Clark taxes to jump one-fifth of last year’s spike

Clark taxes to jump one-fifth of last year’s spike

CLARK, NJ — Municipal taxes will increase by $41 for the average home assessed at $121,000 under the the township’s newly adopted $23 million budget. “This is a nominal increase,” business administrator John Laezza said. “The prior year’s tax increase was due to a major tax appeals in excess of $1 million, which raised it.” […]

Cranford resident seeks Mount Laurel help from nonprofit

CRANFORD, NJ — A longtime Cranford resident was hoping to assist the township with its Mount Laurel housing obligations, and wanted the zoning board to use some leverage with a nonprofit organization to do so at the board’s recent meeting. Community Access Unlimited, an Elizabeth-based charity that provides services for the disabled, is currently applying […]

New Hillside mayor makes appointments, more coming

HILLSIDE, NJ — Mayor Dahlia Vertreese has appointed Hanifa Johnson as the township’s new department of public works director. Johnson was hired as the head of the DPW, Hillside spokeswoman Natalie Pineiro said. Johnson previously worked as an assistant deputy borough engineer in Roselle and for Maser Consulting, an engineering firm based in Monmouth County. […]

Proposed Union budget would hike average tax bill $50

UNION, NJ — A preliminary budget proposal for 2018 shows the municipal tax could increase a homeowner’s property tax bill by $50 for an average home assessed at $45,600. The increase would bring the annual average property tax bill up to $3,167 this year. Only one local resident attended a March 27 hearing for the […]

Springfield family drops suit over bullying, ‘looping’

SPRINGFIELD, NJ — A family who sued the school board in federal court to have their 9-year-old daughter’s class assignment changed after they said she was bullied has withdrawn the suit and removed their children from the school system, school officials announced last month. The development in the highly publicized case, which highlighted the practice […]

Linden mayor takes flak over resolution to change broker

LINDEN, NJ — Mayor Derek Armstead came under fire at a March 20 council meeting for attempting to drop a freeholder candidate’s husband as one of the city’s brokers. A resolution put on the agenda by the mayor would have rescinded a January contract appointing Economic Planning Group as a broker for the Voya Financial […]

Springfield firefighters play storks, angels on I-78

Springfield firefighters play storks, angels on I-78

SPRINGFIELD, NJ – Storks and angels can find you anywhere, even on the front seat of a car on Interstate 78 in morning rush-hour traffic. That’s what Anuj and Vandhana Desai learned the morning of March 20, when Springfield fire Chief Carlo Palumbo and Capt. Michael Mastroeni arrived in the nick of time to deliver […]

Parkway exit gives Clark reason to join texting-driving effort

CLARK, NJ — Distracted driving has become an increasing safety concern for officials. And with Clark positioned at a key junction on the Garden State Parkway for several Union County towns, the issue is especially important. That makes Clark an active participant in the national “UDrive. UText. UPay.” enforcement initiative. In New Jersey, the effort […]

Ex-BOE member, independent challenge endorsed Union Democrats

UNION, NJ — A former school board member and a previous independent candidate will together challenge two incumbent members for the Democratic nominations for township committee in the June primary. Former school board president Ronnie McDowell and Jason Krychiw, who has made two unsuccessful bids for township committee as an independent, will run on the […]