arlington Mayor & Council on September 15th and pleaded for the body for help.
 

According to The Leader, the Borough Attorney explained "we don't enforce the law."

If the Mayor and Council can't instruct borough employees to enforce the law, who can?

Why hasn't the Construction Official or the Board of Health followed up on these complaints? Why isn't the Borough Administrator working closely with Mr. Norcia in seeing that his problem is being solved? Has the Administrator taken the time to visit the site in question?

What is the procedure to field and process homeowner complaints here in North Arlington? If no guidelines exists, isn't it time for those department heads to adopt a responsible plan-of-action?
 
Elected officials like Mayor Russ Pitman are part-time positions. But North Arlington has a Construction Department, Borough Administrator, Health Department and Police Department to assess what exactly is happening next door to Mr. Norcia on a day to day basis. 
 
This is what these people are paid to do.  Why is it taking seven years to solve such a problem?
 
Councilman Peter Massa is absolutely correct in his assessment of the situation. Why can't this municipality create a process that generates a constituent services program that takes the onus off the taxpayer and places it where it belongs  - with local government officials?
 
Elected officials are in the business of customer service. More importantly, North Arlington employs many well paid individuals who should be instructed to find the time to help solve the problems of local homeowners. These individuals have an obligation to these homeowners weary from years of property tax increase after property tax increase that was eliminated by Mayor Pitman last year. Mayor Pitman is working hard to change the culture of local government. That can't happen unless borough employees pitch-in and do the same!
 
Maybe the time has come for the Mayor & Council to consider having all department heads at all public meetings so that they may address these day to day concerns and instill the accountability the homeowner expects. 
 
Mr. Norcia is a homeowner who deserves assistance and help. If the people employed by the borough don't have the time, energy, ability or interest in helping Mr. Norcia, maybe its high time the borough find people who can help Mr. Norcia and solve the problem! 
 
There was a time when the "customer was always right." In government, the homeowner is the customer and that same mentality of customer service to taxpayers is essential if local government is to improve the lives of those paying the bills!
No help from Trenton
 
Area legislators do little to correct North Arlington's inherited fiscal woes
 
Unless North Arlington can find some last minute infusion of revenue, there will be a municipal property tax increase in 2005.
 
The announcement by state officials that North Arlington will only receive $330,000 in Extraordinary Aid despite a history of fiscal incompetence by Mayor Pitman's predecessor speaks volumes to the lack of support local Democrats are receiving from the state.
 
While Mayor Pitman and local Democrats walked door to door with Senator Jon Corzine and the Democratic legislative candidates just a couple of days ago, that political support seems to go assumed.
 
North Arlington is the only community in the 36th legislative district of any size that has an all-Democratic governing body. No Democrat who's ever won a seat in the General Assembly or NJ Senate has won without the support of North Arlington voters.
 
North Arlington is a must-win community in one of the state's more competitive legislative districts.
 
Yet North Arlington's share of Extraordinary Aid has been reduced from a high of over $1 million dollars in the late 1990's to a mere $330,000 today.
 
While North Arlington's financial woes have mounted, support from Trenton has decreased.
 
North Arlington, like Dumont inherited a fiscal nightmare. Yet Dumont's call for increased aid has been heard.  A series of property tax increases, outrageous bonding, over expenditures, overdrafts and deferred charges have brought havoc to North Arlington's financial picture. Compound the spending spree with the squandering of temporary host fee and North Arlington is without question a municipality with serious needs the state should address in a serious fashion.
 
While Dumont received $600,000 in state aid, North Arlington received slightly more than half that amount for the second consecutive year.
 
One must wonder what local Democrats have to accomplish to be rewarded. The all powerful North Arlington Republican Organization, which held a stranglehold on local government for more than two decades has been reduced to rubble. The party has been swept in every election district for two consecutive years and didn't even bother to file candidates in 2005. Mayor Pitman made the tough choices and laid off dozens of employees while cutting spending nearly a million dollars.
 
Pitman has restructured the borough's debt and has said no to high density housing.
 
The Democrats made the wise decision of selling the borough's aging water utility so that homeowners won't be stuck with millions of dollars of upgrades the borough cannot afford.
 
In short, the Democratic majority made the tough decisions the prior administration ignored for too long.
 
But despite these tough decisions, the borough's financial woes have fallen upon deaf ears. While other municipalities received state aid increases of 10, 20 and 27%, North Arlington got the same as last year which was decreased by $170,000 a year earlier.
 
One would think in a $29 billion dollar budget there would be room to provide meaningful financial assistance for a community in search of help.
 
If North Arlington is forced to raise property taxes, the district's legislative representatives should ask themselves what could have been done to help the local homeowner.
 
They seem downright indifferent.
 
There is no free lunch.
 
Suggestions of EnCap building North Arlington a high school is just pie-in-the-sky rhetoric that just isn't realistic!
 
In another letter to the local press, Independent council candidate George McDermott suggested that he supports housing units that will promote school-age children instead of restricting new growth through the active adult component. In his letter, McDermott is quoted as saying "I support brownfields to greenfields, not turning North Arlington into a retirement community."
 
If Mr. McDermott is concerned about the cost and impact EnCap will have on the borough's current homeowners, the last thing he would be promoting is housing that drastically increases not only the population, but the overall impact on municipal services including public schools.
 
Here are some statistics worth noting:
 
* 43.6% of all North Arlington residents are over the age of 45
 
* Of the 4,129 households that make-up North Arlington, 63% of these households include an individual over 65.
 
* Of the 4,129 households that make-up North Arlington, 53% or 2,196 individuals currently receive Social Security benefits.
 
* Of the 13,107 people who reside in the borough, 22% or 2,942 residents are over the age of 65
 
The demographics demonstrate an aging community. School population is not increasing and poll after poll conducted by local Democrats suggests absolutely no support for construction that will dramatically increase the size of the borough's school district.
 
The notion that North Arlington should accept thousands of units in housing that will in turn increase the student population in exchange for a high school borders on the absurd.
 
For starters, no developer is going to commit to building a new high school. Secondly, have the supporters of a new high school even considered the real cost to taxpayers?
 
Here in New Jersey $6 billion dollars was dedicated to the construction of 161 schools by the very bureaucratic Schools Construction Corporation. The SCC to date has built just six schools with another thirty-two under construction. According to a Star-Ledger report, only half of the 161 schools will be constructed because the $6 billion will be wiped out! That means for $6 billion dollars New Jersey will have constructed roughly 80 schools at cost of about $75 million per school!
 
In Trenton, the SCC halted construction of a 800-student elementary school currently costing taxpayers $28 million dollars. Between 1991 and 2000, 391 public school facilities were constructed in Ohio, Kentucky and Michigan at an average cost of $8.4 million dollars and 86,000 square feet. Keep in mind prevailing wages were only paid in half of these projects. A 2003 study by The Beacon Hill Institute showed that project labor agreements which limit builders to union-only personnel increase bid and construction costs about 14% per square foot!
 
The construction trades in New Jersey are dominated by union labor. The cost of new construction in New Jersey is the most expensive in the nation when it comes to school construction. In places like Georgia, new school construction for classrooms at the high school level is about $65  a square foot. Kitchens run about $110 a square foot and restrooms run about $63 a square foot according to a 2001 report by that state's Superintendent of Schools. Georgia's costs are far less expensive being a Right to Work state that discourages union shops.
 
Let's assume that a new high school isn't possible financially. The renovation costs of a building occupied prior to 1950 could cost as much as $50,000 per instructional unit. That would not include Architect's fees nor contingencies, change orders or other construction delays that come with any large scale renovation project.
 
At the state level, of the $6 billion dedicated to new school construction, $500 million has been expended on cost overruns and change orders. The current cost to construct a new school on the SCC's watch is roughly $184 a square foot. With an average square footage of roughly 86,000 square feet, the cost to build a new high school could be easily estimated at nearly $16 million dollars without a single change order or cost overrun. When factoring these costs, the bill for a new high school at the minimum would be conservatively $20 million dollars!
 
None of this includes the costs of additional teachers, books, electricity, water, desks, maintenance, transportation, health benefits, pensions or the other operational costs of public education here in New Jersey.
 
