Charting the Goings-On in Teaneck
//Every year, independent auditors review our municipal financial records and processes and Moody’s rates us for bonding.
Moody’s rated Teaneck with the second highest rating “Aa2”
Here’s the bottom line on our deficiencies:
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//In my previous post, I spoke about misinformation regarding bonding and how taxation works for various projects. Today, I want to speak to the projects contemplated for Stop & Shop, American Legion Drive, and Cedar Lane.
Of all the issues I speak to residents about, this may be one where the most misinformation is being spread.
Let’s talk about what’s been happening here.
Most people agree that we want a robust Stop & Shop that serves the needs of the town. At that point, the rumors spread like wildfire.
On the Township Website, Stop & Shop & the Township posted a joint statement:
“Stop & Shop, in conjunction with the Township of Teaneck, is issuing this memo in the hope of dispelling the rumors circulating in the community that Stop & Shop’s Teaneck store might close. The Township never asked or pressured Stop & Shop to close its store and Stop & Shop is not looking to close or move from its present Teaneck location on American Legion Drive.”
Continue reading “Combatting Misinformation: Stop & Shop (American Legion Drive)”
//One area which has a lot of people sharing misinformation is Municipal Bonding.
FACT: Teaneck’s Bonding Ratio is the lowest of neighboring municipalities (links to State numbers below).
Bonding or municipal debt is a terrific thing when used appropriately. The current council has one of the lowest bonding percentages compared with neighboring towns and comparisons to other parts of your tax bill show the benefits.
Let’s explain the basics:
For the following three projects, would you prefer the Town / BOE tax or bond the items?
Let’s start with some basic facts:
(stats from “User-Friendly budget” available on Township website)
Share of each $5.35M project for the average homeowner = $399.43
The $399.43 can be paid through the tax levy (all at once) or bonded (at near-zero interest) to be paid back over decades.
As you can see below, by bonding for roads, we pay them over time. If you choose to move, you only paid for the period you lived in Teaneck and used the item. But when the Kindergarten renovations and BOE Offices were taxed directly through the local levy, you paid all of it — in 2019 dollars, despite the fact you may not have intended to live here the following 20 years.
Interest Rates Matter Continue reading “Combatting Misinformation: Bonding”
//At this evening’s council meeting, we will vote on ordinance 21-2022:
ADOPTING A REVISION AND CODIFICATION OF THE ORDINANCES OF THE TOWNSHIP OF TEANECK
When the Township Council passes a law, we do so by ordinance. Each ordinance lasts until it is removed.
That creates problems, such as when the State makes an update that pre-empts a local law.
Sometimes this type of State Law rule change is benign: A Teaneck-specific hands-free car phone use ordinance was passed decades ago. When the State of NJ passed a similar State statute, it nullified ours, but because it was duplicative, nothing much changed as far as practice went (other than police citing a different rule when issuing a summons).
Sometimes, this type of State Law rule change is not benign: A resident called me a few years back because their neighbor had a pool without a fence and our code mandated fences around all pools — and they feared the worst for their kids and others. Except, it turns out that NJ adopted Continue reading “Re-Codification of the Teaneck Code: August 30, 2022”
//It’s “Silly Season” again when people start thinking up scurrilous attacks to throw around.
First, out of the gate, this year goes to Margot Embree Fisher through the local chapter of LWV of Teaneck, where she sits in violation of the by-laws of her own organization:
[It’s a shame that an organization with such a wonderful national presence has been reduced to sniping like this on the local level, but here we are]The LWV Teaneck chapter sent a letter (see pdf below) to the Bergen County clerk claiming that last November Councilmember Keith Kaplan “was inside and outside of the Rodda Center polling place “for much of the early voting week” and that he “was talking with voters and handing out business cards inside the 100-foot boundary set for purposes of preventing electioneering.”
Of course, he was.
Residents at the time were writing me and other council members personally and posting all over social media about — all sorts of problems — they were having with the new touchscreen voting machines. So he and others went to see what was going on and talk to the people running the show.
Councilman Kaplan met with Howard Cramer, the representative from Dominion Voting and he gave out his card (link). Kaplan gave him back his own. We also met with the head of Bergen County’s Board of Elections, Richard Miller. He too gave us his card and we gave him one of ours. Knowing the rules, if a resident asked to speak with one of us, we told them it wasn’t the right place to talk about such things, but they could email and we could talk another time. I gave them a business card too.
These are intimidation tactics now?
