Monday, May 20, 2013
Sheena Collum, Stephen Schnall and Walter Clarke will serve on the South Orange Board of Trustees.
Sheena Collum, Stephen Schnall and Walter Clarke were sworn in to four-year terms as trustees on Monday night at Village Hall. Before a large and enthusiastic crowd, the three winning took the oath of office, adminstered by Village President Alex Torpey, and were seated on the dais. Maplewood's Jerry Ryan, South Orange Police Chief James Chelel, South Orange Fire Chief Jeff Markey, and former Village President Douglas Newman were in attendance. Collum, Schnall and Clarke took the vote last Tuesday after several weeks of active campaigning. They replace Janine Bauer, Michael Goldberg, and Nancy Gould, who announced earlier this year that they would not seek re-election. The three outgoing trustees were honored with proclamations at Monday…
Thursday, May 2, 2013
The League of Women Voters sponsored the debate
The South Orange Board of Trustee candidates debated Tuesday; the video was released Thursday. Click here to see it in full.
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Nancy Gould will complete her term, but not run again.
Trustee Nancy Gould annouced Tuesday that she will not seek another term on the Village Board of Trustees. Gould released the following statement: In May 2009 I was elected as a member of the South Orange Board of Trustees. It's been an interesting and satisfying four years, and I'm honored to have served the residents of South Orange. During my BOT tenure, I have always tried to "do the right thing" for the residents of the village. My goal has been to provide the best possible services for the residents while carefully watching the fiscal implications of each vote I make. I hope the residents understand that I worked hard and that my only motivation was to serve the village. I am very proud of the work I have done on the BOT. I've …
Monday, January 28, 2013
Michael Goldberg will step down from the South Orange Board of Trustees at the end of this term.
South Orange Trustee Michael Goldberg Monday announced he will not seek a third term. The letter he sent follows: Dear Neighbor, While I love serving the public, I despise politics. And, the only thing worse than a politician is a career politician. Because I never wanted to be considered either, after careful consideration, I have decided not to seek a third term as Village Trustee in the South Orange Municipal election this May 14th. Instead, I have determined it is time to focus my time and energy on both my family and on my professional career, as well as pursuing other interests. It has been an incredible honor and privilege to serve the community for almost 6 years. Despite the multitude of meetings, challenging personalities, late …
Monday, July 30, 2012
During the public speaking parts of the meeting, residents asked for cooperation among South Orange elected official
Residents asked the South Orange Board of Trustees for civility and cooperation in their public interactions. On Monday night, during the two public speaking parts of the Board of Trustees meeting, residents came forward both to thank elected officials for their service, and to request "greater cooperation." Recent meetings have seen friction between elected officials, especially over issues of public safety communication and setting the meeting agenda. The communication concerns have been addressed. Village Administrator Barry Lewis explained that he and officials from the police and fire departments are establishing a protocol for email notification. Trustees will be notified of public safety events, such as a fire, and that …
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Supporters of the ordinance turned out in force
Supporters turned out in force on Monday night urging the South Orange Board of Trustees to consider establishing a historic preservation commission. Ordinance 2012-09 passed 6-0 on first reading. Supporters of the ordinance, many of them members of the Montrose Park Historic District Association (MPHDA), weighed in during the public comment periods of the meeting. The ordinance to establish the historic preservation commission was in the news earlier this week because Marylawn School of the Oranges authorities have filed an application for a permit to demolish the historic home the school owns on Scotland Road. The commission will have to give approval to any plans to demolish historic buildings in the village or to subdivide a property. …
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Ordinance 2012-06 passed 6- 0 on second reading on Monday night.
Owners of vacant storefronts are now permitted to cover those windows with more than black paper. Ordinance 2012-06 passed 6-0 on second reading on Monday night. The Vacant Storefront Ordinance amends the Village code, allowing building owners to cover their windows with attractive materials temporarily, until the newly-formed SID can address this issue in greater detail. In December, several storefronts were decorated with holiday images.
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Passing of 2012 budget delayed; funding for non-profits moves forward.
In a packed meeting at Town Hall on Monday night that lasted nearly four hours, the South Orange Board of Trustees passed an ordinance to establish a Historic Preservation Committee. The board also voted to continue funding two non-profits, with stipulations. The ordinance to establish the historic preservation commission was in the news earlier this week because Marylawn School of the Oranges authorities have filed an application for a permit to demolish the historic home the school owns on Scotland Road. The commission will have to give approval to any plans to demolish historic buildings in the village or to subdivide a property. Members of The Montrose Park Historic District Association (MPHDA), of which the house is a part, is …
Monday, May 14, 2012
The meeting is Monday at 7:30 in Village Hall
The South Orange Board of Trustees is expected to pass the 2012 budget tonight, while they consider a number of other hot-button issues. The full agenda is here. The budget, posted online, includes money for the two non-profits funded jointly by South Orange and Maplewood. Both YouthNet and the Community Coalition on Race (CCR) will see funds allocated. In the case of CCR, funding has been uncertain for months. Two resolutions on the Consent Agenda authorize the Village President and the Village Clerk to execute service agreements with both YouthNet and the CCR. An ordinance establishing a historic preservation commission will be presented for first reading. The status of the East Orange Water Commission litigation will be discussed.
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
After months of uncertainty, the final decision was based on "fairness."
The question about whether South Orange would give funds the Community Coalition of Race was answered on Monday at the town’s Board of Trustees meeting. With a vote of 5-1, the BOT passed Resolution 2012-077, which approved the introduction of the 2012 Municipal Budget and included $22,500 for CCR from South Orange. Trustee Michael Goldberg was the sole nay vote. Maplewood had already included 2012 funding for the CCR in its budget which was introduced last month. Maplewood approved a $34,200 allocation for the CCR but has tied that funding to particular programs and services, as is also the cae with the three other non-profits that the town funds. Following a lengthy discussion by the trustees, it was decided that funding would remain in…
Ron Allen
3:56 pm on Tuesday, May 21, 2013
I agree. more ›