Volume117 Number 15 THURSDAY, APRIL 15, 2004 75 Cents Budget, board seats on ballot By Harry Trumbore tablish their credentials in the of The Item eyes of voters, most recently on Tuesday night before the When they go to the polls on Wyoming PTO. Tuesday, voters will determine Two forums remain for candi- the outcome of the first contested dates. A presentation for special school board election in three education interests will be held years. tonight at 7 p.m. in the second The status of the proposed floor meeting room of the Mill- $64.6 million budget for the burn Free Public Library. The 2004-05 school year is also very school district’s PTOs and PTAs much in the voters’ hands. will bring the candidates togeth- The portion of revenues to be er Friday at 9:45 a.m. at the raised by local taxes—the public library. amount voters will see on their During the race, Camitta, who ballots Tuesday—will be $56.1 is seeking a third term as a board million. Last year, voters ap- member, emphasized her dili- proved raising $51.2 million in gence working on board busi- taxes by the narrow margin of ness, particularly in shaping the less than 200 votes. Student Liaison Committee, If approved, taxes on the aver- which she says has created a age township home assessed at fresh exchange of ideas between $763,300 will rise $569, an in- the student body and school ad- Eveline Speedie/staff photographer crease of 8 percent over last year. ministrators. Running for three seats on the Camitta reminded the audi- SMART GROWTH?—Hemlock Road resident Andrew Per- prized little pocket of nature, is endangered by Planning board that carry full three-year ence at the Wyoming forum the mison stands on his 2-acre property in the Hartshorn sec- Board decisions such as the one made last week, granting terms are Debra Camitta, Lee school district was not responsi- tion of the township. Permison said his neighborhood, a a minor subdivision on Hemlock. See story, Page A2. Goldman, Carol Marcus, Alfred ble for the recent reassessment Mazzorana and Brenda White. on township real estate that con- Camitta and Marcus are board tributed to higher property taxes. incumbents. She also said board attempts to Joshua Scharf and Kim Smith communicate better with the Democrats name Baer third are running for a seat held by public have included scheduling board member Marcy Kadin, regular board meetings at each who is resigning with two years school. remaining in her term. If elected, Goldman hopes to candidate for Committee seat Since the campaign began a be a healing influence on the month and a half ago, the seven board. He has criticized the “ac- By Eveline Speedie tiatives can be advanced.” mittee and Dan is a proven leader candidates have submitted to in- cusatory manner” with which of The Item He stressed safety as another who will be a valuable asset to our terviews, written essays and at- issue in his campaign, saying he township.” tended numerous forums to es- Continued on Page B1 This year’s Township Commit- would seek to minimize traffic Baer has been active in civic af- tee election officially became a and pedestrian conflicts near the fairs in the township, having contested race Monday, with the schools and access corridors. Ac- served on the DMDA board. He announcement that a third person cording to Baer, improving traffic was active on the organization’s Local school tax levy has stepped forward to vie for and pedestrian flows within the Long Range Planning Committee one of two seats that will fall downtown area would enable vis- and is a member of the Vision Budget total: vacant Dec. 31. itors to take advantage of the array Committee. 2003 $59,681,826 Daniel Jay Baer, a resident for of shopping opportunities, and in- Among his accomplishments, 2004 $64,671,339 (proposed) 14 years, will run on the Democ- crease revenues as well. he cites his involvement in the de- ratic ticket. A consultant on “We’re very pleased to have velopment and approval of the Amount to be raised for the general fund balance: urban/transportation planning, Daniel Baer as the Democratic Downtown Master Plan. He 2003 $51,235,212 Baer said an area his campaign candidate for the Township Com- points to his development of a fi- 2004 $56,172,922 (proposed) will target will be the downtown. mittee,” said Nicholas F. Romano nancial strategy for the DMDA to “Recognizing the Millburn- Jr., chairman of the Democratic identify funding opportunities to Increase in total school tax levy over previous year: Short Hills downtown area and Committee. “After a long absence, implement portions of the Down- 2003 9.46 percent the train stations are economic this marks the fourth consecutive town Master Plan and said