Referendum passes; Watkins returns
to manage twp.
BY CHARLES W. KIM
Staff Writer
SOUTH BRUNSWICK — There were several major changes and major issues in the township this year.
From a change in management at town hall and the school district to a $46 million school bond vote, South Brunswick residents saw a variety of issues resolved in 2003.
In October, Matt Watkins returned as township manager.
Watkins first served as manager from 1999-2002. During his prior tenure, Watkins crafted budgets for 2000, 2001 and 2002, and was the first manager under the new council/manager form of government.
He left to become the director of the Division of Local Government Services for the state.
A five-month search eventually resulted in Barbara Sacks being chosen to run the municipality.
During her 10-month tenure in South Brunswick, Sacks worked to start a "Shop South Brunswick Township" program with the help of the mayor’s interns, negotiated a four-year contract with Policemen’s Benevolent Association Local No. 166 and had a cash machine installed in the municipal court, as well as creating the 2003 budget.
But her time in the township was not without controversy.
Police Chief Michael Paquette and members of the police department’s command staff filed a notice of claim against Sacks, Gambatese and Councilman Edmund Luciano for making derogatory comments about them when discussing a new policy on the personal use of township vehicles.
Sacks said residents complained about Paquette and four other officers using township-supplied cars.
"This (Sacks’ resignation) is the first decision in the 10 months of her employment that I agree with," Paquette said in September.
When Sacks resigned in September, Watkins contacted the township, according to Mayor Frank Gambatese.
"He called to express his desire to come back," Gambatese said.
The township was not the only change in leadership.
In July, Schools Superintendent Sam Stewart retired after serving 12 years in the district.
Among his accomplishments was the passage of $100 million in building referendum, including the high school on Ridge Road, and the new Brooks Crossing Elementary School at the intersection of Route 130 and Deans Rhode Hall Road.
Judith Ferguson was appointed as interim superintendent after Stewart retired, and Stewart did stay on for several months during the transition.
His departure led to three separate searches for a new schools chief.
The first search ended when candidate Leigh Byron removed his name from consideration. The second search also proved fruitless.
The third search, however, resulted in the Board of Education hiring Gary McCartney to the post.
McCartney will start in March.
In addition to finding a new superintendent, the board also had to prepare a new $46 million building plan for voters and settle a new contract with the teachers union.
Voters eventually supported the school district’s $46 million building plan on Dec. 9.
Voters approved the plan by a vote of 1,488 to 809, including absentee ballots.
The plan will upgrade the district’s older elementary schools and renovate the two middle schools to keep up with spiraling enrollment, according to officials.
According to the district’s most recent projections, there will be 257 more students than seats next year, and that figure will rise to a deficit of 581 seats by the 2007-08 school year.
As a short-term solution, the district is using portable classroom trailers to house the overflow. Currently, the trailers house about 150 students, according to the district.
Officials said that the plan should eliminate the trailers from the district.
The building plan will also provide parity with the newer schools by guaranteeing an average class size of 23 students, as well as provide separate cafeterias and gymnasiums, and separate art and music rooms, and make sure that "open space" classrooms now have walls from floor to ceiling.
The district will use a state grant of $13 million to help with the financing for the plan, bringing the tax impact down to about $33 million.
The committee estimates the tax bill will increase by about $90 for the owner of a $200,000 home in the township.
Teachers kept pressure on the board to ratify a new three-year contract.
The union held several rallies at the school administration building and the high school to make its case to the board.
The teachers said the board should pay more through the middle years of a teacher’s tenure to keep good teachers in the township.
Board president Bob Long said the board was trying to work with the union, but said he felt that the $1 million increase sought by the union during the three-year period was more than the district could stand.
Both sides finally came to an agreement after a mediated negotiation session last month.
South Brunswick Education Association President Sylvia Lee said the agreement came at about 4 a.m. on Nov. 19.
The union ratified the tentative agreement earlier this month, and the board approved the plan at its last meeting of the year, on Dec. 17.