Last Friday, Montclair township employees received a notice saying layoffs and furloughs may be necessary in 2010. The notice, attached to paychecks, came from town manager Marc Dashield.
Dashield told Baristanet the purpose of the notice was to let employees know sooner rather than later about the possibility of layoffs, and to be in timely compliance with notification requirements as stated in the labor contracts.
“As we enter budget season we are facing a $2 million revenue shortfall. Although no decisions have been made yet, it is prudent to let employees know early, to maximize savings with the least impact on employees,” says Dashield.
He explains that the sooner in the budget year layoffs take place, the fewer employees would be affected in order to achieve the necessary budget savings. “The longer you wait [to initiate layoffs], the more people could be impacted.”
“Other communities are feeling the same pressures from the institution of a 4% budget cap and decline in state aid; every community is squeezed to its bare bones, and with the current economy, there’s not much money left,” Dashield adds.
Dashield says he and the council will have a better idea of where they stand by the middle of March. “We’ll have to make some tough decisions and if the money isn’t there, there are no quick fixes.”
NO LAYOFFS, RAISE TAXES!!!!
NO LAYOFFS, RAISE TAXES!!!!
Unfortunate but necessary. Also unfortunate because often the “wrong” people get laid off. It takes a lot more lower paid folks getting laid off to balacne the budget than it does if you lay off more highly compensated individuals.
“The longer you wait [to initiate layoffs], the more people could be impacted.”
“Dashield says he and the council will have a better idea of where they stand by the middle of March.”
Are we still going with the park street renovation Cary? I also hope the council cancels the “quiet zone”.
Some tough choices will have to be made. In my opinion non essential items should be closed before cuts in essential personnel are made. I’d rather lose the library and pools than a degree of fire and police coverage.
All art funding should be eliminated.
Park maintenance should be cut back.
Any spending on the Iris Garden cut entirely.
Leaf pick up eliminated.
The Libraries shuttered if necessary.
Wow, the above sounds rather draconian.
The only thing I agree with is the leaf pick up. More homeowners should be encouraged to compost, eliminating the need for leaf pick up.
I’m still waiting for the teabaggers to insist they will never accept a dime from Medicaid or Medicare, or ever step foot in a National Park, or onto a beach replenished by the Army Corps of Engineers, in exchange for a tax cut.
I’m dubious of the 2 million figure MM. Tax revenue is continuing to fall and more and more will be challenging their property taxes. I fear the shortfall will be more in time.
Hopefully it won’t all be necessary, but we should cut a little more than necessary to get ahead of the curve.
While there is indeed a revenue shortfall, projected, contracted increases for things like salaries, benefits, insurance, utilities, etc. will add over another $1MM to the “shortfall” by increases on the EXPENSE side of things.
And, for the life of me, I can’t understand why the Presby Iris Garden keeps coming up. There is ZERO cost. It is a county facility.
And remember, if you have to make up $3.5 to $4MM, you’re not going to make it up by reducing a $500,000 expense category by 10%.
Do the math folks. Look at where the spending is. Arts funding??
Cary Africk
Some community with no art, library and pools funding….
Cuts in township employees doesn’t mean just fire and police. In fact, I would say most cuts would NOT be fire and police.
Until we have some accountability with the over paid administrators (most in the BOE), I would not touch anything on Roc’s list.
I guess it’s always easier to close or limit a pool or library (how much does that save?) than it does trimming a level or two of administrators at, say the BOE.
Leaf pickup is important because of town drainage. Without it, many folks would just leave the leafs (say that 10 times fast!), which would cause many problems.
I’ll just wait for the Cary/Roc show for clarification on all the Town’s expenditures…… (If my eyes don’t glaze over first…)
But the prof doesn’t want to live in a community with no art, library and beat up parks.
JUST. RAISE. TAXES.
We pay THOUSANDS in taxes as it is. Taxes are still going to go up… And now services are going to be cut.
How about cutting some of the fat from that $1.3MM library funding… The $1.3MM that we over fund… $1.3MM that makes us the only town in the area to fund that much.
SHARED SERVICES!
Privatizing garbage would save a town a ton of money. I have friends in the West Essex area, all have private sanitation and love it. They don’t pick cost for repairs, mechanic salaries, etc.
It’s a no brainer!
Let’s go council, start thinking and doing something creative… and pulling the trigger on it. Laying off is the opposite of creative!
I personally think that the town library does a great job, although perhaps a study could be done on how much the Bellevue branch is used.
