Issues Raised With BPD in 3rd Ward Town Meeting Concern All

News of another 3rd Ward Town Meeting was posted Tuesday afternoon on a couple of Facebook Forums. Many residents expressed surprise at the short notice as well as the fact that the meeting's location was to be in Essex Manor on Broughton St.

Unlike earlier meetings that were chaired by 3rd Ward Councilman Carlos Bernard, this one was moderated by Councilman Michael Venezia who introduced a panel from the Police Department led by Chief Goul.

The original purpose of the meeting was to discuss crime and  security issues in the Berkeley Avenue and Halcyon Park neighborhoods but, as with the February meeting, most of the items discussed were of interest to most residents.

Among the points raised by the BPD:

1. Residents need to be aware that the department has only 8 to 12 police vehicles available to cover the entire town during any given shift, but shifts are arranged so there is an overlap during the most active 9PM - 12AM period.

2, Although speed bumps are not viable on high traffic roads such as Berkeley and Broughton, the township is beginning to paint "parking lines" along these streets. This has been proven to have the effect of discouraging speeding and drag racing.

3. The BPD is actively encouraging most retail businesses and large apartment buildings to install their own security cameras. The town expects to soon deploy a central system for live monitoring of suspicious activity at these locations.

4, Despite the increase of carjackings and other violent crimes, there is no evidence of an increase in gang activity.

5. Neighborhood watch groups remain effective as an early warning sustem for suspicious activity. This a good time to organize one before the National Night Out in August. Do not hesitate to call the PD at 973 680-4141.

Town Meeting at Essex Manor Opens a Busy Tuesday Night Including BOE and Planning Board

The night after an eventful Town Council meeting where the mayor threatened to veto a resolution waiving the residence requirement for our new Town Administrator, three meetings are scheduled concerning issues that should concern most residents.

The Board of Education meeting tonight at 7:30 has been moved to the high school media center to accomodate larger audiences concerned with several issues including the resignation of Superintendant Bing.  The Planning Board meets at 7:30 in council chambers.  Third Ward Councilor  Carlos Bernard has scheduled another meeting concerning such issues as crime and  neighborhood security for 6 p.m. at the Essex Manor at 41 Broughton Avenue. It is organized by the 3rd ward but is open to all,

Spring Flushing Alert from Water Department

The Bloomfield Water Department along with Bloomfield Fire will begin the Spring Flushing of the fire hydrants thoughout the township starting today April 22nd through may 11th.

The purpose of this program is to flush water mains, removing accumulated sediments in the lines and to operate, lubricate and test fire hydrants to insure adequate fire protection.

 There may be some unavoidable discoloration of water and some loss of pressure during flushing in your area. This will be temporary and should cease upon completion of the program. If you experience discolored water, open the cold water faucets on the lowest floor of the house and allow the water to run until it clears.

 Discolored or cloudy water is potable, but not desirable to use. Residents are reminded to make sure that their water is running clear before washing laundry.

Rec Director Michael Sceurman to Speak at BNAC Meeting on Saturday

Bloomfield Parks & Recreation and its partners produce a large number of year round and seasonal programs for residents of all ages from toddlers to Seniors. Michael will discuss his role in planning programs that appeal to as many residents as possible including the Memorial Day Parade and summer concerts.  Many of the events are televised on WBMA-TV. In addition, the Rec Center also provides Special Needs programs and shuttle buses to Hoboken and Manhattan.

The Bloomfield Neighborhood Association Committee meets bi-monthly in the Police Building conference room 2nd floor. All are welcome at the april 27th meeting which begins at 10AM.

A Scary Tradition on Broad Street

Barely 24 hours after two bombs cut the Boston Marathon short, a caravan of about 11 police cars sped up Broad Street with sirens screaming. Some residents called town hall to see what the emergency was. Others queried neighbors on at least two of Bloomfield's Facebook forums. On one of them, Councilman Michael Venezia explained it succinctly: 

"It is tradition for retiring police officers to get a send off with police cars escorting them to their house or out of Bloomfield. Captain Decker lives off a Broad Street and after 37-years of service to the township retired yesterday."  

