17 Number 24 THURSDAY, JUNE 17, 2004 75 Cents DMDA Committee Oks Official DMDA Review
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Volume117 Number 24 THURSDAY, JUNE 17, 2004 75 Cents DMDA Committee OKs official DMDA review By Patricia Harris on a basis where we get the of The Item unanimous support of this body.” resigns Murray objected strongly to Despite strong protest from a the investigation, asserting it is longtime member of the Down- based on unsubstantiated allega- By Eveline Speedie town Millburn Development Al- tions and could have been han- of The Item liance (DMDA), the Township dled without hiring an outside Committee unanimously passed party. The managing agency for a resolution at its Tuesday night “Why would you spend town- downtown Millburn’s Special session to hire a lawyer to review ship money when no one on the Improvement District is in the the election procedures of the or- Committee has come to the exec- process of seeking a new execu- ganization. utive board and asked to verify tive director following the an- The Committee has engaged supposedly what was said?” he nouncement Monday that its cur- the services of Robert D. Fraw- asked. “My concern is what’s the rent top official is leaving. ley of Morristown, a corporate next witch hunt with some other Pat Holden, who has served as attorney specializing in the oper- organization in town.” the Downtown Millburn Devel- ation of non-profit organizations. Mayor Thomas C. McDermott opment Alliance’s (DMDA) ex- He has been hired to look into responded the Committee has ecutive director for nearly four concerns that irregularities oc- fiduciary responsibility because years, announced her resignation curred in elections held by the it collects and distributes tax dol- Monday, effective within the DMDA, the organization lars collected to run the Special next few weeks. Holden said she charged with managing the Improvement District in the is realizing a longtime dream, to downtown district. downtown, and requires an operate a bed and breakfast facil- The resolution limits the fee to expert to investigate the charges. ity. She and her family have pur- be spent for services to $5,000, Deputy mayor Salvatore J. chased the Morgan House Inn and Committee members agreed Bate interjected that he could ap- and Restaurant, located in the to instruct Frawley to confine his preciate Murray’s concern but Berkshires Mountains in Massa- investigation to elections from that, “You (Murray) are taking chusetts. 2000 to 2004, although he may this very personally.” Bate ex- “I’ve always wanted to do this go back to 1999 if necessary. plained the Committee has a and the timing was right,” Before the passage of the reso- duty to act on concerns that are Holden said. “I’m proud of the lution, however, Committee raised by hiring someone who work I’ve done here but it’s time members heard comments from has time and expertise to make to move on. We’ve made major Paul Gomperz, DMDA presi- an independent assessment. strides in the downtown.” dent, and John Murray, the orga- In related news, Pat Holden, Holden said she has been in John Montalvo/staff photographer nization’s vice president. DMDA executive director for the negotiations since January re- BIG SPLASH—Dana Lenkowsky, 9, of the township, hits the municipal pool in good form Gomperz struck a conciliatory past four years, came before the garding the inn. She and her Saturday. The pool opens for the summer season beginning Wednesday. See additional tone when he addressed the Committee to announce her res- family will occupy a four-room photos, Page B16. Committee. “We have taken cer- ignation and thank members for apartment in the dwelling, which tain initiatives in an attempt to their support. offers 11 rental rooms in addition make Millburn a better town,” he “I’d like to take this opportuni- to a 150-seat restaurant/bar and said. “It is unfortunate there ty to say Millburn is a wonderful tavern. Joining her in the opera- exists within this town certain community in which to work,” tion will be her fiance, who will people who are detractors, for she said. “You have a great serve as chef,and her son and Utility seeks open space whom no matter what we do, downtown and I hope you will daughter. they’re against it. And it’s unfor- continue to work to support Looking back on the past four By Harry Trumbore of its Canoe Brook reservoir fa- American’s vice president for tunate that you’re faced with an whatever organization, especial- years, Holden said she is proud- of The Item cility—more than 400 acres—as governmental relations and cor- item on your consent agenda ly the DMDA, is involved in the est of the relationship she devel- open space. The company indi- porate communications, said in where you have to spend town- downtown district.” oped with property owners in the Township officials