From a practical standpoint, why would any developer commit to the construction of a public facility they have no obligation to subsidize? Secondly, the Board of Education has no standing in the negotiations between the developer and the Mayor & Council. Will the governing body look to minimize the impact of school costs, or will they embrace literally hundreds of new students they currently cannot accommodate? The governing body will certainly negotiate a school impact fee if that's the direction of the project.
 
Mr. McDermott seems to pride himself in doing the research necessary to tackle the issues facing North Arlington. In the case of supporting a new high school, he shows himself to be woefully uninformed and ignorant. Mr. McDermott lacks any real knowledge of cost and impact. His support of a new high school he thinks should be paid for by EnCap is simply ridiculous.
 
Mr. McDermott may not support turning North Arlington into a "retirement community." But giving EnCap a blank check for unlimited increases in the borough's school population makes little sense in the short and long-term redevelopment process.
Time for a "Proposition 13" approach to property taxes here in New Jersey?
Caps on property taxes is what weary homeowners really need from Trenton lawmakers.
 
What good are rebates and so called tax relief if property taxes continue to increase?
 
The political gimmicks that dominate Trenton have played themselves out and the bipartisan incompetence when it comes to tax relief is obvious by those who own property here in New Jersey.
 
The 1978 tax revolt in California led by the late Howard Jarvis forever changed that state's ability to raise taxes year after year.  The average home in the state of California pays about 1% in property taxes of the assessed value of the home while New Jersey's three-tier tax scheme of school, county and municipal taxes continues to spin out of control!
 
Acting Governor Dick Codey could certainly leave a huge imprint on state government by legislating a hard cap on the state's property taxes. Free of campaigning and fundraising, Governor Codey has the opportunity not only to drastically help homeowners, but help his party's nominee in November by handing him a signature issue on taxes that all would easily embrace.
 
In the state of Nevada, Assembly bill 489 caps tax increases on single-family, owner-occupied residencies at a modest 3%.
Commercial properties would be capped at 8%, and new growth construction (such as Encap) would be taxed at current levels.
 
In California, Proposition 13  caps property tax increases at 2% per year until the property is sold. In effect, if you own a home in California prior to 1978, your property taxes have risen 54% in 27 years!
 
Instead of "smart growth" schemes to stick traditional suburban communities with COAH mandated, low income housing, state officials should be protecting those who live in these thriving towns that reject the notion "urbanizing" South Bergen is somehow a good thing for homeowners and home values.
 
If legislators are serious about helping their constituents, it will take some real out-of-the-box thinking such as capping property taxes as a real solution to the most over regulated, over taxed, over burden homeowners in this nation.
More Gambling is not the answer.
 
With horse racing revenues dwindling, how does more gambling options at The Big M change anything?
 
When the Meadowlands Sports Complex was sold to voters in the early 1970's, the revenue assumptions were optimistic and quite frankly, unrealistic.
 
But voters saw horse racing not only as a form of gambling, but as a night out. A new form of entertainment for the region at a new venue that was clean, accessible and affordable.
 
But times have changed.
 
The horse racing industry is no longer a revenue generator for the Meadowlands Sports Complex. The average handle does not guarantee the kind purse money to attract the big-name horses, jockeys and stakes races.  In fact, casino gaming revenues from Atlantic City now subsidize the track to the tune of $86 million dollars. Gambling is no longer an isolated industry in places like Las Vegas, but a growing source of revenue for dozens of states all over the country.
 
In short, government at all levels have embraced the revenues of gambling in all forms.
 
This once untapped source of revenue now seems all tapped out.
 
Voters rejected the notion of statewide gambling in 1975 because of the fear of organized crime and slot machine on every corner. The voters approved casino gambling under the assumption the revenues would not only fund education, but redevelop the aging seashore community of Atlantic City.
 
While most would agree that casino gambling has had a positive impact on Atlantic City, why is it New Jersey seems to face an annual crisis called the state budget process?
 
While some make the case that slot machines at The Meadowlands will bolster track revenue, others argue persuasively it will only cannibalize the same revenue that's derived from the casinos of Atlantic City. If you're a slot player, why take a bus to AC if you can hop in your car and just drive to the track?
 
While state officials seem interested in maximizing gambling revenue, what is being done to control the growth of state government? It seems no matter how many revenue sources are generated, the size of state government is never controlled, but fueled to become only larger in size and scope.
 
The issue is not more revenue, the issue is less state spending.
 
Should state government depend on gambling as a larger and larger source of revenue? We believe state government should take the more appropriate role of monitoring expenditures and outlays and capping these costs to relieve the overburdened taxpayer from wasteful spending.
 
In the meantime, the Meadowlands can certainly use a face lift. Now 30 years old, the Big M needs to change with the times.  What about changing the whole marketing proposition of the facility? What is being done to enhance the experience of the consumer?
 
If the business of hosting horse racing in New Jersey in the end is unprofitable, is there an exit strategy in place to redevelop the site into something that makes sense for sports complex officials?
 
Tough questions that deserve thoughtful answers.
NORTH ARLINGTON CHITTER CHATTER
 
Someone should remind defeated Independent council candidate George McDermott the campaign is over.
 
After being crushed 3-1 and losing the popular vote by 2,500 votes, the self proclaimed "Public Advocate" went on the attack in The Leader accusing Democrats of running a "quiet campaign."
 
McDermott seems to think a campaign should be judged by how many times you can embarrass yourself at public meetings. Thank goodness the public knows better. McDermott doesn't quite understand the concept that voters actually agree with Democrats on the important issues like property taxes and selling the borough's aging water utility.
 
McDermott claims to be personally offended because he thinks the Democrats didn't address the issues. The Democrats supported a zero tax increase budget and sold the water utility to keep taxes stable. They supported a massive layoff plan to keep future budgets in check.
 
What exactly did McDermott support?
 
Having someone write letters for the local press is nice, but it doesn't gain the respect of the voters George!
 
Look for McDermott to continue his one-man campaign for "truth, justice, and the American way!"
 
With Democrats now controlling all seven seats of government, one wonders if the various school employees who regularly trash Pitman and the Democrats will continue their divisive ways?
 
When will Schools Superintendent Ollie Stringham put a lid on the anti-Pitman rhetoric?
 
Several top Democrats are urging Mayor Pitman to endorse a slate of candidates in the upcoming school elections just to get back at these "Pitman haters."
 
"Democrats are tired of the partisan politics coming from the school board. All they seem to do is play politics and raise taxes. Enough is enough," said one former school trustee.
 
Comments attributed to one North Arlington retail furniture store owner went over like a lead balloon with local Democrats.
 
"This guy gets a great deal for air rights and blames the town for the parking problem? What is NA doing to open that parking lot? The parking problem was created because of agreements negotiated by Kaiser," said one angered insider upon reading the latest edition of The Observer.
 
Who will replace Steve Tanelli as the borough's Recreation Director? Sources say the list has been cut down to three possibilities with a decision to be made shortly.
 
Councilman-elect Peter Massa and Councilman-elect Phil Spanola are expected to play an important role in future policy decisions as they pertain to the NAPD.
 
"Pete and Phil are ex-cops. They understand how the department operates. Mayor Pitman will be depending on the two of them to get the politics out of the PD," said a source close to Pitman.
 
With Rutherford Mayor Bernadette McPherson expected to be named Freeholder Director, support continues to build for Mayor Pitman to be added the Democratic Assembly ticket in 2005.
 
"Pitman is the most popular local mayor in district 36. County Democrats would be wise to add Pitman to a ticket that badly needs a jumpstart. If Democrats lose in 2005, the Republicans will have two possible candidates for the state senate against incumbent Paul Sarlo in 2007. It would make sense to nominate the best candidate and Pitman fits the bill," contemplated one district insider.
 
Sources say EnCap Holdings is finally willing to work with Pitman and the Democrats to reach the best deal possible.
 
"EnCap needs a cooperative North Arlington. The issues put forth by the local leadership will be addressed. EnCap finally gets it," said one happy Democrat.
 
But while Democrats seem ready to finally work with the developer, others claim NJMC Commissioner Len Kaiser will oppose any deal negotiated with North Arlington.
 
"He's bitter. He's lost and he has no influence. Pitman is what matters in North Arlington, not Len Kaiser, " said another insider familiar with the situation.
 
Who do local Democrats prefer for Governor in 2005?
 
