FT/PT opportunity – the Borough of North Arlington is accepting resumes for a confidential clerk position in the North Arlington Police Department. A positive and energetic disposition is a must in this active work environment. In addition, applicants should have the ability to work within Excel, Outlook, Power Point, Word, Word Perfect and other related computer programs. An otherwise eligible candidate will be considered for training. Duties will include but are not limited to filing, budgeting, short hand, payroll, scheduling, organization skills and general ability to learn additional computer skills. This is an excellent opportunity for the right candidate. Interviews will be conducted immediately. Please forward your cover letter and resume no later than 10AM February 17, 2012 to ckeogan@northarlington.org or mail/hand deliver to 214 Ridge Road North Arlington NJ 07031. Salary DOQ, Equal Opportunity Employer.

During snowfall vehicles must be removed from the following streets:

Primary Snow Streets

1)      Beaver Ave                  Both sides

2)     Belmount Ave             Ridge Rd.  to  York Rd.

3)     Canterbury Ave.        Ridge Rd    to   Schuyler Ave.

4)      Prospect Ave.             Belleville   Trpk.   to    Sunset Ave.

5)      Ridge Rd.                      Belleville  Pike to Union Ave

6)     Rutherford Pl.              Beaver Ave      to    Inman Pl.

Residents are requested to remove vehicles from the following streets when more than 5 inches of snow is expected.

Secondary Snow Streets

1)   Park Ave.                       Rutherford Pl    to        Schuyler Ave.

2)   Belmount Ave.            Ridge  Rd    to    River Rd.

3)      Stover Ave.

4)      Gold St                          Front Str.   to  Ridge Park Dr.

5)     Riverview Ave.          Locust Ave   to   Veterans Pl.

6)     Riverview Ave.          Bergen  Ave   to   Jauncy Ave.

7)     Sixth St.

8)     Second St.

The Community Alliance Banking Program rewards the Friends of the North Arlington Library when its members and supporters bank at Boiling Springs Savings Bank (BSSB). Just stop into BSSB and say you want to designate your new or existing account as a “Friends of the North Arlington Library Donor Account.” All information about you and your account is strictly confidential and will not be shared with the Friends of the North Arlington Library. No money is withdrawn from your account, all donation dollars come from BSSB.

Save time… print and complete an enrollment form (http://www.bssbank.com/products/CAP_Member_Account_Enrollment_Form.pdf) then bring it with you to the bank.

The Friends of the North Arlington Library’s preferred branch location of BSSB is in Lyndhurst (753 Ridge Road); however you can visit any branch of BSSB to enroll.

For more information, visit:
http://www.bssbank.com/products/community_alliance.html

The borough started the year facing a $1.6 million budget deficit, which would have to be made up with an 11 percent  tax increase.  However the council and its professional advisors worked diligently and amended the 2011 municipal budget and cut the increase to 1.97 percent ; slashing a projected  budget increase of $1,008,880 to  just $31,975.

Changes in 2011 that will have a positive impact on taxpayer in 2012 include switching borough employees to the state-run health benefits plan, which could amount to an overall savings of $900,000 for the year.

About a third of that savings will come from switching the police department  to the state health benefit plan from the previously negotiated plan that cost up to $31,000 for health care coverage per family per year. The police were enrolled in the state health plan in October.

The switch in health plans for the police department was part of an extended salary arbitration dispute that resulted in the arbitrator denying police the 3.5 percent salary increase the union sought retroactive to January. The arbitrator gave the police union no increases for 2011. The officers will instead receive a 2.5 percent increase on April 1, 2012 and a second increase on April 1 2013.

In 2010 the borough cut costs by auditing all employees to determine who was eligible for health insurance and found a savings of $ 253, 000 by adjusting Medicare eligibility and other modifications.

 The borough also negotiated a $400,000 payment in lieu of taxes on property now owned by the NJMC  that formerly belonged to now bankrupt EnCap / Cherokee  developer and was tax delinquent .  Those properties are the former Bergen County Utilities Authority trash processing site and property off of Porete Avenue .

In early December the borough council awarded a new there year trash collection contract to Cali Carting that will save the borough $300,000 over the life of contract

Cali’s contract will maintain year round, twice a week trash pickup at a cost of $1.248 million for three years. Additionally the hauler will collect recyclables for a cost of $474,000 over three years bringing the total cost of the contract to $1.72 million. Taxpayers will save approximately $100,000 in 2012 for trash collection.

