WOftRALL COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS THURSDAY, MAY «. 1M7 SECTION B Discussion of data County manager liy Tom Canavan will step down Editor in Chief After seven years on trfe job. County Manager Ann Baran will leave office on Economic development was July 31 to take a position in the new Gateway Center for Reponal Development an issue on which the Democra- at Kean College, , tic candidates for freeholders Baran, who built a reputation as a problem-solver who united freeholders of campaigned last year, and they both parties for common causes, will become the director of Operations Man- will cite that issue as a reason agement on Sept, 1. Following Baran's announcement Tuesday afternoon. for their victory. Freeholder Chairman Linda Slender said a search for a new county manager Since the Democratic writ begin "immedlttery** nd wit! follow the "guideHnei set down In *e eomwy freeholders assumed control of administrative code." the board in January, they. She didn't siy If the freeholder board already was considering someone for leagues, have been keeping eco- Most of the freeholders offered comment on Baran's departure, saying the nomic development at the fore- county's Ion will be Gateway's gain, but adding that Baran will still be a part of front of their agenda. And why the decision-making at the county level. not? Union County's location in "We always take credit for the little achievements that we think we bring to the slate and all it can offer to the county," said Freeholder Ed Force. "But let me tell you: It was Ann Baran." its residents should always be the motivating factor for most Later -on Tuesday, the freeholders voted to allocate $285,000 to Gateway as of the decisions the county gov- start-up money. Gateway Center is a cornerstone of a regional effort to promote eming body makes. Port dredg- commerce in and around Union County, Citing traits like infrastructure, demo- ing in Elizabeth can make • giftpltu*! iflo M^U^apfky, Slender£sio I ndsy fhit fhe freenof deii» want to global- ly market the area's economic potential. More money could follow if the county Union County a market for requests additional work from the center. international trade. The redeve- lopment of Linden airport, Baran, whose departure has been the subject of rumors since the Democrats which will include a hotel, County officials discuss the Geographic Information System, a computer application won the majority of board seats in November, said she was looking forward to movie theaters and many retail that serves as a data base for information on geographic areas. The information — going to Gateway. • , . shops, can bring jobs to the on demographics, geography, economics, ecology and history, among others — , "This is a happy day for me; it's the start of a new adventure," she said. "Part area and revitalize the county's would be used by the county for both longterm planning and in case of evacuating of my role as county manager — especially in the last few years — has been economy. Industrial sections of residents during an emergency, Standing at right is Freeholder Edwin Force, centered on economic development. I like the challenge of starting with some- Union, Elizabeth and Linden, thing brand new and creating and developing it," among other towns, also have the potential to bring jobs to the county. More jobs and more people Freeholders to unveil budget, with tax cut circulating in Union County Tonight, the freeholders will pre- means more potential for greater reducing the tax burden of residential • The Magnet High School for Sci- sent a budget for 1997 that is $3.4 mil- consumer activity, I tip my property owners," said Freeholder By cutting costs, not services, the county ence, Mathematics and Technology lion smaller than last year's budget. proverbial hat to the freeholder Walter McNeil Jr., chairman of the maintains its AAA bond rating, enabling it for students in grades 9-12 on the board for its pursuit to bring In cutting more than $3.4 million in board's Finance Committee. "The campus of the Union County Voca- jobs to the eou-nty and, as a spending, the $279 trillion budget decrease in the tax levy was accom- to borrow money at the lowest interest tional Technical School in Scotch result, stabilize taxes. reduces the property tax levy toy half plished through meticulous cutting Plains. There's one thing, however, of 1 percent. Last year, property taxes and without a reduction In the quanti- rates. accounted for 56 percent of the • Contintjed improvement to water- that disturbs me about the pro- ty and quality of services to the nearly County is poised for major economic global marketplace," she also said. posal to create a committee that budget, compared with 54 percent this 