Town manager Joe Hartnett confirmed that county officials have awarded a grant of $500,000 to Montclair. If everything proceeds, the money would be used to reduce the purchase price of the Senior Center to the Township by $500,000.
That $500,000 will go against the $3.5 million listing price. So knowing that the town will have to borrow and ultimately repay the remainder, and spend $150,000 in annual estimated operating costs, as well as money toward running the 30 or so new programs for seniors, teens and people with disabilities the town has proposed to offer, what say you? Oh, and the town has a $200 million in debt.


If you voted no, Peg Adam is collecting emailed petition signatures from anyone who objects to the purchase. Send your email objections here. She also sent the following email to town council members…

To: Montclair Council Members:
Regarding the potential purchase of the Senior Care Center for a municipal community center, I’ve learned through the wonderful information shared on the watercooler that Fairlawn, Caldwell and Woodbridge have community centers. I don’t know how they are financed and operated. My online research turned up the Woodbridge Center, which is opperated by United Skates of America for its rink and the YMCA for its indoor pool and fitness facility.
Since as councilors you should do due diligence, or instruct the manager’s office to do so, in research for purchase of this senior center, I respectfully request that you supply me and any other of your constituents you wish with answers to the following questions:
1. Have you or the manager’s office visited any other town community centers? Which ones? The following questions are for comparison sake.
2. Who actually operates the community centers in Caldwell, Woodbridge, Fairlawn? Town staff? paid outsiders? other?
3. What programs are operated out of these centers?
4. What are the age groups served?
5. How many staffers are required for whatever programs they operate?
6. What are the total operating costs at each center?
7. Are staffers union employees? Town employees? How are they covered for insurance, benefits, etc?
8. On average, how many residents patronize these centers on a daily basis?
9. What are their operating hours? daytime? evening?
10. How do people get to these centers? town bus? individual cars?
11. How many parking spaces at each center?
12. What is the acreage/open space surrounding each center?
13. How were these centers financed at their inception?
I look forward to your responses. pegi adam

24 replies on “Montclair Gets Grant Money For Senior Center Purchase”

  1. Poor Cary, he’s probably agonizing over his position. Should he change from a “probable maybe” to a “maybe probable” ?
    (poor guy)
    Weren’t we told just the other day that grants would cover the entire cost?
    Could someone also please explain how it’s possible to run 30 programs for $150,000 per year?
    The answer is that it is NOT possible.

  2. Roc… Roc… Roc,
    You can run 30 programs for $150k a year….. IF they are really, really, SMALL “targeted” programs……
    (But if Cary comes back with something as good as Rumsfeld’s: “There are known knowns. These are things we know that we know. There are known unknowns. That is to say, there are things that we now know we don‚Äôt know. But there are also unknown unknowns. These are things we do not know we don‚Äôt know. ‚Äù I will cut him some slack. I wait…..)

  4. We should say “NO NO NO NO NO” as Cary did the other day:

    But after listening to many of the members of the Senior Citizens Advisory Committee speak of their desire for the Town to forget about its debt and take advantage of this “once in a lifetime offer” of the Senior Care building, I came to the conclusion that although we are CURRENTLY offering many services to Seniors, the lure of “doing all the activities in one place” seems to be just too attractive to ignore.

    Thus, while activities are spread out among the schools, the Edgemont Field house, and other locations, and while the Y, private dance studios, etc. provide opportunity hosting activities, we could achieve “efficiency” by buying and operating one building to do it all.

  7. For $150k per year the old folks can rent my house for $12,500 per month (assuming the township is nice enough to give me a 30 year tax abatement).
    I’ll retire to sunny Florida.

  8. I would wholly support a $400,000 senior center and the extra $100,000 could pay for it’s operations over the next two years.
    This town is on crack!

  11. Mercer County, News »
    Robbinsville sets layoffs, pay decreases, furloughs
    By The Star-Ledger Continuous News Desk
    December 17, 2009, 7:20AM
    ROBBINSVILLE — The mayor of the township announced Wednesday he is cutting positions, giving out pay decreases, and giving furloughs to his staff of 127 employees to close a $1.2 million shortfall next year, a report in the Times of Trenton said.
    Mayor Dave Fried told the newspaper he is cutting the equivalent of 9.5 positions through layoffs, changing a position to part-time and not filling in vacancies. All department heads will take a 2 percent pay decrease, and all other employees other than fire and police will get furloughs, including the mayor and council members, according to the report. Starting next year, all employees will pay 1 percent of their health insurance, and co-pays will increase from $10 to $20, the report said.
    ————————————————-
    In Montclair, we’re still spending on things we don’t need or want. Can we get a new logo or a new giant sign in front of the municipal building?

  12. It’s my understanding that, although the Caldwell Community Center is equipped with an indoor pool and fully equipped gym, it costs over $400 to join. Will there be fees associated with the programs offered at the Montclair community center?

  13. I emailed all council members to let them know my dissatisfaction. Baskerville emailed back and said she agrees. Cary agrees too.
    Im sure the rest care. Theyre drunk with the towns money.
    Rich Murnick, financial planner….care to weigh in here? Would you recommend this type of borrowing for your clients?

