The Montclair Township Council in its December 3 conference meeting heard from eight of eleven community organizations who each made bids for community development block grants (CDBGs) for 2014 in an annual presentation coordinated by Planning Director Janice Talley. Talley also submitted a bid on behalf of Township Engineer Kimberli Craft for the ongoing streetscape improvement of Glenridge Avenue to complete it all the way up to Grove Street. The funding was for the third and final phase of the project.
“We got a $180,000 [for it] last year,” Talley said. ” The project’s cost for this last phase is $182,400.”
The third phase includes resurfacing, new sidewalks, additional street trees, and pedestrian lights. Talley emphasized the need for the pedestrian lights to improve safety along Glenridge Avenue.
The organizations that presented their requests were:
- Succeed2gether, a mathematics and tutoring program for low-income students and families, whose president, Marcia Marley, made a request for a grant of $62,000;
- the Counseling, Outreach, Prevention, and Education (COPE) Center, providing affordable behavioral health services whose executive director, Sue Seidenfeld, put in a request for $39,500 for programs including clinical services and initiatives dealing with substance abuse and anger management;
- United Way of Northern New Jersey, helping asset-limited, income strained employed (ALICE) individuals with job skill improvements and workforce development, which requested a $38,915 grant;
- the Montclair Neighborhood Development Corporation, whose Project Oasis program tutors low-income youth and provides organized sports and summer jobs, whose case manager, Elaine Spears, put in a request for 52980 to expand the program to serve forty children;
- HomeCorp, which provides affordable housing in Montclair and teaches people the basics of first-time home buying, whose executive director, Beverly Riddick, requested $30,000;
- KinderSmile, which provides affordable dental care to children, whose president, Dr. Nicole McGrath, requested $30,000;
- Start Out Fresh Intervention Associates (SOFIA), a group helping victims of domestic violence, whose founder, Cynthia Walker, placed a $21,650 to partially fund domestic violence preention programs, and;
- the Interfaith Hospitality Network (IHN), providing homelee families with shelter, whose interim executive director, Leslie Brown, requested $33,000.
Some of the council members had questions for the applicants. Fourth Ward Councilor Renée Baskerville wondered if United Way of Northern New Jersey helped too wide an area beyond Montclair as opposed to local groups within the community, but Peter Keating, a member of United Waty’s local North Essex Board, explained that at least 85 percent of those who use UNited Way’s Montclair services are in fact from Montclair, and it’s up to local boards, not the national organization, to raise money for local needs.
Dr. Baskerville was also concerned about SOFIA’s $21,650 request, which does not cover its full budget. Talley explained that a CDBG should not fund a full budget. Walker said that volunteers and fundraisers could make up the rest of the $40,000 budget SOFIA envisions for 2014.
Councilor-at-Large Rich McMahon suggested that SOFIA could factor in the real estate value of its Pine Street office in its application. Talley responded by suggesting that SOFIA could say that Montclair is supporting them through the space at Pine Street.
“That would be a great idea,” Dr. Baskerville said. “And you go back to the thirty or forty thousand that you really need if you add that to your resources.”
Deputy Mayor Robert Russo offered a little humor regarding KinderSmile. “There’s nothing more important than children taking care of their teeth, because I didn’t do it, and I’m paying the price!” he said. “We need an ElderSmile program.”
Citing the scarcity of money, Talley noted that Montclair’s CDBG allocation for 2014 has not been determined but funding levels are expected to be roughly the same as the allocation for 2013, which was $321,000. “Our CDBG allotment has been significantly decreased over the last couple of years, and unfortunately we’ve only been able to partially fund the requests that come in,” she said.
The township is expected to adopt a resolution prioritizing projects in its December 10 meeting to submit to the county by the end of the month SOFIA would have to amend is funding request before then.