I agree w/ Quim that a creative approach should be used, and if that means privatizing some services rather than reducing others, then it should be considered.
Quim, Quim, Quim,
You make too much sense.
Creativity in municipal government?
It’s easier to make (or offer, right Roc?0 draconian cuts than to pursue some of Quim’s rather obvious ideas.
POW– Cary knocks a few items off Roc’s list.
But in fairness Cary, where is the fat? (…) Are you saying that Dashield’s are the only valid ideas?
Privatizing is a terrific Idea, but probably not likely in the short term. The clock is ticking.
Note that I have proposed specific funding cuts.
Will Cary propose some specifics?
Cary is correct.
I only hope that the BOE cuts at least an equal amount from its administration as it does from the teachers budget. I would much rather have three-year old curriculum rather than 35 students in each classroom. Considering what we pay those 5 assistant principals at the high school, we could easily save half a million alone by cutting it down to 2. Of course, expect the majority of the cuts to come from extra-curricular activities, special ed and secretaries in the central office. Also, anticipate a 9 to 10% tax increase to be blamed squarely on Trenton. It’s just too easy…ain’t it.
Noted Roc. But really. Is “shuttering” the Libraries a plan?
Or spending that we don’t even make– the Iris Garden?
Do the math folks. Look at where the spending is.
The bulk of spending at the local level is for schools and public safety, specifically salaries, benefits, and pensions. Until people are willing to sacrifice some sacred cows there will never be any meaningful property tax relief in New Jersey.
The BOE needs to look at some the positions they have, and what they’re paying them. I know for a fact, there are crisis councilors for elementary schools making $125K a year. FACT! I also know what they do MOST of the time… play games, help the principal with duties like moving chairs and setting up classrooms (actual documented facts).
I understand the need for crisis councilors, but how many? How many 8 yr olds are in crisis on a daily basis? Why not have two people for the district that can have a floating schedule, and when there is a crisis, they can go to that school to deal with that issue. Too many positions… Make the teachers teach one more period, and you would be able to reduce the work force by a decent number, saving on salaries and benefits. Do it through retirement and not laying off. It’s not rocket science.
A little creative leadership would be nice in this town, someone we could all get behind. Someone with a plan! And not a plan to make Montclair bike and jogger friendly. I don’t bike, nor do I jog. If anything I want bigger lanes to drive my big SUV down when I get my fat self in it to get coffee
I agree with Stuw6 on cutting the school budget from the top down — administrators first, teachers and academic programs last.
What does an assistant principal do, anyway?
Cary is still dancing around the issues as he loves to do here. Pork Roll is right, until we start addressing the core issue of out-of-control personnel costs we will be repeating this conversation next year and every year until the only people left in town are the ones who can afford the increases and aren’t sweating it. Is that you Prof ’cause it sure is not me?
Also, the 2 million Dashield is talking about is separate from whatever extra indebtedness the BOE will be throwing at us.
I know Presby requested $15,000 from the towhship. I don’t know if they got it.
My point is that ALL of the fat in terms of unneeded amenities should be eliminated before necessary things are compromised.
I agree about trimming the fat in the schools.
I’m all ears, with specific cuts anyone on the council might suggest.
mtc_maven,
High taxes are not new to Montclair. So while, yes, the prof can pay. So can and will others. Montclair has too much to offer for you to write it off.
Because the economy goes up and it goes down…..
The question is the size of our government. This question, thankfully, is happening everywhere because no one want to their Nation, State or Local Government to turn into California.
Here, it is too big and bloated with some folks earning way too much and not doing a damn thing– those “crisis counselors,” SAC’s I think are a start.
I do not think folks mind paying, when they think they are getting their money’s worth, but at these rates I expect someone to tuck me in at night… (with a little something extra…)
For non-essentials? I mind paying. I mind paying a lot.
So far Roc, you have saved us $15,000 from the Iris Garden.
And what for Art Funding? Hell, even IF it’s 100k, that ain’t saving a thing.
Still waiting for those workable ideas…
Those non-essentials– like Librarians?
I’ll say it Roc, I have NO desire to live in a town you run (no library, little police and fire, leaves everywhere clogging up the drains and flooding homes, and parks in disrepair.)
Pass.
But Cary, Quim has some workable ideas as do you.
So— why aren’t any of them being seriously considered?
Me? I’d get rid of Alvarez first….
