April 25, 2012 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 5 Area Freeholders halt pay, benefits to NBCUA commissioners The Bergen County Board of Freeholders voted unanimously last week to halt any future pay and benefits to Northwest Bergen County Utilities Authority commissioners, thereby rescinding a 1979 ordinance that allowed each commissioner to receive a stipend of $5,000. Prior to the vote, the freeholders discussed the possibility of stopping pay only for future appointees. The board also discussed the elimination of health benefits, noting that a sudden change could present a hardship. However, the freeholders decided that the commissioners knew late last year that their benefits could be ending. The county also plans to file a suit to recover the pay and medical benefits that have already been provided to the seven NBCUA commissioners who were fired by Bergen County Executive Kathleen Donovan as of April 16. Seven commissioners received dismissal letters last week for not heeding Donovan’s order to cease taking stipends, which are $5,000 per year per person, and full-time health benefits, which total approximately $97,000. The individuals concerned include Chairman William F. Dator of Mahwah, Vice Chairman Michael Kasparian of Ho-HoKus, and Commissioners Brian Chewcaskie of Allendale, Peter Dachnowicz of Waldwick, Frank Kelaher of Ramsey, Marion Plumley of Midland Park, and Jason T. Shafron of Wyckoff. Newly-appointed Commissioners Elizabeth Salazer of Saddle River and Kenneth Gabbert of Upper Saddle River, who had not taken stipends or received health benefits, did not receive the dismissal letter. In her notice of dismissal to the seven commissioners, Donovan cited the similarity of the state statute used by New Jersey Governor Chris Christie when he dismissed commissioners of the Passaic Valley Sewage Commission and Bergen County Administrative Code N.J.S.A. 40:41A37 (c) under Article 3.5 (c). Donovan’s Chief of Staff Jeanne Baratta said the county executive has been using her line item veto, and has not vetoed anything except the commissioners’ stipends and health benefits. Baratta said the seven commissioners had 30 days to appeal Donovan’s veto to the freeholder board, but didn’t follow the process. Donovan’s vetoes of authority minutes have reportedly been upheld by the New Jersey Division of Local Government Services. Baratta said the NBCUA was the last authority whose members are still receiving benefits and stipends. The seven commissioners questioned Donovan’s authority to dismiss them, and planned to file an Order of Show Cause in Superior Court. “NBCUA is an independent authority which receives no funding from the county and functions totally on revenues for sewer services cost-effectively rendered, not on tax dollars,” the commissioners said in a joint statement. “Even if the statute she cited in her dismissal letter (were) applicable, which it is not, she would have violated that statute by failure to provide notice, and by not giving the commissioners a right to a hearing.” Chairman Dator, who is also a Republican, stated that Donovan’s vetoes would not force the commissioners to “take the illegal action of stripping members of their stipends and benefits. This will not happen under my watch as we are bound by state law to honor those stipends and benefits until such time that a member’s term expires or a resignation is tendered.” The commissioners’ statement discredited the emergency action cited as a precedent for the dismissals. Barn conversion (continued from page 3) for historic designation even though it is part of the historic Granite Linen Mills property. The 14.6-acre site is zoned for office/research and industrial use. The subdivision will result in the net loss of only two parking spaces. In total 58 spaces will be provided in front of the barn, with six spaces behind the building allocated for ambulance personnel. The landscape plan calls for a line of shrubs shielding the parking lot from the street, 11 additional shade trees throughout and a storm water swale between the rear driveway and the brook to be heavily planted with water tolerant shrubbery. A 52-in. tree to the western side of the barn will remain. Six decorative fixtures will be installed along the entrance driveway, and two 20-ft. high shoe box type fixtures in the parking lot to be turned on when the community center is in use. The board stipulated that the lighting plan be reviewed after six months to assure that the neighbors across Godwin Avenue are not adversely affected. Variances were required for the lot size, which is onehalf acre smaller than the 2 acres required by ordinance, and the rear yard setback, which is 47 ft. from the property line instead of 50 ft. The current corps building on Pierce Avenue will be sold for residential use and returned to the tax rolls, and the proceeds used to outfit the new building. Dr. Kooreman said it would probably be most suitable for a single person, or a couple who need a large garage space or workshop area. He said the organization’s financial reserves are at the lowest point that he can recall in his 30 years on the corps and urged residents to be generous in returning the fund drive letters mailed recently to all homes. The organization is independent, and is supported by citizen contributions and fundraisers.