The Mayor and Council introduced the FY 2005 Township Budget on Tuesday, March 8, 2005.

“The 15.4 million dollar budget reflects an increase of $557,000 over the 2004 spending plan,” stated Mayor Tempesta. “Pension bills, insurance, garbage collection and disposal fees, retirement benefits and a pending contract agreement are the major appropriations affecting the 2005 Municipal Budget.”

“We will also need an additional $81,000 for the Reserve for Uncollected Taxes to cover any increase in school, county or municipal tax levies,” the Mayor added.

According to Finance Chairman Richard Norgard, “The Governing Body is anticipating the same surplus as in 2004 even though the balance available decreased by $123,000. State aid is not increasing and even with an increase of $137,000 in local revenues, total revenues are $220,000 under the 2004 budget revenues.”

“The Mayor and Council have submitted an application to the State requesting $850,000 in Extraordinary Aid to cover any municipal tax increase,” Councilman Norgard concluded.

The public hearing on the 2005 Municipal Budget is scheduled for Tuesday, May 17 at 8:00 PM in the Council Chambers.

ROAD RECONSTRUCTION GRANT

Councilman Bill Payne, Public Works Chairman, reported that West Caldwell has received a $275,000 grant for the reconstruction of Johnson Avenue - Section 1. Mayor Tempesta and the Council recently met with residents of Johnson Avenue to review the details of the construction plans. This work will include drainage improvements as well as new granite block curbing. Work is anticipated to start during the Summer of 2005.

SPRING HYDRANT FLUSHING

Councilman Joseph Fischer, Water Committee Chairman, announced that Spring Hydrant Flushing is underway. Work began on Monday, March 28, on Mountain Avenue (at the northern end of the Township) and will conclude at Beechtree Road (the southern end of the Township). Flushing will take approximately eight weeks to complete and will be performed week nights between the hours of 9:00 PM and 1:00 AM. This work 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.

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.

HEALTH DEPARTMENT

Councilman Ned Rosenberg announced that our Spring Health Day, will be held April 13 from 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM at the Harrison School Building on Gray Street. Representatives from the Health Department, Chilton Memorial Hospital and Medical Laboratory Diagnostics will be on hand to provide residents with a variety of health screenings and information, including a health panel (also known as CHEM 23), thyroid test, prostate cancer PSA test, Lyme disease screening and more. In addition, medical staff will be offering free blood pressure checks, eye exams, weight and nutrition counseling, and other health services. Pre-registration is required for all blood screenings. Costs for the blood chemistry screenings vary. Visit the Health Department at 30 Clinton Road to register, or call 973-226-2303 for more information.

Residents are invited to attend a free Diabetes Screening on Thursday, April 14 from 9:00 - 11:00 AM. The screening will be held at the West Caldwell Public Library, 30 Clinton Road. Please call 973-226-2303 for more information.

The Health Department will be holding its Male Cancer Screening from 5:30 - 7:00 PM on May 5. The screening will be offered at the West Caldwell Public Library, 30 Clinton Road. The screening will include blood pressure check, hemoccult test kit, PSA blood test, digital rectal exam and health education/materials. Pre-registration and a $20 fee is required. Please call the Health Department at 973-226-2303 for more details.

Residents are encouraged to attend the Health Department’s Spring health education programs. A program on Diabetes will be offered from 7:00 - 8:00 PM on April 21, and a Puppet Show on Tobacco, Asthma and Medicine Safety will be featured from 7:00 - 8:00 PM on May 19. Both programs will be held at the West Caldwell Public Library, 30 Clinton Road, and are free to all residents!

Come out for a free Skin Cancer Screening on Wednesday, August 3, from 1:00 - 3:00 PM. This important health screening will be held at the Westville Pool, located on Westville Avenue, and will include a full body examination by a Chilton Memorial Hospital dermatologist.

The Health Department continues to offer its free monthly Blood Pressure Screening on the second Wednesday of each month, from 9:00 – 11:00 AM, at the West Caldwell Public Library, 30 Clinton Road. Residents are invited to meet with nurses for a blood pressure check and education about hypertension, heart disease and risk factors. No blood pressure checks will be held in July or August.