          

Captain Decker certainly earned the recognition of his peers for his long and distinguished career with the BPD.  But, to many, the lack of notification made it seem  like yelling "Fire!" In a crowded neighborhood rather than a theater. The timing couldn't have been worse. Many elderly and infirm within earshot may have been unintentionally terrorized. 

 Here's what a number of residents had to say about the high speed retirement party:

 Are you kidding me? All that noise, sirens, lights, RACING DOWN EFFING BROAD STREET AT 3 PM because someone retired? UnbeEFFINGlievable....If that's the truth someone should be held accountable for the apprehension and fear all of those sirens and racing police cars cause local residents and moms picking up their kids from local grammar schools today - a day after the Boston Marathon bombing.....At 3 PM, speeding up Broad Street past a grammar school when the children were being let out?? What a dangerous & sophomoric thing to do! I don't care if it is a tradition...they certainly should have shown better judgement. Especially considering the incident the day before in Boston. What the hell were they thinking?!....OK, they "escort" the guy home...the rest was completely unnecessary and potentially dangerous, especially with the racing police cars and the time of day. Many local moms were in a panic and ran to their childrens' schools to pick them up....Seriously, NO ONE IN TOWN HALL has a clue. What happened yesterday was in very bad taste and very bad judgement.....it would have been disturbing enough on any day but the day after the Boston bombing a few people asked if we were under attack. It was a completely thoughtless and reckless thing to do. Thank God no one was hit by one of those cars...... Racing at any time on Bloomfield Ave is not good. Too many pedestrians, too much traffic... ....It did look like an escort but it was over the top!!! And scary after yesterday's Boston bombing.... completely unnecessary.Does anyone in town hall have any common sense? It scared the hell out of some local moms who were on their way to pick their kids up from grammar schools.... I was already at the school waiting to pick up my kids when they raced by and I almost ran in early and grab them... scared the CR*P out of me! ....that is that one thing that has kept me out of local poltiics is exactlty this kind of crap. You have to promote from within. What if there is an opening for Chief, and there is a GREAT candidate, from Louisville, or Philly or LA who wants the job....NOPE...we have to stay with outdated and inbred protectionism, known as Civil Service. The result is this "frat house" nonsense.....'Does anyone in town hall have any common sense?' You're serious when you ask that?"

Clarks Pond Cleanup this Sunday

From Lois Ross and The Friends of Clarks Pond:

The Friends of Clark's Pond and theThird River will have their 18th annual clean-up at Clark's Pond Nature Preserve on Sunday April 14 from 1 - 4pm. We will provide gloves and trash bags. Please wear old shoes or boots because it will be muddy. Meet behind the middle school by the footbridge. We will have certificates available for anyone who needs community service hours. C'mon out for the community, open space, and sights and sounds of Spring.

The beautiful yellow "Lesser Celandine" flowers that blanket the preserve will be in full bloom -- and the red-winged blackbirds will be calling out to greet you!

Please spread the word....and hope to see you all there.

Game On!

Besides being the first day of baseball season -- and April Fools day, t's the deadline for filing for township offices for candidates belonging to the two major parties. 

From the Bloomfield Clerk's Office: 

Republican Mayor: Russell Mollica and Richard Galioto, Sr. 

Republican Council at Large: Sharon Soon, Carol Humphreys, Robert Goworek

Democrat Mayor: Michael J. Venezia
Council at Large: Wartyna “Nina” Davis, Joseph Lopez, Carlos M. Pomares

2nd Slate: Democrats
Council at Large: Kevin Lindahl, Russell Youngblood, Chris Diguilio

The Bloomfield Patch has information on all the candidates,

It"s still not certain whether or not Mayor Ray McCarthy plans to run as an Independent candidate.The final deadline for filing for the November election is June 4.

Fight or Flight Facts for Bloomfield Taxpayers

News of Bloomfield's 2013 proposed budget for both the township and its schools is sparking doom and gloom predictions on many fronts along with sighs of relief that the worst budget projections were avoided. Many say they now have to prepare to move out of the area or even out of state. Others say they are stuck in unsalable homes since no one would want to move to a town with a semi-vacant downtown and deteriorating schools.

