Matawan Jo in t Free Public Library 165 Main Street Matawan, N. J. 0 7 7 4 7 I n d e p e n d e n t ☆ The Weekly Newspaper ☆ ^ ☆ Vol. 13 No. 44 Wednesday/ Sept. 1, 1982 S en io r c itize n h ig h -rises to ld n o t to p a y s e w e r b ills By Judith McGee Feeney "We .authorized our attorney to prepare Later, the borough demanded full payment KEYPORT some action,” he said. “I’m not certain what of the sewer charges. Federal and state officials have ordered stage of the game we’re in now.” The annex was charged $2,275 in April and Bethany Manor and the Keyport Legion The council retained Richard O'Connor to $2,571 in July for sewage treatment. Apartments not to pay their sewer bills. represent the borough in the case because Mr. Riley noted that the fee Bethany Manor According to borough records, the two Borough Attorney Gordon Litwin has a con­ pays the borough is based on “sheltered senior citizen complexes have been billed for flict of interest. revenue"—the rental revenue after water, a total of $22,259 since the borough established If the borough loses its case, the cost of pro­ elevator, and garbage collection charges a separate sewer charge on Jan. l. viding sewer service to Bethany Manor and have been paid. The Borough Council has hired a lawyer to the Legion Apartments will be borne by other challenge the federal and state rulings. water and sewer customers next year. "As rents have increased, so has the fee," According to the Rev. Norman R. Riley of Bethany Manor was charged $6,774 for its he said, adding that Bethany Manor paid St. John’s United Methodist Church, which first-quarter sewer bill and $6,021 for the se­ $74,620 last year. sponsors Bethany Manor, the complex cannot cond quarter, according to borough records. pay sewer charges because of its original The Keyport Legion Apartments was billed Mr. Riley noted that the borough does not agreement with the borough. $4,732 for each quarter. provide garbage collection to Bethany Manor When Bethany Manor was built 11 years Mr. Riley noted that Bethany Manor annex as it does for other taxpayers. The exclusion ago, the borough agreed that the complex does pay for sewage treatment as part of its of garbage collection was also a part of the would pay a fee based on its revenue instead agreement with the borough. original agreement. of property taxes, Riley said. In working out the more recent annex Members of the Elizabeth Fire Dept. Hibernia Hose Co. pull a hand- parade, which featured 174 pieces of old and new fire equipment. An agreement, the borough originally asked for "We send no children to the borough schools drawn fire truck Saturday in the N.J. Exempt Firemen’s Assn. estimated 10,000 people turned out to watch the three-hour parade. The agreement was required for the spon­ sors to qualify for low-interest financing and $50 annually per apartm ent as a sewer charge and our people provide an economy boost to rent subsidies from the federal government. in addition to the in-lieu-of-taxes payment, he the town,” he said. “I think we’re the most According to Mr. Riley, the agreement spe­ said. desirable ratable the town has.” cifically says that the borough will provide sewer services for the basic fee. The local American Legion post made a Judge to exp lain verdict* similar agreement with the oorough when it sponsored the Keyport Legion Apartments 18 months later. G allag h er to ap p eal first At the time, th e costs of th e borough’s sewer services were financed through the general M IDDLETOWN He was charged Dec. 2 with driving while property taxes. Municipal Judge Kenneth E. Joel is ex­ under the influence of alcohol after his car This year, the council created a separate pected to explain in two weeks why he found collided with a vehicle driven by Evangeline sewer charge in response to a state order that State Sen. John P. Gallagher guilty of drunk Stamboulis on Newman Springs Road and it base sewer charges on use. driving. Stag Lane. The charges for each home or business are Joel last week said he would formally ren­ Moore was indignant that Joel’s decision based on the am ount of w ater used, with some der a guilty verdict after he returns from was released to the press before he was noti­ exceptions for water that is used outdoors. vacation Sept. 9. fied. “The federal government has told us that Gallagher’s attorney, Francis X. Moon, of Saying that the senator was clearly not guil­ our 40-year contract with the borough specif­ Red Bank, has said he will appeal the deci­ ty, Moore said he would begin an appeal be­ ically includes sewer service