Couple of comments:
1. I’m trying to push with this “consultant” idea. I’ve been pushing for two plus years so I don’t have a lot of hope. But I do think a “McKinsey” type firm could make recommendations on “effectiveness/efficiency” in the BOE. And I’d also pay them to do it for the Township!
2. That being said, it does appear that the BOE is taking this stuff VERY SERIOUSLY. I mean they’re talking opening up contracts and cutting 50 positions, both Central Office and in the schools.
3. What is it going to cost to open the doors on the new school? How much would we save if we just postponed the opening for a year?
4. Outsourcing municipal services such as trash pickup? I’ve been asking for at least a STUDY for four years. We are already outsourcing care of one park (Edgemont) and apparently it’s been a success.
5. Aggressive pursuit of shared services, BOE/Municipality. It’s not going to do the whole job, but it’s a necessity.
Yes, how about all the bloated teachers’ pensions? Not that I have anything against teachers, I think they’re great. I wouldn’t be where I am today without ‘em, but really.
This was the topic of John Gambling’s show for the past couple of days.
Why aren’t they subject to the same criteria as the corporate world? Many folks in corporate have 401Ks that their employers usually match but when times are bad, those employers may hold off until things improve. Most of us understand this and while we don’t like it, we realize that it’s good for the company’s solvency in the long run.
Also, why does someone get tenure only after a couple of years on the job, whether they do a good job or a bad one? In the corporate world, if you do a bad job, you don’t produce, whatever, you’re shown the door.
Someone mentioned crisis counselors above. My husband, who’s a subsitute teacher, mentioned classrooms aides as well. That’s fine, but why is there a 1:1 ratio aides per child?
I know the answer to these questions: unions. My question is why we continue to let this happen.
“I’ll say it Roc, I have NO desire to live in a town you run (no library, little police and fire, leaves everywhere clogging up the drains and flooding homes, and parks in disrepair.)”
I said quite the opposite in fact.
I’d cute non-essentials so that essentials like, fire, police, sewers, roads, etc would receive little or no cuts.
I’d privatize the garbage pickup. (though I don’t think that could be accomplished in time to save this years’ shortfall).
We should consider closing on of the libraries and one of the pools.
Nobody listened to me during the days of mad money, but I kept saying it was an anomaly and we’d pay. Hoo Hoo boy, are we paying now!
As far as solutions. Let’s appoint ROC mayor and run the scenario. Taxes are cut by 25%. So a $600,000 house now has what, a $12,000 tax bill. Still pretty darn high, but now why the hell does anyone live here? Bang, ROC forgot we’re in Essex County. Whomp, ROC’s been downed in a hit and run. Yo, I’m the mayor now and I’m calling it North Irvington.
But let’s not go overboard. Like it or not, Montclair is expensive because it has a reputation as a town with decent schools. That’s the only thing that will keep it from North Irvington. Can’t afford to live here after the kids grow up? Move to Verona. Senior Center? It’s not for Montclair, sorry. Keep the emphasis on the kids. First step: get rid of Alvarez, bring in someone good. Yes, the crisis kids are a crisis. We need to find ways to work around them. Maybe put them all in one classroom. We’ll see.
Consultants? I work for a place that brought it not “McKinsey” but McKinsey. What were there instructions to finance? Slow pay to save money, e.g. pretend to delay paying invoices to save cash. How do you do that? Outright lying. Clowns like that are the direct precursors to clowns like Bernanke, Summers, and the whole crew that came up with the speculative bubble and continues to perpetuate the worst of it. And guess what, they aren’t going to work for free? Unless Cary means he will pay for them himself, I suggest we steer clear of consultants.
Pensions are a huge time bomb. We need to deal with them. It is unbelievable to me that other governments have not found creative ways to work around them. Maybe we need to raise retirement age?
Parking is a cash cow. Outsourcing was such a mistake. We need to go to court and get rid of the Montclair Parking Authority. Force the people running it to pay up and repossess their homes and cars if necessary. Then run parking ourselves and make scads of cash at it.
We need to pass laws that if stores remain vacant for over two years without serious renovation, the owner has to turn them over to nonprofit use for a year. It’s nuts to see so much of downtown Montclair vacant just because looney tunes landlords like “Dick” want to keep artificially high rents. He and his crew may sit around drinking beer and talking about how they wanna do Snooki, but that doesn’t mean he knows anything about real estate. This is a bad situation and it could get worse.
The town needs to act. We tried to throw the bums out of office last time, but we got more bums. What will it take?
Proposing studies, isn’t cutting Cary. In fact, it the short term it increases costs.