he de- 2004 9.66 percent engines for the township, this year that our party has run a can- veloped, in conjunction with Tim- will be one of my primary cam- didate for Township Committee. othy Gordon, the township’s busi- Average assessment of township home: paign issues,” Baer said. “These Dan has been very active in the ness administrator, the downtown 2003 $754,221 areas define the image of the Downtown Millburn Develop- shoppers survey for the traffic 2004 $763,300 township. I will be looking at op- Daniel Jay Baer ment Alliance (DMDA) and the calming project. portunities to increase ratables “I have worked on numerous main focus of his campaign will A member of the American In- Tax rate per $100 of home’s assessed value: and revenue through creative and economic development opportu- be the revitalization of the down- stitute of Certified Planners, Baer 2003 $0.89 (10.2 point increase over previous year) alternative sources to progress nities around the country where town area.” has a bachelor of arts degree in 2004 $0.965 (7.5 point increase over previous year) the goals and objectives of the project funding was derived Romano said Baer’s candidacy public policy and advanced de- Downtown Master Plan.” through a number of sources,” he “has already caused quite a posi- grees in urban planning. Increase in taxes on average township home: Baer sees the pursuit of alter- said. “Such funding could be tive stir among both Democrats Married for 13 years, he and his 2003 $769 (13 percent higher than previous year) native funding sources as a used to augment local revenues and Republicans.” According to wife, Jennifer, have two children, 2004 $569 (8 percent higher than previous year) means to augment local rev- so that elements of the Down- Romano, “People are looking for Arlynn and Leah, who attend enues. town Master Plan and other ini- another strong voice on the Com- South Mountain School. Main Street meters are back By Patricia Harris ed for southbound cars turning of The Item left from Main Street onto Mill- burn Avenue. In addition, a sign Four parking spaces on Main has been installed designating Street in the downtown are being the right lane at the corner of Old returned to use following a Short Hills Road and Essex narrow vote by the Township Street for right hand turns only. Committee at its April 8 session. The restoration comes after a The metered spaces, located public hearing that lasted nearly on the west side of the block just an hour and a half and involved north of Millburn Avenue, had about a dozen business and prop- been temporarily removed last erty owners and a handful of res- summer in anticipation of con- idents. Approximately 30 people struction projects in the down- came out for the discussion, and town. At the time, Committee a steady stream of speakers came members planned to lift the pro- forward to argue for reinstate- Jim Connelly/staff photographer hibition by Oct. 15. ment. They cited the benefits of DUST CLOUD—James Colabelli of the Millburn High Up until last week, however, providing parking to as many as School varsity baseball team dives back to first base on the spaces had not been restored. 80 shoppers a day as well as cre- Eveline Speedie/staff photographer a pick-off play in Saturday afternoon’s Phil Krug Memo- In their deliberations, Committee ating a buffer to slow traffic trav- GOT CHANGE?—Following last Thursday’s Township Com- rial Tournament contest. Taking the throw is Governor members weighed the altered eling through the center of town. mittee meeting, four parking spaces were returned to the Livingston first baseman Jason Hollowell. Millburn won traffic patterns in the downtown “Those parking spaces are a western side of Main Street, between Essex Street and Mill- the game 6-2. See Page C1 for story, more photos. as a result of resignalization. lifeline to all businesses,” said burn Avenue, first thing Monday morning. Motorists dodged With the resignalization project, cones—unsuccessfully at times—that were set in place while a left turn arrow has been provid- Continued on Page D8 the restriping paint dried. Please recycle. At least 15% recycled pape Inside : Town historian cited, Page A3. Millers spoil Roof’s return. See Page C1. Classified D9-D11 Education B1-B11 Movies A11 Public Notices D8 Social A8,A9 For home delivery, Editorial A4 Entertainment A10-A12 Obituaries A7 Religious news A6,A7 Sports C1-C12 phone (973) 233-5005 Page A2 Thursday, April 15, 2004 THE ITEM of Millburn and Short Hills www.theitemonline.com Man hospitalized after traffic accident Old Short Hills Road. were found to be pried open, ac- By Harry Trumbore of The Item No one was reported injured in cording to reports.