With a new host community fee agreement in place with the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission the borough saved about a $700,000 in 2011 and will enjoy similar savings in 2012

Additionally, the borough receives $2 for each ton of trash processed at the NJMC trash baler and for the third quarter of 2011 the borough’s average monthly revenue from the baler was nearly $16,000.  Council President Richard Hughes said the borough hopes to substantially increase that revenue in 2012 as the NJMC obtains more customers for its trash processing operation.

“One of the key areas we are looking to in 2012 to increase revenue to offset taxes is from the NJMC trash baler operation. There are some promising negotiations between the NJMC and nearby communities that could result in a substantial increase in revenue for the borough,” said Hughes.

The borough was able to increase revenue in 2011 by putting into service an additional Emergency Medical Services   team during  the daytime hours. The added team enhances the borough’s response times, enables them to handle multiple calls and increases the borough’s ability to respond to mutual aid calls.  The resultant revenues from the enhanced service further assists in the council’s goal of stabilizing taxes, says Councilman Hughes.

A large ticket revenue item yet to be decided is the amount of money that the borough will receive from the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission for delinquent taxes owed for properties owned  by the NJMC that lay within the borough’s borders. Currently the borough and  NJMC are attempting to work out a tax compromise  — a Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) that could close a $1 million gap in outstanding taxes on the Kingsland landfill.

In 2012 the borough will save money on sewage processing fees as the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission recently announced a 2 percent cut in its budget down to $157 million for next year. The borough currently will pay  approximately $ 1,072,483 for sewage processing saving the borough approximately $27,000 next year

The borough council is also looking forward to enjoying an increase in tax revenue  from small redevelop projects such as the one ongoing at the former mattress factory on Schuyler Avenue

“As the economy gradually improves we are seeing more interest in business investment in the borough,” said Councilman Joseph Bianchi

In 2012 the mayor and council hope they can generate more interest in its new redevelopment zone on the eastern border of the community abutting the Meadowlands.

“The potential revenue from the redevelopment zone is extremely substantial and I hope to see greater interest from businesses looking to invest in our community” said Hughes .

Although the economy continues to struggle, Mayor Peter Massa said the number one priority of the governing body is to lessen the economic impact on taxpayers without cutting services.

“We got through a very tough year without  any help from Trenton, but we managed to avoid layoffs and furloughs and there was no reduction in essential services,” said the mayor.

“Overall I think the council did a commendable job in 2011 of trimming costs. I am hopeful the work that was done in 2011 will have a positive impact on borough taxpayers in 2012 and that the governor’s administration will provide North Arlington with the aid we need until we get our redevelopment plan going, ” added Massa.

The borough council this week awarded a $35,624 contract to Real Good Solar to install 36 solar panels on the roof of the firehouse, which requires a new roof .  The council also awarded a $19,790 contract to  All Professional Remodeling Group of  Cedar Grove to replace the existing roof on the building.

Council President Richard Hughes said the solar panel installation at the fire house will serve as pilot project for future consideration of solar panels installation on other borough-owned buildings.

“This is an opportunity for us to measure the efficiency of solar energy with a minimal investment by the community,” said Hughes.

Hughes said the borough will not only save money on energy used at the fire house, but can sell energy credits to power companies thanks to a state law that requires utility companies to get a percentage of their power from renewable  resources.

The  solar contractor says the borough should save about $117,000 over 20 to 25 year life of the solar system and should recoup its investment in the solar panels in about 11 to 12 years.  The contractor estimates that solar produced energy will generate 81 percent of the firehouse’s energy needs in the first year.

Hughes said the solar panel installation will allow the borough to pay for the new roof over time. He said no special supports will be needed on the firehouse roof to accommodate the solar panels.

With other public buildings in town requiring new roofs in coming years,  Hughes said the firehouse project will serve as a test case to determine if solar panels will work for other buildings.

“If we can install solar panels on other public buildings in town and have the solar installation offset the cost of roof replacement, it will be a substantial benefit to the taxpayers,” said Hughes.  “In addition we will be generating renewable energy to lower our utility costs.”

