Report from Rocky Hill - May 2010
Lack of interlocal recreation agreement leads to $30 fees
Mayor Zimmerman thanked the many volunteers who helped out during the March 13 storm, which resulted in most of the roads leading to Rocky Hill being blocked by fallen trees and rising water, no electric for up to three days, and telephone outages. He especially thanked the members of the First Aid Squad and the Fire Company, which pumped out as many as 45 basements for Borough residents.
The mayor said that there is a Disaster Declaration for Somerset County awaiting a signature on President Obama’s desk, and as soon as it is signed it could result in funding for communities affected by the flooding. This could result in enough funding to pay for the brush and limb cleanup. Usually, the Spring Brush and Limb Cleanup (April 12 this year) costs about $1,500. This time, the Borough set aside some $4,000, mostly by raiding surplus.
The lack of an interlocal agreement drew a few questions on April 5. See our story on Page 13.
Randie Zimmerman, who is a temporary appointed member of the School Board, is leaving at the end of April. No one from Rocky Hill has filed for election. Mayor Zimmerman tried to get State Commissioner of Education Schundler to reappoint her, but he was unable to as the enabling law ends the appointment at the end of April. He says, “Even if we win, it will prove nearly impossible to unwind this thing. We’ll have to sit down with Montgomery to affect some kind of merger.” If the Budget is approved, it will result in an additional $222 taxes for what Montgomery says is an average Borough home, valued at $215,000. That rose a few eyebrows at the April 5 Borough Council meeting.
MTSD Superintendent Earl Kim came to Rocky Hill Borough Council meeting on April 19 to make a case for the school budget, which voters approved/rejected (as we got to press) the next day. In effect, he was explaining the ways that school administrators had been whittling away at the budget, hacking and slicing as it were, to make up for the Governor’s $3.5 million cut in state funding. The results aren’t pretty; although he made a case that, yes, the teachers got a 4% pay raise, they also gave back benefits to the tune of 2% of their pay – for this year. Next year, their pay goes up 4% no matter what, by contract. “We want to keep the teachers we have,” Mr. Kim said.
No one suggested to the teachers, apparently, that they look elsewhere for work during this, the Great Recession, with unemployment in New Jersey exceeding 10%, if they find themselves unable to get along on what is clearly more money than the average New Jersey taxpayers earns per year.
Mr. Zimmerman did point out that the top three administrators at MTSD were paid more than the entire Rocky Hill municipal budget.
Nonetheless, what caught the interest of many, if not most Borough voters, was simple math: the number of Rocky Hill voters divided into the Rocky Hill tax levy came to $14,000 per child. The number of Township students divided into the Township levy came to $12,100 per child.
This struck at the very heart of the fairness issue: members of Township Committee and the Township School Board had been quoted in the past as saying it was about time for Rocky Hill to pay its “fair share.” This was particularly galling to Mayor Zimmerman and other Borough Council members, who listened politely, questioned Mr. Kim, and thanked him and MTSD Board Chairman David Pettit, for coming into the lion’s den.
Mr. Kim agreed that, “It was a bad budget from a lot of perspectives.” By the way, this was only the second time any Township Board of Ed. members ever visited Rocky Hill. Presumably, Mr. Kim was laying the groundwork for what happens if and when the voters reject the budget. Rocky Hill’s temporary school board representative Randie Zimmerman had previously pointed out that it was a joint board, and that any decision should be made by Rocky Hill Borough Council as well as Montgomery Committee, and suggested the School Board should vote on that, which it did, 4 to 3 for a joint vote. Will the vote be proportional or simple majority? Who knows? Stay tuned.
If the budget is approved, MTSD will kill the much-loathed $75 activity fee and the $200 MHS parking fee for students. That should be a big hit for strapped taxpayers. There was, apparently, a lot of unhappiness at an earlier school board meeting, when high school students said they would refuse to pay the activity fee, failure to which would mean inability to participate in school government. Mayor Zimmerman pointed out that even candidates for the American presidency aren’t required to pay a $75 activity fee. Talk about fairness.
The school suit is as of the budget vote is still unresolved.
Council approved a resolution to pay the $12,000 legal fee for the suit against the State, which had been budgeted at $2,000. The additional funds will come from the School Board surplus, returned by Montgomery after some negotiations with the County Board of Education.
Meanwhile, the Borough brought in a municipal budget 7.7% lower than last year’s, with no increase in taxes, after a $21,500 cut in State Municipal Aid. “”Should’ and ‘must’ repairs will get done, but ‘nice’ repairs will have to wait until next year,” Mayor Zimmerman said.
The mayor pointed out that the reduction in municipal aid has been offset by the fact that the Borough hasn’t had to pay additional legal fees defending itself against the Schafer Tract suit, which was settled in the Borough’s favor in 2009. The budget was introduced, but won’t be voted on until after a public hearing.
There were 43 moving violations ticketed in February, and 33 moving violations settled in court, resulting in a total of $3693 in fines, $766 of which to the Borough. In March, there were 80 cases disposed of, yielding $10,084 total, with Rocky Hill’s share at $2,045.
The Borough signed an agreement to extend the interlocal policing agreement with South Bound Brook for two years, with no increase in costs for the first year.
Tom Likker, the promoter of the Rocky Hill Bicycle Event, made a presentation requesting permission from the Borough to hold the 4th annual event on June 26, from 8 am to about 1:30 pm, like last year. He is working on permission from Montgomery, Franklin, and Somerset County, and says “It’s not an easy thing to pull off, but we’re trying to make it happen.” He says that funding in the Great Recession is an issue. Council approved his request, 5 –1, with Ms. Hassar voting “no.”
Safeguard Doc, a commercial shredder, will be holding “shredder day,” date to be announced, during which they will bring a portable shredder on a truck to Rocky Hill Borough Hall. Residents will be able to bring old documents and papers to be shredded. Few sounds in the business world are as musical as the sound of a shredder in action.
Borough residents drew 2.325 million gallons from the municipal well during March.
David Dorey will be the new Borough Constable.
May 15 is the Townwide Lawn Sale. The Trash Pickup Day will be May 17.
Council President Linda Goldman to lead Rocky Hill School Budget efforts
As you are aware the School Budget tax levy for Montgomery Township School District failed overwhelmingly at the polls on Tuesday. Due to the forced merger of the Rocky Hill School District and the Montgomery Township School District the Rocky Hill Governing Body, of which I am currently the Mayor, will now play an equal role to the Montgomery Township Governing Body in resetting the School Budget tax levy. When the merger took place, my wife, Randie Zimmerman, who was then the former President of the Rocky Hill Board of Education, was appointed as the temporary “tenth member” of the MTSD Board by the County Executive Superintendant of Schools and served admirably until her term ended on Tuesday of this week.
Randie and I are absolutely certain that our respective roles in serving our community have not and would not pose any conflict at all. Unfortunately, the tone and volatility of this debate may cause some to use it to their advantage and claim a conflict where there is none. After considerable discussion with our Borough Attorney and to avoid any distraction that would prevent the two Governing Bodies from completing this very important process in a timely manner, I am hereby removing myself from the process. Linda Goldman, the Rocky Hill Borough Council President will take the lead for Rocky Hill moving forward and will work closely with Mayor Mark Caliguire of Montgomery Township on getting this job completed. They both have my complete support in whatever they decide to do.
It is very important that we listen carefully to the voters and cut spending and taxes, while balancing the important needs of our children. This will take additional sacrifice by all involved. Mark and I intended for this process to be handled even handedly and as unemotional as possible. I am confident Linda and Mark will be successful in that regard.
Township Ends Recreation Agreement With Rocky Hill
Lack of interlocal recreation agreement leads to $30 fee.
