Follow Up to Borough Council Meeting

It was a packed house at the last Borough Council meeting. Channel 2 News was present to hear homeowners ask the Council for help with their property taxes. Following the Revaluations in Matawan, ordered by Monmouth County, many homeowners had their property assessments raised substantially. Homeowners came to the Council meeting asking the Council to request the County to reassess their properties. It seems that the Revaluations were done when the market values were higher. Thus the property owners are reporting they are paying on inflated assessed value for their homes. The problem lies with Monmouth County. The revaluations were ordered by the County. The Borough can request a reassessment. However, the County can decline.

Other Borough Council business was postponed. The Council did manage to approve the Fireworks for July 4th, approve a volunteer Firefighter and pay bills. To the best of our knowledge no elected official or their respective family businesses were on the Bill List.

The Mayor did mention ways the Council is cutting costs. The Boro Administrator, Bill Garafolo, reported the Budget is lean. Borough employees were credited with helping the Borough by accepting a new health plan, which will produce an immediate savings. Next year possibly saving the Borough $500,000+. The implementation of the 4 day work week has saved the Borough money in utilities. While the employees work the same number of hours per week, the work day itself is longer. Personnel changes produced cost savings. The Borough Administrator alone is part time and does not receive health benefits or retirement contributions. Mr. Garafolo is putting together a 5 year plan for Matawan. The Borough has also applied for grants (free money) for Road Improvements and other projects. Many residents were unaware of the many things the Council is doing to cut costs and plan for the future of Matawan. Mayor Buccellato continues to work on a Group for the Improvement of Main St. and will be making an announcement in the near future.

Still waiting for the Ordinance that prevents elected officials from doing work for the Borough while in office. It seems like a no-brainer, so what is holding it up??????

In these economic tough times, Matawan is cutting back as much as possible. Perhaps if the Board of Education (which passed its Budget for the first time in a long, long time) and Matawan Borough keep to the necessary items we will be on the right track.

See you at the next meeting....

Matawan Borough Council Meeting 5-19-2009 at 7:30pm

Borough Council meeting tomorrow to include Public Hearing on the Budget. This should interest everyone in Matawan.

Under Old Business. Ordinance 09-08 - Amending the Code of the Borough of Matawan-Recreation Commission. This proposed Ordinance has been bouncing around since last year.

Another pertinent subject will pertain to elected Borough Officials or their immediate family members doing work for the Borough. This presents a conflict of interest. Whose interests are being served, the elected official or the Borough?

Resolution 09-05-32, Claire Court - JCP&L - we assume this is regarding JCP&L cutting down shrubbery and bushes to the ground. By doing so it devalued the property on Claire Court. We sincerely hope this situation is finally resolved.

Resolution 09-05-21 - Approving the discharge of fireworks in the Borough of Matawan in Celebration of Independence Day. There are different schools of thought on this issue. Some residents oppose the fireworks due to the cost. Other residents enjoy the fireworks and look forward to having barbecues/parties on that weekend. Having the fireworks as the conclusion to their parties. What a nice way to give back to the community.

Very often we moan and groan about what the Borough officials are doing wrong. It is refreshing to observe the professionalism of our new part time Borough Administrator, William Garofolo. From our observations, he is knowledgeable, straight forward and quick to respond to questions members of the Council pose. Good to have you on board Mr. Garofalo.

Hope to see you at the meeting.....

Graffiti in Matawan

GRAFFITI - Who needs it? Matawan has become part of the inner city when it comes to graffiti or tagging. We have seen it all over Matawan. It is a disgrace. Entering Gravelly Brook Park, on residents fences, on traffic signs, vacant buildings, on the handball court in the Jackson St Park. We live in Matawan to get away from the issues of the inner cities, now the issues are moving here. As residents we can become pro-active. We are not saying you should confront these people. We are saying you should call the Police, take a digital photo of them if you can and present it to the Police. Report to the Matawan Police Dept., any time you see tagging (gang members do this to mark their territory) or graffiti being done.

Let's all help keep Matawan beautiful, clean and green!

With our Deepest Sympathy

It is with deep regret that we were informed of Juwan Brown's passing this morning. Our sympathy and prayers goes out to his family and friends. Mr. Brown was a graduate of Matawan-Aberdeen Regional High School Class of 2005.

May God watch over him and his family during this difficult time.

Clean Up Events in our Borough

Clean Up Day in Matawan Borough is on Saturday, May 9, 2009 from 9am to Noon. Volunteers will meet at the Matawan Community Center at 201 Broad Street. Come join your neighbors to help make Matawan shine.

Matawan Recreation Commission welcomes volunteers to help clean up Main Street Matawan. Volunteers will meet Saturday, May 9, 2009 at 8:30am in the Bank of America parking lot on Main Street. Volunteers will be cleaning up Main St. and planting flowers in the pots along Main Street. Volunteers are encouraged to bring work gloves, spades, hoes or other gardening tools. Please print your name on your tools to prevent loss.

We encourage all residents, families, friends to volunteer and help make Matawan sparkle. This is the time to stop complaining about Matawan and do something pro-active for our community.

Hope to see you there.......

Our Heartfelt Sympathy go to the Urbano Family

We are greatly saddened to learn the passing of Councilman Joseph Urbano's parents, Jeanette and Salvatore Urbano along with three other members of their family. They were in a fatal car accident this past Saturday.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Councilman Urbano's family.