<font face="Verdana" size="2">The meeting will be at 6PM this evening, April 17. Two topics expressed in today's JJ:</font>

<font face="Verdana" size="2">1.) New ED might be announced at tonight's meeting. Personally, I plan on sending an </font><font face="Verdana" size="2">email</font><font face="Verdana" size="2"> to Ted, Tony and the Mayor about my opinions on the matter.</font><font face="Verdana" size="2">First, Doll should be excluded. He wanted to retire from the BOE, let him retire. Don't give him a new title and possibly another pension. And, although I don't know who are the other candidates, but I feel that Joe <font face="Verdana" size="2">Nichol's</font><font face="Verdana" size="2"> have made an attempted at righting the BLRA. He should be given the title!</font></font>

<font face="Verdana" size="2"><font face="Verdana" size="2">2.) It's that same</font></font><font face="Verdana" size="2"> old</font><font size="2"><font face="Verdana"> song - Bond Swaps!</font></font><font size="2"><font face="Verdana"> While I'm against them for this one time I would agree to ONE, LAST</font></font><font face="Verdana" size="2"> swap. Going forward we should do whatever is necessary to trim the fat and get our budget once again lean and mean. Barring that, the administration should increase taxes for whatever the amount necessary to balance our budget. In this way the BLRA can base decisions from a position of strength. We would no longer need to deal with carpet baggers!</font><font face="Verdana" size="2">I'll be at the meeting. Stop by and say 'HI!' (Third row from the rear, right side!)</font>

HappyPolski

Don't know if many of you use the Trade Center PATH station. But if you do be advised that the station is being renovated. See the attached PDF file for further information!

path_wtc_advisory_20080411pfd.pdf

HappyPolski

<span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial">Neil and I attended last night’s meeting. The only other citizen present was ole ‘mister faithful’ Mr. Zeintek. There was a reporter from the JJ present; Peter Kemp. And (I believe them to be) three union officials.<o></o></span>

<span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial">Tony was jockeying for about $2mil in funds to be culled from the budget. According to Mr. Doll the BBOSE could not simply reduce the tax amount without causing the State to reduce its amount of aid. My recollection is that in order to pass the budget another resolution had to be added to the agenda to accommodate Tony’s request. That was done.<o></o></span>

<span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial">Tony hoped to move the COPS IN SCHOOL program from the municipal budget to the BOE budget. According to Mr. Doll state law will not allow that change.<o></o></span>

<span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial">According to the budget it is anticipated that next year’s commitment from the city, in terms of taxes, will remain the same as this year. Based upon the numbers in the budget this year’s tax hit will be something around $4.5mil.<o></o></span>

<span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial">There was a resolution passed to allow the BBOSE to approve a bond of slightly more than $7.7mil to cover various renovations throughout the district. Mr. Doll stated that anticipated State aid could cover anywhere from 20% to 40% of the overall costs. In addition some of the work would be performed ‘in-house’ thereby lowering expenses. If there were any funds left after the work was completed Mr. Doll informed the board that the differential could be used to retire a portion of the bond or the BOE could come back to the BBOSE with proposals for additional repairs to be done. The bond was passed. Now it must go before the council for approval.<o></o></span>

<span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial">There was one other bond that was requested. The BOE is hoping to get $1.9mil to be utilized “to purchase and the improvement of Repair Department facility/Bus Repair facility”. The vote was 3-to-2 with Tony and the Mayor voting “NO”. <o></o></span>

<font face="Times New Roman">bboseagenda_20080401.pdf</font>

<font face="Times New Roman">bboseappropriationssy_2008-2009.pdf</font>

<font face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman">renovationbond_20080401.pdf</font></font>

<font face="Times New Roman">busrepairbond_20080401.pdf</font>

HappyPolski

Before that stupid scare letter from Doria last year I was content to sit on my fat ass and watch, eh maybe, the council meetings.  Now I find myself getting involved by going to various meetings and such.  This is something that I never once fathomed doing.

I find myself frustrated and angry at the snail’s pace that change is occurring.  In some instances said changes have the feel of “Bayonne politics as usual!”   Just as frustrating is the fact that people are complacent.  Perhaps I don’t have the right to criticize since until recently I was among the ranks.  But we must change.  We need to speak out. There are a few of us who gather at the council and BLRA meetings.  Sometimes we even get up and speak!  But more importantly is the fact that we are there!  Our city fathers know that they are not just speaking to the four halls.  Unfortunately there are only a handful of us.  Having a few others showing up from time to time would send a message to the dais that the citizens are interested in what’s happening to their town, and not just the regular suspects.  And not just the big 'ticket' items like tomorrow night's hospital meeting.  I invite you to stop by and say hello.  But I digress.Rather than sit and kvetch about the happenings in town I started to communicate my feelings to council and forum members.  Just recently I composed a missive which was sent to a number of folks about Mr. Doll and his interest in securing the Executive Director position on the BLRA.  I would now like to share that email with you.

dollandtheblra.doc

HappyPolski

<font color="#000000"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: black">Some of you are on my Contacts List. As such you recently received a message concerning the JJ article about the Director search. One respondent asked about the qualifications expected of the candidates. I asked someone from City Hall with whom I’ve been speaking about that request. Said person was kind enough to forward the attached PDF file.</span></font>

<font color="#000000">blraexecdirectorsearch_2008.pdf</font><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial"><o></o></span>

HappyPolski