Bayshore Communities Still Digging Snow from Worst Storm in 9 Years
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THE Matawan Joint p Public r-u 66 1 6 5 Ma i L l b r * r y M a t s t . n d e p e n d e n t , n ' N . J . 07747 I ☆ The Weekly Newspaper ☆ -sV ☆ V o l. 8 NO. 12 W ednesday, Jan. 25, 1978 20 C e n t s Bayshore communities still digging snow from worst storm in 9 years By Lee Duigon officials in Marlboro, Holmdel, Hazlet, and number of stranded cars on County Road and By yesterday afternoon, William Smith, Keyport all reported success in coping with Cliffwood Avenue when it went over a deep acting foreman of the Aberdeen Township the storm . mud trench that had been buried under Dept, of Public Works, had been on the job Aberdeen, with all four of its sanders and two-foot drifts of snow. for 80 hours without sleep. two of its diesel trucks out of commission “They sunk right down, almost out of Smith wasn’t trying to win a spot in the during the storm, had more difficulty than sight,” Smith said. "For a moment there, I Guinness Book of World Records. He was one neighboring towns. thought the truck was going to go over on its of many road crewmen who have been Two of Smith’s crewmen, Anthony Ma- side.” working since Thursday night to dig the tovcik and James Connelly, were trapped When Matovcik and Connelly were finally Bayshore out of a 16-inch snowstorm. inside their truck early Friday morning and freed from their truck, Smith said, they went Most towns were still engaged in snow-re couldn’t be released until 12 hours later. right back to work—this time making repairs moval operations yesterday. Public works The truck, Smith said, tried to get around a on other vehicles at the municipal garage. Two of the sanders returned to duty by Monday; the other two, according to Smith, “are a total loss.” The township has authorized Smith to replace them. The township had to hire three loaders "at the end of the storm” to replace vehicles which had broken down, he added. In Marlboro, Business Administrator Mary Denton estimated the total cost of the storm at more than $20,000. Mrs. Denton said she would probably have to ask the Township Council to amend the temporary budget for Road Dept, overtime. The township has so far paid out more than $4,000 in overtime, Mrs. Denton said, more than $6,000 for salt and sand (some of which has not yet been used), and m ore than $13,000 for parts, including $5,000 for gasoline for the month of January. “We’ve been working around the clock,” Road Dept, supervisor Fred Eckel said yesterday. “We’re still pushing drifts out of the way, but we’ve done as well as any town in the area, if not better.” The township’s 23 road crew employees, Road crews in Keyport were still busy Monday removing snow from Front Street. The Members of a Puerto Rican citizens association pitched in driveway. Lopez needed help: His driveway extends more than 100 Eckel said, have each put in an average of 40 problem of where to put all the white stuff was solved by trucking it to a vacant lot near the hours’ overtime since Thursday. Saturday to help Frank Lopez, 90 First St., Keyport, shovel his feet to Second Street. (Photo bv David McGrath) bay. (Photo by David McGrath) To plow approximately 130 miles of road in Marlboro, Eckel said, the township used its Proposed budget would boost Matawan rate 9 cents seven trucks, hired four more, and used its grader and Michigan loader. Although some of the vehicles suffered minor breakdowns, he said, there were no major problems. Although Holmdel went into the storm with Aberdeen school tax to drop 3 1 cents three sanders and two trucks out of commission, “We got a good head start,” By David Thaler students, according to the board. the enrollment is projected at 2,328. estim ated 1,875 pupils in 1978-79. limitation required a cut in staff, programs, Dept, of Public Works supervisor Joseph MATAWAN The five elementary and two middle The middle schools’ enrollment over the The board originally was given a 5.3 equipment purchases, and maintenance. Allocco said. “We did pretty well,” he added. “I’m . .The $12.8 million school budget which the schools have been experiencing the sharpest same period declined from 1,520 to 1,375 percent ceiling on budget increases by the Among the casualties are 20 teachers, a Board of Education will present to voters declines in enrollment, according to the students. In the high school, which remains state but obtained a waiver, permitting it to driver's education course, and a free proud of my men.” Feb. 7 would result in a 31-cent decrease in board’s figures. In 1976, elementary school on double sessions, enrollment declined only exceed the cap by $242,565. Holmdel used three sanders, five of