"Many local Democrats like Dick Codey and hope he runs. Some believe US Senator Jon Corzine would have a tough time winning a general election given his very liberal voting record. Look what happen to Kerry. In the US Senate, you are exposed on thousands of votes. Codey is regarded as a local favorite who understands the needs of suburban towns. Codey seems to be the local choice if a decision needed to be made," said another NA Dem.

MORE REPUBLICAN CHAOS

Something close to hatred of Mayor Russ Pitman and the local Democrats seems to drive the NA Republican Party.

Unfortunately, that feeling is driving the Republicans off a cliff!
 
In less than two years, North Arlington voters have rejected four long-time GOP incumbents in Len Kaiser, Charles Belmonte, Frank Caputo and James Herrmann. Mr. Herrmann would find himself rejected again in the span of six months with his illegal appointment to the vacancy of James Ward who resigned without explanation.
 
The final shoe dropped last week when four-term incumbent Joseph Whittles decided against continuing his uphill battle to retain his seat on the council. Sources close to local Democrats say the decision was a wise one since he was already trailing Democrats in a recent poll conducted by Neighborhood Research.
 
Mr. Whittles joins Susan King as the other incumbent who chose not to run again. Reports say Mrs. King will probably not finish the remainder of her current term as she apparently plans to relocate to Florida.
 
For Republicans, the electoral process they dominated for so long has become nothing but a but a series of defeats, resignations and withdrawals. For the political strength of the local GOP has shrunk to nothing more than a unorganized band of embittered partisans who relentlessly attack Mayor Pitman, right or wrong!
 
These extremists absorbed another political blow when Joe Whittles decided enough is enough. Compounding the sting was the unexpected withdrawal of Brian Heinzmann, the GOP challenger who saw nothing wrong with signing the petition of independent hopeful and municipal employee, George McDermott.
 
Sources say two new candidates will emerge shortly replacing Whittles and Heinzmann.
 
Brian Fitzhenry, a partisan member of the North Arlington Board of Education is apparently eager to take on the Democrats.
 
Beware what you wish for young man!
 
Mr. Fitzhenry was just reelected to a three-year term in April to the school board. So much for keeping to your promise to serve the voters for that term of office. But Fitzhenry has been part of the GOP farm system for some time. He's a Kaiser prot»g» whose name was nominated to fill the Ward vacancy last December. With a bench that is less than deep, Fitzhenry's presence on the ticket may reenergize a party desperate for success.
 
But Fitzhenry is part of that wing of the Republican Party that divides North Arlington.
 
Fitzhenry is part of the rhetoric that pits parents versus seniors, homeowners versus the municipal employees. Mr. Fitzhnery seems to believe that all volunteers are Republicans. That property taxes can't be stabilized. That employees always deserve a raise even when results don't reflect any progress. His record of raising taxes and salaries at the Board of Education is in complete opposition to the cries of homeowners who simply want tax relief now!
 
Fitzhenry's "them versus us" scare tactics is not something voters plan to embrace anytime soon. 
 
The central question for Mr. Fitzhenry is what will he bring to the governing body? If he opposes the layoffs, what would he done differently? Is he suggesting more salary increases and more spending?
 
Most importantly, does Mr. Fitzhenry have the guts to stand up to Len Kaiser and work with Mayor Russ Pitman for the betterment of North Arlington? The problems caused by 22 years of one-party control have taken their toll on the borough's finances. Squandered host fees, excessive bonding, out-of-control spending and outrageous salaries are the reality that now faces North Arlington. Will candidate Fitzhenry have the courage to break from the party line and actually work in a bipartisan fashion to fix North Arlington now?
 
The last of the seven GOP incumbents that ran this community for the better part of two decades will disappear from the political landscape as of January 1, 2005. Does the GOP have the ability to change, or will it become further marginalized under the failed leadership of Mr. Kaiser?
POLITICS HAS NO PLACE IN THE CELEBRATION OF MEMORIAL DAY
 
It's a shame some people use volunteer groups for the purpose of partisan politics.
 
There are several members of the local Republican Party who desperately want to see Mayor Pitman fail in his objective to stabilize taxes and trim the size of local government. Some of these individuals are also members of the volunteer Fire Department.
 
For whatever reason, the Fire department decided not to participate in the borough's annual Memorial Day parade. The reasons range from a sense of "disrespect" to allegations of budget cuts preventing their attendance.
 
Any reasonable person would concur that if these individuals really wanted to participate, they would have. These alleged reasons for not participating seem half-baked and with little supporting evidence.
 
To boycott a Memorial Day Parade is a very callous way to make a point. The mere thought of this happening while Pitman's predecessor served as mayor is nonexisistent.
 
It would have never occurred.
 
But because Pitman is a new mayor and not a Republican, many believe he has received little cooperation from these partisan types who can't seem to put the betterment of the community over petty politics.
 
All would agree the North Arlington Fire Department does an excellent job of protecting the community.
 
They serve an important purpose and function that shouldn't be tinged by the stench of politics.
 
The fact the department would post a press release on the Republican website, www.NAIndependent.com does little to change the perception that they stand on the side of the local GOP. There is nothing independent or objective as it applies to the content on that website. 
 
How does this perception of taking political sides help the reputation of the department and those members who don't want to be treated like a political football? We would imagine many members have little interest in politics and just want to serve the community.
 
So why use a Memorial Day parade to take such a position?
 
The Fire Department doesn't have to march in any parade. But why deprive children and neighbors the opportunity to see the borough's fleet of fire equipment and the men who serve the community?
 
It seems to us that the volume of politics and partisanship is currently dictating the relationship between the department and this administration. It's counterproductive to the smooth operation of the municipality.
 
We believe cooler heads must prevail.
 
Government functions should not be effected by political posturing that only divides the community.
 
The parade was for and about those who served. It was about those who currently serve this great country in time of war and conflict. It's disturbing that the service of those who died for this country as well as those who serve would somehow find themselves and this day part of a petty, political controversy.
 
It just doesn't make sense.
 
The veterans of this community are both Democrats and Republicans.
 
Neither party has a monopoly on patriotism or service to this community. It is a day when all should forget political disagreements and come together for the betterment of the borough.
 
We're hopeful this kind of political posturing and rhetoric will cease and that both sides will put aside these petty differences and do what's best for the community they all claim to know and love.
"MIXED MESSAGE"
 
KAISER'S UNCONDITIONAL SUPPORT OF ENCAP UNDERMINES PITMAN, NA HOMEOWNERS WHO WANT HOUSING QUESTIONS ADDRESSED!
 
Former Mayor Leonard Kaiser is a player in the world of Bergen County politics. He is the six-figure Executive Director of the Bergen County Utilities Authority (BCUA) and a member of the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission (NJMC), the oversight agency of the billion dollar EnCap proposal.
 
More importantly, Kaiser is an unconditional supporter of EnCap. He does not question a single aspect of the proposal and has pushed for 1,550 units of housing without hesitation! His support of this proposal flies in the face of homeowners in North Arlington who have serious questions regarding the amount of housing as well as the density and effect on essential services.
 
Ironically, Kaiser led the opposition in 1979 as a North Arlington councilman to stop luxury condominiums from being constructed. It was his opposition that derailed the proposal and instead saddled North Arlington with a garbage transfer station. Incredibly, it is that site which is slated for the very housing construction Kaiser now supports!
 
As Mayor, Kaiser was the political beneficiary of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from the politically influential DeCottis law firm that represents EnCap!
It was Kaiser who created the now defunct Redevelopment Authority Mayor Pitman abolished. It was Jim Ward who appointed Kaiser to that agency only for Kaiser to resign after one meeting!
 
But Leonard Kaiser is no longer mayor. The Republicans no longer control local government and the Redevelopment Agency has been abolished. More importantly, the voters and homeowners of North Arlington do not support 1,550 units of vertical housing under any circumstances!
 
Mayor Pitman now speaks for North Arlington. His thoughtful approach to EnCap has been vilified by the likes of Kaiser and others as being against the capping of the dormant landfills. This is false. Pitman has made it very clear that he wants to work with EnCap and come up with a solution that makes sense for North Arlington. That's certainly a reasonable position to take! While the project is regional, North Arlington has been mysteriously saddled with nearly half of all the housing slated?
 
The question remains, who made that decision?
 
Who from North Arlington suggested all this housing? Who from North Arlington suggested high density, vertical housing? Was it Kaiser? Why does Kaiser ignore the wishes of homeowners who have grave concerns about the impact of all these people? Does Kaiser really represent North Arlington?
 