I refer you back to the managers statement:
“The longer you wait [to initiate layoffs], the more people could be impacted.”
When the house is on fire it’s not time to “study” getting a new fire alarm system.
Sometimes Cary, you have to get out there and actually make decisions without being able to point to a study which told you it would work. Sometimes you have to make a judgement call…
To consider libraries to be non essentials is truly ignorant. During difficult economic times, libraries see increased usage and provide valuable services for free.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/15/nyregion/new-jersey/15librarynj.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1
“Yes, how about all the bloated teachers’ pensions? Not that I have anything against teachers, I think they’re great. I wouldn’t be where I am today without ‘em, but really.”
The problem Martta is not the pensions going forward. You can reduce those and then in 20 or 3o years save some serious money.
The problem is the pensions already agreed to and promised. Should we renege on those promises?
Teabaggers and National Parks, for Spiro: We should just raise the entrance fee to $5,000.00. The parks would be far more pristine for far fewer users. And those that couldn’t afford to enter would be spiritually refreshed and satisfied just knowing that the parks are there.
I am hearing a lot of great ideas… Too bad the council never talks about them, only on here.
In fairness to the 1:1 aide, there are some children that due to their disability require that type of attention. I have family members involved in sp ed and know quite a bit about it. But you’re on the right track.
Parking is the cash cow, and the parking authority is a huge part of this shortfall. We need to reclaim the parking in montclair. Police tickets were down this year, big article in the times about that. Why?
Shared services… Fire Dept gets $1MM a year for covering Glen Ridge, that is wonderful. Why cant the police, and/or courts work something out? There was an article about that, lets get it done!
Private garbage would be fantastic. Much cheaper, and frankly, better service. My buddy in Caldwell, says he can cut up a car and put it out in front of the house and they’ll take it.
Pensions are being handled at the state level, and will be better moving forward. It looks as though all employees will be paying into their benefits by 1.5%, which isn’t much, but it is a start!
Fried needs to get off his Library and Bike deals and start getting down with reality.
I agree with whoever said i would rather cut non-essentials, instead of all the essentials…safety!
“Should we renege on those promises?”
Probably not and we probably can’t. I’m sure their lawyers are on it. But going forward? Yes.
All the talk of shared services and privatization are all great and I agree. But they’ll do nothing to address the immediate (as in this year) short fall of $4 million which Cary has cited.
An immediate shortfall needs immediate cuts.
(also, I’m not sure why Cary letting us know the shortfall is going to be TWICE what we were told isn’t already another headline post on the blog. Seems like news to me.)
Should we renege on those promises?
Yes. And all the more reason why public employees should be converted from defined-benefit pensions to defined-contribution plans like the 401(k) plans that most of us have, because the politicians made promises that the taxpayers simply cannot afford to keep.
ROC misses the point (and Cary gets it even if it’s too uncomfortable to say). There are only 3 places that making cuts will make a difference, in order: 1. School System, 2. Police Department and 3. Fire Department.
Unless we are willing to make substantial cuts to teachers, police and fireman nothing will change.
(And wasn’t there a robbery at TD Bank today? How many more kids do you want in your child’s classroom? And don’t we have a moral commitment to “special needs” children? Oh, fires do happen.)
I will always scream: cut, cut, cut. But I know it won’t be easy.
What’s the library budget?
I’ll bet closing it down get’s us mostly there.
I’d only advocate that as a last resort. My guess is that one of the libraries, one of the pools, get rid of the substance abuse counselors and vice principals and we’re there.
Roc, have you ever been to the library?
The place is booming after school, evenings and weekends.
The town needs the library.
To argue for closing it down says a lot about you, pal.
But considering that you think missing work because of a school closing is no big deal for parents and caregivers, my guess is in Roc’s world you don’t need a library when you have Wiki and Amazon.
For others, not so fortunate or wonderful, the library is an important civic destination.
Hey ROC,
Leaf pickup has effectively already been eliminated for most of us. The town pushed this task onto the homeowners a few years ago when they eliminated curbside collection of loose leaves. Basically forced all the homeowners with lots of trees & leaves to hire landscapers to take them away. Then the Town followed up last year by refusing to take our leaves from the landscapers, increasing our expenses further.
This point is confirmed by the data released last year…a huge decrease in leaves collected by the Town.
At this point it is easier & cheaper to: 1) blow leaves into pile, 2) run mower over leaves ’til shredded, 3) use shredded leaves as mulch…just blow the into planting beds, etc.