Historic Preservation
Talley stayed behind for the preview of the December 10 meeting to discuss historic preservation and redevelopment issues. She told the council that the Planning Board found that the Montclair Heights Reformed Church meets the criteria for historic landmark status, which is the subject of an ordinance to be introduced on December 10, but its owners, who are trying to sell the building, remain opposed to the designation. First Ward Councilor William Hurlock reminded the council that the local Calvary Chapel congregation has expressed an interest in buying it, and Talley explained that the historic landmark designation would allow the building’s structure to be preserved. Another ordinance to be introduced that designated Watchung Plaza as an historic district also meets the criteria according to the Planning Board and the Historic Preservation Commission, but the Planning Board also suggested including the properties of the north side of Watchung Avenue, despite their lack of historic integrity. The hope expressed by the Planning Board was that these additional properties could be made to blend with the district as a whole. She also advised the council that a resolution designated properties near CentroVerde as properties in need of rehabilitation as part of the reworking of Montclair Center’s western end was contingent on the interest of the property owners, who hae not responded to the township’s overtures on the issue.
Electric Power
Environmental Affairs Coordinator Gray Russell also updated the council on an electric power purchasing plan for township residents. Noting that PSE&G would remain the distributor of electricity but that Montclair could buy the power supply more cheaply, Russell recommended a purchase of blended power that was 20 percent generated by renewable energy that could give residents savings up to 10 percent on their electric rates. A more ambitious electricity purchase using 25 to 50 percent renewable-generated power would offer no rate discounts. Mayor Robert Jackson thought it best to get feedback from residents on the issue, but Deputy Mayor Russo said Montclair should seize the initiative.
“We were elected to lead this town,” he said, “and maybe sometimes we have to make the effort and take the first step.”
If such an electricity purchase is made, Montclair residents would still have the option to stick with PSE&G for the supply. Regardless of who supplies the power, PSE&G would still handle distribution and problems such as outages.
” the Planning Board also suggested including the properties of the north side of Watchung Avenue, despite their lack of historic integrity. The hope expressed by the Planning Board was that these additional properties could be made to blend with the district as a whole”
So would they put an asterisk next to those and if they are ever sold there will be additional pressure on the next owner to bring them more in line with the southern portion? I mean..The plaza as a whole is great but its also a mish-mosh of architectural styles. Why dont they go building by building?
The behavior of this overly-rated Planning Board and Town Council is an entire mush-mash of thinking and planning. There is nothing on the north side of Watching Plaza that is not an eyesore and shouldn’t be torn down.
Calling the south side historic because of its architecture is indeed an insult to the words “historic” and “architecture.”
The town has a completely amateur and unprofessional approach to planning. These people should really stop and just leave things as they are rather than make worse and worse decisions.
Why does the town need designations of “historic” at Watchung Plaza at all? What purpose does that serve? More postcard moments on refrigerators for people with bad taste?
This is all pretense for the great pretenders.
Maybe someone could introduce a proposal for manhole cover designs to the Planning Board to keep them busy for the coming months, and the Town Council could perhaps re-focus on the need for holiday decorations on the municipal buildings (throughout the year). The less these people do, the better off the town will be.
Folks, just take a year off to pat yourselves on the back for the wonderful jobs done on Sienna and Centro Verde.
Why is Planning Board Director Janice Talley advising the Town Council on CDBGs?
By the way, even the 13% of the eligible voting population that elected this mayor and town council is not going to be happy with Deputy Mayor Russo taking the first and last step on decisions that affect the entire community. Perhaps this is someone’s idea of democracy?
I’m glad to see idratherbe back! I was concerned that she might have overdone it on the canapes at the Montclair Film festival benefit! But if she did, she was only trying to give to a worthy cause. These folks need our help! I’m thinking perhaps a 5K race for next year, with the top 5 placers given a waiver from Common Core testing!
Dear idrather,
Enjoyed your post, as usual! When I was on the planning board, while not discussing manhole covers, we did have an extensive discussion about hinges, on one project, and the color of stucco on another.
Janice is clearly one of “the good guys.” She tries very hard to do her job, which is defined by others and by statute. I’m picky on who I think is good. She is.
CDBG is, again by area of responsibility, hers.
CDBG is highly “politicized,” but its not Janice’s to decide.
