BY JIM BRUMM
For the Star-Ledger
The Old Bridge Township Council rejected a 2.9 percent rent increase in its rent-control ordinance and approved an agreement with Cablevision during its meeting last night.
The council's rejection of the increase recommended by the township's Fair Rent Committee means rents under Old Bridge's rent-control ordinance will increase by 2 percent, township attorney William S. Ruggierio said.
Ruggierio also asked the council to approve an agreement reached with Cablevision, explaining this was necessary to avoid having terms set by an administrative law judge at the Board of Public Utilities in Newark.
The agreement continues the franchise fee now received by the township, consisting of 2 percent of Cablevision's Old Bridge revenues, he said. It also provides for fiber- optic lines to allow broadcasts from Old Bridge High School's west campus and the municipal complex, new equipment for the township station, and continues providing two public access channels in Old Bridge.
Ruggierio said the deal extends Cablevision's franchise for eight years from the time the agreement is approved by the BPU, noting this compares to the five years the council sought and the 15 years Cablevision originally sought.
The council also heard about plans to raise $2 million for a new YMCA.
Councilman Dennis Maher introduced Rick Robins of Jerold Panas, Linzy & Partners, the firm chosen by the Red Bank YMCA to raise funds for a planned community center.
Robins said the YMCA "hopes to raise $2 million by the end of the year, maybe a little more" to fund the project. He explained this was based on a feasibility study showing the potential of raising $1.5 million to $2 million, adding that in his previous 12 projects the goal had been exceeded by an average of 20 percent.
There will be a public kickoff of the fund-raising project on Sept. 23, Robins said.
The council also approved the purchase of the hammer-shaped 35-acre tract that makes up the former Nike missile site. The site is west of Route 9 off Jake Brown Road and adjoins the Runyon Watershed. The purchase is subject to final approval of bonds to cover the $250,000 cost. The bonds were approved on first reading, but need a second reading.
Copyright 2003 NJ.com. All Rights Reserved.
by $82 for average homeowner
BY JIM BRUMM
For the Star-Ledger
The average Highland Park homeowner will pay $82 more in taxes this year to fund municipal operations under the budget approved last night by the borough council.
Amending the 2003 budget introduced in March to reflect $400,000 in extraordinary state aid and $29,000 in spending cuts, the council voted during a special meeting to raise $6.72 million in taxes to fund $11.26 million in spending. This is in addition to school taxes of $15.13 million approved by voters in April.
Introducing the "thoughtful and lean" budget, Mayor Meryl Frank declined to give the expected tax rate, saying only the budget would increase taxes 4.81 percent or "about $82 per year for the average homeowner."
The result will be a municipal tax of nearly $1,790 on a home assessed at the borough average of $137,000. That compares to the $4,043 the same homeowner will be paying in school taxes, an increase of $165 from last year.
Borough Administrator Richard Kunze cited health benefits, snow removal, mandated apartment garbage collection, payments for accrued sick and vacation time and the lack of an increase in state aid as the key factors leading to the municipal tax increase.
Besides the state aid announced last night, other factors helping to hold down taxes were grants and expected fines -- including $3,600 expected to be collected under the "Click-it or Ticket 2003" campaign to encourage seat belt use.
Pointing out that grant awards have more than doubled over the past four years, Council President Elsie Foster-Dublin said in a statement, "We are working hard to bring more money into the community, and it is paying off."
After passing the budget with no objections and very little public comment, the council introduced a proposal to establish a Business Improvement District that would include the borough's main street.
Franks said a public hearing and final vote on the district will probably be held on Aug. 5.
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