Schools, Town Should Share Expenses
May 5, 2010 – Kenneth Reilly, the new Board of Education president, showed up at last night's Township Commission meeting urging greater cooperation between the two governmental entities. Reilly specifically asked that the boards join in an intensive effort to share services as a means of reducing costs to taxpayers.
"We have a new board with new ideas and a commitment to reduce the costs of how we do business," Reilley said.
The time for the two board to consider sharing not only personnel, but telephone and internet services, snow removal, intra-legal agreements, solar energy projects and maintaining school and public properties.
"Hopefully, we can take a quantum leap forward together," Reilly said.
He went into greater detail in describing how both the school system and the township spend considerable time and money in providing security at school and town-owned buildings and in developing separate emergency evaluation plans and safeguards against terrorist activities.
"The walls that have divided us in the past have been taken down," Reilly said.
All five commissioners applauded Reilly's remarks and pledged to join in developing plans to avoid duplication of efforts.
"I totally agree that we should and can do more," Parks and Public Property Commissioner Mauro Tucci said.
"This is a wonderful gesture that you are making tonight."
Public Works Commissioner Dr. Joseph Scarpelli suggested that plans be outlined immediately "so we can move forward on many cooperative efforts." Scarpelli suggested that frequent meetings of small groups representing both boards should be initiated as quickly as possible.
Reilly said he has appointed himself and school trustee Tom Sposato to lead such an effort on behalf of the Board of Education.
Further discussion of Reilly's plans were postponed until a later day as Town Commissioners adjourned early last night for a closed session dealing with labor contract renewals with the Patrolman's Benevolent Association (PBA), the bargaining unit for the the Nutley Police Department.
The police contract settlement has been delayed by cutbacks in state funding and an overall shortage of monies available to the Township Commission. Delegations of PBA members have been showing up at meetings but hadn't spoken out in public until last night.
"When can we expect a contract," one policeman said, addressing the Commission .
"We're working on it, that's all I can say," was Mayor Cocchiola's reply.