Compound Kaiser's cheerleading of EnCap with his behind-the-scenes opposition to Mayor Pitman and you can see why Democrats and homeowners don't believe and honest broker exists to ensure North Arlington doesn't get saddled with something it truly does not want!
 
Kaiser's obstructionism and partisan undermining of Pitman needs to cease. More importantly, EnCap officials need to seriously entertain North Arlington's questions and concerns without Kaiser's interference. Mr. Kaiser is a political appointee with no influence on this new administration. In fact, it is Kaiser's remarks and political activity that only agitates Democrats and the Pitman Administration!
 
His presence is simply counterproductive to these negotiations.
 
The Pitman Administration is entitled to negotiate on behalf of homeowners without being saddled with the proposals and ideas that are part of a political past. Pitman is a reasonable individual who is working hard to undo the damage of two decades of fiscal mismanagement that has nearly bankrupt this community.
 
Pitman has no problem with EnCap or state officials. But it's unfair to saddle any elected official with parameters and proposals that have zero public support negotiated by a political operative who was overwhelmingly rejected at the polls.
NEW FACES, SAME SONG?
 
WHAT WILL HEINZMANN, PIMPINELLI OFFER HOMEOWNERS?
HIGHER TAXES? MORE SPENDING? INCREASED SALARIES?
 
Having lost three seats and the office of Mayor over the last two election cycles, the GOP is hungry for a win.
 
With Ward's resignation and Herrmann's appointment overturned by a Bergen County Judge, Democrats now find themselves in the numerical majority since 1981.
 
While Republican Municipal Chairman and former Mayor Len Kaiser has offered both Heinzmann and Pimpinelli for the Herrmann vacancy along with former Councilman John W. Bratowicz, the law is unclear as to whether the governing body must choose from the three names approved by the Republican municipal committee.
 
While that issue remains unresolved, rumor has it that lame duck Councilwoman Susan King will also resign what's left of her three-year term that expires December 31st. One would assume that the at least one of the current candidates will be nominated to fill that term in what's becoming a case of musical chairs.
 
But as the fall campaign begins to develop, what will be the issues the Republicans offer this tax weary electorate?
 
The difference between Republicans and Democrats couldn't be more apparent.
 
Democrats want to control spending and are willing to downsize government to keep to their campaign promises. Republicans oppose any reduction in the workforce and oppose any layoffs. Democrats want to stabilize taxes and privatize certain segments of the municipal operation to contain costs. Republicans oppose any cost savings initiatives and believe every single employee must not only be retained, but awarded a raise!
 
Democrats worked under trying circumstances to reduce the size of the NAPD despite no cooperation from the Chief of Police, who's a partisan supporter of the local GOP. The Republicans support six-figure salaries for police officers and a one-to-one, supervisor to patrolman table of organization.
 
Republicans support claims of identity theft when not a single piece of evidence exists to support such a charge. The Republicans have become nothing more than a rhetorical extension of the municipal unions who seek higher salaries while leaving homeowners holding the bag!
 
Brian Heinzmann and Thomas Pimpinelli are political newcomers with no public record.
 
They lack any government experience and have made no public comment as to how they would govern. But running-mate Joseph Whittles has blindly supported every spending and tax increase offered by Republicans since 1993! It will be interesting to see if Mr. Heinzmann and Mr. Pimpinelli are willing to defend Councilman Whittles twelve-year tenure
of increased spending, debt and property taxes.
 
If Mr. Heinzmann and Mr. Pimpinelli are so opposed to Mayor Pitman and his fiscal policies, why hasn't Councilman Whittles offered and alternative? Will candidates Heinzmann or Pimpinelli support rescinding these layoffs? Will candidates Heinzmann and Pimpinelli restore these positions if they're so crucial to the operation of this local government? Will they seek to cancel the savings created by the retirement of the four police officers by calling for promotions within the NAPD?
 
On the issue of EnCap, do candidates Heinzmann and Pimpinelli endorse the developer's proposal to construct 1,560 units of vertical, high density housing without a benefit to the borough's current homeowners? Do they support bringing back the embattled Redevelopment Agency abolished by Mayor Pitman? Will Pimpinelli and Heinzmann accept campaign contributions from EnCap's high powered law firm, DeCotiis, Fitzpatrick, Cole and Wisler who have been widely criticized in an investigative article released by The Record of Hackensack?
 
Will the Whittles, Heinzmann and Pimpinelli campaign benefit from the $30,000 war chest of former Mayor Len Kaiser? Does this team have the political will to challenge his political authority or are they just a new cast of yes men controlled by the Kaiser political machine?
 
Susan King would have experienced great difficulty securing another term. Her comments regarding last year's tax increase and other votes that raised spending and the borough's swelling debt would be tough to defend. James Herrmann's landslide defeat and subsequent removal from the council made him all but unelectable.
 
Mayor Pitman and the Democrats are doing the heavy lifting and making the tough choices the incumbents ignored. Are these challengers supportive of the near riot conditions caused by extreme partisans led by Herrmann last February 12th? Are they supportive of the comments and actions of such partisans as McClure, Cerco and Manley?
 
While Heinzmann and Pimpinelli are new to politics and government, they are assuming a ton of baggage courtesy of their Republican predecessors and the Pitman haters who look to disrupt the Mayor's ability to govern.
 
It will be interesting to see just how thoughtful and independent they conduct themselves
in the months ahead. In the meantime, what are the ideas, alternatives and proposals they will offer to address the issue of high property taxes? Given the tax and spend mentality of Republicans and the extreme animosity they have for homeowners, we won't hold our breath.
"Let's Make a Deal"
 
Does North Arlington Need a Civilian Police Director?
 
How does creating another bureaucratic position save tax dollars?
 
Democrats came to office with good intentions on January 3rd. They said they would take on the bureaucracy of local government that's fat, bloated, wasteful and out-of-control.
 
One of the sacred cows of local government is the North Arlington Police Department. A department where virtually every officer earns in excess of $100,000 annually, they have resisted any cost savings initiative.
 
A department where most of its leadership have been partisan supporters of the Kaiser political machine. A department headed by one of the most partisan police chiefs anywhere in the state, rumor now has it that he'll be appointed police director at a salary close to $70,000! That doesn't include a police pension that will have him earning close to $140,000 a year!
 
Other than the Police Chief, who benefits from such an outrageous taxpayer rip-off?
 
This is the same individual who has done nothing to support Mayor Russ Pitman in any way, shape or form! Italiano is not only an active Republican, but has been strongly rumored to be running for council upon his retirement against the very Democrats who seem to be suffering from an acute dose of amnesia in considering such a ridiculous agreement.
 
Where was Mr. Italiano the night of February 12th? Have the Democrats forgot that it was the Bergen County Police that kept the peace from a near riot erupting thanks to the out-of-control partisans who refused to let a peaceful meeting of a governing body take place? Have they forgot that Mayor Pitman's wife had to be escorted from the meeting to the tune of laced obscenities and cat calls from Italiano's followers?
 
This is a an individual who refused an outside evaluation and opposed any downsizing of a department that still maintains a one-to-one, supervisor to patrolman ratio. When Councilwoman Rosenblatt was being unfairly accused of identity theft without a shred of evidence, where was Mr. Italiano?
 
What North Arlington needs is a council member with a real, inside knowledge of the NAPD. A council member who's not afraid to ask the tough questions and not afraid to put taxpayers first. A councilman who won't be sold on some half-baked scheme that only benefits one individual while taxpayers are left holding the bag!
 
That individual is Peter Massa. A retired NAPD police sergeant and Detective Captain with the state's Waterfront Commission, Massa is perfectly suited to address the issues associated with the NAPD. He's respected and liked by the rank and file members and has the courage of his convictions. He's tough, honest and will do what's best for taxpayers as well as the NAPD.
 
Democrats are wise to put forward a candidate for council who has a  real record of  public safety experience. Massa's educational credentials (Master's Degree in Public Administration) and former membership on the Board of Education (vice-presdident, president) along with his long service as a police officer and crime fighter make him uniquely qualified to serve this community.
 
There's no short cuts to fixing North Arlington's financial mess.
 
