Meeting Recap: Verona Township Council Continues to Juggle Expenses and Grants Under Watchful Eyes

At Monday night's Township Council Meeting in Verona, Township Manager Joseph Martin announced that the draft budget for 2011 is completed and could yield good news for the Township. Although details are forthcoming, a joint governing body budget review committee meeting has been scheduled for Tuesday, March 22, with Council and department heads, tentativly scheduled in the Council Chambers. Another budget review committee meeting will be held two nights later on the March 24, with the budget committee only, at which point the budget will be prepared for introduction. Martin added, “We’re still getting less than clear direction from Trenton regarding [Governor Christie’s] supposed ‘tool kit,’ but we are moving forward.” Mr. Martin concluded with a reminder that on Tuesday, March 15th, in Council Chambers, there will be a Council workshop meeting to discuss the Township's zoning ordinance.

Concerning reports, Mayor Teena Schwartz briefly reported that three Verona students attended the regional spelling bee. Nicole Volpe, a fourth-grader from F.N. Brown Elementary School placed third and will be competing at the state regionals on March 12. The Mayor extended congratulations to the student on behalf of Verona and wished her well.

Deputy Mayor Frank Sapienza reminded residents to register their children for the Summer Recreation Program. The program takes place for five weeks after school lets out. Information and registration details are available on the Township website, veronanj.org/parksrecreation.php.

Sapienza also mentioned the continuing success of the Verona LIVE, (Lifelong Involvement for Vital Elders), a federally funded community program for adults 60+, with additional local support from The Partners for Health Foundation. Based in the Verona Community Center, Verona LIVE is a FREE program to enhance the lives of older adults. The purpose is to assist seniors to thrive in their local community through exercise, training, educational programs, and opportunities to socialize. Go to veronanj.org/seniors.php or call 973-830-0096 for more details.

After ten years, the Verona 9/11 Scholarship Fund is running low. Councilmember Jay Sniatkowski emphasized the importance of replenishing the funds. Two scholarships are awarded each year and mailers soliciting support will go out shortly. There will also be a table set up accepting donations in front of Kings Supermarket in the Pilgrim Plaza on May 14.

Sniatkowski also requested information on the progress of putting the Township's Budget up on the Verona website. Martin said the budgets from 2008-2010 would be up on the site by the end of March.

Councilmember Bob Manley advised on the activity at the Verona Rescue Squad. There was a decline in calls from 130 in January to 89 in February. There is one new member on the squad but more members are always needed, according to Sue Dewitt, president of the squad. The squad’s fund drive has begun and donations are also accepted online at Veronarescuesquad.org.

Manley also noted that the Verona Municipal Alliance Committee will sponsor the next Family Night on March 23. Now in its ninth year, the theme, “Dinner DOES make a difference” is to encourage families to spend more time having dinner together. Participating restaurants will offer discounts and no homework, meetings, practices or rehearsals will be scheduled for the night. Details are available at vmacnj.org

ORDINANCES and RESOLUTIONS

A bond ordinance for various capital improvements totaling more than $2.1 million was also passed. During the public hearing, some residents questioned the necessity of spending for phases 7-9 of the business district streetscape projects. However, others expressed gratitude for the spending. Of the total, almost $900,000 is planned for streetscape projects on the eastern and western portions of Bloomfield Avenue at the Verona borders. Almost a quarter of the project's cost will be funded through two Community Development Block Grants. The remaining 1.2 million of the bond ordinance will be used for reconstruction and repaving of township roads and parking lots in disrepair. A grant from the state Department of Transportation is expected to help defray a good portion of these costs. Check back for a complete story later in the week.

In addition, a capital ordinance was introduced to purchase a new sport-utility vehicle for the police department to replace a ten-year old police vehicle. This was the first reading of the ordinance with a second reading and public hearing scheduled for the March 21. Check back for a complete story later in the week.