“Leaf pickup has effectively already been eliminated for most of us.”
I had 60 bags of leaves picked up by the township only a few months ago.
“To argue for closing it down says a lot about you, pal.”
Everything should be on the table, prof.
how long did it take to do 60 bags? that’s huge!
Some thing should NOT be on the table.
Closing the library is not a real suggestion.
Cuts to a budget is one thing.
“Shuttering” the library is quite another.
And if the town doesn’t pick up the leaves, who does?
Again, we all pay for uncollected leaves. One way or another.
Once a week garbage Oct. – May. That’s my plan.
I had 60 bags of leaves picked up by the township only a few months ago.
Right of Center‚Ñ¢
Tea leaf bags?
They’re pretty lightweight.
Would you rather have a police and fire dept fully manned, or two libraries? We just had a bank robbery, and two fires in the past three weeks… Fires didn’t make the montclair times, and usually don’t for some strange reason. People don’t see big houses burning to the ground typically because we have a professional dept that arrives quickly and puts it before it gets out of control…usually containing it to one or two rooms. Our guys also fought the fire in Orange last week as part of the mutual aid.
Mr. Africk and others please try to wrap your heads around this…
Our DPW about 80 employees, 10 Trucks, a Sanitation supervisor, building and utilities. Benefits for all employees.
Private company, probably save the town $500K – $600K a year I am guessing.
Understood it would do nothing in the short term, however long term would be huge.
Mr. Africk, you said you have pushed this. Then let me ask, what is the objection from the council?
More peeps w/o jobs. We’re definitely on the road to economic recovery. Remember GR pays Montclair for Fire services. Please don’t lay them off then they’ll be know as the “Basement savers” down here.
On the Library: I go often and I think it is an essential part of a community. However, it doesn’t take much time in Montclair’s library to notice that there are lots of petty fiefdoms, too many managers and people sitting in offices doing nothing. The Library is one thing, using it as a jobs program another.
I agree that there is a great deal of waste in the BOE. But anyone who asks what vice-principals do is someone who hasn’t been inside a school lately. The idea that a single principal could handle a high school of nearly 2000 students is insane. Do they need 5? Maybe not. Perhaps they could manage with 2. It might be worth a try. As for the SAC counselors, the number in district is excessive. Perhaps one or two could serve district-wide. Again, the idea that they are not needed indicates a lack of understanding as to what some of the issues in urban/semi-urban schools are. The aides make very little, and most get no benefits. So removing an 18K, no benefits position will do little. They exist in large part not because of “unions”, but because of state and federal mandates. You want them gone? Change the law. In the central office, there is a slew of highly paid positions that could go. These should go first, before anyone in a building actually working with kids.
In the long term, I’d love to see 540 superintendents replaced with (not augmented by, as is the case presently) with 21 — one for each county. Let principals run their buildings, accountable to the board (an elected or appointed one). Any major initiative — teaching a new language, adding a new sport, etc. — goes before the board now. Perhaps it could be bundled as a slate of proposals and offered to the public for a vote.
Cops and fire are areas that should not be touched. The pension system might need to be looked at, but being realistic that is years away.
Perhaps Montclair State could open its very impressive library to residents, who are after all paying for part of it through their NJ taxes. Ditto with the pool, which isn’t used much in the summer by students.
I am available for consulting on these or any other issues at quite reasonable rates.
why is it during a week that saw a kid plowed under by a car..and today another bank job, that every talk of layoffs always seems to include that the police dept is untouchable…I’m not saying that they could have prevented these terrible events from happening…and there in is the reason that the police should not be excluded from layoffs. When barista has to print weekly police blotters, maybe it’s time to reconsider where all our nickels are going. All of ‘em.
cro,
I just spoke with the town and they are willing to pay you 10k for a fee. But you also have to give 5 motivational speeches to “the keeds” for they are our future and can benefit from your world view.
Not sure about using MSU. Residents can already use the library (at least they used to allow it).
Also, I don’t think shutting down those places and events that bring the community together is the wisest choice.
The library is a community meeting place, as is the pool.
Cutting out middle layers of management- in the town and the schools- IS the place to start.
Has our town government grown at the same rate as NJ’s?
If so, we could probably get by with staffing close to that of years past.
What a thrilling idea. Part of the Essex County School system!
Out voted, no doubt, but the good citizens of Newark. I can imagine the direction of the “inflows” and “outflows” of tax monies then.
