21, 2004 75 Cents
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Volume117 Number 42 THURSDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2004 75 Cents Harry Trumbore/staff photographer ANSWERS WANTED—Township resident Jeffrey Muska rises during the Oct. 14 debate at ADDRESSING THE ISSUES—Mayor Thomas C. McDermott, at the podium, fields a question Wyoming Presbyterian Church to question the three candidates running for two seats on the from the audience during the Oct. 14 candidates’ debate at Wyoming Presbyterian Church. Township Committee in the general election Nov. 2. Approximately 40 residents attended the The two other candidates for two seats on the Township Committee, Daniel Baer and Linda forum, which was sponsored by the Wyoming Civic Association. Seelbach, await their turn to address the issues. Bickering dominates raucous Wyoming debate By Harry Trumbore and each other as well as the candi- velopment of the downtown busi- parties’ candidates on the nation- ing the Master Plan and not adher- ver bullet.” He charged, however, Eveline Speedie dates. ness district was needed to keep al level: Baer answered taxes were ing to it and charged the town- that the Master Plan was devised of The Item Nonetheless, the two incum- the township from losing its com- most important while his Republi- ship’s traffic issues have not been four years ago but that it is only this bents, Mayor Thomas C. McDer- petitive edge to communities such can opponents identified security resolved. Citing his 22 years of year, an election year, that his mott and Committeewoman Linda as Summit and Westfield. as the issue most important. experience in urban planning, he opponents are focusing on it and It was billed as a debate among Z. Seelbach, Republicans, and Seelbach and McDermott, in In his opening remarks, Baer promised he would devise a strate- on relocating Town Hall to obtain the three candidates for two seats challenger Daniel Baer, a Democ- turn, stressed their work in town- charged the township is falling gy to make the downtown com- more ratables. on the Township Committee. rat, struck enough sparks of their ship construction projects, such as behind its competitors—Livingston petitive and correct traffic woes. He said one way to control However, the Oct. 14 forum own as they fielded questions dur- roadwork and drainage programs and Summit—saying his opponents “Why beat the secession township spending was to forge sponsored by the Wyoming Civic ing the evening from debate mod- and flood control projects in the had made promises three years ago drum?” Baer asked. “Under our stronger ties between the Town- Association at the Wyoming Pres- erator Gary Potters and audience South Mountain neighborhood. that they have not kept. noses municipal taxes have risen ship Committee and the Board of byterian Church threatened at members. Asked to identify the most They promised a stable tax rate, 22 percent while at the same time Education. times to become a public free-for- Baer told the audience of important issue facing the town- he said, adding taxes have county taxes went down 2 per- “We need to get the two most all with the some in the audience approximately 40 residents control ship, the candidates answered increased 28 percent instead. Baer cent.” Regarding the Master Plan, firing questions and opinions at of municipal taxes as well as rede- along lines being espoused by their criticized his opponents for adopt- Baer conceded “there’s not one sil- Continued on Page B12 Candidates account for out-of-town funding By Harry Trumbore candidates must identify contribu- said. The firm is primarily based in Nicholas Romano, defended the the Republican team has received McDermott said the Republican of The Item tors who donate $400 or more to Union, he added, where it is work- contribution by the Newark Rede- $16,729 in similar contributions of campaign also received $1,000 their campaigns. ing to renovate the area around the velopment Corporation and said, under $400 by individuals. from township resident Warren Supporters of candidates run- During the debate, Democratic train station. “He’s done business with them and “Our contributions generally Bronsnick through Bronsnick’s ning for the Township Committee challenger Daniel Baer was asked Another contributor to the Baer they like him.” come from residents from town or Piscataway consumer products this year raised the issue of cam- about a $2,000 contribution from campaign is Florham Park resident Romano said it is very hard to businesses in town,” McDermott firm. paign funding during the Oct. 14 the Newark Redevelopment Cor- Lee Abramson, an engineer with raise money for a local campaign said this week. Seelbach responded to criticism debates at Wyoming Presbyterian poration. Baer, a planner and the township firm