Why would the council prefer to pay off in full the deferred pension payment instead of spreading it over 5 years? The interest payment would not be as high as the 15 year plan and would reduce the tax increase for us now. I am surprised that they would opt to burden the taxpayers this year when they hope to increase revenues in the future. And what happens if the union employees don’t agree to furloughs, will there be lay offs?

The state did not allow us to make our own payment schedule. If you did not pay it off this year, you had to use the 15 year amortization schedule at 8.25% interest. The decision to pay this off this year was a bipartisan decision, 6 to 0. This payment was outside the 2% cap and had nothing to do with furloughs.

The interest is $20,000 per year. I was told this is $5 per household. Wouldn’t spreading the payback over 15 years be more beneficial to the taxpayer? No social security increase for seniors and an economy not fully recovered makes a tax increase of $100 more than it has to be difficult to understand. I also don’t grasp approving health benefits for a councilman at the taxpayers’ expense of $20,000 a year. The idea of paying the $20,000 in interest is not ok but benefits for one person is.

I agree that it has been a tough budget year. We have asked our seniors to cut back and even take the shuttle bus to Oradell. Why? Our seniors pay taxes just like like the rest of us and are now being asked to give up the ONLY thing they have. This is crazy. We have asked non-contractual employees to furlough days, again! The fire department clothing allowance was cut in half. But yet, Council President Cordts has added his family to the Borough's insurance plan, with a reported cost of over $19,000.00. You have got to be kidding me!

I have also heard that the fire department clothing allowance has been cut in half. These firemen are on duty 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They leave their family during family dinners, birthdays, holidays, etc. They drill every week to keep up on their training for the residents of this town. How can you cut their clothing allowance and justify a councilman receiving health insurance for his family and I am not so sure he is the only one receiving health benefits. I am also a volunteer in this town and have lived here for over thirty years. I was always proud of this town. I am not proud anymore. Rather than work with the residents, this new Council has been against the residents. As said previously, our Seniors pay taxes. Why should we ship them out to another town. I also take offense to the way this Council berates prior councilmen. Grow up guys. I hope you don't teach your children that this is proper behavior.

Our Borough lost at least three residents on 9/11. We made a nice memorial garden for them. Our volunteer 9/11 garden commission asked for $3,500 for their annual open Space request for yearly maintenance and an additional $3,500 for additional work to spruce up the garden even more in honor of the 10th anniversary. So what does our "shining stars" do on council - not only do they reject both amounts, but Councilman Bartelloni suggests that perhaps Let It Grow can donate their work and we'll give him a plaque! Are you kidding me!! A PLAQUE??? What a dishonor to our deceased 9/11 residents and their families.

By not deferring the pension payment the Mayor and Council is adding approximately $120 in property tax this year to each and every household. The reason the state is offering the 15 year payment option is so that municipalities don't have to burden the homeowner with outrageous increases. A $234 increase from the town is unacceptable especially when it is unnecessary.

Isn’t a tax increase to payoff debt like asking your boss for a raise so you can pay off your car payment in full? Households spread their debt over time to make it manageable. Town financing is not as simple but the premise is the same.

Saratheresa, I would have voiced this opinion whether republican, democrat or independent. I feel that of all years, we should be granting the 9/11 garden committee their request. We have given the DPW most of the Open Space funding and the balance to Rec. Why could we not give the DPW or Rec about $7,000 less and fund these garden requests??

Soo it's ok for the employee of the borough who work just under the 40hrs a week to be considered full-time so that the can not receive benefits, or the full-time employees pay 1.5. % of their salaries to receive benefits, but our own council who don't work anywhere near 40hrs a week, and honestly what is 1.5 of 3,000 really contributing to the cost of insurance.....I find it a disgrace that the council president has the nerve to take the benefits when we all know in the community that he's probably better off then most of the residents. Just because you are a private business owner doesn't give you the right to seal from the town. And now you are also the highest paid council person cause not only on top of your salary you are also receiving additional benefits, which you should be taxed on....SHAME ON YOU!

The River Edge's Republican Chairman has been going around town telling people that Council President Paul Cordt's enrollment in the town's health benefit plan (at a cost to River Edge residents of $20,000) is private information. The truth is that public employees' salaries and benefits are Public information. Although when residents are facing a $234 increase in municipal taxes alone and town employees are facing furloughs and lay-offs, it is understandable why a public official would want to keep this added expenses a secret. What happened to transparency in government?

Police Chief Tom Cariddi wants to expand the soliciting ordinance so that people who hand out non-profit literature in town need to apply for a permit before hand. If Cariddi thinks he has the officers to spare for harassing Green Peace members and Jehovah Witnesses, then his budget must be bloated. Let's forget the new permit requirement and save some tax dollars by firing a police officer.