It took 22 years for North Arlington to find the place it finds itself today. Mayor Pitman would be wise to consider what the homeowner truly wants and needs. We doubt making deals with overpaid bureaucrats is doing anything to fix the structural financial crisis North Arlington faces today. Pitman and Lonegan should be concentrating on one issue -- the municipal budget. Addressing the budget and putting North Arlington's financial house in order that translates to stabilizing property taxes is the only universal issue homeowners demand and expect from this new Democratic majority.
 
Appeasement and capitulation is hardly the sign of political leadership and reform. While taxpayers demand tax relief and structural change, some seem to think rearranging the furniture is all that needs to be done.
 
Those who ignore the mandate handed to them by voters are just as culpable as those who created the mess in the first place. Two wrongs never equate to a right decision.

SINGING THE SAME OLD SONG!

WHEN WILL SOMEONE AT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION PROVIDE A REASON TO VOTE YES ON APRIL 20TH?

In the legal system, your innocent until proven guilty. The assumption of innocence is the at the cornerstone of the American legal system.
 
In military law the premise is reversed. The accused is assumed guilty until proven innocent. Having thus to make the case for innocence.
 
There is an assumption among many parents, teachers and school employees to vote yes for the school budget. In their minds, the reasons are obvious. Schools need more money to compete, to provide better instruction, to turn out a more educated individual.
 
Most of these people have already made up their minds to vote yes having not even reviewed the proposed budget. Few of them know its contents, or understand the financial impact on homeowners. They simply believe on moral or emotional grounds that voting yes for the school budget will somehow translate to better education in North Arlington.
 
The reality is that most of the people who pay school taxes don't benefit from the school system.
 
50% of North Arlington's registered voters are over the age of 50 and less than 20% of all registered voters even bother to vote in school elections leaving about 1,200 people deciding the fate of this fiscal referendum.
 
About 70% of the school budget is salary related. Meaning either actual salaries of teachers, non-instructional personnel and school administrators. Another portion is to pay for the health benefits and pensions of these same employees. Of the some $15 million dollars expended, about $10 million is employee related costs.
 
This dilemma is usually the case in both the public sector. With only 13% of private industry union organized, the private sector can do a more efficient job of controlling costs such as wages, number of employees, health benefits and other employee related costs.
 
In the public sector, membership in a union or association is practically universal. The benefits and salaries are generous, and the pensions are far more extravagant than the typical 401K or profit sharing that is offered in private industry. Few private firms offer a pension anywhere comparable to say teachers in North Arlington.
 
While most private sector employees receive a standard, two-week paid vacation, teachers and most school employees have the summer off as well as every federal and state holiday.
Few school employees work year around. Teachers work 180 days and roughly 6 hours a day with about 4 hours of actual classroom instruction. That accounts for about 20 hours a week in terms of real "face time" with students. Teachers are also paid longevity stipends as well as stipends for coaching or other extraordinary responsibilities such as heading up a club or monitoring the halls or the cafeteria.
 
Teachers in New Jersey are the highest paid teachers in the country. Bergen County pays the highest teacher salaries in the state. While North Arlington is clearly below the Bergen County average, North Arlington has much more in common with neighboring Kearny or Secaucus of Hudson than say Mahwah or Park Ridge of Bergen.
 
One way to judge a school system is to monitor standardized testing. The average SAT score for North Arlington is 971. That scores is below both the state average as well as the county average. HSPA test scores declined in Mathematics and Language Skills.
 
With the average taxpayer receiving little or no benefit from the performance of the public schools, homeowners simply see it as an opportunity to control property taxes. The argument that good schools effect property values is in doubt given the explosive increase in North Arlington's home values over the last five years.
 
So what is the Board of Education to do?
 
They can continue to only seek out parents and school employees who traditionally vote yes in school elections while ignoring most homeowners and seniors. You would think some outreach would take place with this core group of voters. You would think the schools would provide learning opportunities for seniors and others who would embrace the district and see a value, as well as a benefit.
 
The Board of Education and the district's administrators should consider such a bold objective.
 
Learning is for all people of all ages. Why shouldn't the district offer fee based education in the evening? Why shouldn't a curriculum be developed around capturing this alienated base of citizens and voters? Why should schools only emphasize elementary and secondary schooling while offering nothing to anyone else?
 
Like it or not, school costs reflect 50% of the total property tax bill. That means the average North Arlington homeowner is paying about $3,500 in just school taxes! If you had no children in the district and saw no tangible benefit, how would you vote when it comes to school spending?
 
It's the Board of Education's fiduciary and primary responsibility to construct, articulate, and support the school budget referendum. The trustees should have an intimate knowledge of the numbers, the costs, the increases and the reasons why spending has increased. Most importantly, they should be able to reasonably make a case as to how increased spending helps students. To date, that is not the case. Few trustees have that interest or knowledge of the budget and rely on school administrators for the answers. Historically, the only trustees who seem to take an interest in the school district's finances are trustees or candidates who believe school spending is excessive. 
 
Mr. Santos and Mr. Fitzhenry have an open invitation to provide us with those reasons in the weeks ahead. Mr. Hislop also has the opportunity to articulate his vision for the school district in any release or public statement he cares to share with us.
 
The time for emotional ranting and tired rhetoric has come to pass. Tell us why this budget makes sense for North Arlington. Tell us why voters should support this school tax increase.
 
The people of North Arlington are owed that much.
"FIGHT BACK OR FAIL"
 
GOP PARTISANS DESPERATE TO CHANGE THE DISCUSSION FROM TAXES TO SERVICES, DEMOCRATS CAN'T FALL INTO THE TRAP THAT CUTTING SPENDING MEANS ELIMINATING SERVICES.
 
DEMOCRATS HAVE THE UPPER HAND AND THE SUPPORT OF THE "SILENT" MAJORITY OF HOMEOWNERS WHO WANT TAX RELIEF NOW!
 
Would you go to work Monday morning, take off your coat, grab a cup of coffee, march to your supervisor's office and call your boss a "coward" because the company is going broke and layoffs are part of the equation to save your job?
 
The self-described victims in this melodrama are the employees of North Arlington who believe not a single employee should be laid off. Such a thought by the new Democratic majority is so radical that these people actually think the run-of-the-mill North Arlington homeowner thinks its just fine that two-thirds of the NAP earn in excess of $100,000!
 
They want people to believe that if a single person is removed from the municipal payroll, the borough's ability to deliver services will cease to exist. That garbage will pile-up on your lawns. That public safety services will be eliminated. That snow won't be plowed, the library will close, and North Arlington as we know it will somehow end!
 
Who believes such outrageous rhetoric other than those spreading this nonsense?
 
After 22 years of total control of this borough, Democrats have an opportunity to clean the mess left behind. There is no question that based on the numbers, North Arlington is a mismanaged mess that needs immediate leadership and a radical change in direction now.
 
Mayor Russ Pitman has the patience of a saint.
 
One by one they marched to the microphone in "outrage." 
 
How dare Mayor Pitman cancel the February 12th meeting based on the recommendation of the Bergen County Police Chief! That the environment was so unsafe, a public meeting was not possible. Never mind the fact that half the crowd were out-of-town agitators with no business before the borough. Never mind the fact no one was actually being laid off or terminated. Never mind the fact that GOP partisans organized this near riot and are the very individuals who created the fiscal crisis North Arlington now faces!
 
Please don't let the facts get in the way of these outraged victims!
 
Mayor Pitman somehow found it within himself to be courteous to people who don't know the meaning of courteous or polite. The ranting of many of these rabble rousers is truly disturbing. 
 
Do these people own a home? Do they pay property taxes? What is the real agenda? Can anyone deny the fact taxes have increased five consecutive years? Will they deny the fact that property taxes have increased 300% in ten years on the watch of Susan King and Joseph Whittles? Do they deny the fact Herrmann was tossed only to be reinstalled by the GOP machine days before his term was set to expire?
 
These questions the partisans ignore.
 
They would much rather take pot shots in virtual chat rooms and congratulate each other on what a great time they had attacking a true gentleman in Mayor Pitman. It's so much easier to attack Councilwoman Rosenblatt with gutter rhetoric and baseless accusations than actually discuss the problems their precious Republican Party created!
 
Those who pull the strings of these mindless followers know they can't win at the ballot box.
 
They polled last campaign. They know they have no credibility on the issue of taxes. The only way they can win is by changing the discussion. The "new spin" is to suggest a single layoff means a complete stoppage of essential services. If you can't argue the facts or defend the two-decade GOP fiscal failures, you have to change the strategy.
 