Maybe the local LWV is just so successful they routed out all nefarious conduct?
But that’s not true, you see!
Because this actually *IS* a violation of NJ Election Law, only it’s not Kaplan violating it. It’s LWV board member, Margot Embree Fisher (who was on the ballot that day, too!
But there was an allegation that someone else did the bad stuff. Who made that allegation?
From the police report filed by Officer Apreda that day:
Officer Apreda responded to the polling place after police dispatch fielded a telephone call from a concerned resident who reported harrassment occurring within the polling location. The caller, Margaret Fisher, was not located upon Officer Apreda’s arrival.
and
Shortly thereafter, I contacted Ms. Fisher via telephone. She informed me that she did not observe any acts of harassment or electioneering. She stated that she heard of Mr. Kaplan’s presence at the Rodda Center from an unidentified third party, and contacted headquarters because she was concerned that he would engage in these acts based on her estimation of his past history. I advised Ms. Fisher, who wished to retract her involvement, that any witnesses or victims of the alleged acts could contact the police department.
Got it – so the person doing actual violations called in a report to send armed agents of the State to attack someone who campaigns against her.
Letter from LWV to Bergen County:
//The map and list for this weekend’s garage sale is now live, the PDF list and interactive map can be found here:
//The Teaneck Police Department was asked to conduct a report as to traffic and safety on Larch Avenue (in the area of Terhune Street).
Here are the findings:
On Monday, April 25, 2022, the Traffic Bureau was asked to conduct a speed survey on Shepard Avenue. This request was prompted by a Shepard Avenue resident, Gina McCullars, who was concerned about a speeding problem.
A site survey determined that Shepard Avenue is a twenty-five-mile-per-hour two-lane Continue reading “Shepard Ave Traffic Study and Police Reports”
//The Teaneck Police Department was asked to conduct a report as to traffic and safety on Larch Avenue (in the area of Terhune Street).
Here are the findings:
On Wednesday, April 27, 2022, the Traffic Bureau was asked to conduct a speed survey on Elm Avenue. This request was prompted by an Elm Avenue resident, Juanita Brown, who was concerned about a speeding problem. Ms. Brown attended a council meeting to address her concerns about speeding on Elm Avenue.
A site survey determined that Elm Avenue is a twenty-five-mile-per-hour two-lane roadway that runs Continue reading “Elm Ave Traffic Study and Police Reports”
//If you have ever gone to look in Section 36 (Prohibited Parking) of our code, to see what parking regulations are on a particular block, you probably needed patience and possibly, luck.
Let’s face it — our code wasn’t written for convenience or you, as the end-user (subject to its strictures).
Has anyone in the history of time ever wondered where you are prohibited from parking except for 8am to 6pm excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and Holidays (Sec. 36-17), as distinct from where you are prohibited during those hours except (only) Sundays and Holidays (Sec. 36-16)?
If so, now you know. But seriously… who thought this was the best way to make a code?
It took the better part of two years to update our code, as decades of Council changes were never appropriately updated in a cohesive manner. But we are now at a point, where you can know what the Township Ordinances that apply to you, actually say.
So, without changing ANY regulations, I’ve drafted an ordinance that makes a relevant part of the code user-friendly. My proposed ordinance, which can be found in our agenda for next Tuesday’s meeting, combines Sections 36-13 through 36-20.5.
These changes let anyone see, at a glance:
And if these are well received, I plan on doing more of them. What sections would you like to have me handle first?
Have suggestions? Email me
(Residents (and others) should be able to glance at the ordinance sections and see what is relevant to them) Continue reading “User-Friendly Ordinances: Let’s Focus on Making Government Easier to Figure Out”
//Because of the significant uptick in positive COVID-19 cases in the Teaneck community, the manager has made the decision to close all municipal buildings to the public effective Tuesday, December 21, 2021.
The municipal buildings will remain closed to the public through Monday, January 17, 2022. We will reopen our facilities to the public on Tuesday, January 18, 2022 contingent upon data showing COVID-19 cases have declined to a safe level, and our health officer determines it’s appropriate to do so. The January 18, 2022 reopening date allows us to safely get through the Holiday season, and the fourteen (14) day post-Holiday incubation period.
Please note that the Sunshine Garden and after-school program will continue to operate at the Rodda Center until December 23, 2021. Continue reading “Township Manager re Uptick in Omicron Cases: Municipal Building Access Changes Effective 12/21/21”
