Concerned Citizens of Montclair: Water and Sewer Wages Don’t Match Up

BY  |  Wednesday, Feb 08, 2012 9:18am  |  COMMENTS (31)

The Concerned Citizens of Montclair (CCM) continue to advocate for a transparent municipal budget process and to request that the town make financial and operating information accessible to its residents. Via the Open Public Records Act (OPRA), CCM has requested extensive financial data from the town (data that should already be on the town’s website) and here is one of our findings relating to 2011 Total Salary and Wages for the Water and Sewer Utilities: Continue Reading

CCM: Register to Vote!

BY  |  Monday, Jan 30, 2012 11:11am  |  COMMENTS (4)

UPDATE: Printer Scott Kennedy of Studio042 has just printed up a bunch of voter registration forms. See the end of the article for how to pick them up.

According to most recent census data, there are 37,669, people living in Montclair.
There were 24,951 registered voters at the time of the 2008 elections.
Only 7,149 people voted in the 2008 municipal election.
This represents less than a third of all registered voters.
Many who prefer to maintain the status quo over fiscal responsibility make it a priority to get to the voting booths.
Residents for fiscal responsibility need to ensure proper representation at the May 8, 2012 Municipal elections. We need your help to “get out the vote” for fiscal sustainability!

Continue Reading

Concerned Citizens of Montclair: Retaining Law Firm Hill Wallack To Help Problem Solve

BY  |  Wednesday, Nov 09, 2011 3:34pm  |  COMMENTS (21)

This is the latest installment in a series of opinion-editorials about the Montclair municipal government, by the Concerned Citizens of Montclair, sent out in an email to subscribers.

CCM has found it necessary to hire Hill Wallack, which has an extensive municipal law practice and experience in creative government problem solving, as a result of the continuing lack of financial transparency, unwillingness to work seriously with the citizen-staffed Operating Budget Advisory Committee (OBAC) or the Capital Finance Committee (CFC), and unwillingness to streamline operations and reduce municipal expenses on the part of the Township of Montclair.

After months of asking for a flat 2011 budget, asking for explanations of how tax revenues are spent, and asking for serious efforts to reduce spending, CCM has decided that it has no other option but to hire a law firm well versed in municipal operations and finance. Continue Reading

CCM: Only Essential Costs Should Be Bonded

BY  |  Tuesday, Nov 01, 2011 8:30am  |  COMMENTS (4)

The Town Council will be voting to approve the issuance of an additional $3,359,000 in debt at Tuesday’s, November 1st, Town Council Meeting. A description of some of the items to be funded by this debt issuance include: Continue Reading

Concerned Citizens of Montclair: Collect The Debt!

BY  |  Tuesday, Oct 18, 2011 12:26pm  |  COMMENTS (64)

This is the latest installment in a series of opinion-editorials about the Montclair municipal government, by the Concerned Citizens of Montclair, sent out in an email to subscribers.

The Town Council agenda for tonight’s meeting includes issuing debt of $4.3mm to cover tax appeal refunds.  Not only could this have been planned for, the state no longer allows for appeal refunds to be financed.  The town is rumored to offer special dispensations from the State in order to allow Montclair to finance this operating expense.There will be a parking authority presentation at tonight’s town council meeting.  The Parking Authority is behind in amounts owed to the township.  There is talk that some of the town councilors want to forgive this debt. Continue Reading

Concerned Citizens of Montclair: Transparency Now!

BY  |  Tuesday, Sep 27, 2011 11:37am  |  COMMENTS (17)

This is the latest installment in a series of opinion-editorials about the Montclair municipal government, by the Concerned Citizens of Montclair, sent out in an email to subscribers.

As you may have read in local news articles, it was reported that the Town Council recently stated they have a renewed sense of starting over, working as a team and a commitment to return to the more pressing items facing the town. To this end, CCM offered a few straight forward and easy to implement suggestions based on the Municipal Best Practices Checklist as completed by Montclair officials.

Please see full details from the forwarded message below. Continue Reading

CCM: Montclair Can’t Take Another Six Months of Current Council

BY  |  Monday, Sep 19, 2011 12:26pm  |  COMMENTS (37)

This is the latest installment in a series of opinion-editorials about the Montclair municipal government, by the Concerned Citizens of Montclair, sent out in an email to subscribers.

It is time for the citizens of Montclair to face facts –and the fact is that Montclair cannot endure an additional six months of dysfunctional municipal leadership.

We need strong leaders who can and will address the difficult issues facing the Township.

Financial Facts:
- Montclair’s budgeted tax levy for municipal operations has risen 29% since 2007.

- The current projections for the 2012 municipal portion of the tax levy is a minimum increase of 6-8% due to the deferred school tax levy, increased debt service costs, increased benefit expenses and no real strategic plan to reduce costs.

- Montclair has approximately $230 million of outstanding debt, or over $6,000 per citizen. Continue Reading

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I would love to see Santorum get the nod. Maybe then the politically comatose members of society will wake up.
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