May 1, 2013 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 9 Midland Park Council opposes bill that ties state aid to sharing The Midland Park Mayor and Council last week went on record in opposition to proposed state legislation that would penalize municipalities that do not follow state shared services recommendations by reducing their state aid. S-2/A-1171, now awaiting action by the Assembly Housing and Local Government Committee, was recently amended to remove previously desirable provisions while at the same time increasing the power of the state’s Local Unit Alignment, Reorganization and Consolidation Commission (LUARCC), an appointed study commission. “The recent amendments to S-2 removed many of the labor provisions that would have given municipalities tools to implement a shared service without the time consuming hurdles that diminished the savings and will now discourage shared services from a municipalities’ perspective by continuing the hindrances imposed by Civil Service,” the council’s resolution notes. Councilman Jack Considine said the legislation should not be opposed. “I don’t see where it hurts the taxpayers,” said Considine. “It requires towns to engage in shared services or get less state aid. Some towns don’t, and so there is less money to come back to us who do share. I’d like to expand it to include the schools as well,” Considine added. Mayor Patrick “Bud” O’Hagan thought otherwise. “It’s a Trojan horse,” said O’Hagan. “It’s self protection for Civil Service wrapped around shared services. It penalizes taxpayers and weakens municipal control. ” According to the resolution, the original legislation removed or reduced many of the roadblocks that increase the costs of shared services – such as terminal leave, pay, civil service mandates, employee tenure requirements - provisions that could potentially reduce the costs and hurdles to shared services and consolidations, produce municipal savings and promote relief for taxpayers. The amended version gives the LUARCC the power to advance a shared services proposal which must be adopted by the local governing body or local voters. If it is not adopted, the state would be able to reduce municipal tax relief aid funding by an amount equal to the projected savings that would have been produced by the proposal, as certified by the state. The resolution notes that S-2/A-1171 “is based on the misconception that municipalities do not share services when in fact shared services are not a new concept to municipalities, dating back well before the Interlocal Services Act of 1973;”and that the legislation “is also based on the misconception that smaller governments are less efficient and effective than larger ones, an assumption that is not necessarily the case and contrary to lessons learned from recent events in which the municipal elected officials and professionals were very effective in pooling their resources and responding quickly.” “Our town does a great job with shared services. We should be able to decide what is best for us, not an appointed commission,” said Councilman Nick Papapietro. The council’s resolution asks that S-2/A-1171 “be reviewed by the Red Tape Review Commission, which has tirelessly worked to remove government hurdles, and the Civil Service Commission before the bill proceeds to ensure that the proposed amendments do not create additional Civil Service burdens and hurdles that further impede shared services and drive up cost.” Midland Park’s varsity track team recently competed at the Jack Yockers Bergen County Relay Meet. The boys earned first place for groups C and D in high jump -- Harrison DeKnight, Robby Greer, and Tyree Lee; javelin -- Arie Zuidema, Seth Zuidema, and Matt Brassel; discus -- Arie Zuidema, Seth Zuidema, and Hunter Lightenberg. The following boys won second place in group D: long jump -- Harrison Deknight, Tyree Lee, and Dylan Friars; and shot put Track and softball teams post notable statistics -- Arie Zuidema, Josh Terpstra, and Hunter Lightenberg. Harrison DeKnight, Robby Greer, and Tim Reilly finished in fifth place in group D in the triple jump. Three members of the girls’ team, Lisa Carle, Kim Rabeiro, and Melisa Terpstra, took first place in group C and D. Winning fifth place in the group D sprint medley relay were Lisa Carle, Kim Rabeiro, Mary LiPuma, and Alexis Vander Wiele. During this event, Lisa Carle tied the school record in girls’ high jump: 5’4.” The girls’ softball team also got off to a great start, with pitcher Katie Lelinho posting a perfect game in her team’s five inning 17-0 win over Saddle River Day. Lelinho also helped at the plate going 3-4. Julia Obssuth added a two RBI double and finished the game with three RBI. Abbie Wostbrock, Michelle Passero, Brianna Lelinho, and Amanda Parker contributed two RBIs each. The Panthers also improved their record, defeating Emerson 10-0. Junior pitcher Katie Lelinho threw a two hit shutout while striking out four and furthering the cause with an RBI single. Senior first basemen Tori Bell had a triple and a single to go along with two RBIs and senior center fielder Gabby Spatucci had two hits and added an RBI. Sophomore third baseman Katie Kontos had three RBI on a long double. Senior catcher Michelle Passero and freshman right fielder Julie Carey also contributed RBI singles in the game.