In early 2010, Montgomery Township ended the interlocal recreation agreement it formerly had with Rocky Hill.
There had been a contract renewed annually, for Rocky Hill residents to participate in events held by the Township Recreation Department, such as classes for adults, the Swim Team, which uses the high school pool, the Ski Club, and recreation events for children, such as Wrecking Crew summer camp in Township Parks. That contract ended according to Recreation Dept. head Karen Zimmerman, in September 2008. Since then, the agreement had continued in force without a written contract until this year.
Because there was no written contract, the Township hadn’t billed the Borough, and without an invoice, the Borough had not paid for this agreement since 2008.
There are about 24,000 Township residents, and about 825 Rocky Hill residents, 94 who attend Montgomery Township schools. Rocky Hill had been paying $2,000 a year for this agreement since 1980.
In return, Township groups and individuals could use Rocky Hill facilities, such as the tennis courts behind Borough Hall, and the soccer playing field in the Greenacres.
Negotiations began anew in September 2008, according to Township Recreation Committee member Peter Treichler. He said, “We want to have an agreement.”
The Borough responded that there were only 100 usages, mainly among seniors, but also among school children, for Township recreation, which worked out to $20 a head per year, compared to the Township’s fee at the time for non-Township residents, of $10 a head for recreation usages.
Karen Zimmerman, head of the Township Recreation Department, says that in 2007, there were 100 uses, in 2008, 125 uses, and 2009, 135 uses. A “use” could be one person 100 times, or 100 people for one event each.
After some delay, the Township responded in February 2010 with a new demand for $5,000 for a recreation agreement. The Township then unilaterally ended the previous agreement, and without officially notifying Rocky Hill, began charging $30 a head for all non-Montgomery Township residents to take part in Township activities. “We did not end it,” Mr. Treichler said.
“The cost of doing business has changed dramatically,” said Township Administrator Donato Nieman.” Mr. Nieman followed up, “The Township decided to treat Rocky Hill as non-residents and charge a non-residents fee. Children are in the same circumstance for any municipally sponsored program.”
To Rocky Hill Council, which had been treating Township residents reciprocally, this also means, in affect, that Township residents, the largest users of the tennis courts, will no longer be permitted to use the courts, although there is no mechanism in place to stop them as yet. The Borough had recently restored the soccer fields behind Borough also, for various Township league use. “I don’t want to do it, but the courts are used mostly by Montgomery residents,” Mayor Zimmerman said.
Mr. Trechler disavowed the use of the soccer fields and tennis courts as “Not part of the Recreation Dept. agreement,” saying that, “It’s Greenacres property and open to all New Jersey residents.”
During the Spring Egg Hunt behind Borough Hall on April 3, 30% of the participants were Township residents, mainly, says Rocky Hill Councilman Donahue, “Because the Township fired the Easter Bunny.”
Van Horne Park, which is jointly owned by Rocky Hill and the Township, is part of the Somerset County Park system. There is an agreement in place under which the Borough pays 20% and the Township 80% for maintenance. The Borough and Township have agreed to also split fees paid by athletic groups to use the fields; such fees will go towards maintenance.
There had been as few as 27 students from Rocky Hill in Township schools. Those students will be able to attend MTSD sponsored events, or such groups as private soccer and baseball leagues, but not official Montgomery Township Recreation Department events, unless they pay a $30 per event fee.
Among the intangible reasons Mr. Trechler offered as why the Borough would want to pay a premium for an agreement were professional consulting services offered by Ms. Zimmerman, and the ability for Rocky Hill residents to be considered at the head of the list along with Township residents for programs that “non-residents” would be wait-listed for.
Meanwhile, Borough residents will also have to expect to pay $30 in addition to any of the usual fees for each event, course, and activity.
As to a new contract, “We’ve not heard anything back,” Mr. Nieman said.
Says Mayor Zimmerman, “I felt it was something that could wait. They’ve been pretty unreasonable on that.”
Report From Rocky Hill - January 2010
Borough voters spoke on Dec. 8 when they rejected the Montgomery Township schools referendum, 52 to 41. However, the Referendum was approved, as the total vote was 1032 to 868. Unless things change this will oblige Borough voters to pay an additional $94 a year for the next fifteen years.
On the other hand, if the Referendum vote failed, school taxes would have risen to the 4% cap anyway, as the repairs and modifications the Montgomery Township Board of Education proposed were unavoidable. Because the MTSB would have been limited by the Cap, the only way repairs could be made would be to layoff personnel, according to School Superintendent Earl Kim. Repairs include things like replacing 35-year-old roofs, replacing an aging air conditioning system with one that will pay for itself over time in energy efficiency, and so on. The difference is, that because voters approved the $24 million Referendum, the State says it will contribute more than $9 million, thus obliging the taxpayers to pay only $14+ million over time.
Mayor Zimmerman said in response, “On a personal level, I’m glad it passed. It’s good for the kids. But it proves that down the road, Rocky Hill doesn’t have a chance when we’re 5% of the turnout. What rights do the voters have?
“Voters are still angry that the school board was taken from them. A pretty significant number of voters this time were seniors. When it comes to a referendum on taxes, seniors come out. Younger voters tend to think, ‘What’s another $100 as long s my kids get a good education?’”
Meanwhile, Montgomery has returned the approximately $160,000 which the Rocky Hill Board of Ed. had in reserves, but which the State ordered it to turn over to the Township.
Borough Committee met in Executive Session during the Dec. 21 meeting to discuss what to do with the returned money (and also, discussed the issue of the Montgomery Township/Rocky Hill sewer agreement). For now, the Borough will put the funds into a surplus fund. Depending on what the courts decide regarding the School Board, it could go back to a reconstituted school board, or, if the court says the school board dissolution is lawful, the Borough could keep it as surplus municipal funds, according to Mayor Zimmerman. “It will allow us to avoid raising taxes next year,” he says. “Since the Borough used the surplus as collateral when it borrowed the money for the new fire truck , it will allow us to pay the loan back a little bit sooner.”
In one anomaly, since the one paid Borough school board employee who was responsible for filing official forms with the State had been summarily sacked, no one filed an annual employee form with the Dept. of Labor when it was due during the summer. The Department of Labor, in turn, has fined the Township Board of Ed. for the failure to file the form in a timely manner. Montgomery will be negotiating with the State, but expects the Borough to pay it. And the beat goes on.
The court hearing on the lawsuit the Borough brought, along with Millstone Borough, against the State had been continued to Dec. 22, but as we go to the printer, it has been postponed yet again, to either the first or second week in January 2010.
. If the court renders an injunction as the Borough has asked it to, restoring the Rocky Hill School Board, then the Referendum may be on shaky legal territory. Stay tuned.
Meanwhile, in a mercifully short Borough Council session on Dec. 7, Council had a moment of silence in memory of life-long resident Jean Bianco, and former Zoning Officer Larry Raffaelli, both of whom passed away during November.
The Borough received a $20,000 grant to perform work suggested by the energy audit on Borough Hall.
Three new towing licenses were approved by the Borough on Dec. 7, for Dependable Motors in Somerset, Stewart’s Towing in Belle Mead, and Somerset Hills Towing in Bridgewater. This will give more choices to the South Bound Brook Police Dept. for towing vehicles seized during Rocky Hill traffic stops. Some drivers had complained with good reason, that their cars were being impounded in distance garages with large towing fees due to mileage.
During the Dec. 3 traffic court session, 12 moving violations were settled, with a total of $1480 in receipts, with the Borough’s share, $281.
