We're Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!

Sorry folks, but with the school year ending and the apparent virus that has been going around, we have been negligent in keeping you informed on what's happening in Matawan. Well, you will be happy to hear that we are back. Our caustic tongues can't wait to let you in on what is going on at the Matawan Borough Council's next meeting on July 7th. One of our pet peeves, putting it mildly, is the Ordinance to prevent elected officials from doing work for the Borough while they are sitting members of the Council. Either you represent the good people of Matawan, or you represent your own self (financial) interests. Call us dreamers, idealists, lovers of good, clean government, but we want our elected officials to have the taxpayers best interests in mind.



Recalling a Borough Council meetings some time back, Boy Scouts were in attendance. It was impressive to see these young men witness our government at work. Food for thought, we should all take our children to a Borough Council meeting once in a while. Kinda of like, the "take your child to work day" that was started a while back. Not the little ones, but the older kids. Check the Agendas, find a meeting that you think the kids would find interesting and attend a meeting together. Even better, speak at the same meeting, let your child see you participating. What a great example you would set for your child. It could be a Social Studies project. No, we are not teachers, just parents.

Don't forget Fourth of July Fireworks, July 5th. Get there early to get a good spot. Fireworks begin at nightfall around 9pm. Grab a bite to eat at one of Matawan's fine restaurants, stroll down Main Street, check out our Memorial Park, some of our beautiful historic homes and end up on Ravine Drive by the Lake.


Hope to see you at the Fourth of July Fireworks......

Case of Swine Flu Reported in Matawan School

In a public service announcement, Mayor Buccellato announced at last night's meeting a case of Swine Flu reported at the Ravine Drive School. The School will be closed until Mon. Anyone having further information, please feel free to comment.

Borough Council Council Workshop/Meeting at 6:30pm 6/4/09

The long hot days of Summer will soon be upon us. Well, there will be no rest for our Borough Council. Tough decisions, tougher financial issues, tough problems face our Borough Council. We trust they are up for the challenges, oops, isn't that why we elected them! Isn't that why we will continue to re-elect them? We don't want lip service from our Council, we want officials who worry more about Matawan and Matawan's future and can fight the tough fight.


Workshop begins at 6:30pm tonight followed by the regular Council meeting. On the Agenda is the Police Department 150 Main St. along with hiring of a Class II Special. The Special involves spending money, obviously, adding to the Department. What is up for discussion about 150 Main St, Police Dept. Bldg? We all know it needs work, we all know our Police Force deserve a better facility, what we don't know is where are we getting the money....bonds? How can we further tax the already overburdened taxpayers? Isn't that how the previous Democratic majority got us into our current situation, with deficit spending? The Mayor and the Republican majority now is trying to curb spending and get Matawan back on the road to sound financial decision making. Remember when Mayor Buccellato pleaded with the Democratic majority to curb spending over and over again. He urged them to look at the big picture, project for the future, prioritize the needed from the mandatory. Well now it is mandatory to cut spending. Being a Monday Night Quarterback, was it considered when new computers were purchased for the Police Dept, if it was a needed or mandatory purchase? Could that money have been used for the mandatory improvements to the building at 150 Main St?

As we all face these financial difficult times, as we all have to make tough decisions, as we all have to tighten our belts to live within our means and cut out the needed from the mandatory in our personal Budgets, is it too much to ask that our Municipality do the same.

Next item of interest, Ordinance Prohibiting Elected Officials from Municipal Work. Now doesn't that sound like an oxymoron? Apparently, something or someone has been stalling this Ordinance. Why you ask? Let's just see who doesn't want Matawan to have a Pay to Play Ordinance and why? Guess we will see tonight. More on this tomorrow.

The regular meeting items of interest - Public hearing expansion of Bart's Continental Cuisine. Bart's is an old established business in Matawan. They are not only a Gem in our community but make many contributions through fundraisers for charities. They have not abandoned Matawan. Cannot see any reason for anyone to object to their expansion. We wish them continued success.

Police Dept. - Hiring of Class Two Specials. Needed or Mandatory?

Clerk's Office - Hiring of a Part Time hourly Employee. Needed or Mandatory?

Authorizing Professional Services by T & M Associates for Emergency Repair Water and Sanitary Sewer. Obviously a Mandatory.

Authorizing Professional Services by T & M Associates for Well & High Pump Maintenance. Not sure if needed or mandatory. Aware of the problems our Water system faces, it sounds like mandatory.

Payment of Bills - Nothing on the website. We cannot determine if any elected official has done work for the Borough and is seeking payment.

Hope to see you at tonight's meeting.....

Memorial Day Parade at 2pm Main Street

Memorial Day Parade down Main Street begins at St. Clements Church and proceeds down Main St. to Memorial Park. Come to Main St to honor to our fallen heroes and to show your support to our Service Men and Women currently protecting our Country.

GOD BLESS AMERICA.

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.....