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Council shows support for coalition
(by Erin Patricia Griffiths - July 22, 2008)
After having been asked by the Hills Valley Coalition to increase the town’s financial contributions to the group, the River Vale Council has voted to raise the amount given to the organization.
The coalition, a group of parents, community leaders including law enforcement officials, school officials, and municipal members, and health providers, works to educate and provide the families within the Pascack Valley Regional High School District with a substance-free environment. It requires $10,000 for programs and events and another $10,000 for the salary of a part-time position.
The increase in contributions is a two-fold appeal. One request is for an increase in the funds provided for the activities and ongoing projects of the coalition; the other is a request for a yearly $2,500 contribution to the salary of a part-time position for the group to serve as an organizer and grant writer.
In the past, county grants and $2,500 contributions from Hillsdale, Montvale, and Woodcliff Lake, and a $500 contribution from River Vale have funded the coalition. River Vale has been asked to increase their contributions to $2,500, and increase from the previous $500 and a matching contribution to the other towns.
“I think I have communicated to all of you that I support it, I think it is a great program,” said Mayor Joseph Blundo. “Our kids are going, and the other three towns are going as well, and I had no idea we were contributing at this level, I’ll have to plead ignorance, compared to the other towns. I just became aware of it a couple of months ago that they were giving so much more,” Blundo continued.
The council has voted to increase its contributions from the prior $500 to an amount the budget will allow for in the present year. Additionally, the council will budget $2,500 in 2009 to support this part of the program, with the expectation of receiving a $1,300 grant from the county.
The mayor and council did not show the same level of support during its discussion concerning the contributions to the salary of a hired part-time position to work for the coalition. Members of the council, who were not convinced the position is necessary, showed some concern over the request. “In this particular case, I’m torn. Because I don’t frankly think we need this position,” said Blundo. “However, if the other three towns are funding it, and our kids go, it puts us in a tough situation. Why are they paying for the part-timer and we’re not?”
The council is concerned that the person hired for the part-time paid position would make decisions regarding how county money is spent and has concluded that if this becomes an issue, the town would pull its funding. “I think if we supported this, we have to be clear that we’re supporting it because we support the program,” said Blundo. “But this person will not take over our allocation of the overall funding. We will decide that.”
The council voted to contribute $2,500 to the paid part-time position for the coalition starting in 2009.
Erin Patricia Griffiths' e-mail address is GriffithsE@northjersey.com.
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