A 5x5 foot patch of new asphalt was dug up during the past month to repair a burst waterline on Hickory Court. It may be possible, Council noted, for a permanant road patch to be done during warmer weather. The road had just been resurfaced during the fall.
On Dec. 7, Council introduced an ordinance to set a $2,250 fee for hooking into a municipal sewer line.
In a note on shared municipal services, Borough Enginerr Bill Tanner noted that Montgomery Township has leaf pickup equipment and used it to pickup leaves for Millstone Township. He noted that the Township didn’t actually use this equipment on their on own streets and wondered what they had it for. This naturally led to the idea that perhaps the Township could be persuaded to give the Borough a better deal than the one we got from a private contractor.
Speaking of shared services, the Montgomery Township and Rocky Hill Shade Tree Commissions (one of each) met jointly to discuss planting trees in Van Horne Park in response to some trail walkers and others who complained of lack of shade. They want to spend $25,000 to plant trees and asked the Borough for $2,000.
Borough Committee noted that during the Park construction, there had been a separate Park Committee that also met on this subject, with somewhat different results. Committee suggested that the Shade Tree Committee consult with a proper landscape architect before placing the trees, as improper placement could block site lines for parked cars, whose occupants would be watching their children in the playground. Also, they pointed out that if the Township wanted to spend $25,000 of the taxpayers money, that’s one thing, but the request for $2,000 from the Borough was just that – a request, with no legal requirement that the Borough pay it.
Bill Hallman and Courtney White were both thanked for their service on Borough Council. Their terms end on Dec. 31. The Borough reorganization meeting will be on January 4 at 7:30 pm.
Rocky Hill Borough Council meets on the first and third Mondays of each month at 7:30 pm at Borough Hall on Montgomery Avenue. For more information online, www.rockyhill-nj.gov.
Report From Rocky Hill - March 2010
Rocky Hill may join a growing list of municipalities, companies and private citizens converting to solar electric. Somerset County has a grant program to give money to municipalities to install the panels, which will convert sunlight to electricity. The electric generated will go into the electric grid serving Rocky Hill, but the affect will be to turn the electric meter backward.
Any panels installed will need a shade free are facing south. Although many installations have been on building roofs, solar panels could also be installed on the ground, as was done at Montgomery High School. A similar “solar farm” is in the works at Carrier Clinic. Whether it can be installed on Borough Hall roof depends on a number of things, including the structural strength of the roof of a more than century old building.
Any savings in electric will benefit Rocky Hill taxpayers in the form of lower electric bills for Borough Hall. The panels can be installed on any Borough building or property, such as at the water tower, according to Mayor Zimmerman.
The water tower continues to be a Borough moneymaker. A new antenna is being installed by Metro PCS, complete with a new power supply, at the tower, which looks more and more like a wedding cake. “We just got a check from them,” Mayor Zimmerman said. Metro PCS will; be paying the Borough approximately $39,000 a year of the some $200,000 total raised from cell phone antenna fees for Borough taxpayers. Some residents have come to think of the water tower as a thing of beauty.
State Senator Ray Lezniak (R) has introduced a bill in the Legislature to end the Council On Affordable Housing, which is an autonomous authority, and replace it with a state-run agency. Mayor Zimmerman and others on Council suggest that whatever it is couldn’t be any worse than COAH, which has had many Borough officials scratching their heads trying to figure out their latest directives and requirements. Mayor Zimmerman said, “It could raise as much as $100 million for municipalities.” Mayor Lonegan of Bogata, NJ, a Tea Party candidate for who-knows-what, is against Lezniak’s bill, so it must be a pretty good thing.
Meanwhile, the Governor has suspended COAH; COAH has responded with a suit saying that the Governor cannot summarily suspend COAH, which was authorized by the Legislature. We’ll see.
Speaking of taxes, the State has returned Rocky Hill’s tax map for corrections. There were a number of small issues, such as Reeve Rd., which is also listed on some maps as “Church Street.” Another issue is a number of small, oddly shaped tracts of land, “orphans,” which had to be sorted out and ownership determined. The corrected map has been returned to the State, according to Mayor Zimmerman.
The actual revaluation of property, to be performed by Appraisal Systems, is due in October, but the work can’t be done without the state-approved map. “Now is the time to do it,” says Mayor Zimmerman. “Property values are lower than they were a few years ago.”
Appraisal Systems, Inc., which has the Borough contract for revaluation, has gotten a lot of flack in Princeton because of their recent revaluation. Reportedly, some properties with similar footprints in the same neighborhood were valued at $11.50 a square foot, and others at as much as $83.40 a square foot. According to a Feb. 5 story in the Trenton Times, lower priced property was increased at a rate 20% higher than that of more expensive properties.
Council has received a draft copy of an agreement between the Township and Rocky Hill regarding the joint management of the Van Horne Park. In the past, the Borough has agreed to pay 20% of costs related to managing the park, which is mostly on Borough land, but is jointly operated by the Township as well. The Township has picked up 80% of costs.
The issue has been that the Borough is required by State law to have a contract for services before paying fees. A second issue has been that the Township has been charging athletic groups to use the ball fields but hasn’t been sharing fees with the Borough. As a result, the Borough has been receiving bills for services from the Township but has not under law, been able to pay them. The hold-up had been on the Township side. However, after the Montgomery News published a story on this in the February issue, a draft contract was sent to Borough Attorney Albert Cruz. It is now going back and forth between negotiating attorneys and may be ready for approval in March.
The Borough has also received a draft of a contract between Rocky Hill and the Township for the Recreation Committee. Generally, Rocky Hill residents have been able to use Township facilities without fee. There has been some question of fair price the Boroguh should pay for this, as the number of school-age Rocky Hill children participating in Township activities has grown from approximately 26 in 2003, to 94 in 2010.
Borough Engineer Bill Tanner reports that the latest round of the sidewalk improvements is complete, although the Borough is still waiting for money from the County. Sidewalks along Washington Street are the only remaining project awaiting funding.
He also says that there is money available for a bike path connecting Van Horne Park with the Canal. Right-of-way may be an issue. Councilwoman Goldman said, “Better get the money from the State while they still have it because they might not have it in a few weeks.”
The Rocky Hill School Board surplus returned by Montgomery was $3,480 short, Council reports, and after numerous calls to the State and County, the State ordered MTSB to return the missing funds.
Meanwhile, the Borough filed an additional brief in the Borough’s suit against the State dissolving the Board of Ed. Council hopes to hear a decision before the April school vote.
Speaking of bikes, although Borough Council has yet to hear a formal proposal from the organizer of the annual Rocky Hill bike races, Mayor Zimmerman says he expects to hear from him soon, and for the races to be held again in June. This time, Mayor Zimmerman says he would like to see the organizers do the fund raising instead of Borough volunteers as in the past, and pay Borough fire and rescue services out of fees and guarantee money to the Borough.
Meanwhile, the Borough has been crunching numbers for this year’s budget (including a public session on Feb. 22 as we go to the printer). This could get ugly. The State is broke, so any budget has to have a possibility of little or no state aid, and also must factor in the budget cap, which limits increases in property taxes to 4%. Council approved the Cap at the Feb. 1 meeting. This permits the Borough to meet unusual or unbudgeted items by raiding the surplus. Mayor Zimmerman explained that voting to approve the Cap has been done every year, “But in all the years I’ve been involved, we never needed to do it.”
Mayor Zimmerman says that they have a list of things that get done every year no matter what, and are trying to determine what else should go into the new budget. He notes that there is “no budget money for new sidewalks or new buildings and ground projects. It’ll be maintenance only. There is $400,000 less in this budget because there’s no new grant money available.”