LIBRARY NEWS

Poet Diane Lockward will read from her latest book of verse, Eve in a Red Dress, on Monday evening, April 18 at 7:30 PM.

Meet the Author: Malachy McCourt, celebrated author and actor, will talk about his latest book, Malachy McCourt’s History of Ireland, on Tuesday evening, April 19 at 7:30 PM. Staff of Book World will sell his books after the lecture, which Mr. McCourt has graciously agreed to autograph.

Beyond the Pages: An Afternoon of Entertainment is a monthly Library event. On April 12 at 1:00 PM, professional pianist Marty Yospe will perform a repertoire of classical and popular music.

The West Caldwell Public Library is conducting an oral history project in an attempt to gather and preserve the memories and experiences of local residents during World War II. Our Veterans are now meeting twice a month, to record their experiences for our Local History collection. We are also interested in hearing from those on the home front during the war years. Please share your experiences with us and future generations. Meetings are every other Thursday at 2:00 PM; March 31, April 14 and April 28.

The grand opening of our Local History and Genealogy Room is planned for Saturday, April 23, 2005 at 2:00 PM. Local genealogical specialists Beverly Crifasi, of the West Caldwell Historical Society and Phil Hessinger will present a beginners course on genealogy. Their presentation will be followed by a tour of the Local History Room.

In April, the Friday Afternoon Movies will be those selected by patrons. They are:

April 15 - Sense and Sensibility

April 22 - Sleepless in Seattle

April 29 - To Have and Have Not

In the Children’s Room. . . . . 

Spring is just around the corner and so are many special programs for children. Children, ages 5-7, are invited to a Bedtime Story and Craft program on Thursday, April 14 at 7:00 PM. On Saturday, April 16 children, ages 5-7, can find our “How My Garden Grows”, a program featuring stories and a craft all about gardening. On April 26 at 7:00 PM, The Lizard Guys will be visiting the Library to talk about and show off a wide variety of animals. Registration is required for all these programs.

Mark your calendars for the start of our 2005 Summer Reading Program, “Dragons, Dreams & Daring Deeds” for children ages 3 and up, and our program for teens, “Joust Read” which begins on Monday, June 27, 2005. Detailed information will be available in mid-May.

For further information, please contact the Youth Services Department at 973-226-5441.

POOL MEMBERSHIPS AVAILABLE

Councilman Joseph Fischer, Chairman of the Pool Committee, announced that memberships are now available at the Municipal Building Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM, plus 4:30 PM to 8:30 PM Monday evenings. A membership entitles individuals to use either the Westville Avenue or Cedar Street Pool facilities throughout the Summer. Pool prices will remain the same as last year. Join early to take advantage of the early membership discount pricing. Call (973) 226-2300 for further information.

Pool season begins on Saturday, May 28 with weekend only openings until schools close, and then pools will be open every day.

Also, watch for on-line registration forms . . . coming soon

POLICE ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ANNOUNCED

Our Detective Bureau, including Detective Sgt. Moran and Detectives Bryant and Kopf, were recognized by Verona Public Safety Director Doug Huber for their work on a special task force which apprehended a burglary suspect. Their efforts helped solve open cases in several area communities.

On February 28, 2005, Lieutenant Joseph Theobald and Lieutenant Stephen Manning retired from the Police Department. Lts. Theobald and Manning served more than 28 and 25 years, respectively. We wish them well in their future endeavors.

FIRE DEPARTMENT INFORMATION

The West Caldwell Volunteer Fire Department has recently purchased a fire safety house trailer with grant funding, reported Public Safety Chairman Dominick Aiello. The trailer is designed to help people understand the basic elements of home fire prevention and escape skills. It also features a residential sprinkler demonstration area, which shows the value of installing a residential fire sprinkler system in the home. The fire safety house was purchased through a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The trailer will be used to educate the public in West Caldwell and the surrounding area.

Our Volunteer Fire Department is currently looking for members. If you are at least 18 years of age and have a desire to serve our community we encourage you to contact the Department for more information.

The West Caldwell Volunteer Fire Department is now on-line. Please visit us at www.wcvfd.org.

For more information about these, or any other Fire Department matter, please contact Fire Chief John Medina at 973-226-2300 or send an e-mail to chief@wcvfd.org.

