Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Washington Township has rented an emergency generator for the Municipal Complex since Hurricane Irene.
The Washington Township Council voted to approved a contract for a new emergency generator at the town's Municipal Complex during their meeting Monday. The township has been renting a generator for its government offices ever since Hurricane Irene, when their old one broke down and spewed carbon monoxide into the Police Department, causing the building to be temporarily evacuated. Officials went out to bid for a new generator several times, but the bids they received came in more than $30,000 over budget. Officials estimated the generator would cost about $115,000. After the most recent round, township administrator Catherine Navarro-Steinel negotiated with the low bidder to drop their offer down to $120,000, which the council voted to …
Monday, June 10, 2013
Officials have questioned whether Kenneth Poller counts as a full-time employee or a contractor.
The Washington Township Council has discussed the employment of township attorney Kenneth Poller in closed session at least two times since a report released by the state comptroller's office last year caused officials to question whether he counted as a full-time employee or a contractor. The report found "widespread improper participation in the state pension system among attorneys and other professionals working as independent contractors for local governments." The difference in terms decides whether or not Poller is entitled to benefits from the town. Despite the closed session discussions, Poller said he had never received a Rice Notice, the form that public bodies are required to give their employees to alert them to discussions …
Thursday, June 6, 2013
Members of the Washington Township Council had requested the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office investigate a payment made to the former police chief.
The Bergen County Prosecutor's Office has declined to investigate a terminal leave payment made to former Washington Township Police Chief William Cicchetti. Members of the township council hired an attorney to prepare a report about the issue earlier this year and had requested the Prosecutor's Office also look at the issue. "There is nothing in the documents presented that would warrant an investigation or any involvement by this office in this matter," Assistant Prosecutor Daniel Keitel wrote in a letter to Ronald Mondello, the attorney hired to prepare the report. Cicchetti was given a leave payment of $38,184.90 after he retired as chief. The council had favored a sum between $23,000 and $24,000. The council was "gravely" concerned by…
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
Janet Sobkowicz, Peter Calamari and Tom Sears won the Republican Party's nominations and may face just one Democrat in November.
Updated at 11:51 p.m. Washington Township Republicans picked incumbent Janet Sobkowicz as their nominee for mayor and Peter Calamari and Tom Sears as their nominees for council in the primary election Tuesday. According to the unofficial results, Sobkowicz beat Councilman Joe D'Urso in the race for mayor with 839 votes to 584 votes. "I'm thrilled," Sobkowicz said. "I've worked hard the last three-and-a-half years and I'm glad people see that." Two seats on the township council are also up for election this year. Calamari had the most votes of the council candidates with 840, followed by his running mate, Sears, with 825. Lauren Thomson had 529 and incumbent Councilman Fred Goetz received 510 votes. Democrat Rosa D'Ambra, the party's sole …
Monday, June 3, 2013
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As you drive through the streets of Washington Township, how can you not help but seeing the mayoral candidates signs? Sobkowicz and her team, and D’Urso and his team. For me, I do not see signs and names. I see unilateral or mutual governing. I see stagnation or change. I see partiality or impartiality. I see unprofessional conduct or professionalism. I see badly managed finances or fiscal responsibility. I see devaluation of our properties or appreciation of our real estate. The list is endless. I am a resident that has been in town for years, I have volunteered for all activities and fought for programs that this town needs. To have a mayor who rules by the Faulkner policy, which basically means her way or the highway, is unconscionable…
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
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Wednesday, May 29
To the editor, My name is Samantha Hywel, I’m 14 and a resident of the Township of Washington. I am writing this letter in support of Janet Sobkowicz for mayor and Peter Calamari and Tom Sears for council because they support keeping us safe by keeping emergency dispatch service in town and police headquarters open. I feel very strongly about this because of my personal experience. On December 24, 2011 my mom went to pick up my grandma so we could celebrate the holiday. My older sister and I were sitting in our family room, playing a game on our phones. We were laughing and having so much fun. All of a sudden my sister started shaking. I thought she was fooling around until I realized that she wasn’t responding to me. She was having a …
Thursday, May 23, 2013
Portable generators have become popular with long power outages caused by big storms over the past few years.
Washington Township may create a new law for residential generators in order to address issues with the machines' exhaust and noise. Councilman Richard Hrbek noted that more residents have been using generators in recent years. Some residents were without power for weeks after Hurricane Sandy hit the area last fall. "With the storms we've had, it's becoming a really popular addition right now," Hrbek said. Hrbeck and Councilman Glenn Beckmeyer both said they had talked to officials in surrounding communities, but most don't yet have ordinances covering generators. Some of the possible rules include requiring generators be placed outside on a concrete pad and/or in an enclosure, limiting the volume of generators, limiting the size of …
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Taxes will rise $31 for the average township homeowner.
The Washington Township Council voted unanimously to approve a $12,393,000 annual budget during their meeting Monday night. The average township homeowner with a property assessed at $534,000 will see a $31 tax increase, as well as a $20 increase for school taxes. The effect of the county's budget on local taxes was not yet available. The budget includes funds to bond for several capital improvements, including $43,692 as the down payment to repave Sussex Road, Morgan Court, Grace Court and sections of Ridgewood Boulevard, Hoover Avenue and Crest Place at a total cost of $908,692. A $15,000 down payment for a $300,000 project to repave Colonial Boulevard was also included separately because officials hope to win a Department of …
Monday, April 29, 2013
Former Washington Township Police Chief William Cicchetti received a terminal leave payment of $38,184.90.
An attorney hired by the Washington Township Council to review a terminal leave payment has found that there was likely no violation of the state's Local Governments Ethics Law, but did find some discrepancies between how the payment was made and what the Township Charter requires. Ronald Mondello was hired by the Council to investigate a terminal leave payment of $38,184.90 made to former Police Chief William Cicchetti after they approved a payment of just $24,000. Mondello submited a synopsis of his findings to the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office and state Department of Community Affairs at the request of the Council in order for them to "review this matter for any legal infractions and provide direction, if any." Mayor Janet Sobkowicz…
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Taxes would rise $32 for the average township homeowner if the budget is approved as introduced.
The Washington Township Council voted to introduce a $12.3 million budget during their meeting Monday night. The $12,393,000 budget would include a tax levy of $8,901,699, excluding the library's portion. Taxes would rise $31 for the owner of the average township home assessed at $534,000. The majority of the raise — $27 for the average homeowner — was caused by the high number of tax appeals, according to Mayor Janet Sobkowicz. Councilman Joe D'Urso said that tax appeals have cost the town almost $1 million over the past three years. Township officials have planned to undergo a revaluation this year. The average township homeowner will also see a rise of an additonal $20 for school taxes. The Westwood Regional Board of Education approved …
John Q. Citizen
3:19 pm on Thursday, June 13, 2013
The real question is how much money did we waste on renting one while we were arguing over how much to spend on a new one?????????? more ›