Housing in the Meadowlands? Officials Fear That the Door Is Left Open for a 'Mini-City' by the Complex
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•• WdKngton • Tetoiboro • Wood-Ridge • Caiiskxk cost KURMrford * £ tvaxtt "Pulse of the Meadawtand**" LOOK INSIDE Dining Guide Page B8 Established 1894 www.LeadorNewspapers.net Thursday, August 19, 2010 More housing in the Meadowlands? Officials fear that the door is left open for a 'mini-city' by the complex By John Soltes recently spoke of the financial to all of the municipalities in the ate at this site and we need to receive the greatest impact from EDITOR IN CHIEF advantages of adding a housing county, asking local governing make sure our voices are heard." housing at the complex, believes component in the Meadowlands, bodies to endorse the measure. Not every town in South Bergen any proposal that considers add- HACKENSACK — If it were up according to news reports. His For McPherson, the local area has adopted the resolution. ing residents is the wrong avenue to most of the public officials in the comments, and the conceptual needs to be unified in its response. to take. South Bergen area, housing would plans to privatize some of the 'There is a disturbing pattern with East Rutherford perspective "I think that's probably the be taken off the suggestion list for public assets at the complex, how the Christie administration Although Hanson's report worst idea I've heard coming from the future of the Meadowlands such as the racetrack and IZOD is dealing with Bergen County," never expressly mentions housing, anybody," Cassella said. "If there Sports Complex. But, realistically, Center, prompted Bergen County McPherson said in a recent inter- it does lay the groundwork for pri- was a list of 100 things to do down is "a mini-city with 5 million square Freeholder Bernadette McPherson view with The Leader. "Plans and vate interests to take over the con- there, I would put that on the feel of housing" an option for the to draft a resolution calling for the policies are formulated with a troversial area, widi few apparent bottom of the list. I would rather tract of land in the eastern portion abandonment of "any plan for direct impact on Bergen County, zoning obstacles on the horizon. have a garbage dump than more of East Rutherford? housing in the Meadowlands." but without any consideration for Hanson, who was on vacation, housing." Jon F. Hanson, who heads Gox. The resolution, passed almost the consequences or the costs. ... was unavailable for further com- The State of New Jersey cur- Chris Christie's advisory commis- unanimously by the Bergen County Anyone who actually lives here ment. sion on gaming, sports and enter- Board of Chosen Freeholders knows what a disaster 5,000 units East Rutherford Mayor James Please see HOUSING on tainment throughout the state, Wednesday, Aug. 4, was forwarded of high-density housing would cre- Cassella, whose municipality would PageA7 Lax BRHS students Police director gets contract, car By Susan C. Moeller in the pension system. As a former SENIOR REPORTKR police officer, Thompson already has may face probation a pension. RUTHERFORD — Rutherford's Up until now, Thompson has By Chris Neidenberg They will have to stay until civilian police director, John taken 20 vacation days per year, he 7 REPORTER teachers certify they have Thompson, and the borough's gov- said. The practice drew fire from shown performance at levels erning body agreed Tuesday, Aug. 10 some council members, notably EAST RUTHERFORD — no longer requiring the extra to a new set of contract terms for the Maura Keyes, who lost her 2009 re- Seriously underperforming schoolwork. Thus, enter- next three years. The council voted election bid. Before leaving office, students, failing to maintain ing this academic purgatory 4 to 2 in favor of the contract, with Keyes questioned Thompson's use of certain academic standards, doesn't mean students must Councilwoman Kimberly Birdsall and vacation time when his original terms can expect a longer school remain there the entire year. Councilman John Parnofiello, both of employment did not allocate any day for at least some of the Educators are ironing Democrats, dissenting. days off. 2010-11 school year. out details with Principal The contract is Thompson's first Birdsall, in a phone interview with The concept is called David Mango as to how as director of the police department. FILE PHOTO The, Leader, echoed Keyes' sentiment. "academic probation," and many class sections will ini- Until now, the terms of his employ- Rutherford Police Director John Thompson The police director's position was affected students will eventu- tially be needed. But Interim ment have been governed by ordi- not supposed to come with benefits, ally have to attend an extra Superintendent of Schools nance only. using one since he started the