While there may be some justifications for these equally pessimistic points of view, a snapshot of our town's housing market challenges our own version of March Madness. There are early signs of a seasonal spring blossoming in the increased number of homes on the market, yet local inventory is still at the lowest level since the bubble burst in 2006.  There are currently only 201 Bloomfield homes and condos (with 1 or more bedrooms)listed on the Multiple Listing Service -- about half the number listed at the bottom of the "burst". This is resulting in a steady increase in sales prices -- though at a slower rate in the northeast then in the rest of the country.

According to the latest trulia.com data updates, the median sales price for homes in Bloomfield for Dec 12 to Feb 13 was $229,900. This represents an increase of 1.1%, or $2,400, compared to the prior quarter and an increase of 3.9% compared to the prior year. Sales prices have depreciated 35.2% over the last 5 years in Bloomfield.

The average listing price for Bloomfield homes for sale on Trulia was $276,968 for the week ending Mar 20, which represents an increase of 3.7%, or $9,941, compared to the prior week and an increase of 4.3%, or $11,348, compared to the week ending Feb 27. Average price per square foot for Bloomfield NJ was $157, an increase of 36.5% compared to the same period last year.

Media Crackdown Proposed by Council

It may turn out to be coincidental timing, but last weeks elimination of TV coverage for the Bloomfield's annual Budget planning meeting, turned out to be a prelude to a laundry list of new restrictions on coverage of council meetings.

The planned changes appear to have originated from a complaint by the Mayor regarding the use of cell phones to send text messages during meetings. Some councilmen were even accused of texting each other.

The proposed new rules will make it significantly more difficult for attendees to use audio, still, and video media to document both conference and regular meetings whether they be residents or journalists. Rule number 1 has sparked the greatest concern:

The citizen must provide the Clerk of the municipality with no less than 30 minutes verbal notice prior to the Meeting of his intention to exercise his right to videotape or photograph the Meeting. Failure to provide advance notice of the intent to utilize the equipment prior to each Meeting shall preclude its use at such Meeting.

 Other restrictions include limited the use of such devices to the last 2 rows of Council Chambers, not allowing photographers to move from their initial position during the meeting to get a better angle, and not allowing audio recordings to be transcribed for any purpose. Perhaps the most sweeping and vague rule declares that:

no photographs may be taken or audio/videotape recordings made within a public facility of any person, place or event relating to the administration and/or conduct of official municipal business.

This seems to suggest that no public official could be interviewed or photographed ANYWHERE for ANY reason. At last weeks conference meeting the township attorney Brian Aloia maintained that he was adhering to the guidelines of NJ's Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA) The unfortunate reality is that there are still many grey areas in the act that continue to be interpreted the courts.

Attacking Bloomfield's Crumbling Infrastructure

Spring is arriving a bit late this year, but the last deep freeze may deposit it's last pothole on Bloomfield's streets by the end of the week.


Stanziale Construction of Bloomfield, NJ was awarded a contract last year for a number of streets and will complete the following
roadways:

- Ashland Avenue
- Maolis Avenue
- Williamson Avenue

This work is scheduled to start in two to four weeks.

DLS Contractors of Nutley, NJ was recently awarded a contract for resurfacing of the following roads:

- Bellevue Avenue
- Kinder Drive and Pieretti Court
- Brighton Avenue
- Farrandale Avenue
- Spring Street (Speed Humps)
- Clair Street (Speed Humps)
- Broughton Avenue (From Elston Street to Barbara Street)*

This work is scheduled to start in the early spring.

*A striping/traffic calming program is currently under design for the entire length of Broughton Avenue for
implementation later this year.

Broad Street from James Street to Hoover Avenue will undergo a major streetscape improvement. A bid opening is
scheduled for May 2nd for all interested contractors. Once awarded this work is anticipated to start after Memorial Day.

JFK Drive (north and south), south of Bloomfield Avenue up to the Garden State Parkway Ramps will be
resurfaced this year. Authorization to advertise will be presented to the Mayor and council on March 27th.