  14. The Montclair Department of Public Spending, in partnership with the township public debt engorgement committee, has launched a new, cost-free public Senior Center program.
    The program, which is being done in conjunction with Creative Oldperson Advertising of America(“COA”), a provider of on-site senior amenity programs, is designed to enhance the township’s Mahjong efforts while generating revenue for the municipality, via 260 advertising units worn on the foreheads of senior citizens throughout the town in public spaces.
    “This new program offers residents an additional outlet to express corporate messages while enjoying their time out and about Mntclair,” said Councilman Nick Lewis, council liaison to the public debt engorgement committee and advocate for the new program. “We’re going to bolster our Bored Altakaka Abatement program and generate new revenue through this initiative.”
    This new program is the first of its kind in Essex County. Additionally, Montclair is only the sixth community in New Jersey to sign-on with COA. On August 1, the township entered a 10-year agreement with COA. “We’re a little concerned with that time frame and the viability of some of the advertising vehicles” said Max Scheister, Vice President of Public Swindling at COA, “But we’re willing to give it a go.”
    Under the agreement, the committee will receive a portion of the proceeds COA receives for advertising on the elderly pates. The funds will go directly toward supporting the committee’s work to advance public debt accrual.
    “The department is thrilled that we’re adding another program to our already successful curbside au pair delivery campaign,” said Igotur Wallet, director of public waste and fleecing coordinator for Montclair. “We are on the move as a community, and continually offering bold, new initiatives, like this one, to benefit our residents.”

  16. ROC,
    I think I understand why I am being “misunderstood.” As you correctly point out, I said:
    “But after listening to many of the members of the Senior Citizens Advisory Committee speak of their desire for the Town to forget about its debt and take advantage of this “once in a lifetime offer” of the Senior Care building, I came to the conclusion that although we are CURRENTLY offering many services to Seniors, the lure of “doing all the activities in one place” seems to be just too attractive to ignore.”
    I DIDN’T say “the lure of “doing all the activities in one place” seems to be just too attractive to ignore,” the SENIORS said it!
    I don’t subscribe to the logic of “too good to ignore.” If you don’t need something when it costs $100, you still don’t need it if it costs $10 or even $1. Don’t need it means don’t need it.
    I easily ignore deals I don’t need. There is no such thing as “too good to ignore.”
    Also, the $150K is NOT for programs. We’ve been told that programs will be executed using our existing personnel, volunteers, etc. Here’s what the report says:
    “with the exception of maintenance needs, the
    facility would be fully staffed from day-one with no additional personnel costs to the
    Township.”
    Read the report. It’s on the Town website.
    Cary Africk

  17. “It’s my understanding that, although the Caldwell Community Center is equipped with an indoor pool and fully equipped gym, it costs over $400 to join.”
    – my mother spends $287. per year to be a member of the Caldwell Community Center. Non Caldwell residents spend $287. and Caldwell residents pay $250. per year. She loves it and swims there every day.

  18. Now we get into some very interesting questions!
    Should the town provide recreation facilities and services for free?
    Traditionally Montclair has charged very little for, say, it’s pools. A fraction of what other communities charge. Additionally, Montclair has a policy of “not turning people away” if they can’t afford an activity. I understand that many “scholarships” are given to people who qualify. I guess this pertains to all “fee based” activities. I’m not sure anyone can come up with a number as to our support, e.g. we give $10,000 away, etc.
    I’ve been told, as another example, that the town’s children’s camps cost very little. The BOE runs a similar camp and charges three times as much. I’ve been “told” that’s because the BOE wants to “break even.”
    Is there an answer? If the Y charges $250 for activities, is it the proper use of taxpayer money to offer those same service at no charge?
    And, I don’t know if this is relevant, but if we start offering services for free, that other organizations or non-profits offer for a fee, we’re going to start putting other programs out of business.
    Of course, my “analysis” may be too simple, but the question remains, what is the proper role of the town in providing recreation services? Free, subsidized, etc and should it depend on income.
    Cary Africk
    2nd Ward Councilor

  19. Here are some other questions, assuming that the building is desirable in our dire financial climate (a premise with which I disagree, but since the spendthrift manager and spendthrift two-thirds of the council seem hellbent on buying it):
    Why is the town considering paying at or near asking price? Offer much less. If the sellers won’t take it, wait for the bankruptcy, then buy it for much less.
    Why doesn’t the town approach the owner with a break-even rental proposal with option to buy (say, a 5 year lease to see if the center is at all viable, with an option to purchase).

  20. App,
    I am sure that the asking price is just a starting point, and that the eventual price will be less.
    Cary

  21. Isn’t the charter school also interested in the property? Maybe that affects negotiation of a lower price.

  22. “I DIDN’T say “the lure of “doing all the activities in one place” seems to be just too attractive to ignore,” the SENIORS said it!”
    Then the SENIORS need at the very least to pony up 10% of the final cost of the entire project from their own pockets or fundraising efforts.
    As someone who will be paying for the baby boomers for the rest of my life I could care less what the seniors want or need btw. I want and need my social security but that is now a punchline to a very bad joke.

  23. In my mind’s eye, I see a group of grey hairs standing around in shorts and t-shirts with buckets of sudsy water and hoses, waiting for cars to pull up in response to some 80-somethings holding signs saying – “Support the Senior Center – Car Wash Today”.
    For the record, I’m 63 and fast approaching the too much time on my hands group.

  24. In my mind’s eye, I see a group of grey hairs standing around in shorts and t-shirts with buckets of sudsy water and hoses, waiting for cars to pull up in response to some 80-somethings holding signs saying – “Support the Senior Center – Car Wash Today”.
    For the record, I’m 63 and fast approaching the too much time on my hands group.

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