500,000 residents in our 21 ways, estuaries, parks and recreation- year. P'owth and will continue to be a Included in the budget are plans to al facilities. will oversee the county's eco- municipalities." major factor in the evolving interna- update infrasn-ucture, including pro- The budget reduces the govern- nomic development. It seems as In keeping government costs down tional economy." jects io improve railwys, highways, • The expansion of the John H. ment's reliance on residential proper- if they're creating another layer and providing mandated and essentnrl local roads and the Port of Elizabeth. Slamler Police Academy in Scotch ly taxes, the freeholders said, without Calling the document "fiscally of government when they really services, he added, the county main- Also in the budget is a plan to Plains io allow for the training of eliminating services. responsible and responsive to citi- don't have to. tains its AAA bond rating with promote shared services among the Union County Police, and paid and It is the first time in more than two zens. Freeholder Chairman Linda For the last 15 years, the Moody's Investors Service, enabling county and its 21 municipalities, volunteer police and fire personnel in decades thai Union County has pre- Slender said the budget would it U\ 2 i U pared a budget with a decrease in the ""strengtrierT fhe fouTidaffon ~oT our iopment Corporation has existed at the lowest interest rates and show- equipment purchases and personnel "Our new home page on the Inter- lux levy; fewer tax dollars were used communities." to achieve the same goals as ing the county is a viable location for training. net will give citizens instant access to (o balance the 1997 budget. this newly created freeholder business and investment. "This budget will not only enable Among the capital projects are: information about programs, services •This budget demonstrates the committee. The duplication here "This budget is an instrument to us to maintain services, hut provides • The juvenile Justice Complex in and policy, while highlighting Union commiimeni of the Board of Chosen is thai the UCEDC was created increase economic development in the necessary components as we Elizabeth to bring all juvenile services County as a desirable place to locale to du more with less bv by the freeholders and acts as Union County," McNeil said. "Union move toward a leadership role in the under one roof. and do business," McNeil said. an arm of the freeholder board. It is i private corporation that has done a great deal for Union County and its small business Utilities deregulation may cost UCUA revenue owners during the last 15 years' and continues lo act as a catal- Energy sold to PSE&G for electricity fee," before next July. About $40 of watt. This gamers the UCUA about Spatola added thai his company is yst for economic growth and Us $83.05 fee is earmarked for paying S17 million a year in addition to the renegotiating its existing 20-year con- development in Union County. might not be profitable in three years off over $280 million in bonds and revenue from its trash disposal and tracts with PSE&G. To create a committee to By Scan Dally residents or government agencies, debt service; this segment cannot be other services. "We need to know what all these target economic development Staff Writer will also bej*hased in next October. reduced for several years. What the BPU's deregulation contracts mean," he said. and • not acknowledge the Last week came word of another This new plan is to be submitted to According to Thomas Brennan, the means to the UCUA is unclear, said The UCUA is exploring other ways UtbUL, the freeholder board is kind uf deregulation that could badly "Gov Cmgfthe WHffinAn W the state UnUCUAgi Bwman, to iitw momiy ri nnrl Mm nuwnnn doing a disservice to the organi- affet;! the UCUA.-' said authority Legislature this month. eraies an average of about 250 million "We don't know yet because they sources, but Brennan said that die zation. officials New Jersey has until now had kilowatts of electricity a year, enough haven't come out with the rates," he UCUA is "breaking even" right now. said, adding thai this would not be Talk about duplication of ser- The state Board of Public Utilities monopolistic electrical utilities. Like to light up 36,000 homes. This is sold Next July, the UCUA will no lon- vices The freeholders* commit- announced April 30 that it would any monopoly, these can charge what- to PSE&G at a regular rate of 2.1 known until PSE&G knows where its ger have a monopoly on disposing of tee will advise the county man- speed up its schedule to deregulate ever rates they want because their cus- cents and a peak hours rate of 43 power is coming from, Union County's garbage, due to a fed- ager.