I made the simple suggestion for CDBG proposals. I asked for organizations to provide a package describing their organization, including financials, giving us a budget for any proposed projects, and if in the past they received money give us a report listing how they spent their money. My suggestions did not go over big. Silly me.
Hopefully, CDBG is being managed much better nowadays.
Oh, re. United Way? A fantastic organization doing terrific things. When Montclair “dissolved” its Social Services department the thought was United Way would pick up the workload. Which they did. I continue to be confused why they are not given higher priority, and more money.
idratherbe is 100% correct… 100%
Goodmorning!!!
good guys? …. the demolition of the playing field carrage house…ignoring all of the neighbors?
Frank- Wasnt it too late by the time the neighbors began advocating for the carriage house?
I feel that it shouldnt have gotten to that point in the first place.
@croiagusanam Loved this post of yours. Thanks. It is so good to have friends (even when they don’t invite you to their cocktail parties).
I see the PB recommendation to add the Watchung Ave north-side properties being derived from their wish to place additional development controls and standards on this entire N-C zone – not to protect what presently exists. The reality is the designation doesn’t prevent demolition, but adds an advisory review process by the HPC preceding a determination from the PB. I think buildings of low or no historic value face only a time delay in getting a demolition permit
The HPC recommendation is generous in designating most of the buildings as Contributing with some Key buildings. The buildings proposed to be added by the PB include lesser historic value types of Harmonizing and Non-contributing (or Intrusions). The gas statin would be an example of non-contributing building. As it occupies the critical corner lot of this block, it is the heart of the issue. Interesting to me as the PB is well aware of these issues not to include, but now decided to propose their inclusion.
The PB currently has very superficial design standards. By using a historic zoning overlay, the PB can leverage the HPC’s standards and review process and any specific new standards the HPC may create for this district.
Further, the PB foresees, via the Master Plan draft, enacting Form Based Codes for the underlying Neighborhood Commercial zone. This will be easier to implement if all the commercial properties are within the HD.
However, I suspect these property owner objections, when added to some of the other property owners against if, would tip the majority scale not in favor of a HD. So while I have my doubts the Council will approve a HD, I would be quite surprised if they also included the PB recommendation to add these other lots.
What is the difference, by the ordinance, between a Police Director and a Deputy Mayor?
not Deputy Mayor, s/b Deputy Manager.
Frank, NJ law provides for police departments to report to a civilian “appropriate authority” empowered to set rules and regulations for the department, decide promotions, etc. By default in a Council-Manager jurisdiction like Montclair, the “appropriate authority” role falls on the Manager. The Council can decide to take that role away from the manager and give it to someone else–in this proposal, a civilian “Police Director.” By definition, however, anything the director could do is something the manager can do presently. Either way, the chief, by law, would retain full powers to supervise police officers and determine their assignments and duties. That’s why the director ordinance says that the director will “suggest” assignments. “Suggestions” is all they will be.
In a sense, then, the director is indeed a “deputy manager.” The person would have a fraction of the responsibilities now held by the manager and would serve at the manager’s pleasure. Importantly, though, because the director will be a subordinate of the manager, the Council won’t have any greater ability to control or even speak to the director than they currently have respecting the chief or any other township employee. Councilors will continue to be able to speak directly only with the manager.
These are just a few of the reasons why I think this director proposal just isn’t a good idea.
Thanks Jeff. I understood this from your previous post – which I found very helpful and made me think. I assume this council is rational, intelligent and properly informed. So, I would be interested on your POV if you focused on the other end of the equation for the Council.
Regarding the renewable electric power proposal, it would have been nice if they had paired the usage element with a conservation element – like asking for a lighting ordinance.
Frankly, I don’t understand the Environmental Commission at all. I keep thinking I will attend one of their meetings, but I have a sense they are following a pre-ordained agenda.
I have talked about light pollution for less than a heart now. They have been talking about light pollution since 2006, and 8 years later it is absent even from inclusion in the Master Plan draft. I believe they even talk this year about making it an objective. Oh well, he year is over. Maybe next year.