job, he Birdsall said. So, giving Thompson ninth "tutoring" period, start- Paul Saxton assured incom- Borough Administrator Corey said, noting that he has access to a car benefits now is "contradictory." ing at 2:30 p.m. It will last 27 ing eighth-graders from East Gallo recommended the council from the fleet all the time. Birdsall said she was also against minutes. Rutherford and Carlstadt, at formalize the terms of Thompson's The contract further stipulates the creation of the position, which Those with at least a "D" such lax performance levels, employment with a contract, accord- that Thompson will receive a total was hailed as a cost-saving alternative average or worse in any will start almost immediately. ing to Councilman John Genovesi, of 19 vacation days and 15 paid sick to a police chief. Further, restructur- during a phone interview with The ing the department with a director course, or who are judged Saxton and Mango out- days per year. In 2011, Thompson ; only "partially-proficient" in lined the objectives of the leader. will receive 16 vacation days. He is has not delivered the kind of efficien- areas needed to pass their program at the board's Specifically, Thompson will con- not entitled for reimbursement of cies that were promised. upcoming High School Aug. 11 meeting. They were tinue to receive the $82,000 salary he unused time when he retires. Genovesi disagreed with Birdsall Proficiency Assessments, can expected to meet with the has drawn since he started work in Thompson volunteered, like the on both points. Abolishing the posi- expect to stay after school. high school's education com- May 2008. According to the contract, borough's other non-police union tion of police chief and substituting a HSPA measures perfor- mittee Aug. 18 to begin the Thompson will also have the use employees, to take 20 furlough days, director at $82,000 per year has saved mance in two sections: lan- final implementation stage. of a borough vehicle "solely for the every Friday beginning Aug. 20 and the borough $100,000, he said. guage arts and math. Students In a later phone interview, performance of his duties." The bor- continuing until the end of the year, Thompson has done "an excellent must be rated "proficient" in Saxton noted the program ough will pay for fuel, maintenance Genovesi pointed out. job," Genovesi added. The depart- each to pass — and (along and insurance. Additionally, the director's com- ment has been running very well." with receiving diplomas) Please see BECTON on The provision of a borough vehi- pensation package does not include graduate. PageA5 cle is not new. Thompson has been any health benefits or enrollment Call Susan at 201-438-8700 Courses Begin September 8 at the Main Campus m Paramus and October 4 at Bergen Community Be Bergen. College at the Meadowlands For more information, call Begin your future. Register today for fall courses. (201)447-7195 or (201) 460-0610 Register online at go.bergen.edu A2 THE LEADER POLICE BLOTTER SfcTILL The information below is compiled a physical altercation Monday, Aug. Thefts ^fom local police blotters, as thai infor- 9. One of the combatants was taken RUTHERFORD — A 21-year-old •* motion is made available, and is not to the hospital to be treated after he Ireland native reported that his wal- ^intended to give a full description of every was punched in the face. No com- let, containing $75 and identifica- criminal incident in the local area. plaints were filed. tion, was stolen while he was attend- RUTHERFORD — A Rutherford ing a pool party at a Sylvan Street resident reported Wednesday, Aug. residence. The wallet was last seen Body found 11 at 2:22 a.m. that he had been in the man's pants, which were left LYNDHURST — The body of a assaulted near Station Square. unattended by the side of the pool. 49-year-old North Arlington female According to the resident, who police WOOD-RIDGE — A resident was found at the Riverside County reported as intoxicated, he was trying reported Tuesday, Aug. 10 that a Park in Lyndhurst on the Passaic to cross the street and was cut off by bicycle valued at $350 had been sto- River bank Sunday, Aug. 15. The a silver SUV with four people inside. len from Marlboro Road. woman had been reported missing The resident reportedly responded earlier in the day by a man who iden- by shouting an expletive. Then the tified himself as her boyfriend and people in the SUV reportedly came Serious accident told police that he had last spoken to back and hit the resident. _the woman at the park on Saturday, WOOD-RIDGE — Police were "according to police. The cause of called to a Moonachie Avenue resi- death is unknown. An autopsy will dence Monday, Aug. 9 on reports 7"be performed. The Bergen County of a domestic dispute. When they ^Prosecutor's Homicide Squad was at arrived, one of the parties appeared •^jhe scene to investigate.