of Hatch Mott and made the point that to date, Reviewing contributions of by her opponents during the Church with both Republicans and transportation consultant, MacDonald. Baer said he met Baer has raised considerably less more than $400 from outside the debate of an $832 disbursement to Democrats charging their oppo- described the firm as one of many Abramson while working on pro- than his opponents. township, McDermott identified send her to the Republican Con- nents are accepting money from throughout the state with whom jects in New York City and would As of this week, Baer’s total con- the donator of $1,000 from a vention in New York City. She said interests outside the township. he has done business and who sup- definitely recuse himself from any tributions amount to $17,332 com- Florham Park realty firm, Ledan the cost was an appropriate This week, the candidates and ports his candidacy. decisions to be made regarding the pared to $24,229 raised by the Realty, as the owners of Martini’s expense. their campaign organizers sought The company is a private devel- engineering firm, if it does work for Election Fund for McDermott and Bar and Bistro, Ted Stampoulos “It was an honor to be chosen as to clarify the contributions they opment firm based in Union, Baer the township. Seelbach, which supports incum- and his partners. A $500 contribu- a delegate and it makes me a better reported to the New Jersey Elec- said this week. “These are my friends,” Baer bent Republicans Thomas C. tion listed as coming from the 264 candidate,” Seelbach said. “The tion Law Enforcement Commis- “I think they have good focus, said. “They’d like to see me suc- McDermott and Linda Seelbach. Millburn Avenue Association was problem is we run a different kind sion (ELEC). they’re into ‘Smart Growth’ and ceed.” The Baer campaign has received from Gennaro Raimo, owner of According to ELEC regulations, ‘Brown Field’ development,” he Baer’s campaign manager, $4,171 is small donations. To date, ASAP One Hour Photo. Continued on Page B12 Mall’s tax appeal leads Plan for artificial turf town to hire appraiser field put in play again “The time has come for Mill- wake of a 2002 school bond refer- By Patricia Harris Oct. 12 meeting. Marchitelli has applying the general tax rate of By Patricia Harris burn to have such a field,” he said. endum turned down by voters. of The Item been hired for a fee not to exceed $1.96. That rate applies to com- of The Item “It’s just a matter of the right tim- That referendum would have $30,000. mercial as well as residential prop- ing and the right funding.” raised $1.4 million through higher With millions of dollars at stake, Ernest Del Guercio, the town- erty owners, according to Viturel- Township officials continue to McDermott said he had visited school taxes. township officials have hired an ship’s assessor, said this week Mar- lo. explore the possibility of installing Ridge High School in Basking Basking Ridge raised the funds appraiser to assist in bolstering chitelli is an expert on the business In 2001, before the township’s an artificial turf field at Millburn Ridge with Keith Neigel, Millburn by creating a nonprofit corpora- their case when a tax appeal filed value of large properties. He joins revaluation, the mall paid High School, although issues of High School principal, Ted D’A- tion and borrowing money from by the owners of The Mall at Short two other appraisers, Soctt Holza- $7,154,030 in taxes, Viturello also funding and security have yet to be lessio, the high school’s athletic local banks, McDermott said, in Hills is heard, possibly next month. huer and William Steinhardt, hired said. resolved. director, and two members of the addition to holding a number of An appeal by Short Hills Asso- by the township to assist Del Guer- While the bill is in dispute, Mayor Thomas C. McDermott Board of Education, Mary Litter- fund-raisers to pay off the notes ciates/Taubman Company, based cio in presenting its case. according to the tax collector, mall described the status of the project man and Noreen Brunini. The vis- used for borrowing funds. The in Bloomfield Hills, Mich., may be The township’s aggressive owners have been paying their tax- at the Oct. 12 Township Commit- it last spring was at the invitation cost also was held down because heard in state tax court as early as defense of its assessment also es. If their appeal is successful, the tee meeting, as part of a report on of Dick Stotler, who previously the corporation received many in- December, Business Administrator includes a counter appeal, Del township would have to refund the the activities of the Joint Fields served as an assistant vice princi- kind services, including removal Timothy Gordon said last week. Guercio said, which could even amount the court deems to be an Committee.