RECREATION HIGHLIGHTS

Councilwoman Rosemarie Sutherlin announced that the Slo-Pitch Adult Softball League is forming. Residents who want to play may call recreation to have their names added to the “players list”, which is distributed to team managers. Last year 17 teams participated in the A & B divisions.

Our Youth Track Program will soon be up and running for children in grades 3 through 8. Participants can still sign-up at the Recreation Office.

The first-pitch for baseball and softball season is set for Saturday, April 16. About 600 boys and girls have signed up and are ready for an enjoyable season.

Summer Program flyers are being distributed through local schools and are available online at www.westcaldwell.com. Summer Playgrounds have limited space. Please call now for information. The Recreation Office will be open for a special late night registration on Tuesday, May 3 and Wednesday, May 4 from 6:30 to 8:00 PM.

Additional programs on tap for the summer include: Teen Splash Parties, Youth Swim Team, July 4^th Fireworks, Hometown Sports Clinic, Open Basketball Play, Senior Citizen Pool Luncheons, Teen Adventure Road Trips, and Youth All-Star Travel Baseball and Softball Teams. Stay informed about upcoming events at www.westcaldwell.com and click on the “Recreation” link.

This year the Youth Basketball for grades 2 through 8 had more than 600 children playing on 56 teams. A special thanks to the 115 volunteers who shared their time and effort as coaches. Highlights of the season included: Girls 6^th Grade and Boys 6^th Grade Travel Teams winning the Suburban Basketball League.

MEMORIAL DAY PARADE

The annual West Essex Memorial Day Parade will be held Monday, May 30, announced Councilwoman Rosemarie Sutherlin. The parade will step off at 9:30 AM from Forest Avenue in Caldwell and travel down Bloomfield Avenue and conclude at Crane Park in West Caldwell. Nominations for Grand Marshall for the Parade will be taken at the Recreation Office. Organizations wishing to march in the parade should call Recreation at 973-226-3621 to secure a registration form. NOTE: Convertible automobiles are needed for the parade. Any volunteers wishing to drive their convertible in the parade are requested to call.

CONSTRUCTION PERMITS & INSPECTIONS

Pursuant to the NJ Uniform Construction Code (UCC), the owner of a property, or other responsible person in charge of work, is required to notify the Building Department when work performed under a building permit has been completed. The UCC also requires that a final inspection be performed before a certificate can be issued. A certificate must be issued to close out every permit. To protect the consumer, a separate New Jersey law states that final inspections are required before final payment is made to the contractor. In many cases, residents and/or contractors never call for a final inspection. If you believe you have an open permit, please contact the Building Department at 973-226-2302 to schedule a final inspection.

NEW WATER METER SYSTEM

Councilman Joseph Fischer announced that all homes in the Township now have water meters that are read by radio frequency. We can now read all meters without entering your home or even walking across your lawn! In 1987 it took Township employees 25 full days to read the meters in West Caldwell. In 1990, when exterior remote readers were installed it took employees 9 days. Now, it takes only 1 day to read the entire Township of 3800 accounts!

REVERSE 911

Council President Dominick Aiello recently announced an upgrade to the Township of West Caldwell’s Community Alert System (also referred to as “Reverse 911"). The system will, upon activation, call residents in a selected area (or the entire Township) and play a recorded message. It will also leave a message on most voice mail systems. If you receive a call from the West Caldwell Community Alert System your caller ID will read Community Alert 973-439-0402.

Our data base includes all listed telephone numbers. If you would like to add an unlisted number or a cell phone number, please call us at 973-226-2301 with that information. You can also e-mail us at alert@westcaldwell.com. Since our e-mail systems have aggressive filters to block spam, please ask for an electronic receipt to make sure we receive your e-mail.

WEST CALDWELL HISTORY BOOK

Councilman Bill Payne, Centennial Committee Chairman, requests residents interested in purchasing a copy of The West Caldwell Centennial History Book to contact the Municipal Building at 973-226-2300.

The Committee expects the book to be available in the next few months and would like to develop a list of potential subscribers. Appropriate purchase forms and cost information will be mailed directly to interested individuals.