What they need to do is intimidate Democrats into thinking what they want to do lacks public support.
 
So why won't the Republicans poll themselves? They already know the answer. Why don't they start a website to promote their ideas and values?  The success of this site simply kills them!
 
People have a funny way of sending a message. That message was loud and clear on Election Day. A 1,000 vote, 12-district sweep of two incumbents. If you were from Mars you would believe based on the number of signs on the lawns of borough employees such as Police Chief Frank Italiano the Democrats didn't have a chance!
 
But signs don't vote. And hateful demonstrations don't help the cause either!
 
 
According to our latest poll, nearly 80% of our readers believe the February 12th demonstration and siege on Borough Hall accomplished nothing. While not scientific, it's obvious people are outraged by the outrage of people who make a good living courtesy of taxpayers!
 
How many private sector employees have a pension? How about free health benefits? How about Washington's Day, President's Day and Lincoln's Birthday as paid holidays? How many people would love to work in the same place they reside and not have to commute to New York City or sit in traffic on Route 17, the Turnpike or Garden State Parkway?
 
These mutinous partisans don't have a clue just how good they have it. The most unsophisticated, naive and simple of people look at the salaries and say, "why are they complaining?"
 
The most interesting of comments comes from Chief Italiano. According to the Kearny Journal, Italiano hypothesized there are plenty of ways to trim spending without layoffs or demotions. When is Chief Italiano going to share that nugget of information with the governing body? Is Mr. Italiano suggesting a single layoff in his department will compromise public safety? One only shudders to see the budget he will be supporting over at the Board of Education which for sure will raise taxes for the eighth consecutive year!
 
Does anyone actually believe such absurd notions?
 
The line has been drawn in the sand by the GOP, not the Democrats. They have decided they can't win at the polls, so they are taking this dysfunctional message on the road.
 
Mr. Mayor, that dog doesn't hunt!
 
The silent majority of homeowners wants you to succeed!

The Path to Fiscal Responsibility.

When will Landolfi embrace Pitman's plan to reduce expenditures and stabilize property taxes?
 
There is little doubt that North Arlington homeowners, people with no vested interest in politics or patronage, want and demand a new financial course for North Arlington.
 
They can no longer afford the cost of municipal government and made that opinion loud and clear in consecutive elections by tossing incumbents Leonard Kaiser, Charles Belmonte, Frank Caputo and James Herrmann.
 
In two years, Republicans went from a 7-0 majority to a 4-3 minority. Weeks following last year's landslide defeat, 18-year incumbent James Ward quit with two years left on his term of office without explanation. He was replaced by 1,000-vote loser James Herrmann in a controversial, last-minute appointment. Local Democrats are exploring legal avenues to have Herrmann removed from office.
 
Robert Landolfi,  has served some twenty years as the municipality's day-to-day manager. He has played a significant role in developing each and every budget, negotiated every collective bargaining agreement, and supported  the borough's decade-old policy of deficit financing that  practically bankrupt the borough.
 
The depletion of some $45 million dollars in host fees happened on his watch. One can only assume he supported each and every expenditure, tax increase and employee raise since he never uttered a word of criticism during Kaiser's five terms (20 years) as Mayor of North Arlington.
 
Now with Democrats numerically in control, Landolfi seems intent in preventing Pitman from succeeding.
 
He apparently has little interest in seriously examining the municipal budget process and would much rather pass along another huge tax increase to homeowners. On January 3rd Pitman called upon Landolfi to administer desk audits of all employees. Was that directive carried out?
 
Pitman and Democrats were concerned about time theft and requested time clocks installed in Borough Hall. To date, the clocks have not been installed.
 
Since Pitman and Democrats took control of the governing body, Landolfi has failed to state in writing as per the borough's municipal code a detailed state of the borough. He seems more interested in receiving tenure as Municipal Clerk than to justify his $124,000 a year salary!
 
North Arlington has a management structure so top heavy in salaries & titles that its strangling taxpayers. The $25 million in debt continues to rise and according to sources, Landolfi is lobbying the three remaining Republicans to support yet another tax hike in 2004!
 
The road to financial recover is really very simple. The problem is that it takes a strong day-to-day manager who believes as we do that North Arlington's finances are just out-of-control!
 
What needs to be done?
 
North Arlington needs to track monthly expenditures against its line-item spending. It's clear to  observers that the budget is a maze of transfers and "smoke and mirrors" that make it impossible to analyze actual spending vs. proposed spending.
 
North Arlington has no financial tracking in place. Its purchase order system is so antiquated and out-dated that elected officials have no real handle on actual spending. Its a flawed process that requires reform.
 
The only choice for North Arlington is reduced expenditures. If Mr. Landolfi can't understand that reality, how can he in good conscience continue as the borough's chief operating officer?
 
Landolfi's inability to put forth a fiscally conservative plan for Mayor Pitman to review upon the installation of the new majority speaks volumes to Landolfi's resistance to change.  Now he has  spread fear to every municipal employee with talk of mass layoffs as high as 20% of the  workforce. Not only has he spread fear,  but he has put Pitman and Democrats in the position of defending rumors - not public policy!
 
Mr. Landolfi's inability to objectively assess the borough's fiscal crisis is simply unacceptable to the smooth operation of North Arlington's local government. He is the one constant in the deterioration of this community's financial picture. He seems to accept no responsibility while offering no answers or solutions to the very problems he helped create.
 
If Mr. Landolfi is the objective independent who claims to be above partisan differences, why isn't he cooperating with Pitman, the new Democratic majority and the new professionals hired to fix the problem? Whether he likes it or not, the voters of North Arlington demand real change. Mayor Pitman has the public's support, not Mr. Landolfi!
 
Its time for the tail to stop wagging the dog. 
 
Mr. Landolfi has a responsibility to homeowners to cooperate in everyway with Pitman's fiscal objectives. Spreading fear and rumor, while manipulating the local press to prevent Democrats from moving forward with a reform agenda only confirms what many already think -- that Mr. Landolfi has no intention of cooperating with this new administration in a serious way.
 

THE HERRMANN APPOINTMENT: WHY DEMOCRACY LOST!

The appointment of defeated Councilman James Herrmann to the unexpired term of James Ward is more than just a question if proper guidelines were met, but was democracy really served?

Nothing but secrecy has surrounded Ward's December 26th resignation from the Mayor & Council.

While it was obvious Ward had little desire to serve in the minority after 19 years in majority, few thought he would actually leave the council with two more years still left in his term of office.

Those close to the situation claim a major fallout between Ward and former Mayor Leonard R. Kaiser who behind the scenes was pushing the remaining Republican minority to take a partisan hard-line against Pitman and new Democratic majority. While no person would ever question Ward's Republican credentials, many were beginning to question Kaiser's loyalty to local Republicans.

After all, it's no secret Kaiser has worked closely with state & county Democrats in his role as a member of the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission (NJMC) as well as his patronage position as Executive Director of the Bergen County Utilties Authority (BCUA). For his cooperation, Kaiser was promoted in the county's reorganization under Democratic control and his wife was given a soft landing in the office of the county counsel. Between the two, they earn nearly $200,000 a year as county employees.
 
Maybe Ward didn't want to have to defend the patronage appointments or the record of Kaiser any longer. Ward did survive reelection while Kaiser was defeated. Many could make the argument that Ward and not Kaiser should be the party's local leader.
 
But Kaiser serves as Republican Municipal Chairman and controlled this selection process. Despite losing by more than a 1,000 votes and every district, Kaiser approved and promoted the Herrmann appointment. Most political observers saw no benefit to Herrmann in accepting such an awkward role coming off such a decisive defeat!
 
While Democrats legitimately questioned the process, Kaiser said "he contacted as many of the 24-member county committee" and that no "hidden" agenda existed.
 
If that's so, why wasn't every member of the Republican county committee notified of the meeting as stated the statute? Was there a legal quorum of thirteen members? Why wasn't the meeting held in a public place rather than Kaiser's home? Was there a sign-in sheet? The secrecy surrounding the resignation as well as this meeting only begs more questions than answers. 
 
Why would Republicans completely ignore the wishes of the people and serve up the very candidacy of an individual so rejected by voters? If Mr. Herrmann has any ideas of resurrecting his political career, this decision to resign and then accept a temporary appointment in the face of taxpayer resentment was truly questionable.
 