Bid plans and specification are currently being prepared for a number of streets with the anticipation to bid and construct later this
year. These streets include:

- Gillespie Road
- Oak Tree Lane

The Township also submitted an NJDOT Local Aid application with the Borough of Glen Ridge for the resurfacing of Essex Avenue
between Benson Street and Bay Avenue. Construction is dependent upon award of these funds.

Any projects not started or completed by the end of the construction season will be carried into next year.

The township is responsible for approximately 85 miles of roadway. The engineering department has prepared a five-year roadway
resurfacing program which is re-evaluated every year. Criteria for prioritizing streets include, pavement surface condition;
condition/presence of curbing, traffic volumes and drainage conditions. All streets improvements are conditioned upon review and
approval by the Mayor and Council for the given Capital Budget Year.





 http://www.bloomfieldtwpnj.com/content/advisory

BOH Rings

Item: Bloomfield's Board of Health has hired a new grant writer and social media consultant.

"The Health Department, with the use of a telephone survey company, is conducting a random telephone survey from March 13-21. If you receive a call you will be informed that it is the Health Department that is conducting the survey. This survey is part of a comprehensive Health Assessment that is being performed so that the Health Department can tailor its services to the needs of the residents. If you have any questions, please call the Health Department at 973.680.4024."

Chicken Coop Plans Will Hatch This Saturday Morning

Although plans for Bloomfield's annual budget meeting Saturday morning have laid an egg,(rescheduled for the following Saturday) there will be still be another ordinance related meeting at to discuss a the process for having the Bloomfield Town Council approve an ordinance and start a pilot backyard hen program. This movement was inspired by successful programs in such nearby towns as Montclair and Maplewood.  Guest speaker Victor Alfieri will be talking about his experience with raising hens.

The discussion will include ideas for urban and suburban homesteading. The location is the Bloomfield College Library (Oakland & Liberty) on Saturday, at 10 a.m.

Budget Weak

Tuesday evening's Board of Education budget  meeting will be held in the BHS auditorium to allow maximum public participation. It will also be taped by WBMA-TV.

Saturday"s special Bloomfield Town Council Budget Meeting is scheduled to be held at 8AM in the Mayor's Conference Room.(Rescheduled to Sat. March 23) WBNA-TV will not be allowed to tape it,  The proposed budget is being kept under wraps until the meeting, but previous budgets can be found on the Bloomfield Township website. The pie chart above breaks down 2012 expenditures. (click on graph to enlarge)

The Bloomfield Board of Education  is holding a Special Board Meeting, in the Conference Room on the second floor of the Administration Building, located at 155 Broad Street, Bloomfield, NJ 07003.: Sunday, March 17, 2013 – 11:00 AM (Open to the public)

Below the Bone

Is this the future of education in Bloomfield?
At Tuesday night's meeting, Bloomfield's Board of Education reluctantly approved a 2013 budget that reduced the teaching staff of the school system by 20% or 86 teachers. The vote for the budget was 7-2 with Board members Catzel Bumpus and Robert DeMarino voting no. Extended online discussions of issues raised by the school budget shortfall are currently taking place on local facebook forums and the previously dormant NJO Bloomfield forum.

Two budged proposals are expected to be added to November ballot. The first asks voters if they to pay $2,730,000 to restore 42 teaching jobs. The second proposes a tax increase of $594,000 to repair and upgrade school facilities.

The complete video coverage of the BOE Budget meting can be viewed here,

When a Home Business Becomes Big Business

Zoning Board meetings tend to deal with building improvements or additions that may require variances from the township code. Other than an occasional next door neighbor, they rarely generate much attention from the public, One of the two applications to be he heard at this Thursday's ZB meeting has already provoked much discussion on neighborhood Facebook pages all over town.

But when a newly purchased single family home began attracting lines of cars loaded with laundry every morning, neighbors up and down Pitt Street began to get organized to challenge what turned out to be a well established commercial cleaning business.

15-38. Zoning regulations. 

A. R-1A, R-1B, R-2A, R2B single- and two-family residential zones. 

(1) Purpose. The intent of these zones is to preserve the integrity of existing residential areas by preventing the intrusion of nonresidential uses into residential neighborhoods and by maintaining existing development intensity and population density consistent with residential neighborhood patterns and the specified one- or two-family densities for each particular zone..

