Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Filling vacancies, Omert promoted to sergeant, Chudy joins the department
The Hillsborough Police Department promoted one officer and welcomed another at Tuesday’s Township Committee meeting. James Omert was promoted to sergeant while Andrew Chudy became a patrolman. Omert, who joined the department in 1996, became a corporal in 2007. He holds an Associate degree in science and criminal justice from Montclair State University. Omert, who will receive an annual salary of $113,004, replaces Robert Flaherty who retired as sergeant on Feb. 1. Omert was the highest rated candidate in the selection process, which includes a written exam and a promotional review board interview. He has received numerous commendations and command citations for his service in the department. “We commend Sgt. Omert on his promotion and …
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Revised zone resolves issue of homes in both Hillsborough and Montgomery.
The final chapter in the tale of two cities — New Jersey style — was written Tuesday by the Township Committee. In March 2012, Belle Mead residents whose properties straddle the Montgomery-Hillsborough border came to the Township Committee to protest the rezoning of the Hillsborough portion of their properties. For example, under the proposed change, the front yard of a Bellemont Road home, which is in Montgomery, would be zoned residential while the back yard, which is in Hillsborough, would be in the Highway Service zone. That parcel has been zoned agricultural and the adjoining lots in Hillsborough have not been developed. The Highway Service zone, a crescent-shaped area that starts along Route 206 and extends westward along the …
Friday, April 12, 2013
Controversial projects lead township to act.
The Township Committee introduced an ordinance regulating the installation of ground-mounted solar arrays in Hillsborough. One of the purposes of the ordinance, Township Committeewoman Gloria McCauley said at Tuesday’s Committee meeting, is the regulation of solar panels in agricultural areas so they will not deter from the character of the township’s open space. The ordinance follows guidelines recently established by the State Agricultural Development Committee. The ordinance says that no more than 10 acres of a farm property should be covered by a solar installation. In addition, for every acre of solar installation, five acres must be in agriculture, according to the ordinance which also sets a two-megawatt limit for power produced …
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Committee introduces $27 million budget for 2013.
Municipal taxes will go up 1.6 percent under the terms of a budget introduced by the Township Committee on Tuesday night. That means the municipal tax bill on an average township home assessed at $368,700 will increase by $19 to $1,158, Nancy Haberle, the township’s chief financial officer, told the committee. The tax rate will rise from 30.9 cents per $100 of assessed value to 31.4 cents. The municipal tax accounts for about 13.95 percent of the total property tax bill, which also includes levies for the school district and county. Public hearing on the budget is scheduled for May 14. A copy of the budget will be available Wednesday on the township’s website. The overall budget is $27.377 million, which is higher than the 2012 budget, …
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Township to honor three residents honored by the county.
The final decision on the proposed $114.58 million Hillsborough school budget will be made Thursday after a board of education meeting where residents will weigh in on the plan. Ahead of the hearing (scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at Auten Road Intermediate School), Superintendent of Schools Jorden Schiff has been visiting community and school HSA groups to breakdown the numbers and share the district's plans. Tuesday night, he'll be appearing at the Township Committee meeting—along with Dianne Leoni, Donna York and Viktoria Wargo, fresh from the annual Somerset County Commission on the Status of Women dinner, where they were feted as "Outstanding Women of the Year." Look for our coverage of these stories and other Hillsborough news this week.
Monday, March 4, 2013
Annual Read Across America program draws officials, police and even basketball players to classrooms.
Everyone has a favorite Dr. Seuss book to read, and in celebration of the whimsical children's author, township schools mark Read Across America every year. The event was recognized by the Township Committee at the Feb. 26 meeting with a proclamation noting Read Across America helps "to develop reading and develope involvement in the education of our community's students." "This is one of my favorites," Mayor Frank DelCore said before presenting the township proclamation to School district Language Arts Supervisor Sheila Cooper, Triangle School Reading Specialist Karen Bizzoco and Writing Specialist Grace Verano. The event includes dozens of local volunteers—from Mayor DelCore to moms and dads—reading to students in classrooms across …
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Veteran Committeeman Frank DelCore is selected as township's mayor.
Continued “fiscal prudence” and the development of the GSA Park into a “first-class recreational facility” will be 2013’s top priorities for Hillsborough, Mayor Frank DelCore said at Thursday’s annual Township Committee reorganization meeting. DelCore, now serving his sixth year on the committee, was unanimously selected by his colleagues on the all-Republican governing body to serve as mayor for the year. DelCore served as mayor in 2009 and 2010. Committeeman Doug Tomson, in his first term on the committee, was selected as deputy mayor. DelCore, referring to the federal fiscal cliff negotiations, said “maybe Washington should take a page from Hillsborough” to restrain its spending—adding township spending dropped by $1.5 million in 2012 …
Suraci, beginning fourth term, says no 'loopholes' in budget process.
There will be one new face on the Township Committee in 2013. Greg Burchette, who won election to a three-year term with his running mate, veteran Committeeman Carl Suraci, was sworn into office at the township’s annual reorganization meeting on Thursday. Burchette was sworn into office by State Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli, a township resident. Suraci, beginning his fourth term, was given the oath of office by State. Sen. Kip Bateman. “Joining this Township Committee is an honor and it gives me another avenue to help the people of Hillsborough,” Burchette said. Burchette has served on the Planning Board since 2004 and also served on the Hillsborough Municipal Utilities Authority and the Environmental Commission. He has also been a member …
Friday, December 7, 2012
Ordinance secures land for expanded facility near Hamilton Road.
If approved following a public hearing, the township will use $350,000 from a developer's fund for a new rescue squad facility near Hamilton Road and the Route 206 Bypass to purchase land for the facility. "These funds are from a developer's contributions, Country Classics—which graciously agreed to provide the majority of the funding to extend our ability to respond to calls in the eastern portion of the township," Mayor Carl Suraci said at the ordinance's introduction at the Nov. 27 committee meeting. Ordinance 2012-35 appropriates the funds from the Country Classics Emergency Medical Agreement, created in 2005 as an off-site contribution by Van Cleef Engineering as the developer was expanding the Country Classics subdivision. The fund…
Friday, November 16, 2012
Judd Mandell ran for Hillsborough Township Committee.
- OPINION
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Friday, November 16, 2012
The following Letter to the Editor was submitted by Hillsborough resident Judd Mandell, who ran for Township Committee as an Independent on Nov. 6. I appreciate the process of elections and the right for each candidate to address the voters. It is always ultimately the voters choice to elect the candidate they see fit that adheres to their core values and will do their best for their town/district/state/ country. Here is a brief reflection on the nature of running a grassroots election. Hillsborough has a large group of unaffiliated voters that are seeking the best candidate, not status quo. My Independent base of 700 voters is a nice showing in terms of percentage of voters, as most of the country only votes 1 to 2 percent Independent. We…
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5:56 pm on Thursday, April 25, 2013
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