Borough Council noted the fine job done clearing the roads during the February snowstorms, which dropped a tree on Crescent Ave., and the contrast between Borough streets and Township streets. “The County did a nice job on the main roads,” Mayor Zimmerman said. “The plow operator takes pride in doing a good job in Rocky Hill and having the best roads around.” This is a big improvement, long-term residents may have noticed, between now and previous years, when Princeton Avenue was something of a skating rink after snowstorms.
Perhaps this is why Rocky Hill has moved up the list from 102 to #61 in New Jersey Magazine’s “Best Places in New Jersey To Live” list.
Mayor Zimmerman asked the Borough Attorney to look at the ordinance regulating parking on the streets, which is forbidden during snowstorms. Apparently, it’s not just Washington Street, but all Rocky Hill streets that should be car-free during snowfalls for the plows to work. The problem is that some Montgomery Ave. residents have been parking in the Borough Hall parking lot during snowstorms and the plows are unable to clear it properly. The Mayor would like the ordinance to include the parking lot as well.
During January, there were 89 moving violations, and 23 cases disposed of during Court. There was a total of #3,311 collected, of which the Borough’s share was $525.
Council met in Executive Session on Feb. 17 to discuss, among other things (Van Horne Park), a new contract with South Bound Brook Police Dept. The current contract ends at the end of March. Mayor Zimmerman is confident that the contract will be extended for a year.
South Brunswick billed the Borough $1,218 for eight animal control calls during 2009.
The Borough is trying to fix a date for the Rabies Clinic, which will be either April 10 or 17. It will be free, by law, to all New Jersey residents.
The Borough website showed an increase of 16% in the number of hits.
The Rocky Hill Community Group secured permission from Council for dates for 2010 events, including Spring Egg Hunt on April 3, the Earth Day Park Cleanup on April 24, the town-wide Garage Sale on May 8, and the Independence Day picnic and parade on July 3.
Rocky Hill Borough Council normally meets on the first and third Mondays of each month at 7:30 pm at Borough Hall on Montgomery Avenue. For more information online, www.rockyhill-nj.gov.
Monzo Appointed Rocky Hill CFO
At last nights council meeting Joe Monzo, Interim CFO of Rocky Hill since the sudden death of G. Ross Bobal in October, was appointed to a four year term as CFO. Joe currently is also the Deputy Manager and CFO of South Brunswick and CFO of Mansfield Township in Burlington County. Joe is the husband of Kathryn Monzo, CFO of Princeton Township.
A search committee made up of Council President Linda Goldman, Councilman Jim Banks and Borough Clerk Donna Griffiths reviewed approximately 10 candidates and submitted their recommendations to the Mayor. It came down to two very qualified and very talented candidates.
Joe formerly held the position of Acting Director of the Division of Government Services in NJ Department of Community Affairs. His experience will be especially helpful as we weather what could be some very difficult times coming from Trenton.
Meet Raymond "Toby" Whitlock, Jr. - A True Citizen of Rocky Hill
Over coffee at The Bagel Barn on a bitter cold, late December morning, Ray "Toby" Whitlock shared with me his story of a full and productive life centered in and upon the small town of Rocky Hill, New Jersey.
Born and bred there, you could say, but Whitlock is very accurate with his information. He says, "Technically I was born in Trenton - in St. Francis Hospital - but I was only in Trenton for four days. Rest of my life in Rocky Hill."
As his story unfolded, I thought, civic responsibility and participation were apt terms to describe his life's work: He's a former Mayor of Rocky Hill, councilman, current Borough clerk, member and past chief of the fire company, member of the Planning Board, a member and past Master of the Princeton Masonic Lodge, and the list goes on.
These commitments to local governmental service spans forty to 50 years of his life; and all this activity was and is in addition to his "day" job in the heating oil industry with Nassau Oil and Valley Oil. "I enjoy it," he says quite simply of his civic involvement.” Just serving with government. I do what's right for the town."
The story is intergenerational as well. The Whitlock family's presence and contributions to Rocky Hill now spans some five generations, (including his son, a member of the fire department, and the oldest granddaughter Megan, now a teenager, who thinks she too might like to join the fire company). The family's story reflects a portrait of local history as well as civic engagement.
Of Irish-American heritage, the Whitlock's found their way to Rocky Hill in the early part of the Twentieth Century. Whitlock's father was four years old when he moved to Rocky Hill. He says, "My grandfather moved from Jersey City to Rocky Hill in 1918 to be the conductor on the Rocky Hill passenger train, from 1918 to 1923. The station was down by the canal at 518. The tracks were on the east side of the canal and connected to Monmouth Junction to the main line going from New York or Philadelphia. They stopped the passenger trains in 1923, but the freight trains continued into the 60's and 70's. "
Whitlock says, "My father was involved in Rocky Hill. He was municipal clerk for 29 years.” His father was also chief of the fire department. His grandfather was civically involved as well, serving as police chief.
As a child, Toby Whitlock had attended school in Rocky Hill. He says, "The Rocky Hill municipal building was where the school was. Up to the third grade you had to go outside (when you needed a bathroom)."
From seventh grade on, the Rocky Hill children attended the Princeton schools. After graduating from Princeton High School, Whitlock attended Rider University where he majored in history and minored in sociology. "I worked at the A&P food stores all through high school and college."
After finishing his degree at Rider, Whitlock went into the army, then the army reserve, married his wife Barbara in 1963 and went on to work for the Trap Rock Industries. He recalls, "I lost the job at Trap Rock; they sold the company. The mayor of Rocky Hill asked if I'd be interested in working at Nassau Oil. I started as a truck driver and worked my way up to the sales division."
In October of 2007 he declared himself retired. Whitlock says, "I waited a little bit. I miss the people I worked with. You're so dang busy, you wonder how you put in forty hours or more. Now it's a more relaxed and comfortable pace."
In the height of the winter, the Whitlock's travel to Florida; but then return to Rocky Hill where their son and daughter who married locally, and five grandchildren choose to spend time with them. Every July 4th, the couple has a party at their home, just as his mother and father had done. The original seven sisters and two brothers and multiple cousins reunite for a large family celebration.
Since retirement, Whitlock is still involved with Rocky Hill. He's also now the zoning official and gives quite a bit of time to the fire department and the Masonic Lodge. He also serves on several committees.
One area of his interest is affordable housing. Since that is an interest of mine as well, I listened with great attention to his views. He says, "Affordable housing, I’m not sure. It could be run on a smaller scale. The state is telling everybody what to do. The state should be more of a guide, not an enforcer. "
Report from Rocky Hill Jul/August 2010
A short snappy thunderstorm on May 31 resulted in power outages throughout Rocky Hill, as well as lack of telephone service for “10 to 20 customers,” said Verizon spokesman Rich Young. He said that a tree downed along River Road, pulled down three poles, and caused high-power lines to arc, which then burned through telephone cables.
Although power was restored within hours for most customers by PSEG, telephone service wasn’t restored until the evening of June 2, just in time for dinnertime telephone solicitors to pitch unwanted products. Happy days.
What had become an annual event, the Rocky Hill bike race, was cancelled this year. The promoter sited lack of sponsorship and a poor economy for the reason. The Borough returned checks to local sponsors, which would have gone to support the library, and emergency services.
Mayor Zimmerman noted that this year there were seven Rocky Hill graduates among this years MHS senior class – best wishes to all.
Liquor licenses were renewed for the Rocky Hill Inn and something called Cajo Enterprises.
Much discussion was made over a row of shrubs at the corner of Washington and Montgomery Avenue, which prevent drivers coming off of Montgomery from seeing traffic coming from the left. This is a safety hazard, and the Borough has been seeking a way of phrasing a resolution to require the homeowner to cut the bushes back or remove them. The County has offered to remove them at no cost to the Borough or homeowner, but requires an enabling ordinance from the Borough, something remarkably difficult to do.
