The Highlands Business Partnership has long been a political football in the tiny shore town.
Two long serving Councilmen, John Urbanski and Bill Ciazza, have been on record for years as wanting to disband the Business Improvement District (BID). Urbanski wants it disbanded because he feels it only benefits the restaurants and not his towing and auto repair business. Ciazza wants the BID gone because he doesn't like its leader, Carla Cefalo-Braswell.
The BID is an independent non-profit corporation controlled by a Board of Directors elected by commercial property owners. It was formed 1999. It is funded in part by an assessment that commercial property owners pay. Residential taxpayers don't contribute to the BID's budget. The BID's first assessment in 2000 was $85,350. The 2008 assessment was $95,000. Each year, the Mayor and Council approve the BID's calender and budget.
With Rebecca Kane and Christopher Francy now on the Council, Urbanski and Ciazza finally have the votes to turn down the BID's budget. Indications are that they intend to do so at the borough's council meeting on February 18th.
If the council does turn down the BID's budget, it is very likely that Highlands' Events will be cancelled this year. At the very least, the March 21st St. Patrick's Parade will be cancelled.
Highlands residents should contact Kane and Francy and tell them how they feel about the BID events and if they should be cancelled. They should show up at the February 18th council meeting and let their voices be heard. The meeting might be the most exciting event of the year.
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4 comments:
Art, I find it some what odd that Rebecca Kane is the Chief of the Fire Department & a member of the town council. To me that is a conflect of interest. She could not vote on the Fire Department budget without being impartial. See you on Sunday.
Art,
Wow! I wonder what all of the town residents think about not having our fun parade and Clam Fest etc? Maybe they should get to the next council meeting to let them know. After all it's the people's government not the governments peoples.
That's a funny way to put it but you get the idea I'm sure.
Without the parade I wouldn't be a great day for the Irish it would be a great day for the "I Wish".
Concerning the problem of being the fire chief and also a council member.
there was a case in Secaucus (Hudson County)last year or the year before regarding this very same issue.
I believe the outcome from the court case was pick one or the other.
Here is the latest article concerning the conflict.
http://www.northbergenreporter.com/pages/full_story?hash=comments_768941&page_label=secaucus&id=768941&article-Gonnelli-may-become-fire-chief-br-font-size-i-Council-may-alter-duties-to-avoid-conflict-of-interest-font-i-br-%20=&widget=push&instance=news_special_coverage_right_column&open=&#comments_768941
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