And I don’t care about the perpetual MP conservation element draft. The language should be in the land use & circulation. Totally inexcusable…and, yet, we insist on having an arts & culture section in the Land Use & Circulation? Really silly.
And it is not all about the circadian rhythm stuff, seeing stars, etc, etc. There are very practical & basic $ & ¢ reasons to justify the Planning Board putting some language in the next draft.
I don’t support this proposal for creating a government subsidy without addressing the conservation aspect. It is fundamentally flawed.
heart=year
The Council is in a tough spot. They’re politically accountable for safety and security in Montclair but, under our system of government, they have only the tiniest ability to implement policy ideas to decrease crime and better respond to incidents of it. I honestly believe the Councilors are doing the best they can to work their way out of a mess–a feud between the manager and a tenure-protected (and I happen to think good) chief, and a surprising union vote against the chief. I’d rather see the Council deal with the situation head-on, setting out in clear terms what they want done differently and holding the manager accountable for working with the chief to deliver that change. I think the indirect route of the director proposal is likelier to make things worse (and, notably, the police unions don’t want it), but the Councilors are smart, good folks who won their seats, and if they have a different view, theirs is the only opinion that matters right now.
Just as the Montclair Board of Education refuses to hold the School Superintendent accountable, so too the Mayor and the Town Council refuse to hold the Town Manager accountable. So long as these situations persist, the quality of education and the quality of services will continue to diminish.
The Council is by no means in a tough spot. If these are indeed “smart, good folks,” the solution is obvious and easy.
What matters is what is good for the town. Opinions are not interesting.
A Police Director is a waste of money, and it will lead to more bureaucracy and less efficiency. If the Town Manager cannot fulfill the responsibilities of his job or meet the obligations of his contract, the solution is simple.
Thank you Jeff. I appreciate your POV.
I’m sure there is a back story to this situation, but it doesn’t really matter to me.
I don’t think the direct route you cited will work with the municipal organization as it is and the way we now allocate resources and work. Under different circumstances, I would readily have agreed with you. If this new position is a band-aid, then its a bad move.
I certainly don’t think the problem is our form of government, as some have suggested. As a matter of fact, our form – from a managerial opportunity – has potential & distinct advantages going forward. I think the Council needs outside expertise to guide them in this and as an overall approach and role of the Council.
the demolition of the playing field carrage house…ignoring all of the neighbors?
You mean that one guy who lives across the street? Hahaha! Good one.
I hope that you’re just being facetious my dear walleroo..
No, Frank, I have a vivid memory of no one showing up at the meeting and then the one guy complaining that he couldn’t look out from his window on the splendor of the carriage house any more.
Don’t misunderstand me: I’m not saying that there’s a better form of government for Montclair under the Faulkner Act than our current Council-Manager system. The only alternative is a full-time mayor and a weak council. I think, however, that the Faulkner Act imposes out-of-date restrictions on Councilors’ abilities to speak directly with top Township officials. There has to be a better balance between the idea of a “professional manager” and Councilors who are willing to roll up their sleeves, learn about Township operations and figure out ways to improve them.
@jeffjacobson ‘There has to be a better balance between the idea of a “professional manager” and Councilors who are willing to roll up their sleeves, learn about Township operations and figure out ways to improve them.’
Put simply: The Town Council should hold the Town Manager accountable.
Dear idrather,
Agree, and hope that they will.
It is very unfortunate that every four years a new slate comes in, without any experience. It takes them a few years to figure out what’s going on, and before long its time to start campaigning again.
And so often, new Councilors act that by the “simple” act of being elected they are now experts on EVERYTHING, i.e. policing, land use, purchasing, etc.
And so often, new Councilors assume that “the last guys” knew nothing and that they, the new Councilors can disgard everything that was done before.
A good, professional, manager can be key. He can supply the institutional memory as well as educate the new people.
Jeff,
I did not mean to suggest you were advocating a different form of government. I regret if my post implied any link to your post. In hindsight, I could have inserted a better transition with the paragraph break in addressing this subject that others have previously proffered on the our municipal capabilities & service levels.
I hope this clarifies this to anyone who may have come away with that understanding.