Aberdeen refuses meeting with Matawan
Governing bodies to decide cuts for 2004-05 school budget
BY MARC CAVELLA
Staff Writer
MATAWAN - Members of the Matawan Borough Council School Committee met with representatives of the Matawan-Aberdeen Regional Schools Board of Education last week to review the school district's failed budget.
Committee and board members met May 5 to discuss possible cuts that could be made to the school budget, which was defeated on April 20 by voters. They also went over the second budget question, a $900,000 package earmarked for use in extracurricular activities such as sports and band programs, which was also defeated.
"We discussed the budget and showed them the reasons for the tax increases," said Superintendent of Schools Bruce Quinn, adding that the board will meet with the council again May 12.
The budget and the second question were defeated in both Matawan and Aberdeen in the April 20 school board elections.
Quinn also said he met with Aberdeen Township Manager Mark Coren on April 28 to discuss the issues facing the board and municipality.
"Mr. Coren is representing the Township Council at this point in time," Quinn said.
"There hasn't been any formal meeting with the other council members yet," he added, noting that last year he met with the Township Council directly.
Coren said the council will hold an executive session tonight to discuss whether or not they should meet with Quinn as a group.
Quinn and Coren's meeting, prior to the one Matawan held with the board, caused a disturbance among members of the Borough Council.
"[The Borough Council] is concerned with Aberdeen Township's refusal to meet with the Matawan council regarding the school budget," said Councilman Paul Buccellato. "We have an obligation to meet and review this budget jointly."
According to Buccellato, Aberdeen has refused two requests - one made last week and one the week before - to meet with the Matawan council to review and take action on the budget.
Mayor David Sobel of Aberdeen would not comment on Buccellato's claim, but said the township has decided the best way to work on the budget question is to have each governing body meet with the school board separately.
"[Meeting separately] is the preferred manner," Sobel said. "I think that the school board should be given the opportunity to present their budget and their plans regarding the defeat to each council separately."
Sobel also said that having the two councils meet with the school board simultaneously could result in a potentially adversarial relationship with the school board and that the current method "produces the best results." The two governing bodies have not jointly discussed a defeated school budget since 2002.
Buccellato said that having the township and borough go over the budget in separate meetings is a "disservice" to residents of both municipalities.
If the two towns can not reach an agreement by May 19, the budget will be submitted to the state Department of Education. But Quinn said he is optimistic that this scenario can be avoided.
"We’re hopeful that we can reach a resolution relatively soon," Quinn said.
Governing bodies to decide cuts for 2004-05 school budget
BY MARC CAVELLA
Staff Writer
MATAWAN - Members of the Matawan Borough Council School Committee met with representatives of the Matawan-Aberdeen Regional Schools Board of Education last week to review the school district's failed budget.
Committee and board members met May 5 to discuss possible cuts that could be made to the school budget, which was defeated on April 20 by voters. They also went over the second budget question, a $900,000 package earmarked for use in extracurricular activities such as sports and band programs, which was also defeated.
"We discussed the budget and showed them the reasons for the tax increases," said Superintendent of Schools Bruce Quinn, adding that the board will meet with the council again May 12.
The budget and the second question were defeated in both Matawan and Aberdeen in the April 20 school board elections.
Quinn also said he met with Aberdeen Township Manager Mark Coren on April 28 to discuss the issues facing the board and municipality.
"Mr. Coren is representing the Township Council at this point in time," Quinn said.
"There hasn't been any formal meeting with the other council members yet," he added, noting that last year he met with the Township Council directly.
Coren said the council will hold an executive session tonight to discuss whether or not they should meet with Quinn as a group.
Quinn and Coren's meeting, prior to the one Matawan held with the board, caused a disturbance among members of the Borough Council.
"[The Borough Council] is concerned with Aberdeen Township's refusal to meet with the Matawan council regarding the school budget," said Councilman Paul Buccellato. "We have an obligation to meet and review this budget jointly."
According to Buccellato, Aberdeen has refused two requests - one made last week and one the week before - to meet with the Matawan council to review and take action on the budget.
Mayor David Sobel of Aberdeen would not comment on Buccellato's claim, but said the township has decided the best way to work on the budget question is to have each governing body meet with the school board separately.
"[Meeting separately] is the preferred manner," Sobel said. "I think that the school board should be given the opportunity to present their budget and their plans regarding the defeat to each council separately."
Sobel also said that having the two councils meet with the school board simultaneously could result in a potentially adversarial relationship with the school board and that the current method "produces the best results." The two governing bodies have not jointly discussed a defeated school budget since 2002.
Buccellato said that having the township and borough go over the budget in separate meetings is a "disservice" to residents of both municipalities.
If the two towns can not reach an agreement by May 19, the budget will be submitted to the state Department of Education. But Quinn said he is optimistic that this scenario can be avoided.
"We’re hopeful that we can reach a resolution relatively soon," Quinn said.
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