This issue is not confined to the North Center Neighborhood. I've seen it happen in the Newark area on a smaller scale, but it can happen anywhere. Home businesses are a growing trend and can be an asset to a community, but lines need to be drawn. It's up to our Zoning Board to make the call.

UPDATE on Pitt St. Zoning Board Application: Their attorney did NOT give proper notice so the ZB will NOT hear this application on Thursday, March 7. 

Meet DPW Officials at Tomorrow's Greener Bloomfield Meeting

Join us for the February 2013 Greener Bloomfield meeting Thursday at 7 PM at the Bloomfield Civic Center. There will be an open public discussion with Bloomfield's Recycling Coordinator Joe Testa and Department of Public Works and Parks director Anthony Nesto.

They will discuss the waste management and recycling programs in town, with some statistics, information on the expanded list of recyclables, and challenges they face where we might be able to help. Mr. Nesto will also discuss their green initiatives and challenges, including lawn and field maintenance, water conservation efforts, plantings, infrastructure, and even Christmas lights (can we finally go LED?). Everyone is welcome. Bring your questions and suggestions! Greener Bloomfield was able to reach some success in 2010 when it was actively involved in consulting with downtown redevelopment planners. They became Sustainable Jersey certified - one of only 34 towns in NJ at that time. Now there are many more grants to apply for under Sustainable Jersey certification

License to Bill

Bloomfield's Health Department has gained a great deal of notoriety in the past year for the way it has treated it's animal shelter, its adoptions, it's staff and its volunteers. This Friday, our new Township Administrator takes over full control from the quasi-independent Board of Health. At the same time, other incidents of malfeasance by the Health Department are coming under scrutiny. We've been getting reports from a variety of businesses in town that they're now being given the runaround on what should be routine license renewals.
One business owner writes:

I received a letter from the BOH for my (business) stating Second and Final notice to renew license. Include $30 plus $25. late fee. I mailed form and the $30 stating this was the First and ONLY notice I received.. Well they sent it back to me stating they can't accept it without the late fee. Just got off the phone with boh and they said if fee is not included, a summons will be issued...They are not responsible for the first letter not reaching me. If they waive the fee for me, they have to waive it for the other 20+ ppl calling in. I said then maybe there was an issue with your generating of 1st letters. To end this long story.. I was told told to take it up with Karen lore. Wonderful!!! Ughh.. It's just the principle of it!!!! Right??

Another reported that they had brought the bill to Town Hall and paid in person -- only to receive another bill several days later. Business owners and residents alike have been told there "may be a glitch in the system".
We also know pet owners who have spoken out on the Memphis issue who have been fined for "late payments" on licenses that were not overdue,

Conference Room

Kind of strange to sit in the mayor's seat in his conference room with no "politicians" in sight. Actually there were several past and present town "officials" at Saturday's meeting of the Bloomfield Neighborhood Association Committee.  But they were all wearing their resident "hats" from many different neighborhoods. Most numerous were past and present members of the Zoning and Planning Boards. How many can you count?  Everyone was given equal time to discuss such issues as community gardens,  downtown redevelopment,  overdevelopment,  historic preservation, taxes,  abandoned homes,  and school overcrowding. A major goal for the year is to organize another Candidates Night in October,

Facebooking Bloomfield Neighborhoods

Before Facebook, the main way for residents to find out what's going on in town was to go buy one of the weekly newspapers or go to a Council meeting. In the last few months. several new Facebook have caught fire by giving residents an interactive tool to keep up with the lastest issues facing their neighborhood on many levels.

 Citizens of Bloomfield is the largest group with several hundred followers. It covers the entire town with an emphasis on downtown redevelopment progress. htthttps://www.facebook.com/groups/29160983427892ps://www.facebook.com/groups/291609834278926

On the south end, Watsessing Heights Neighbors has been around the longest although their Facebook page has only recently caught fire. Some of their topics for discussion have yielded over 100 comments.  https://www.facebook.com/groups/watsessingheights/

North Center Neighbors just started earlier in the week
https://www.facebook.com/groups/143765632452405/

Brookdale Connections started today.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/107880222715777/2715777/