An ordinance was approved to pay for an audit of the First Aid Squads books. Apparently this hasn’t been done in several years, but should be done annually.
Other ordinances passed at the June 21 session approved payment to Mastroianni Landscaping to pick up the remaining tree stumps from the March storm, and to approve fees at cost for photocopying Borough documents, and applying for a $1,000 grant to pay for participating in “Sustainable Jersey Municipal Certification Program.”
Another ordinance was introduced to require a 45 period for the Borough to declare a development plan approved or incomplete. If incomplete, the applicant has 45 days to correct it. This allows a work-around for the new State law regarding freezing zoning laws at the time of application, a wonderfully bad State law from the perspective of most municipalities and of benefit only to developers of the more rapacious sort.
The biannual animal survey, which hasn’t been done in recent decades, came under discussion, especially after an event at Van Horne Park, when two large dogs got off their leashes and attacked a smaller dog. Also, an unlicensed dog from a Washington St. home escaped, was found by a local homeowner, who called the S. Brunswick Animal Control Officer. The dog was kept at the pound overnight, with the Borough bearing the cost. The Council felt that the dog owner should be fined for having an unlicensed animal. Licenses are required for all dogs and cats and applications are available on the Borough website. Few municipalities have done this survey as required by State law.
The Borough approved an application for a full-time member of the Fire Dept., Dylan Talarick, who is a third-generation member of the Fire Company. He was formerly a cadet fireman.
The Borough Court collected$3,618 receipts in June, of which $1,016.35 is the Borough’s share.
Residents pulled 2,418,000 gallons of water from the well, which tested OK for everything during May.
Mayor Zimmerman reports that during discussions with the County Superintendent of Schools Trudy Doyle, Ms. Doyle agreed that the Borough (and not just the Borough, Millstone Twp. as well) has been getting shafted: taxpayers are being billed $2,503 more per child than Township residents are billed. That works out to $800 per home, more or less. She also seems to think that pending the Courts resolution of the Borough suit against the State, that Rocky Hill should have a permanent seat on the Township school board. She also agreed that language used in the past referencing “Rocky Hill’s ability to pay,” was a mistake. Indeed.
The mayor says, “A permanent seat is probably as good as having our own board.” Especially as there are no Borough expenses involved for the Borough.
The 4th of July parade will kick-off at 4 pm, with picnic to follow behind Borough Hall.
Dredging will begin along the D & R Canal, from Amwell to Rt. 27, 10 ½ miles total, with engineering to begin during July. It should take about a year to complete.
The Borough will go on the summer meeting schedule, with Council meetings at 7:30 pm on July 19, August 16, and September 20. For more information online, www.rockyhill-nj.gov.
Revaluation To begin In Rocky Hill
At the June 7 Rocky Hill Borough Council meeting, representatives of Appraisal Systems Inc. gave a presentation regarding the upcoming property revaluation in Rocky Hill. In the process, CEO Ernest Del Guercio tried to dispel at least one idea about property revaluation; he said that the whole idea of it was, “To fairly and equitably distribute the burden of taxation.” In the process, some properties will go down, some will go up in value, and some will remain the same.
“New Jersey,” he noted, “is number one of all states in the USA to rely on property tax for local government,” and as a consequence, Somerset County requires each town to revaluate property at two-year intervals. Rocky Hill managed to put this off for at least a year, but the entire revaluation process must be complete by October 1, 2010. Furthermore, Mr. Del Guercio said that all property must be revaluated at 100% of its true value, rather than Rocky Hill’s current rating of 43% of value.
Mayor Zimmerman pointed out several months ago that now would be a good time to do the revaluation process as property values have declined. Indeed, Mr. delGuercio said that values peaked in 2005 statewide.
The process takes into account a number of complex issues, including the age of the home, the size, quality of care, number of rooms, baths, decks, swimming pools or private tennis courts (does anyone have a private tennis court?) kitchen improvements, on so on. A kitchen improved recently with a center-island, 6-burner gas stove, and a walk in refrigerator would rate higher than one renovated last during the Hoover administration. Equally, a bathroom with a sauna and a hot-tub would be of greater value than one lacking room to swing a cat, if one were of a mind to do such a thing. Even the view from the front porch adds or detracts value – woods, field and stream are good; industrial park and traffic are not so good. “The old rule of location, location, location is still important,” he said.
Furthermore, they compare a number of things such as recent building permits, sale history of the home, and sale history of neighbors’ homes to get an idea of valuation. Equally, they examine current economic issues, such as a decline in value of some kinds of homes: split-levels were popular in the 60’s but not so popular now, for instance.
Also, such intangibles as the Historic District Zoning, the potential for floods – any older home in Rocky Hill might be in that category – and the existence of unique sorts of neighborhoods, such as homes on a cul-de-sac, or homes all built during a similar period, can affect value.
Mr. Del Guercio noted that revaluation begins with a site visit by an inspector, who will physically measure the exterior of the home with a tape measure, and note such features as the general type of home, number of floors, garage, etc.
If the home owner is home, he will try to do an inside inspection in order to note the general quality of the home, as well as the condition of the kitchen, baths, number of bedrooms, basement finish, and attic finish. He said that inspectors rarely inspect attics with pull-down steps as, “We’ve never seen or heard of a finished attic with pull-down steps.”
If the homeowner isn’t home during the first site visit, the inspector will leave a yellow card with an appointment schedule for an inside inspection. The hours for such a visit would be from weeknights from 5 to 7 pm, or Saturdays during the day.
He pointed out that if the homeowner refuses an inside visit, as some do, then the inspector has to make a best guess of inside features, and is required by law to use the highest value possible. This puts the onus on the homeowner to make a case to lower his property values: if the basement floods regularly, show the inspector the pumps or the waterline (mine’s about half-way up the oil burner). If a bathroom is unusable, show the inspector, and if a home has no closets, as is the case with many of the older homes, show the inspector.
Commercial property owners must show proof of income from the property, as well as other information, and meet a different standard than residential property owners. Such information will be confidential, Mr. Del Guercio said.
When the inspections are complete, the results will be posted on their website, asinj.com, and probably from the Borough website also. Homeowners will then have a chance to review the information or contest it with an appraiser.
All of the homes in the Borough will be listed. A homeowner will have several shots at contesting the valuation by appealing to the County, the State, and even the Supreme Court. Any appeal would be just for the current tax year, bust must be made by May 1, 2011.
However, Mr. Del Guercio said that a homeowner may not use the value of a similar property as grounds for appeal – all homes are different in some way, and the law doesn’t permit such an appeal. Mr. Del Guercio says that homeowners will begin to see notification of inspection towards the end of June, and the process should take about a month in Rocky Hill.
The results will not change the total municipal tax levy, but it may change individual tax burdens.
Zimmerman Wins Both Republican & Democrat Nomination For Mayor Of Rocky Hill
Rocky Hill has always been a contrarian sort of place, and elections are a prime example. During the June primaries, voters nominated Ed Zimmerman, Independent and currently the mayor, for both the Republican and Democrat candidate for mayor. However, Zimmerman, who says he will continue to run as an Independent, cannot by law accept both nominations.
There were on the Republican side, 19 write-in votes, 18 of which went to Zimmerman., and one vote to former mayor Brian Nolan. On the Democrat side, there were three write in votes, 2 for Zimmerman and 1 for Bill O’Brien.
