R eporting in Cham pionship form Run ‘til It Sells! Find out how your district did in the The CBA boys basketball team Now Add A Photo! annual state report cards captures first S C T title since 1996 AUTOMOTIVE CLASSIFIED ipwate (each additional line $7.00) some P a g e 2 0 P a g e 4 0 1 -800-660- Serving Aberdeen, Hazlet Holmdel, Keyport, Matawan and Middletown MARCH 1, 2000 40 cents VOLUME 30, NUMBER 9 Board m ulls c u t b a c k s i n f a c e o f tight budget Middletown to introduce 2000 0 1 budget tomorrow BY DOUG McKENZIE Staff W riter B ased on the superintendent’s pro posed spending -plan, the Middletown Board of may be making some unpopular decisions in the weeks to come. Superintendent of Schools Jack De Talvo is proposing a $96 million operat ing budget, up from $92 million last year, which is expected to include a increase, “dozens” of job cuts and the dis­ continuation of several sports programs The total to be raised by taxes under his proposed 2000-01 budget would be $83 million as opposed to $73 million for the current year budget, DeTalvo said Monday. This includes the debt service tax levy, which he said is going up from .about $800,000 to $2.6 million. JERRY WOLKOWITZ In addition to the proposed budget, the The Red Bank Catholic High School girls basketball team celebrates its Shore Conference Tournament victory Friday over board is also expected to consider a ballot St. John Vianney High School, Holmdel. Pictured are (front l-r) Alissa Kresge, Lindsey Woodfleid, Janine Cappadona and question that includes an extra $2 million Lynne Zoltowski, and (rear) Jessica Depalo and Tara McCaig. For the story, see page 39. in spending above the state cap. That money would be used to either add or restore several positions within the dis­ trict, as well as some extracurricular pro­ M id'town starts adm inistrator search grams. The total spending plan, including Joseph Leo to step down Leo’s tenure, which The move to replace Leo became the debt service and the extra referendum began in 1992. Leo, subject of speculation in December when funding, would be close to $104 million, M ay 31 but to remain who is currently the committee approved an ordinance that DeTalvo said. available as needed earning $109,000, essentially makes it easier to dismiss him. The board is expected to vote on the will be kept on the The ordinance abolished wording that gives preliminary budget on Thursday. The BY DOUG McKENZIE township’s payroll an outgoing business administrator the right meeting will be at 8 p.m. at High School Staff W riter until May 31, and to a public hearing. North. will then be retained At the time of its adoption, Leo ques­ A public hearing will be held prior to A fter nearly a year of speculation, as a consultant. tioned the legality of the move, which he the Middletown Township adoption and district voters will be asked The committee said he believed superseded state law and to approve the spending plan April 18. Committee has officially begun its has also set aside removed due process. search for a new chief executive to replace At the board’s regularly Scheduled $25,000 to pay Leo Joe Leo However, Township Attorney Bernard longtime Township Administrator Joseph meeting last week, students, teachers and on an as-needed basis Reilly said at the time that the move was residents voiced their concerns about a P. Leo. until the end of the year. designed to bring the municipality’s ordi­ At its regularly scheduled meeting last variety of topics associated with the pro­ The second resolution passed by the nances into compliance with state law, posed budget. week, the Township Committee approved committee approved a $9,500 contract for which contains no provision allowing for a a pair of resolutions which effectively The first issue brought up was a pro­ Jersey Professional Management, a recruit­ pubic hearing. posal to combine the gymnasdcs teams begins the search for a new administrator ing firm based in Cranford, to help find At the Feb. 22 meeting, one resident to run township departments. Leo’s successor. The first resolution will gradually end Continued on page 32 Continued on page 32 ■ 2 INDEPENDENT, MARCH 01, 2000 I WE WILL PERFORM! 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Certified Pre-Owned SERVICE & PARTS” B U IC K IH I Vehicles ■ ON SATURDAY I K S A M ^ P M j r i I ' y> LOCATED JUST ACROSS FROM BRUNSWICK MALL! ^ 1US„„ 1 1 20 Rt. 18N. • EAST BRUNSWICK • NJ S£RW« y»„»' »*■.- CAIL TODAY: 732-651-4110 S S■ OOP/VI ivaNiUH • nznsi • lununi • snxai • avuNOd • vazw\i • xoina • daar • aansAUHO • vqnoh • aa3ho • nvssin • ioaoa • aaod • vjloaoi INDEPENDENT, MARCH 1, 2000 3 In d e x : Hazlet officials push ton new post office B ut postal o fficial says current service needs are being m et BY CINDY TIETIEN Staff W riter HAZLET — If township officials get their way, the Hazlet post office could move to a new address. But that won’t happen anytime soon, according to spokesman Frank Santora of the U.S. Postal Service, Northern and Central Jersey District office in Newark. At the most recent Township Committee meeting, Mayor Michael Sachs urged residents to sign a petition to have the post office moved from its cur­ rent location on Hazlet Avenue and Route 35 to Hazlet Plaza shopping center at Route 35 and Poole Avenue. Find out what this very lucky “The situation is dangerous,” Sachs Hazlet girl won. said. “I had traffic safety officers remove u , x ... SEAN GUTHRIDGE Page 12 the mailboxes from the curb at the post Hazlet officials say the township has outgrown its Hazlet Avenue post office and office because they are located in such a needs a location with few potential traffic hazards. dangerous place.” Committeeman Paul Coughlin, who The third issue is timing Santora said Sachs believes the Staples office su­ made a new post office a campaign issue any plan submitted will be considered, but perstore site located at the west end of the in November, said that, although many that there is a time consideration, which plaza, which Staples is supposed to people feel the move is a good idea, the could delay any action. vacate, according to the mayor, would be • Classifieds......... Page 47 response from the U.S. Postal Service has Coughlin said that the Township the perfect place to move the post office. been less than enthusiastic. Committee members are looking at var­ • Editorials Page 6 “I feel that there is enough space in the “The response from the post office is ious spaces to move the post office to, facility and more than enough parking to • Entertainer ... .Page 36 that the current space can handle Hazlet’s including the Hazlet Plaza site. accommodate Hazlet residents,” said needs,” Coughlin said, adding that “it is • Letters ............. Page 6 Sachs. obvious” the postal service “has not taken “The plan is to find an appropriate site • Marketplace ... .Page 44 Hazlet residents appear to agree. They the time to look at the issues.” and then get engineers aboard to draw up cite the small facility and small parking According to the Postal Service’s a site plan,” said Coughlin. “Then we can • Milestones .......Page 34 area as just a few of the problems with the Santora, three main issues are considered go to the post office and say, ‘Look, we’re current location. when it comes to relocating a post office. serious about this, and we deserve to be • Obituaries......... Page 38 heard.’” “If the parking lot is full, cars are “First, we would consider a new build­ • Police Beat........