Why, with any luck our schools would be as good as New York City’s!
The purpose of the school system is the education of children, not social work. Problems “at home” or substance abuse problems should be referred to county social work programs and not be provided by the schools.
“They exist in large part not because of “unions”, but because of state and federal mandates.”
And as we all know the Teacher’s union has nothing whatsoever to do with how state mandates are drawn. Especially the political lobbyists the union hires….Perish the thought!
ROC, it is a constant struggle to simply stifle the urge to call you out as the moron you are on this subject.
But you are.
There already is an “Essex county school system”, and you are already a part of it. Had you bothered to read the post, you would have noted that I urged principals, who are by definition local, be given the OK to run their buildings, with major initiatives being put up to vote. Not by the county. By the locality. So Newark doesn’t vote on Montclair, and Montclair doesn’t vote on Newark. The county superintendent exists, as he/she does now, to make sure that state mandates and the like are followed.
At some point, you stop being entertaining and simply becoming entertaining and simply move into a-hole land. You’re there, baby, wearing stupid like a bracelet.
prof, you’re right about MSU, but most folks don’t know that they can use the faculty, and the school doesn’t extend the offer. I like a town and gown scenario, though it is rare I know.
I’m worried about the pool. I hear you about the community coming together, but I have noticed that there seems to be a “black” pool at Nishuane (by the way, did you know that Dublin is a corruption of Dubh Linn, Irish for “black pool”), and a “white pool at Mountainside. Maybe one bigger pool could move that a bit.
Because even though the town is “diverse”, I still get funny looks at Crockett’s, and maybe you do at some other venue.
By the way, “faculty” should be “facility”.
Though using the faculty, as you well know prof, is OK in a big way.
And did you know, croiagusanam, that there’s also a city in England, a coastal resort, named “Blackpool” whose name actually means, well, “black pool.” Really, cro, you were just showing off unnecessarily with that one, and to no real purpose. The Crockett’s crack was thus just dusting, too.
But my how the prof has reached so intense a point of choler today. So easily, too. To the point where “Fire Alvarez” seems his mantra. Still, I honestly can’t imagine a large school system, as Montclair has, which could function without a superintendent. If you do, prof, and if you also wish to subject your offspring to that kind of system, then (referencing a famous David low cartoon from WWI of two Tommies in a foxhole which probably only croiagusanam will recall), you should get thee and all the little profs off directly to that very town.
Better application of police manpower, realignment of shifts and duties (does Montclair need a full-sized Detective Bureau?), increased police mobility, these are, however, ways in which the PD could conceivably be downsized. That’s certainly what NYC did some years ago, and for a long time this sort of thinking was common among police thinkers nationwide. If layoffs and cuts have to come, there hardly seems a compelling reason why ANY department should be immune.
Yes, too, that may include firemen, who often seem to view themselves as sacrosanct; while I view them as brave and necessary, I somehow also always resent the implication firefighters (and cops) seem to be offering up that their bravery and competence will somehow be perforce diminished if their numbers are cut.
“I’d love to see 540 superintendents replaced with (not augmented by, as is the case presently) with 21 — one for each county. Let principals run their buildings, accountable to the board (an elected or appointed one).”
I thought you were suggesting doing away with local BOE’s for an county wide district. An oft suggested “solution”.
I’m sorry for mischaracterizing your suggestion, but I don’t think it was entirely clear.
Is all the personal insulting really necessary cro?
I realize it’s part of your character, but there is, I think, a difference between a spirited and sarcastic challenge of an idea and a personal insult.
p.s.
And having a county superintendent run our schools without being accountable to the township or the local citizens seems like a recipe for disaster.
You know nothing about my “character”, ROC. But you think you do, because that absolves you from the responsibility of reading something and thinking about it. You’d rather lump “liberal” and “socialist” though into some sort of box, apparently. It was quite clear that I was talking about county supers, not BOEs. Now you’re covering up your cyber poop in typical fashion.
And yes, the “personal” attack is simply a more literal response to what you attempt to do in some sort of “civil” fashion. In this area (education), you don’t know what you’re talking about. Would you prefer a more nuanced expression? OK. You’re “mistaken” (read “moron”).
cathar, I know Blackpool quite well, and not just from the “according to you” molester Pete Townshend. Enjoyed those shingles often. Not Matthew Arnold quality, bit close.
I don’t have any idea what “dusting” means. I experienced it. Does that mean it didn’t happen? I find it especially notable in that I have 2 children who are African on their mom’s side, (by way of Jamaica and Britain), so I think that picking up an order of fish and chips should be a fairly painless experience.