its own the school portion of the township's property enrollment totaled 2,808 students. In 1978-79, slightly, from 1,894 students in 1976 to an Still, board members said, the budget (Continued on Page 2) trucks, and hired four trucks and a jeep. tax rate and a nine-cent increase in the Three of the township’s 13-man crew were ill, borough’s rate, the board revealed last night. leaving 10 to do the work. The proposed budget was adopted by the “We know where the trouble spots are and board after a 90-minute hearing last night at we kept at it,” Allocco said. “Of course, the high school. Approximately 40 residents County prosecutor clears cop Holmdel is a very hilly town and that makes attended the hearing. it hard. But on the whole, things went pretty Michael Kidzus, a borough representative smoothly.” on the board, cast the only dissenting vote on “It’s going to be costly,” Hazlet Business the budget. Two board members, Judith Administrator Robert Weigand said as he Hurley and Rose Moczulak, were absent. in shooting of Keyport resident waited to receive overtime figures from the The proposed budget total is approxi Dept, of Public Works. “I don’t know how mately $1.3 million higher than the 1977-78 KEYPORT called Birmingham “definitely anti-police.” response to a call that Stone was attempting machete, Mullaney said, and the officer much yet, but it’ll go between $5,000 and appropriation, but in the township the tax The county prosecutor’s office yesterday (See Letters to the Editor, Page 4.) to com mit suicide. attempted to retreat into a nearby room $7,000 with no trouble.” rate is expected to decline from $3.30 per $100 reported that it had found no evidence that a The police, Birmingham said, are “con Stone had locked himself in a room, followed by Stone. That's not counting related police and of assessed valuation to $2.99. borough policemen, rookie Ptl. John Day- temptuous of civilian authority...and they’re Mullaney said, and Dayback, forcing the Dayback made it to the room and closed other support costs, he added. Borough property owners, however, will back, acted “in anything less than a going to have to change that attitude.” door open, found him “naked, covered with the door behind him, Mullaney continued, Weigand said he was satisfied with the job be taxed at the rate of $2.64 per $100 of professional manner” Jan. 6 when he shot According to Mullaney, Dayback arrived blood, and brandishing a machete.” but Stone “kept hacking away at the door done by Hazlet’s road crews. assessed valuation—nine cents more than and wounded a borough resident, Stanley at Stone’s home with rescue equipment in Stone threatened Dayback with the with the machete. Dayback fired a warning The streets were all open yesterday, he the 1977 rate of $2.55. Stone of 276 First St. shot into the wall, but Stone kept on com ing.” The reason that the borough’s rate is rising The investigation of the incident, First Dayback then fired through the door, he (Continued on Page 4) while the township’s rate is declining, said Assistant Prosecutor John Mullaney Jr. said, said, wounding Stone. Board Secretary Edward J. Scullion, is a was “pretty well-wrapped up” and would Keyport school budget Stone is recovering at Bayshore Communi change in the way the regional district’s soon be submitted to a grand jury. ty Hospital, Holmdel, where his condition is expenses are apportioned between the two The incident, however, has touched off a listed as fair. municipalities. feud between the police force and Council “ It was a tim e for drastic action, and th at’s Formerly, each municipality was assessed man James Birmingham, who was appoint to reduce levy 9 cents what the officer had to take,” Mullaney said according to the num ber of students it sent to ed police commissioner at the beginning of Although Stone’s wife, Frances, has sa;J the district’s eight schools, Scullion said. The ' the year. By Dave McGrath under the budget cap and reducing the tax her husband was too weakened by his formula for apportioning costs now includes The Patrolmen’s Benevolent Assn. has KEYPORT rate .” attempted suicide to pose a serious threat to the amount of ratables in each town, he said. accused Birmingham of interfering with Although the West Keyport School is not Dayback, she, Mullaney said, “enjoys the Eventually, ratables will be the sole basis for “police who are trying to investigate and A $3.2 million budget approved by the operating in a “cost-effective manner,” the benefits of hindsight.” determining how much each municipality perform their duties.” Board of Education last week would reduce board decided to continue the school’s use Stone may be charged by a grand jury with will contribute to the school district, he said.