Decreasing Property Values, Grant's Lawsuit and Polizzi's Involvement Top March News

Berkley Elementary Evacuated After Alleged Bomb Threat

Berkley Street Elementary School students were evacuated from the building on Wednesday afternoon after officials were notified of an alleged bomb threat in the school. The threat was later deemed non-critical and students returned to Berkley prior to the 3pm dismissal.

Bergen County Superior Court Judge Joseph Conte issued a one-page decision denying Councilwoman Hedy Grant's lawsuit to remove Marc Leibman as Borough Attorney

The assessed value of a house in New Milford has dropped from an average of $410,068 in 2012 to an average of $321,331 in 2013 -- a drop of $88,729, auditor Steve Wielkotz said during the introduction of the 2013 Municipal Budget, Monday. 

After meeting in closed session, the New Milford Board of Education approved Superintendent Michael Polizzi to represent the Board's interests at the ongoing United Water hearings. Polizzipreviously submitted a letter dated March 11, 2013, to the Zoning Board of Adjustment regarding the proposed development of the United Water property.

The Mayor and Council introduced the 2013 Municipal budget at Monday's work session. Prior to the introduction, an ordinance was passed authorizing the Mayor and Council to exceed the municipal budget appropriations limits and to establish a cap bank.

Towards the close of Tuesday's hearing on the Hekemian application for development of the United Water property, and at the urging of Zoning Board attorney Scott Sproviero, the Zoning Board agreed to impose a seven minute time limitation on public questioning of the applicant's experts. The Board also agreed to restrict the public to one opportunity to question each expert. Returning for cross-examination Tuesday was traffic engineer, Elizabeth "Betsy" Dolan.

Still recovering from drastic state aid cuts and a defeated budget a few years ago, the New Milford Board of Education approved its $32.3 million spending plan for the 2013-14 school year on Wednesday night.

The budget and its $28.5 million tax levy will increase the average homeowner's tax bill by $146 for the year. Following the borough's latest reassessment, the new average assessment in New Milford is $321,339.

The "jewel of Oradell" was officially sold to CareOne on Friday afternoon following an uncontested bid on the Blauvelt Mansion's $3.9 million mortgage in Hackensack.

CareOne and its subsidiary Blauvelt Associates, bought the mortgages of the 116-year-old house with an uncontested bid of $100, according to a report on nj.com.

The River Edge Mayor and Council will soon have to muster a super majority vote to advance a controversial conditional zoning ordinance to allow duplexes on Park Avenue. Late last week, the borough's Planning Board, by a 7-2 vote, agreed that the proposed ordinance is consistent with the Master Plan.

The ordinance would allow a developer to utilize a 22-lot span along the eastern side of Park Avenue to construct the duplexes. Park Avenue is located near the River Edge train station and a few blocks away from the New Milford border.

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