And it usually is. I didn’t have to sit in a separate section, after all!
Cyber poop. Oh, I just love it–makes me giggle like a school girl.
When it comes to ROC and education policy, I think he epitomizes “a little learning is a dangerous thing.” So many unwise pronouncements purported as pearls of wisdom from one who truly shines the light for all of us–a beacon of reason. When it’s really just cyber poop.
Having a County school system is not an impossible or even bad (if done right) idea.
I’ll spare you the detail of some research I conducted a few years back, but if it were set up not unlike our own magnet system, you could begin to imagine how such a system might work. (A few States have such systems.)
But the scare tactic that Roc uses here: you want your kid in the Newark schools? Will always make such a system DOA.
Thanks for the info, cro, didn’t know that.
As for our racial pools, I think that has more to do with where folks live.
But hey, wtf, let’s get a magnet pool system in place too.
We can follow that with a magnet supermarket system too because you rarely see black folks in Kings.
And yes, cathar— Fire Alvarez… But I didn’t say we don’t need a Super. Just one who is a leader.
However, if that makes me Howard Beale, so be it.
prof, I see plenty of black folks in Kings ( not counting employees — I love the fish guy). I see few white folks in Pathmark. EVERY employee I see at Fresh Fields is black, but most of the black customers I see are wearing chadors. Anecdotal, I’ll admit.
I would love to see your research. Why not put it out there? Hawaii has one superintendent for the entire state. Can it work? Sure. You’re right, it would need safeguards. But do we need a guy making 200k a year making decisions that, but for state directives, can and should be made by principals on the ground.
I don’t know. I keep seeing a captain, under fire from the enemy, radioing in and asking the colonel what to do. When everyone knows — he’s there, its his life on the line, you trained him and gave him command. Let him do it.
Maryland has countywide school systems. It definitely can work.
Not to mention county-wide police departments, so that can also work.
I would like to see the research, prof. As long as you don’t mind the shots that follow.
That’s academia, after all.
I don’t know what info you’re thanking me for. If it is the racial thing, bear in mind that inter-racial dating is, in my opinion, a great thing. In years past here, it was for NFL running backs, but today’s kids are so beyond that, and that gives me hope. In my case, I profited from that whole UK “ours” are different from “yours” mentality. I would be glad to talk to you about this off site, because it is a sensitive subject but I’m sensing that you’d “get it”.
Perhaps we could meet up, have a chat, then head over to ROC’s house and pound the shite out of him?
I’M KIDDING!!!!!
Read about regional police and fire below… But I first wanted to make a suggestion to Mayor Fried. In times of crisis, true leaders step up to the plate. I am not sure what he makes for being Mayor, I believe it is around $30K (I could be way off). Either way, why not forgo this years pay. He is not in this for the money, and if you’re going to lay people off, and take money out of their pockets, have people lose homes, etc. It would be nice to see him say I am donating 2010′s salary to the shortfall, just like all the people I am putting out on the street. Just a thought.
Regional police and Fire Dept’s are becoming a trend, and I would bet you will see something along those lines here in Essex County. Montclair Fire already handles Glen Ridge, and Orange wanted MFD to take them over as well. An independent study found that Montclair’s current staffing could not handle taking over another town at this time.
Shared services is the way to go… no one in Montclair wants to the pull the trigger, and even try to lead the way. We’ll wait for someone else to do it, and that person will wait for someone else, and so on and so forth. Think of all the towns in Essex County and all of the Police Chiefs and they salaries of $140K+, all the Deputy Chiefs. Consolidate all of them into one to three, restructure the organization, and you’re on your way. It can be done, and should be. Fire too. Many smaller towns have volunteer fire depts, but every town, big or small has a police Dept.
The mayor makes a very small stipend, probably $7,000 or maybe less. It’s definitely not close to $30K.
Then throw $7K in the pot.
“I’m still waiting for the teabaggers….”
I’m still waiting for the douchebaggers like Albert G. to STFU
“Tea leaf bags? They’re pretty lightweight”
Douchebags? They’re pretty heavy because they’re FOS.
Prof.
Being of very smart man (I have read many of your statements and thoughts in the past years) I,am schocked to read your statement that you just figured out that the town of Montclair and the state of NJ is ripping you off in taxes LoL Prof. there are many towns in other states were you can recive the same or even better services for way lower taxes than in Montclair
You disown the Medicaid and Medicare for your family, WUWT, and I’ll consider your STFU option. Until then, you’re just a ball of anger with nothing to show for it.