Kaiser once again tried to play victim in the process saying Democrats questioned the legality of appointment because people have "personal issues" with him.
 
Kaiser wants taxpayers to forget that the process could be flawed and in fact, the appointment illegal. He thinks "it wouldn't be such a big deal..."
 
While this appointment needed to filled by a Republican, it didn't needed to be rushed to judgment two days after Ward's resignation. Robert Landolfi, who serves as the borough's Acting Borough Clerk didn't need to enable a process flawed by changing agendas, late packages and verbal resignations by a the same councilman who would then be appointed to fill the Ward vacancy.
 
This is still the people's business. And that business has been smudged by the ugly head of partisan politics when in fact the process could have been delayed so that cooler heads prevail. There was no reason to rush to this appointment. The ugly fact remains that Kaiser once again behind the scenes of public scrutiny is pulling the strings to the detriment of what's left of the North Arlington Republican Party.
 
He's a man who wants to be in the camps of both political parties without scrutiny. He wants to run the Republican party locally while making nice with Democrats in Hackensack and Trenton. Talk of Kaiser becoming a Democrat only irritates real Democrats who will never recognize such a switch. He will never be welcome.
 
Democrats would be wise to undo this fiasco by suing the borough to overturn this botched political appointment. Landolfi's decision as Municipal Clerk to approve such a flawed process denigrates his office. Republicans as well as Democrats should be outraged by this ram-rod that only kicked dirt on this democratic process.
 
If Republicans truly want to appoint a 1,000-vote loser to the governing body for 11 months, so be it.
 
We just have a hard time believing that to be the case.

PRESS LEAKS, POLITICS AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT

WHY DOES THE CHIEF GO TO THE PRESS TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE MAYOR LEAKING INFORMATION THAT WAS NEVER RELEASED?
 
Mayor Russ Pitman received an electronic message from an individual that was apparently accused of performing a sexual act in his car parked in North Arlington. The individual was fully clothed and the Police could not verify if the accusation actually took place. The message apparently criticized the Police Department.
 
Mayor Pitman says he forwarded the message to Chief Frank Italiano. Apparently, he never received the message. However, two members of the press were also copied on the same message. One of the reporters contacted Chief Italiano for his comments.
 
Chief Italiano, who was upset that the newspapers would receive such information, contacted Council President James Ward who then decided to conduct a special meeting of the Mayor and Council. Mr. Ward apparently didn't know Mayor Pitman was out of town on business the day the meeting was scheduled.
 
So much for effective communication.
 
Mayor Pitman should have spoken to Chief Italiano personally about such a strange transmission. The press did not need to see such correspondence. But the press used sound judgment in contacting Mr. Italiano before any story would be, or could be filed for public consumption.
 
Why did Chief Italiano compound matters by contacting Council President Ward instead of Mayor Pitman? Why didn't Council President Ward pick up the phone and communicate with Mayor Pitman that he wanted to have a meeting to discuss this bizarre and unusual circumstance?
 
Instead of the three officials working together to solve the issue, there were more urgent political agendas to satisfy than a mature and professional resolution of a problem.
 
If Mayor Pitman is being accused of going to the press with information Chief Italiano should have received first, who went to The Leader to make sure an article would be written days before an election?
 
It should be noted that The Leader has endorsed local Republican candidates in sixteen (1987-2003) straight elections without ever conducting an editorial review process. As usual, The Leader flaunted its endorsement of Mr. Caputo and Mr. Herrmann on the front-page. If The Leader wanted to make sure everyone knew who they were endorsing, they certainly accomplished that feat!
 
So much for serious journalism.
 
Is it safe to say that days before an election a lot of nothing was fabricated to create a last minute issue? We think so.
 
Mayor Pitman's record has no indication of looking to infringe on the "integrity of the Police Department." It wasn't local Democrats that suggested the tragedy of "9/11 and police overtime" had anything to do with this year's 13-point tax increase. That was none other than Councilwoman Susan King, the borough's soon to be replaced Finance Chair. Where was Chief Italiano's "outrage" when Mrs. King basically lied to voters in a taxpayer funded letter blaming police overtime she approved for this year's increase?
 
The outgoing Republican majority was intent on using any issue, real or imagined to be beat the Democrats.
 
Again, it backfired.
 
But the election is now over.
 
We urge Chief Italiano to examine his own political posturing days before an election. We also urge Mayor Pitman to exercise better judgment when receiving such unsolicited transmissions from unknown, unsavory individuals. We also ask Council President Ward to ponder how he would like to be treated now that he finds himself in the minority for the first time in his 18 years as member of the governing body.
 
 
We believe Mayor Pitman and Chief Italiano need to work together for the benefit of the community.
 
Ridiculous political manipulations do neither party any good. It undermines responsible governance. At the end of the day, both sides look silly in the eyes of the taxpayer.
 
We would hope that all sides would for just a second digest the results of last week's election. The people want tax relief. The people demand accountability. They want a smaller, less wasteful municipal operation. Those are the real challenges to those serving in North Arlington's government.
 
We hope all concerned will understand that message and that reality.

The police department & politics,a bad mix for residents, officers

While people certainly have a right to express themselves politically, municipal employees come under scrutiny when they actively take sides in a political campaign.
 
Those who take an active role in political campaigns in many ways send taxpayers the wrong message. It tells homeowners that politics is more important than government. That it's not "what you know, but who you know."
 
That reflects negatively on borough employees who do a good job servicing the taxpayers of North Arlington. They provide an important service. Government employment or promotion should not be predicated on political involvement and political contributions.
 
Taxpayers want police officers that are neutral and above taking sides in political campaigns. The work they do is much too important to be impacted by partisan squabbles. With North Arlington having members of both political parties on the governing body, it makes sense to for these employees to act in a nonpartisan fashion.
 
Campaigns come and go, but the work of the Police Department is 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. That requires a sober, nonpartisan approach that puts government first and takes politics off the table.
 
NA TODAY has learned that several high ranking members of the department are political donors to the local Republican Party. Some of these donations are as much as $500 per person. While this isn't illegal, is it practical for Republicans to solicit members of the Police Department for donations?
 
Is that in the best interest of responsible government?
 
We don't think so.
 
Mayor Pitman has stated he's against such solicitation and we agree. North Arlington is a small community and people need to work together when the campaign is over. Taking sides only creates adversaries and hard feelings. It has no place in the operation of this, or any other municipality.
 
The Democratic Party of North Arlington has taken the right approach: keep the police department out of local politics. Democrats were correct in criticizing Republican Susan King for trying to blame this year's 13-point tax increase on police overtime. It just wasn't true. It was in fact, an outright lie!
 
We believe the police have a hard enough job protecting the community and servicing our residents. We're appreciative of the hard work that they perform on behalf of everyone, everyday.
 
We would urge the Republicans to rethink their fundraising practices. There is no need to solicit these fine individuals. They shouldn't be placed in the uncomfortable position of being asked to take sides. It is counterproductive to the tenets of good government.
 
This solicitation of police officers is what takes place when one party has controlled local government for 22 years. This monopoly on local government created the wrong environment, the wrong atmosphere.
 
Republicans have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars over the last decade for part-time, elected positions. They don't need the money. They are very successful in raising campaign funds. They will outspend Democrats at least 4-1 this year alone. Over the last decade, they have outspent Democrats upwards to 10-1 in some cycles. 
 
That being the case, why ask for more when you have plenty already?
 
We hope the Republicans end this practice immediately. They would be doing taxpayers and the department a true service.

"THE PERKS" OF PUBLIC OFFICE!

 
Should Taxpayers Pay for Pension & Health Benefits for Part-time Elected Officials?
 
NORTH ARLINGTON - Should a member of the North Arlington Council get an automatic pay raises for attending 12 meetings a year?
 
Should part-time public officials receive fully paid health benefits courtesy of taxpayers?
 
Should taxpayers flip the bill for contact lens?
 
NA TODAY has learned that Republican Council member Susan King, the borough's finance chair routinely submits claims under her taxpayer funded health plan for contact lens!
 
King, who claimed earlier this summer that 9/11 was the reason for this year's 13-point tax increase regularly files claims for her eye care. The cost to taxpayers is in the hundreds of dollars.
 
Is this a reasonable expense of your tax dollars?
 
When Democrats Russ Pitman and James Ferriero joined the governing body, they turned down the generous perk. Both wear glasses. The borough's generous health benefits package also offers free dental coverage.
 