Because of a particularity of the rules, the Republican candidate must have at least four votes and win among all the candidates to qualify for the nomination; the Democrat’s rule requires at least one vote and, obviously, must also be the winner – don’t ask – to qualify for the nomination. Consequently, there is no official Republican candidate for mayor of Rocky Hill, but possibly, if he chooses to run, Bill O’Brien may be the official candidate for mayor as a Democrat.
Meanwhile, for two Council seats in November, Republicans gave Jim Banks 39 votes, Josh Hochberg got seven votes, Mark Germain and Brian Nolan each received one vote.
Democrats gave Josh Hochberg two write in votes for Council, one for Bill O’Brien and one for Jane Oakley, who is no longer a Borough resident.
Meanwhile, Tom Bremner has filed to run in November as an Independent also for one of the two open Council seats. Consequently, there are three candidates for a seat on the Council: Jim Banks, Josh Hochberg, and Bremner.
Mayor Zimmerman says that both he and Hochberg are both registered Republicans, but are running as Independents.
Republicans gave 41 votes to Jim banks for Committeeman, and one to Tom Roshetar. Grace Engelbrecht got 39 votes as Republican Committeewoman, and Peggy Harris got one write n vote. Democrats gave Bill O’Brien one vote for Committeeman, and Jane Oakley as Committeewoman.
Montgomery Township voters gave former mayor Louise Wilson 294 votes to Neena Singh’s 291 votes for the Democratic nomination for Township Committee. The Republican voters gave Patricia Graham 637 votes to Ed Traska’s 637 votes. There will be two seats open on Township Committee.
Report from Rocky Hill - April 2010
Rocky Hill taxpayers to pay $1,000 more per-pupil than Township taxpayers?
Mayor Zimmerman noted during the March 1 Rocky Hill Borough Council meeting, that the Governor is unlikely to help Rocky Hill during this coming year due to state-wide cuts in aid to municipalities. He pointed out, however, that last year’s aid was only $29,000, so any municipal aid cuts, though painful, are unlikely to be crippling.
In mid-March, the Borough received word that the Governor will cut $21,500 from the municipal aid package, a 24% reduction over last year.
Borough Engineer Bill Tanner said that the Montgomery Avenue sidewalk restoration job would go out for bid during March. This is the final piece of work in the Borough, to be paid for by the County. There is a County recreation grant available for the flagpole at Panicaro Park. The County seems to be the only source of funding available these days, and begs the question: are we paying too much for county taxes? Perhaps not if we get money back.
One item on the note on your tax bill; it mentions no appeal except for properties valued at more than $1 million. What that means is, only properties valued at more than $1 million can directly appeal to the Tax Court, rather than both the County Board of Taxation and the Tax Court. Those of us with less valuable property can appeal to the County Board of Taxation first, then the Tax Court.
The Borough approved a three-month temporary budget for 2010, pending the final 2010 budget, which depends, as ever, on the State.
Mayor Zimmernan said that a peculiarity of the powers that decide the actual bill for Rocky Hill for school costs is that, tentatively, taxpayers may be charged roughly $1,000 more per-pupil than Montgomery residents. This is for two reasons: first, the difference in valuation between Rocky Hill (total valuation at $60 million) and Montgomery properties (total valuation at $4.8 billion) is supposed to be “equalized” at the County level. The other reason sited by the County School Board for the difference in cost, which has left municipal officials scratching their heads, is that even though Rocky Hill has 1 ½ fewer students this coming year (don’t ask), Montgomery has 129 fewer. The $1,000 difference is after equalization. Thus, Rocky Hill would be, in affect, subsidizing the MTSD in 2010, with no representation on the Township Board of Ed after Randie Zimmerman leaves the Montgomery School Board at the end of April. Ms. Zimmerman felt that MTSD has been dismissing Rocky Hill’s concerns over property tax bookkeeping oddities, which have resulted in this unresolved disparity.
Township School Supervisor Earl Kim, who is facing a 68% cut in State aid for this coming year, said, “I don’t know how she (Somerset County Schools Supervisor Trudy Doyle) arrived at her costs, but she worked her magic and it was approved by whoever she reports to. We just take the numbers and plug them into the formula and it is what it is.”
Meanwhile, the Borough is waiting to hear the results of the suit against the State, asking to have the school board issues resolved. Mayor Zimmerman pointed out that the legal issue isn’t about Montgomery, but about representation.
Case in point, Randi Zimmerman, who was appointed to a temporary seat on the Montgomery Board of Education by former Governor Corzine, has decided not to run in a general election on April 30. Since no one else from Rocky Hill has declared on time, only a write-in vote would guarantee Rocky Hill a seat on the Board. Mayor Zimmerman says that he is trying to get the State to extend the temporary tenth seat for six months to a year, or at least until this issue is resolved. Mayor Zimmerman says that NJ State Comm. Of Ed. Bret Schundler is amenable to the idea, but hasn’t authorized it as of mid-March. Mr. Kim said, “I don’t know why Randie isn’t running. She made a fine member of the school board. We had to scramble to find candidates.”
Rocky Hill would prefer that the Court decision either restore Rocky Hill’s Board of Ed., or grant a permanent seat for Rocky Hill on the Board, should the decision continue Rocky Hill’s representation on a joint.
Part of the problem is simply State law, which had been ignored in the hasty rush of June’s shotgun wedding: in the case of a failed budget vote, which may be the case this time as it was two years ago, it requires “the governing body” to decide. The legal question then becomes, what is the governing body? Rocky Hill Borough Council? Montgomery Township Committee? Both? And how would that happen? Mayor Zimmerman says that the judge is aware of the April vote and likely to rendered a decision before that date.
Borough Council noted that former Constable Bob Krowe passed away during February.
The Rabies Clinic will be held on Sat., April 10, from noon - 2pm at the firehouse. It is free and open to all NJ residents.
The Spring Egg Hunt will be in the park behind Borough Hall will be on April 3 at 11 am, $4 per child. Pre-registration with the Rocky Hill Community Group, PO Box 5, Rocky Hill, NJ 08553-0005, is required. The Earth Day Cleanup will be on April 24, at 9:30, behind Borough Hall.
Rocky Hill Borough Council normally meets on the first and third Mondays of each month at 7:30 pm at Borough Hall on Montgomery Avenue. For more information online, www.rockyhill-nj.gov.
Report From Rocky Hill - June 2010
Muncipal Budget voted in, School Budget goes sideways
Rocky Hill Borough Clerk Donna Griffith has resigned her position as borough clerk, but will remain tax collector. The clerk’s job will be taken on by Assistant Clerk Rebecca Newman. Also, CFO Joe Monzo is an accredited purchasing agent, which allows the Borough to save money on contracts with the state.
In March, the NJ State Police had no service calls, but responded to four traffic accidents and one call about criminal mischief. There were three parking tickets and 33 moving violations during April. Total Court receipts were $5,782, with Rocky Hill’s share at $1,163.
Borough Engineer Bill Tanner reported that one consequence of the Borough and Township squabble over sewer usage is that the meter for the Shafer Tract homes (as yet to be built) will be required to be further down stream from the Tract in order to also meter usage on homes along the end of the line. Usually, the sewer usage is based on the amount of water a home draws, but this has been a source of contention between the Borough and the Township, in which many homes are supplied from unmetered wells.
There will be another tennis class for children, from July 5 – 9, with professional instructors, during the summer at the tennis courts behind Rocky Hill. The Borough Recreation Committee has $1,500 to cover some of the costs, as it has in previous years, but participants will be expected to pony up another $25 or so, to be announced. First choice will be Rocky Hill residents. Because there is no interlocal agreement with the Township, non-residents will have to pay an additional $30 per child. “Fair is fair,” Mayor Zimmerman said.
