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GOVERNING BODY INTRODUCES 2003 WEST CALDWELL BUDGET The Mayor and Council introduced the 2003 Township Budget on Tuesday, March 11, 2003. “Although the Budget calls for a four point increase in the municipal tax rate, we have submitted a formidable application to the State of New Jersey for Extraordinary Aid,” said Councilman Richard Norgard. “It is essential that our State government recognize that communities who have a strong track record of stable budgets be recognized when faced with cost increases beyond local control,” added Norgard, “A favorable response from the State could significantly reduce or eliminate this increase.” “This budget , which will cost the average taxpayer an additional $7 per month, covers costs for police and fire protection, garbage collections, sewerage treatment, snow removal, vehicle and facilities maintenance as well as the library and recreation programs,” Mayor Tempesta said. “Less than 20% of your total tax bill is utilized to provide all of these services,” he added. Finance Chairman Norgard said, “The 2003 Budget accounts for ongoing PBA negotiations, medical benefit expenses, new police dispatchers, an increase in debt service payments, an increase in snow removal costs and the Reserve for uncollected taxes. We are also trying to consolidate and share more municipal services with some of the surrounding towns to further reduce our operating costs.”, Councilman Norgard added. The public hearing on the 2003 Municipal Budget is scheduled for Tuesday, April 15, 2003 at 8:00 PM in Council Chambers. SPRING HYDRANT FLUSHING Councilman Dominick Aiello, Chairman of the Water Committee announced that Spring Hydrant Flushing has begun. Work began on Monday, March 24 on Mountain Avenue at the northern end of the Township and will conclude at the southern end of the Township at Beechtree Road. This will take approximately eight weeks to complete and will be performed week nights between the hours of 9:00 PM and 1:00 AM. Flushing is necessary for proper maintenance of our water distribution system. It provides an opportunity to test the Township’s fire hydrants and also removes accumulated sediment from water mains. It is especially important this year, since drought regulations prevented our regular Fall flushing. Please check to be sure water is running clear before starting any laundry during this time. Tune in to TV Channel 36 for updates and progress reports. FIRE DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCEMENT Councilman Ned Rosenberg, Public Safety Committee Chairman, wants to advise residents that within the next several weeks, the Township of West Caldwell will be reactivating our four emergency alert sirens. These sirens are an important alternative means of notifying the Township’s volunteer fire fighters in the event of a fire. The sirens also have the ability to notify residents of other emergencies. We have just completed renovating these along with the new technology improvements at Police Headquarters. The sirens will typically be used only for fire alarms that occur between the hours of 8:00 AM and 8:00 PM. POLICE DEPARTMENT NEWS The West Caldwell Police Department announced the retirement of Captain Robert Heinis after 27 years of dedicated service to the Township. We wish Bob all the best! We are also pleased to report that Lieutenant Michael Bramhall has been promoted to the position of Captain. There will be upcoming promotions in the Police Department for the ranks of Lieutenant and Sergeant as well. One of West Caldwell’s finest, Patrolman Michael Orr, has been re-called to active service for possible action in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Our thoughts and prayers are with him. Councilman Rosenberg, also announced a joint effort with the Borough of Caldwell for Public Safety Dispatching. In the near future, all calls for police, fire and ambulance service in both Caldwell and West Caldwell, will be conducted from the West Caldwell Police Headquarters. West Caldwell residents will see no changes in their contact with the Department other than telephone calls may now be answered by professionally trained communications dispatchers, instead of sworn Police Officers as in years past. WEST CALDWELL DPW FACES BLIZZARD Public Works Committee Chairman, Bill Payne complimented the West Caldwell DPW for an outstanding job of cleaning the Township’s streets of the twenty four inches of snow that accumulated during the President’s Day Holiday Weekend. From February 16 to February 28, 2003 a total of 1108 man hours were spent on plowing our streets, removing snow from intersections and crosswalks and opening the driveways and parking lots for all of the schools. Also, hundreds of catch basins were cleared to prevent flooding from the subsequent rainfall. The storm cost West Caldwell over $22,000 in overtime, about 63% of our entire 2003 DPW overtime budget. CENTENNIAL LOGO CONTEST WINNERS Three West Caldwell residents were recognized for their entries in the Township’s Centennial logo contest at the March 18, 2003 Public Meeting of the Mayor and Council, according to Councilman Bill Payne, Chairman of the Centennial Committee. A First Place award of a $200 U.S. Savings Bond went to Mrs. Akiko Tawarada-Axe, a Washington School parent. Her entry depicts the Township logo, set within the Centennial number 100. The Second Place entry of James Caldwell senior, Nicole Sorhagen, depicts the historical Crane House on Westville Avenue set within a wide banded circle. Third Place went to Elena Okrugina, also a senior at JCHS. Her entry, set within a stylized diamond shape, depicts the Old Borough Hall on the corner of Fairfield Avenue and Clinton Road. Second and Third Place entries received a $100 savings bond each. Each logo includes the Centennial Year dates 1904-2004 and the Centennial slogan “A Great Past - A Promising Future.” The Savings Bonds were donated by Zoran Levajac, West Caldwell Manager of Commerce Bank on Passaic Avenue. Councilman Payne also presented each with a memento “T” shirt with their winning design printed across the front. LIBRARY NEWS “A New Chapter”, the Library’s renovation and expansion project, continues moving forward. Several major areas of the Library are now closed off to patron and staff. These include the Children’s Department, the Circulation area, and some of the “behind the scenes” areas. But this has certainly not hindered providing a high level of services to all our patrons! Although the building is busy with construction activity, patrons continue to use the Library to their fullest advantage. New work taking shape includes the Library’s meeting room and the shell of the new bow window, both visible from the outside of the building. New windows have been installed throughout the entire facility and new lighting fixtures can be seen at the Library entrance. The Library staff encourages patrons to continue using the services during the construction period.