in our basic sion. i fore hearing Joel’s reasons on the basis of the fee,” Mr. Riley said. “We’ve been told by the He criticized Joel for taking _25 days to evidence. federal government that we can’t pay the reach a verdict and for announcing the ver­ The Wyckoff Fire Dept, brought its 1897 horse-drawn fire truck (left) to the parade. Local sewer changes. ” dict informally over the telephone to the court Gallagher’s trial, which lasted for six Muni­ Fire Chief Waynt Hicks and the Keyport F^lre Dep*. (abort’> led parade through the The st?te aUorney genera} has ruled that clerk. cipal Coutt sessions, included testimony from borough to American Legion Drive, where participants and viewers enjoyed refreshments the Keypirt Legion Apartments cannot piy Joel telephoned- his decision to Township several pt»p*e that the senator did not appear sewer charges for the same reason, according Hall Aug. 23 with instructions to release the drunk thefnight of the collision. to director Harold Laughlin verdict the next day. A state forensic expert testified that the Both complexes pay for water service, Joel said he would explain his verdict at the senator’s blood alcohol level would have been which was a separate charge when the agree­ tim e of sentencing. .14 grams per 100 cubic centimeters at the ments were struck. Gallagher faces a fine of $200 to $400, pos­ time of the accident, on the basis of readings Mayor Richard Bergen said yesterday that sibly 30 days in jail, and the ios;, of driving of .11 and .13 around 11 p.m. the council is “absolutely" challenging the privileges for a minimum of 60 days and max­ Two township policemen also testified that state and federal rulings. imum of 180 days. * they smelled liquor on Gallagher’s breath. S h o u l d t o w n councils ta ke p o sitio n on nuclear arm s fre e ze issue? By Judith McGee Feeney “I admire what you are doing in trying to MATAWAN inform people,” he said, but added that he About 30 people gathered in the Matawan- hoped people would listen to the opinions of Aberdeen Public Library Monday to discuss a those who do not support a freeze. ban on nuclear weapons. Susan Sachs, press secretary of the N.J. Borough councilmen are scheduled to con­ Freeze Campaign, said that the campaign has tinue the discussion tonight when they debate difficulty finding people to oppose the freeze whether to support a resolution calling for the in public debates. United States and Soviet Union to stop mak­ Mary Addams of the Concerned Citizens of ing and testing nuclear weapons. Matawan said that only 10 percent of the Several Aberdeen residents Monday also Matawan residents she polled did not want to asked the Township Council to consider a sign a petition in favor of the freeze. similar resolution. “Some of that 10 percent said they do not The residents are scheduled to present their trust the Russians or feel our computers will case at a council meeting Tuesday, and the not make mistakes,” she said, “but most said governing body plans to discuss the issue at they do not want to get involved or they never its next workshop. sign petitions.” 1 0 , 0 0 0 s e e parade in K eyport Voters will also consider the issue Nov. 2 in The discussion Monday began with a movie, a public referendum. “War Without Winners,” produced by the By Judith McGee Feeney “There was a big crowd all through the 19 barrels of birch beer at American Legion Members of the N.J. Campaign for a Nu­ Center for Defense Information. KEYPORT route,” Britton said, “and it was wall-to-wall Drive. clear Weapons Freeze, who led the discussion The movie was narrated by retired Rear An estimated 5,000 firemen from New people when we passed Front Street. Even the The expenses were offset by the sale of Monday, urged people and councilmen to sup­ Admiral Gene R. LaRocque, CDI director. Jersey. New York, and Pennsylvania parad­ weatherman was on our side." commemorative mugs that were used to port the freeze resolution. The film interspersed information about a ed through the borough for three hours Satur­ The Keyport marchers reached the drink the refreshments. But Councilman Ralph Evans, the only possible nuclear war and its effects with com­ day to the glee of about 10,000 spectators. parade’s end at American Legion Drive at State judges awarded 76 prizes to fire c.ouncilman present, repeated his position ments from American and Russian people The parade included nine bands and 174 1:30 p.m., Britton said, with the tail of the departments, but Keyport was ineligible that municipal councils should not vote on the about nuclear weapons.