Speaking of the interlocal agreement Rocky Hill previously had with Montgomery, for which Rocky Hill had been paying some $2,000 a year, it seems unlikely that the Township will generate even half that much from Borough residents in the future. Too bad. The Township wanted to increase the fee to $5,000, for which Borough residents received priority with Township residents for Montgomery Township Recreation Dept. classes and events.
Sometime around the end of July, some Borough residents, led by Martha Moore, will be planting a tree in memory of former Zoning Officer Larry Raffaelli.
The school budget got special attention from a committee appointed in the wake of it’s the rejection by combined Rocky Hill and Township voters, not that it did any good in the end. Rocky Hill Committeemen Linda Goldman and James Banks joined a committee consisting of mostly Township residents and officials to consider the issue.
Ms. Goldman said, “I’ve been very impressed with the level of knowledge among the members of the committee. All are committed to how to save money on the budget, and that whatever we do doesn’t jeopardize the educational system ” she said.
Among the oddities, the State uses several ways of looking at a budget, and one definition is an “adequate” budget, in which the constitutional requirement of a “thorough and efficient” education is provided by tax levy. That number appears to be around $65.7M, which is more than the current levy ($65.4 M) would have been if voters approved the budget.
David Pettit, chairman of the Montgomery Township Board of Education, came to Rocky Hill Borough Council on May 18, to make a case for amending the new, revised 2010-2011 school budget, which, as it was, wouild have been $1.952 million less expensive than the one voters rejected. “It was a significant hit for us because we are a much more efficiently run district than some others,” he said. They were hoping Rocky Hill would restore some of the funding.
How would the Township subcommittee have done cut $1.9 million? In the words of one person at the Borough Council meeting who wished to remain anonymous, “By making parents choose between losing your baby’s toes or his fingers.”
For instance, the activity fee was still pegged at $75. Students participating in sports such as baseball, soccer, football, and basketball, would have been expected to pony up as much as $500 for each sport, in addition to the activity fee. A typical graduating senior, participating in two sports, would have paid $1075 per year. Mr. Pettit said that some sports actually cost the district more than $1,000 per child. Less expensive activities, such as the Chess Club, would have been cheaper for parents. Participation in these activities is considered critical for students to get into the college of their choice.
The second big bite would be bussing. The three-tiered bussing schedule, which parents objected to several years ago when the new high school opened, will change. This will result in OHES kids being brought home in winter at twilight. Not only that, but the drop-off locations will be spaced further apart, which means longer walks in the dark. That will prove interesting for kindergarteners. This, Borough Council was told, will result in a $700,000 savings for the school district.
Afterwards, both Linda Goldman and James Banks said that they had been asking for those figures from day one. This presentation from members of the school board, they said, was the first time they learned what the actual costs were. They were both stunned to find that the MTSD, which documents every expense in every category, seemed to have been hiding these numbers from them.
Nevertheless, Borough Council approved the budget, which went to Montgomery Township Committee the following night. Both municipalities would have had to approve the same, exact document, which then would have gone to the Board of Ed. The Board of Ed could have then reconfigured spending to reflect the final number, but change the priorities.
Instead, the Township Committee devolved into a kind of bun fight, splitting along party lines, as they say, voting two to two, with Brad Fay, who was on the subcommittee, and Louise Wilson voting no, because the cuts, they said, were too deep.
As a consequence, in a worse case scenario, Somerset County School Supervisor Trudy Doyle will decide for them. The school district is now out of the loop and loses the ability to appeal to the State for additional funding. Ms Doyle is a Democrat who now reports to Republican Brett Schundler. Republicans have sworn to cut taxes. Her contract ends at the end of this year and she hopes to be reappointed. She could go with the original budget, or with a cut version. Guess which way she will go. In any event, the decision will come sooner than later. Tic tock.
Mayor Zimmerman, who recused himself from the vote, said the newer budget would have resulted in a 58$ increase in the school portion of Rocky Hill taxes. Because the county taxes may be cut somewhat, and because the municipal portion of Rocky Hill’s taxes will show no increase, the total tax bill for Borough residents should remain flat. “The people of Rocky Hill are in pretty good shape,” he said. Noting the flat taxes this year.
Either way, Rocky Hill will still end up paying more per student than Montgomery residents. Under the defeated levy, figures from Ms. Goldman show Township residents at $12,448 per student; Rocky Hill at $15,021. To complicate things further, by adding debt to the numbers, the cost per Township student is $13,726; for Rocky Hill it would be $15,108. The Township has 5,145 students in the schools; Rocky Hill has 93 students currently. That means Rocky Hill is being overcharged somewhere between $128,526 or $239,289, or $514 to $957 excess charges per Rocky Hill home. Rocky Hill contributes 1.78% of the student body, but pays 2.71% of the total bill. Ouch!
Who comes up with these figures? “County Superintendent Trudy Doyle,” Ms. Goldman said, “using a State transition formula that is part assessment and part tuition.” The County Superintendent combined the Rocky Hill assessment at 38 ½% of the figure, plus the tuition at 61½% of the figure, to come up with a number that is the same or similar to what the Township would pay.
Ms. Doyle says that she determined the “formula” –one should use that word in quotes – along with the NJ Dept. of Ed based on data from June 2009, but that the deciding factor was, “Based on a communities ability to pay.”
At first (and even second) glance, this seems a bit whimsical, considering the vast difference in income levels between Rocky Hill residents and the Township. Rocky Hill taxpayers, currently lacking participation on the school board, appear to be getting the short end of a very dirty stick. “It is what it is,” says Ms. Doyle.
“What bothers me most,” said Mayor Zimmerman, “Is that for years and years Montgomery has been telling us that Rocky Hill doesn’t pay our fair share when it turns out that for years Rocky Hill has been more per child than the Township pays. This was all done so that then Governor Corzine could say, ‘ I closed all those non-operating school districts.’ It was pure politics.”
Perhaps an eleventh hour decision from the courts will decide this in the end. Mayor Zimmerman says, “If it is successful in the courts it’s a non-issue. If not, we may have to change our assessment. The law is unclear.” Who knows? Stay tuned.
Meanwhile, speaking of assessments, the tax maps have been approved and on June 7, the company picked for re-valuation will make a presentation to the Borough, followed by a presentation to residents. The property revaluation should be ready by this winter and result in a third of properties seeing a reduction, a third even, and a third showing higher property values. The aggregate tax levy will remain the same for the Borough. This is a good time for it, Mayor Zimmerman said, while property values are deflated.
The Borough voted to approve the municipal budget, with $453,098.76 to come from public levy.
The Borough is considering solar-powered LED crossing lights for several spots in the Borough. These will be especially helpful at night if the Borough goes ahead with them. The cost will be about $1,600 each, depending on features. They will not have to be removed seasonally for snow plows, nor are they likely to be hit by passing traffic, thus, won’t have to be replaced as often. Several crosswalks are relatively unlit and have been the scene of pedestrians being struck by passing cars at night.
Three candidates have filed for November elections: Ed Zimmerman (Ind) will be running again for Mayor; Jim Banks (R) and Josh Hochberg (Ind) will be running for two seats on Council.
Rocky Hill will be the scene of the 3rd Annual DiGiro Cycling Festival on June 26. Part of a series of races starting in Trenton on June 25, the three day event will again feature of mix of amateur and professional cyclists. Roads will be closed off and on during the individual heats, which will begin around 8 am and end about 1 pm.
Unlike Montgomery, which cancelled its July 4 fireworks for this year, Rocky Hill will be holding its annual Parade and Picnic on July 4, times to be announced. The Community Group will be responsible for organizing the parade and events afterwards, including food (if any), games for kids, and a DJ.