The staff of the West Caldwell Public Library
would like to thank all of our patrons for their In the Children’s Room. . . . . This year’s Summer Reading Program theme is “Read and Grow @ Your Library”. The summer reading program will kick off on June 23 and run through August 15. Please contact the Library for additional information. FRIENDS OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY Be sure to renew your membership in the Friends. This year members have an added benefit of a 20% discount on all in-stock books at Book World in West Caldwell. Application forms for new members are available at the circulation desk. JUST A REMINDER . . . . The 2nd Quarter 2003 taxes are due May 1, 2003. Any payments received in the Tax Office on or before Monday, May 12, 2003 will not be charged delinquent interest. If you are mailing your payment, please mail early to ensure receipt on or before the 12th. Postmarks can not be accepted. If you have any questions, please call 973-226-2304. NEW HUD GRANTS The Township of West Caldwell is anticipating a new HUD Grant of $95,000 for the improvement of bus shelters on Bloomfield Avenue and Kirkpatrick Lane. The Bloomfield Avenue shelter will be coordinated with the proposed Streetscape Project for which the Township has been awarded a $250,000 Federal Grant! IT’S TIME TO JOIN THE POOL “Cedar Street and Westville Pool memberships are now available,” announced Councilman Joseph Fischer. A membership entitles you to use both pools, and applications are available at the Municipal Building. Badges will not be available at the pools. They must be picked up at the Municipal Building Monday through Friday 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM and Monday evenings 4:30 PM - 8:30 PM. The Pool Season begins on May 24, the Saturday before Memorial Day, with weekend only openings until schools close for the Summer. NEW MANAGER AT WESTVILLE POOL At Westville Pool this year, residents will see a new face. Chris West will be replacing Kim Engler as Pool Manager. Best wishes to Kim. We would like to thank her for all her years of dedicated service to our members. ORTON ROAD WATER MAIN Councilman Dominick Aiello announced that bids were received for a new 12-inch water transmission main in Westville Avenue and Orton Road. Work is expected to begin this Spring with completion anticipated by late Summer or early Fall. MEMORIAL DAY PARADE Councilman Joseph Fischer is pleased to announce that the annual West Essex Memorial Day Parade will be held Monday, May 26. The Parade will commence at 9:30 AM from Forest Avenue in Caldwell, journey the length of Bloomfield Avenue, and conclude at Crane Park in West Caldwell. Convertible automobiles are needed for the parade. Any volunteers wishing to drive their convertible in the parade are requested to call Recreation at 973-226-3621. HEALTH DEPARTMENT The West Caldwell Health Department has a full slate of spring health clinics and programs. Residents are invited to attend the following events: Spring Health Day will be offered to all West Caldwell residents at the Fairfield Community Center, 376 Hollywood Avenue, Fairfield, on April 15. All residents may come between 9:00 AM and 12:00 PM to receive a range of free or reduced cost health screenings including CHEM 23 with Hemogram & Lipid Profile, Vision Screening, Stroke Assessment, Osteoporosis Screening, Breast/Prostate Cancer Awareness, etc. Some screenings have associated fees and require pre-registration. Please call 973-226-2303 for more information. The Health Department also provides a free blood pressure screening on the second Thursday of each month at the West Caldwell Public Library. Residents can meet with a Health Department nurse between 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM to have their blood pressure checked, and may discuss their concerns about hypertension and other cardiovascular risks. Residents are reminded that there is no blood pressure screening in July or August. There are other Health Department activities slated for Spring. Please take advantage of the following activities for better health!
Male Cancer Screening
- Men age 40 and Older
Female Cancer Screening -
Women Age 18 and Older STATE AID ROAD GRANT The Township has been awarded a $190,000 Grant to resurface Ravine Avenue, Crossbrook Lane and a portion of Fairfield Avenue. The Ravine Avenue project will be coordinated with similar work in Caldwell. Work is anticipated for the Summer of 2003. “PET PEEVES” Councilwoman Jane Cook, Chairman of the Legal Committee, reminds all pet owners that West Caldwell has a Pooper Scooper Ordinance. With the heavy winter snows this year dog owners and dog walkers may not be observing West Caldwell’s Ordinance 9-8.8. Leaving dog droppings on a neighbor’s sidewalk, lawn or in the street is not only illegal, it creates a health hazard and is unsightly. We urge dog owners to clean up after their pets and be a good neighbor. RECREATION INFORMATION The Youth Basketball for grades 2 through 8 enjoyed the year as more than 800 boys and girls played on 65 teams. 125 volunteers donated their time and efforts as coaches. Our Congratulations to the 6th grade girls, Champions of the Suburban Basketball League. Also, the Junior Wrestling Team was once again the Essex County Champs. Our Baseball and Softball fields will soon be quite busy. More than 700 children will participate this year. Youth Track participants, grades 3 - 8, may still sign-up at the Recreation Office. The Slo-Pitch Adult Softball League is now organizing. Residents seeking to participate may call Recreation at 973-226-3621 and their name will be added to the “players list” which is distributed to the team managers. The traditional Egg Hunt is Saturday, April 12 at Richard Park for pre-schoolers through 3rd grade. The Caldwell-West Caldwell Senior Citizens Club is interested in enrolling new members. Meetings are conducted the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month, and held at the Harrison Administration Building on Gray Street in West Caldwell. Local Seniors wishing to secure membership, or to obtain further details about the Caldwell-West Caldwell Club can do so by calling Club Officer, Terry Caruso at 973-228-4281.
rev. 10/14/04
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