confirmed cated well fields located south of early 2003, the company filed a ship money to do something that Individual members of the downtown and with the DMDA’s Monday they have been ap- Kennedy Parkway, approximate- petition with the New Jersey in my personal opinion doesn’t Committee, in turn, thanked board of directors. She com- proached by New Jersey Ameri- ly 20 acres, would be included in Board of Public Utilities seeking have to be done.” Holden for her service and ex- mended property owners for can Water Co. with a proposal the proposed conservation zone. approval to sell a portion of land The DMDA president also pressed good wishes. their recognition of the organiza- that would preserve much of the Forty acres of land comprising for an adult restricted communi- said he is ready for the investiga- Gomperz also thanked Holden tion’s goals by routinely direct- company’s property along the water plant, along with a ty. tion and has assembled data con- on behalf of the DMDA for her ing prospective clients to the Kennedy Parkway as open space. small parcel of adjoining land, That land, Jones said Tuesday, cerning elections to supply to the energy and leadership. DMDA. According to information re- would be reserved for future de- is approximately 17 acres of land lawyer. “Once the investigation “When you take the vacancy Holden reviewed the achieve- leased by New Jersey American velopment, according to the along Kennedy Parkway west of is done—and I anticipate a com- rate in the downtown that was Water Friday, the company is company. plete good bill of health—I Continued on Page B12 seeking to designate 85 percent Lendel G. Jones, New Jersey Continued on Page B12 would ask that we once again act Continued on Page B12 263 graduating Millburn High School tonight By Harry Trumbore said. he added, exhibited good leader- of The Item An aspiring actor, Andrew said ship. Neigel said they should not Sept. 11 hit him especially hard only be remembered as the class In his role as president of the because of his love for New York that helped earn the school the senior class at Millburn High City. He said he lied about his attention of the media for acade- School, Andrew Kimmel has age to work at Ground Zero. mic prowess. given a lot of thought to how he After Sept. 11, Andrew said he “It’s not just the high test will address his classmates and noticed a change in attitude scores,” Neigel said. “When their parents at tonight’s gradua- among Millburn High School these kids were involved in activ- tion ceremony. students. ities and fundraising, they all “The main point of my speech “We shifted paths,” he said. pulled together. is, ‘what is going to happen “Sept. 11 made us all realize how “Classes have a collective per- next? The choice is up to you,’” precious our lives are. We’ve sonality,” he said. “This was a Andrew said Monday. “Whatev- learned that life is fragile.” very talented, engaged group of er we do, each one of us is going He said tonight he’ll tell his kids.” to contribute to what happens in classmates to “take advantage of Graduation exercises for 263 the world.” every opportunity.” Millburn High School seniors The need to look at the world As for parents of the gradu- will be held tonight at 5:30. on proactively, Andrew said, comes ates, Andrew said, “Thanks for the school’s athletic field. In the in part from observing world putting up with us for 18 years. event of inclement weather, the events that have occurred since Don’t give up on us now!” ceremonies will be conducted in he and his fellow students en- In the fall, Andrew will attend the school gymnasium. tered the ninth grade. They are a Syracuse University, where he The program will open with group of young people whose plans to major in drama. He has two musical selections: “Tri- tests scores and academic played roles in numerous high umphal Overture” and a proces- achievements helped the school school productions, including sional “Pomp and Circum- gain a national reputation for ex- “Arsenic and Old Lace” and “A stance,” performed by the high cellence. However, he said, the Midsummer Night’s Dream.” school concert band under the di- reputation may be misleading. Acting, he said, allows him to be rection of Mindy Scheierman. “When we first entered high someone completely different These will be followed by the school, we had a very different and experience what other senior chorus singing “The Star- reputation,” Andrew said. “We people feel. Spangled Banner.” were very immature.” Keith Neigel, principal of Graduating senior David Ku- Harry Trumbore/staff photographer They were only a few days Millburn High School, praised ritsky will lead the audience in TODAY’S THE DAY—Keith Neigel, principal of Millburn High School, and senior class into their sophomore year when Kimmel as an outstanding the Pledge of Allegiance.