Is this anyway to spend your money?
 
According to state law, unless you work 20 hours a week, you don't qualify for the state's pension system. Most part-time public officials rarely spend that amount of time tending to these ceremonial duties. Members of the Planning Board, Zoning Board and other agencies don't receive stipends or health benefits for their service, yet many are happy to serve.
 
Why such a taxpayer rip-off?
 
School board trustees receive no pay or health benefits and there's certainly no shortage of candidates. For the most part, they manage a larger overall portion of the tax rate. School budgets account for 50% of all property taxation.
 
Why as taxpayers are we so generous to municipal elected officials?
 
Most taxpayers and homeowners in North Arlington have co-pay health benefits. Few have both eye and dental coverage, yet they provide that service to their elected officials!
 
Most taxpayers and homeowners don't have a pension plan unless they're a public employee. 90% of all private employees and retired individuals rely on 401K Plans & Social Security as a prime source of income. 
 
Why provide a perk they themselves do not have?
 
North Arlington's extremely generous health benefits package must be reformed.
 
It's simply fiscal insanity to offer these benefits to every attorney and other professional who does business with the community.
 
Mayor Pitman and the Democrats took the right first step in making a statement about these perks by not accepting this generous taxpayer funded package. You can't lead from behind and Mayor Pitman is to be congratulated for being cost conscious in a down economy.
 
Should the Democrats be successful, a complete overhaul of the borough's health benefits and pension requirements needs to be implemented. Full-time employees deserve to be covered. Not political appointees. Not part-time patronage insiders.
 
When people ask why taxes went up, here's a good place to start looking. Private sector companies regularly change providers and companies to stay cost conscious and profitable.
 
The government of North Arlington should consider the same approach.
 
You can't cut the size of government if you're unwilling to make tough decisions. In the case of North Arlington, 22 years of Republican control show that no decisions are made at all.
 

The Case for a Municipal Comptroller

In last year's race for Mayor, candidate Russ Pitman called for the appointment of a municipal comptroller to lead North Arlington on a day to day basis. Pitman articulated the need for a full-time, professional comptroller that would ensure "true fiscal reform."
 
The position as Pitman described would have the comptroller "conduct internal audits,  monitor spending, analyze vendor payments, conduct desk audits of all personnel and serve as the borough's chief financial officer."
 
Given the current condition of North Arlington's finances under the twenty-two year rule of the Republican Party, the idea is a welcomed reform to politics as usual!
 
North Arlington taxpayers will be socked with at least a 15-point municipal tax increase depending on the size of this year's state aid payment. State aid, which represents less than 3% of all revenue in this 2003 budget will offset some portion of this massive tax increase that doesn't include the $200 school increase approved by voters last Spring.
 
Upon assuming office, Pitman authored a comprehensive memo asking the Borough Administrator, Tax Collector/Treasurer and Auditor for a series of financial documents that would give Pitman a true perspective of the depth of the borough's fiscal affairs.
 
Upon reviewing the borough's audit statements, debt statements, surplus reports, current agreements and authorized budget transfers, it became apparent to Pitman that something was clearly wrong.
 
His findings concluded a series of questionable budget transfers, ignored auditor recommendations in various  statements, a series of overdrafts from multiple accounts along with over expenditures and a completely depleted budget surplus. All this in the face of a community receiving millions in state aid and over $45 million in discretionary host fees for almost two decades from the BCUA and NJ Meadowlands Commission! Compound the revenue deficits with over $23 million in long-term debt, over $1 million dollars a year just in interest payments!
 
You get the picture?
 
Pitman's experience as a CEO in the private sector couldn't come at a better moment in time for the overtaxed North Arlington homeowner. The appointment of a municipal comptroller free of political interference is just what North Arlington needs.
 
With a 20% decrease in homes values as reported by The Bergen Record, North Arlington's average tax bill will increase over $800 to $6,377 in 2003 thanks to one-party government conducted by the Republicans for two decades! If North Arlington was a private enterprise, the liquidators would be removing the furniture and those in charge would be before a Bankruptcy Judge seeking leniency from the court!
 
With those responsible for the financial madness of the last two decades still enjoying a 5-1 council majority, don't expect any Republican to embrace the mantle of fiscal responsibility and reform. Last year,
Republicans dismissed the idea and claimed the position would be duplicative. Given the financial realities of North Arlington discovered by Mayor Pitman, it's obvious the Republicans have their head in the sand while their hand remains in the pocket of the homeowner for another increase. When is enough, enough?
 
The time for an independent municipal comptroller is now. Politics as usual and unexplained tax increases can no longer continue. Mayor Pitman deserves the opportunity to turn North Arlington around. Until he has a coalition of council members willing to accept the reality of the current fiscal mess, the taxpayers will just pay, pay, pay!

North Arlington's Finances: An GOP Mess Getting Uglier!

NORTH ARLINGTON - For years now the Republicans led by Kaiser and his merry band of council members have scoffed at Democratic criticism that the borough was going broke.

Despite obvious red flags such as diminishing host fees and zero interest in Porete Avenue as a legitimate revenue source for redevelopment, Republicans continued their deficit financing ways by increasing spending and using temporary revenues to "zero out" the tax rate. In essence, keep the tax levy artificially low while increasing the borough's dependence on borrowing and temporary revenues such as host fees and state aid.

The net result is a projected 19.5 point tax increase or an 18.3% increase in the municipal tax rate alone in 2003!

How did this happen?

Well, the Republicans first borrowed from 2003 surplus funds to minimize last year's tax increase. At the same time, the architects of this spending disaster then anticipated $570,000 in host community fees from the Bergen County Utilities Authority (BCUA). What the Republicans forgot was that the transfer station that was supposed to generate these anticipated revenues North Arlington had spent) closed as part of the EnCap phase 1 development!

With a real surplus of just $265,000, North Arlington finds itself in the red well over $1 million dollars and finds itself asking the state of New Jersey for a record $800,000 in extraordinary aid to fill the budget hole! Even if North Arlington receives all of the $800,000, there still will be a tax increase!

Keep in mind that in 1994, North Arlington had over $2 million dollars in surplus! In just 9 years North Arlington has become a tax machine time bomb waiting to explode!

After receiving some $45 million dollars in outside host fees and another $2.1 million in extraordinary aid in just the last four years, North Arlington is now begging the state to disguise the damage done to the budget process by Kaiser and his rubber stamp council!

The reality is that North Arlington has literally spent millions it does not have. Millions in long-term debt that is strangling North Arlington's ability cut spending since over $1 million dollars alone is just interest on the debt in this year's municipal budget!

Instead of a "pay as you go" approach to capital improvements and spending, Kaiser and the Republicans abused these temporary fees and squandered the money on projects the borough could not afford! For example, what community in America would expend $750,000 for a road to a $300,000 soccer field? While Kaiser and company purchased political support, they mortgaged the future for another four years in office!

Does that mean don't build a soccer field? Of course not. But did it need to cost $1,000,000? Where's the accountability? Where's the logic or respect for taxpayers?

Another example of financial squandering is Porete Avenue. A wasteland that borders acres of contaminated properties, Porete Avenue has cost North Arlington millions without a nickel of return on investment. If not for EnCap's overall interest in the region for golf course development, North Arlington taxpayers would be inflicted with double digit tax increases year-in and year-out due to the financial squandering of host fees and the failure of redevelopment to be a profitable investment.

So the question that begs to be answered is what will happen to property taxes in North Arlington?

The answer is simple -- unless a structural change is made in reigning in spending and an accelerated plan for new revenues is not put into motion, North Arlington will continue to realize tax increases based on money spent by a local government out-of-control and detached from a economic reality. Kaiser & company ignored the danger signs of decreasing host fees and mounting municipal debt and the result is the largest single tax increase in borough memory.

Any student of municipal government will tell you what was done was political, short-sighted, misguided and detrimental to North Arlington's financial well being. While two of the culprits were whisked from office, the current GOP majority has no clue what they have done and what they continue to do. They actually believe that defending this spending nightmare is good government when in fact they have us "hat in hand" begging the state to save us from another unconscionable tax increase homeowners just can't afford.

This is the net result of Republicans running North Arlington for 22 years. Unfortunately for taxpayers, they ran it right into the ground!

Want to comment? Contact us at eyeonnortharlington@natoday.net