I had 60 bags of leaves picked up by the township only a few months ago.
Right of Center‚Ñ¢
RoC
YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELF!
I’ll come to ROC’s defense on this one.
Having a huge old oak on our property, I know that this kind of tree alone can easily generate perhaps 30 bags of leaves every fall.
ROC may have such a situation, and then some.
A Voice is right and I think Right will agree, ultimately.
Leaf pick up is a joke. Think about that tree. Where is it getting its nutrients from? The soil. By removing the leaves, you are slowly depleting the soil of the natural richness it has. Moreover you are causing needless and unproductive expenditure of tax revenue. Instead, figure out how to deal with them as mulch and go to it! It’ll save everyone lots in wasted money.
We also throw away and waste too much stuff. Much as I hate to do this, I’d recommend that we make recyclables free to dispose of and garbage be like $1 a bag. Will you buy golden tin (unrecyclable) wrapping paper or regular wrapping paper for Xmas? The latter? Good boys and girls.
These small steps are annoying but they will be better for all of us and, I suspect, save the town TONS.
I said this before: compost.
We have a lot of trees on our property, too, and that is why we have 2 compost heaps. We don’t use any lye or other chemicals to break it down, we just turn it regularly with a pitchfork.
In the spring, when we need nutrients for our garden, no trips to the store for us.
I am really perplexed why more people don’t do this. Yes, everyone wants a green lawn so they they go to the store and buy processed chemicals and fertilizer.
{{{shakes head}}}}
Yes=Yet
Martta Rose
We’ve been thinking about composting for some time now but now I think we’ll take the next step and buy a composter. Would recommend one? Our yard isn’t large enough for compost heaps. We have never used any chemicals or fertilizer on our lawns, though. We usually leave some of the cut grass behind, as well as some clipped leaves.
Hi Spiro, we’ve bought our composters from the Gardening Supply Company. All composters will do the job but I prefer the bins over the tumblers. The problem you may have is that you’ll have more than enough leaves in the fall and won’t have enough room for them in your composter if you have many trees or a large tree in your yard. But you’ll need those leaves in the spring/summer when you have all the greens (grass) so you can actually just use anything to make a bin to store the excess leaves, like chicken wire fence. So, you’ll have a composter that you are turning along with a place to hold the leaves over the winter (chicken wire fence bin) so you don’t have one giant heap of leaves that takes over your yard. Hope that helps, I’m sure Martta will have some great advice, too.
And btw, Montclair has events where they sell good composters at cost. You can contact Gray Russell, the Environmental dude in the twp to see when they’ll be doing this again. That guy knows his compost.
Thanks, tudlow, very helpful info!
We’re fortunate that we have a big back yard that backs up to the Montclair Country Club Golf Course (separated by a fence). So we keep our compost heaps down there, on either side. They’re inconspicuous and we never noticed a problem with odor or rodents other than the usual chipmunk or groundhog.
If you are not able to do that, any good garden store can help: Gardening Supply, Metropolitan Plant Exchange, Ploch’s. Whether you use a bin or a tumbler would depend on your individual needs.
That being said, some towns such as North Caldwell, have rules and regs about compost heaps so make sure you check out the story with your town.
Thanks MR
Spiro – you can call Gray Russell to set up a time to buy a composter and pick it up at the Montclair Public Works on North Fullerton. I think they charge $40 or $50 for the Earth Machine Composter- it retails for about $90. It is not a tumbler, but it is effective I have one in my back yard next to the leaf pile. Every time I throw food scraps in, I put in a couple handfulls of leaves. Over the course of the year, I use up most of my leaf pile as I make the compost, and then restock the leaves in the fall. The composter is very indiscreet and has had no bad odors (as long as you don’t put any meat/animal fat in there.)
Gray Russell
grussell@montclairnjusa.org
973-509-5721
Spicoli-TheSequel
You must mean discreet as in unnoticeable
Many thanks, STS
I agree here. Just how small towns like these are expected to survive, all a while bolstering their administrative positions is not only rediculous but not responsible.
Start eliminating these top positions now, before its to late. The transition for these employees will not be felt if its done now.
Low level employees such as patrol and firefighters are going to make no impact on the budgets. You can keep up to 4-6 police officers or firefighters for the cost of one of these adminisrative positions.
Take a close look as too just how many we have.
Its out of control.