Allendale March 16, 2011 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • Page 3 Curbside pickup wins support from residents by John Koster The concept of curbside garbage pickup, which was denounced about a year ago by most residents who addressed the Allendale Council, received a substantial amount of support at last week’s council meeting and in emails and telephone calls to Mayor Vince Barra. The council has until April 15 to approve a garbage contract, but the bids that came in last week were a pleasant surprise – especially the bid for curbside pickup, which could save Allendale almost $1 million dollars if the borough opts for a five-year contract with curbside pickup. Exceptions would be made for residents who are elderly or disabled. “Mr. Mayor, I’ve changed my vote – put me down for curbside,” said Bob Benz, who had opposed the concept of curbside garbage pickup at the last public hearing on the matter. Mayor Barra said the consensus he had picked up from e-mail and phone calls was that the vast majority of residents would approve curbside pickup based on the available savings. Barra admitted that one or two residents said that curbside pickup could reduce property values and that they are opposed to the concept, but most residents saw the economic benefits as a tipping factor in favor of dropping rearyard pickup. The mayor quoted one resident as having said, “If (continuing with rear-yard pickup) means an employee might have to be laid off, I would go with curbside.” Gary Kositz, another resident, said that while curbside pickup was unaesthetic and could impact property values, high property taxes were a far more detrimental influence on the valuation and resale of houses. Bill Scharf said he hoped whoever took the contract would be able to exercise control over stray garbage cans rolling around Crescent Avenue and Franklin Turnpike. There was no concerted opposition from the audience of about 20 residents. Councilwoman Liz White, who had crunched all the numbers, offered one-page work sheets to the audience. “The numbers are really astounding,” White said. “We were very surprised at what they were, and frankly, very pleased.” (continued on page 11) Allendale’s Brookside School will be enjoying a $2,000 Pearl River spinet piano donated by Brookside eighth grader Alanna O’Hara and her mother, Barbara Rizzo. The piano was shipped from the family’s home to the school with an additional donation of $190 from the Brookside Hillside Music & Art Association. The Allendale K-8 Board of Education also approved a June field trip by the eighth grade to the Culinary Institute School receives $2,000 piano as donation of America, the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Museum, and the Vanderbilt Mansion in Hyde Park area at a cost of $83 per student. The trip is linked both to social studies curriculum and career exploration. The school board also approved a trip to the Turtle Back Zoo in West Orange at a cost of $26 per student for the first graders. The students will learn about different animals and their habitats. Virgo Boutique UP % TO Fun & Fashionable Women’s Clothing & Accessories at M-Sat 9-5:30 LOW PRICES 8 Franklin Ave. Ridgewood • 201-444-2060 WINTER SALE 50 Recently relocated from NYC OFF ������� ������������ 99 West Allendale Ave. Allendale, NJ Phone: 201-327-2423 Fax: 201-327-9550 Try Our Green Bagels!! Call about our Special Occasion Catering Monday thru Saturday 6am to 3pm • Sunday 7am to 2pm For St. Patrick’s Day Bring this ad in for 15% off any non-sale items Mike Canova-Owner, Graduate of Culinary Institute of America 2-23-11 kathy/janine VirgoBoutique2x2(2-23-11) 2 x 2” 3-2-11 BerniesBagelsStPatty2x2Color(3-2-11) For Mike from Janine Winter specials available now for a limited time only. Call Robin at 973-636-7000