Councilman Steve Tanelli noted that the project is relatively low cost entry into the volatile world of renewable energy – a world where the market for renewable energy credits has nosedived in recent months, but will likely  bounce back.  “If successful, this could lead to an opportunity for the borough to make major future investments in solar energy,” said the councilman.

“We will be watching this project carefully and monitoring the actual savings and the maintenance required to justify the investment in solar energy ” he added.

The studies were conducted by the federal Environmental Protection Agency and Birdsall Services Group, an engineering firm  hired by the borough to assess the level of soil contaminants in the playing fields after the Passaic River flooded the fields following the record breaking rains associated with Hurricane Irene

The Birdsall study of the borough Little League field on River Road at Hendel Avenue focused on fecal coliform bacteria that are present in soil in varying degrees depending on conditions. The engineers note that fecal coliform is present in field soil tests largely as a result of goose droppings on the field. However the level of the bacteria in the soil of the Little League is not a risk at this time and that with over time the bacteria levels will drop. The engineers noted that the borough could hasten the reduction in fecal coliform bacteria by applying lime to the field.

The EPA study of all the fields looked for the presence of contaminants such as dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). The studies were done as a cautionary measure with an ongoing study of  contaminated sediments of the lower Passaic River.

The EPA reported that results showed the measured concentration of dioxins and PCBs were all below levels of concern. Based on the analysis, the EPA does not plan to do further sampling and deems that cleanup actions are not warranted at this time.

Councilman Joseph Bianchi said the  tests reports are good news to the borough. “We don’t want children exposed to hazardous substances while playing on the fields,” Bianchi. “The study gives us and parents the peace of mind to know that our children are not playing in areas that could pose a danger to their health.”

You may register online with the state at www.registerready.nj.gov and with the Borough of North Arlington by calling the Health Department at 201-955-5695.   All information will be kept confidential.

The New Jersey State Office of Emergency Management advises all households to plan ahead:

• Create a personal action plan
• Post emergency phone numbers near the telephone
• Develop a contact list; include work, school and cell phone numbers
• Know your designated emergency alert system station.  Stay tuned to North Arlington Radio Station 1620AM for updates
• Plan ahead for care of pets

Visit the New Jersey State Office of Emergency Management website, www.state.nj.us/njoem/ for more information.

          Second and Fourth Tuesday of Each Month

1:00 PM – 2:45 PM      No Appointment Necessary

CHILD HEALTH CONFERENCE, FREE IMMUNIZATION & WELL BABY CARE

For infants and pre-school children – By Appointment, Thursday, November 17.  Required school-aged immunizations are available for those without health insurance coverage.

EVENING FLU CLINIC

Tuesday, November 1, 2011, 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm at the North Arlington Health Department, 10 Beaver Ave.  The vaccine is offered free of charge for those covered by traditional Medicare Part B.  Medicare card MUST be presented at the time of immunization.  There will be a $20 fee for those not covered by Medicare.  By appointment only; call 201-955-5695.  Daytime hours are also available by appointment.

DIABETES – THREE-PART SERIES

Free morning seminars beginning at 10:00 am on three consecutive Thursdays, November 3, 10, and 17, in conjunction with Clara Maass Medical Center, covering important topics such as Diabetes detection, blood sugar control, and medication management.  Light breakfast will be served.  Open to surrounding communities.  Registration required by calling the Health Department at 201-955-5695.

DEALING WITH HOLIDAY STRESS

Free program in conjunction with Clara Maass Medical Center, Wednesday, November 16, beginning at 6:00 pm.  As the chaos for planning the holidays begins, it is not uncommon for holiday stress to set in.  This seminar will provide tips on how to cope with additional stress at this time of the year.  A light dinner will be served.  Open to surrounding communities.  Registration required by calling the North Arlington Health Department at 201-955-5695.

NOVEMBER PROGRAMS PDF DOWNLOAD

FOR INFORMATION AND APPOINTMENTS, PLEASE CALL THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AT 201-955-5695.

Pictured left to right:  Health Department Secretary Elaine Lubowiecki,  Community Outreach Nurse Kristy O’Connor, Health Department Administrator Colleen Doherty, Community Health Nurse Bernie Uzaraga, Dr. Annette Cozzarelli, Nurse Navigator/Outreach Coordinator Anabela Cunha-Almeida, BSN RN, Physician Liaison and Director of Community Health Service Representative Fran Monteleone, and Dr. Nadine Pappas.