Rocky Hill Borough Council normally meets on the first and third Mondays of each month at 7:30 pm at Borough Hall on Montgomery Avenue. For more information online, www.rockyhill-nj.gov.
Rocky Hill Borrough Website
http://www.rockyhill-nj.gov/
Historic Rocky Hill Prints For Sale
The Rocky Hill Community Group is sponsoring the sale of historic photos collected over the years of Rocky Hill homes, buildings, events, and residents. The photos will be available as photographic prints, printed coffee mugs, mouse pads, and refrigerator magnets.
The sale is for the benefit of the Rocky Hill Community Group and are available for viewing online at rhcg.smugmug.com.
Report from Rocky Hill - Nov 2009
Mayor Zimmerman noted at the beginning of the Oct. 5 Rocky Hill Borough Council meeting, a letter to residents that went around during September from the Rocky Hill Committee for Responsible Growth.
Despite losing at every turn in the courts and a major recession during which no new homes have been built anywhere at all, the RHCRG, according to this letter is happy to take credit for stopping construction of the Schafer Tract construction project. That project would have brought in large, age-restricted housing, and not coincidently, lower property taxes for Rocky Hill taxpayers. The mayor noted that the group failed to mention the $45,000 (and rising) legal fees which Borough taxpayers have so far absorbed while successfully fighting this suit, costs that will average $180 per home this year.
Meanwhile, the issue of the governor’s disenfranchisement of the Borough Board of Ed continues to wind it’s way through the courts, with a hearing rescheduled for the day after Election Day.
The Montgomery Township Board of Ed meanwhile, is planning to schedule a public session to make voters aware of the issues involved with the Dec. 8 referendum. The referendum is an attempt to raise some $14.8 in bonds to pay for capital improvements to the schools. Unless the courts decide otherwise, Rocky Hill will be expected to contribute to Montgomery Board of Ed. capital expenses at a cost of $94 a year per home for the next 15 years. This referendum, we are told, will save taxpayers money over the long run because of energy saving measures it will pay for. Previously, contributing districts such as Rocky Hill never had to pay for capital costs incurred by the receiving district.
When the Township Board met however, it failed to note the addition of Borough voters as part of the notification process, and had to be reminded. No such notification has been officially issued as of late October, nor has the Borough Clerk been notified of the planned referendum, nor where and when Borough voters can expect to take part in this putative exercise in “democracy.”
The Mayor noted that during an October Township Board of Ed meeting, several of its members were remarkably snarky on the subject of “Rocky Hill taxpayers paying their fair share” of Township costs. The Mayor had to remind them, “The referendum is likely to be a close vote and they will need Borough votes if they want it to succeed.” Previous Township School Board budget votes sometimes passed or failed by fewer than 100 votes, and Rocky Hill voters will make a difference one way or the other.
One question which arose during the Council meeting was: if the school population should decline over the years and the Montgomery Board of Education were to sell surplus property at a later date, would Rocky Hill, having contributed to its refinanced costs, share in that sale? “Probably not,” said Mayor Zimmerman.
Meanwhile, Rocky Hill received a letter from the State absolving the Borough from any legal issues which could arise from the previous requirement that school fees be paid by the Borough to the Borough Board of Ed, which then would pay the Township Board of Ed. CFO Ross Bobal reports that part of the issue is that there has yet to be an official notification from the State to Montgomery or Rocky Hill defining the terms of what amounts to a shotgun wedding. As a consequence, the Borough had not paid the Montgomery Board of Ed. for the past several months of school bills, which could account for some of the Township’s snarkiness.
“It’s as legal as if Rocky Hill told Montgomery, ‘Give us your money.’ This was done in the dead of night and is one of the things the State didn’t think about,” according to Mayor Zimmerman.
However, the letter did not officially declare the former Board of Ed. null and void, nor has such notification been given, pending resolution of the Borough’s suit against the State. No one on Borough Council has any idea of what will happen with the referendum if the Borough wins in the courts, other than the Township will have to refigure their numbers. Such a loss could cost Township taxpayers approximately $2 per home. Big deal.
However, if the Borough loses in the courts on the issue of the disenfranchised school board, Council is hoping that it will at least have a dedicated seat on the Montgomery Board. The usual model calls for proportional representation, which will be unusual, as there are currently 94 students from Rocky Hill and some 3,000 from the Township. That works out to, roughly, a leg to stand on in the Township. The Borough currently has one seat filled by Randie Zimmerman, a seat set to expire at the end of April 2010.
The Engineer’s report noted that the new sidewalks are nearly finished, with the exception of a few spots, such as one home where the new sidewalk covered the water shut-off. That work will be redone soon, probably by the time this is published.
Barbara Walsh has been appointed to be the new affordable housing manager.
Council passed several other ordinances also, including an ordnance with new regulations for the Park’s; an ordnance regulating dogs and cats; and an ordnance to pay $30,155 to Appraisal Systems, Inc., which won the bid to perform the new property revaluation. “There are a lot of things we do that we get a pat on the back and lots of approval,” Mayor Zimmerman noted. “This isn’t one of them.”
Council pointed out that the property revaluation should be done at 10-year intervals, and the last was done 12 years ago. Also, a proper revaluation will result in homes valued for tax purposes at 100% of their correct value. Currently, according to Tax Collector George Sopko, Rocky Hill homes are valued at less than 50%. The revaluation is required by the County Tax Board, which ordered the assessment three years ago. The Borough successfully sought postponements until this year, when property prices may actually be lower than they were a year ago.
The appraisers will visit every home and inspect them inside and out, measuring house dimensions, number of bedrooms, bathrooms, recent renovations ands additions, and such intangibles as “condition and quality.” They will also gather data such as recent home sales. This will be likely to draw a number of objections from taxpayers whose appraisals show their homes to be of greater value than neighbors with similar property. Taxpayers will have a chance to appeal, and there will be a public session before work begins. The work will have to be done by August or September 2010 to meet an October deadline.
“Some homes will go down, some up, some remain the same. For most, the tax bill will remain the same,” Mayor Zimmerman said. “Hold off on improvements until after the reval” At the end, a tax map will be available for comparison. “No secrets, here,” the mayor noted. Hold onto your hat.
During the Oct. 19 session, Mayor Zimmerman reported that the Borough received a $125,000 grant from the County for roadwork on Montgomery Avenue. He noted that during the past three years, the Borough has received about $600,000 in grants to fund Borough projects.
There were 39 moving violation cases disposed of during September in the court, with the Borough receiving $753. There will be no November court session, and the December court will be on the Dec. 9.
Borough residents drew 2.2 million gallons from well #2, with no problems with water delivery or quality.
Council noted that passing of lifetime resident Emma O. Cahill at the end of September.
The Rocky Hill Community Group is selling historic photos of Rocky Hill in a number of formats, including photographic prints, mugs, mouse pads, and refrigerator magnets. The sale is a fundraiser for the group. Your home or relative may be shown among the photos, some of which are extremely interesting, so go online and have a look at rhcg.smugmug.com.
The Rocky Hill Reformed Church will be holding it’s annual Lasagna Dinner and Bake Sale on Nov 14, from 5 to 8: adults $13 (two for $25), children 13 and under $8; and children under 5 for free.
Leaf pickup dates are set for Oct. 26, Nov 9, 23, and Dec. 7.
The Veterans Day Ceremony is on Nov. 8 at 1 pm at Panicaro Park, rain or shine.
Rocky Hill Borough Council meets on the first and third Mondays of each month at 7 pm at Borough Hall on Montgomery Avenue. For more information online, www.rockyhill-nj.gov.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |