Hometown Chatham – Page 5 – Chatham, NJ

Hometown Chatham

Something different

Tired of shopping and wrapping gifts? Try something different:

Light up your house: https://www.christmasdecorbyebbys.com OR https://christmasdecorofnj.com

Select a fresh Christmas tree: https://www.tapinto.net/towns/chatham/articles/announcing-the-58th-annual-chatham-jaycees-christmas-tree-sale-the-in-person-sale-begins-this-saturday-nov-23 OR https://www.tapinto.net/towns/chatham/articles/chatham-township-volunteer-fire-department-opens-annual-christmas-tree-sale-on-saturday-november-23rd

Hang some Chatham ornaments: https://www.amazon.com/Chatham-Ornament-Christmas-Decorations-Souvenir/dp/B0CLGMNZ5N

Give Christmas-in-a-Box: https://st-pats.org/christmas-in-a-box OR https://corpuschristi.org/christmas-in-a-box–

Check out some seasonal events!

Ongoing events:

11/27-12/29 Irving Berlin’s White Christmas: https://papermill.org/white-christmas/

12/1-12/26 Winter Wonderland Snow Village in Chatham: https://patch.com/new-jersey/chatham/calendar/event/20241201/996cea41-d92e-4d7c-8bc7-286ab8ea1470/snow-village-winter-wonderland-opening-day-at-ces

12/3-12/31 Corpus Christi: https://corpuschristi.org/advent-and-christmas

12/4-12/11 Christmas with Governor Murphy: https://www.tapinto.net/towns/chatham/sections/news-around-new-jersey/articles/new-jersey-residents-invited-to-drumthwacket-for-holiday-open-houses-104

12/5-12/21 A Christmas Carol in Chatham: https://www.chathamplayers.org/2024-2025/a-christmas-carol

One-off events:

12/1 Messiah Sing-a-long in Chatham: https://www.masterwork.org/performances/messiah-sing/

12/3 Felted Ornaments in Chatham: https://chathamlibrary.librarycalendar.com/event/holiday-felted-ornament-making-23199

12/4: Holiday music in Chatham: https://chathamlibrary.librarycalendar.com/event/tis-season-electric-violin-performance-23642

12/4 Electric Violin in Chatham: https://chathamlibrary.librarycalendar.com/event/tis-season-electric-violin-performance-23642

12/5 Music for the Holidays in Chatham: https://patch.com/new-jersey/chatham/calendar/event/20241205/7089d03e-83a1-485a-8f39-b11b700f49f8/music-for-the-holidays-classical-program

12/6-12/7 Festival of Trees: https://www.morrisparks.net/events/decorate-for-the-festival-of-trees/

12/6 Horse and carriage rides at the train station, Santa and tree lighting at the Gazebo in Chatham’s Reasoner Park: https://www.chathamborough.org/resident/calendar/tree-lighting-reasoner-park

12/7 Holiday Craft Sale in Chatham: https://patch.com/new-jersey/chatham/calendar/event/20241207/a99d31c7-df24-46e4-9fba-8a922cb0d13f/holiday-craft-sale

12/7 Holiday Book Sale in Chatham https://chathamlibrary.librarycalendar.com/event/holiday-book-sale-22905

12/7 Willows Wonderland at Fosterfields: https://www.morrisparks.net/events/willows-wonderland/

12/7 Deck the Halls at historic MacCulloch Hall & Acorn Hall in Morristown: https://morriscountyhistory.org/event/deck-the-halls-2024/

12/7 Chatham Community Band Family Holiday Concert: https://patch.com/new-jersey/chatham/calendar/event/20241207/e9e47ff2-9dd3-43e7-9900-e612938c9d1e/chatham-community-band-presents-family-holiday-concert

12/7 Carriages & Carolers in Summit: https://www.summitdowntown.org/events/carriages-and-carolers/

12/12 Holidays Around the World: https://www.mclib.info/Events/Children/2024-dec12-holidays-around-the-world

12/12 History of Christmas Traditions: https://chathamlibrary.librarycalendar.com/event/history-christmas-traditions-23639

12/13 Luminary Craft in Chatham: https://chathamlibrary.librarycalendar.com/event/holiday-luminary-craft-23080

12/14 Summit’s Annual Holiday Show Spectacular: http://continuoarts.org/continuoarts.com?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR1zjA4S6nKl4paCeaR1DQPhn5ZWh9b3FiMZkAeIA-NW23bdl3NrMig66Q8_aem_4KzkwWo4DLnZIdFeuX_rGg

12/14 Carriages & Carolers in Summit: https://www.summitdowntown.org/events/carriages-and-carolers/

12/14 Gingerbread House: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/gingerbread-house-workshop-tickets-1077670013019?aff=ebdssbcategorybrowse

12/14 Blue Christmas Service in Chatham: https://patch.com/new-jersey/chatham/calendar/event/20241214/28f0bfa6-d1d8-410e-9147-7d5345e45049/blue-christmas-service

12/15 Afternoon Tea at Acorn Hall in Morristown: https://morriscountyhistory.org/event/christmas-with-the-cranes-2024/

12/15 Handel’s Messiah: https://www.masterwork.org/performances/handel-messiah/

12/15 A Feast of Carols in Princeton: https://www.princetonpromusica.org/a-feast-of-carols-2024/

12/15 Fun for Tots in Randolph: https://patch.com/new-jersey/randolph/calendar/event/20241215/437058ef-dcd8-4024-a65d-888c62b14194/temple-shalom-fun-for-tots-hanukkah-celebration-open-to-the-public

12/15 Pipes of Christmas in Summit: https://pipesofchristmas.com

12/20 Winter Solstice at the Great Swamp: https://www.morrisparks.net/events/winter-solstice-celebration/

12/20 Gingerbread Man Scavenger Hunt: https://www.mclib.info/Events/Children/2024-Dec20-Gingerbread

12/21 Solstice Hike: https://www.morrisparks.net/events/winter-solstice-sunrise-hike/

12/21 Carriages & Carolers in Summit: https://www.summitdowntown.org/events/carriages-and-carolers/

12/24 Santa at the Chatham Firehouse: https://www.chathamborough.org/component/dpcalendar/event/3407

12/24 Christmas Eve at Shanghai Jazz in Madison: https://www.shanghaijazz.com/music-schedule/2023/12/24/christmas-eve-with-tomoko-ohno-amp-stephan-fuller

12/29 Menorah Lighting (Summit): https://www.jfedgmw.org/event/summit-community-menorah-lighting-2/

12/29 Menorah Lighting at the historic Madison train station: https://www.tapinto.net/towns/madison/sections/community-happenings/articles/madison-to-host-menorah-lighting-on-dec-29

12/31 First Night (Alcohol Free) Family Fun in Morristown: https://firstnightmorris.org

December 1, 2024
Water, water everywhere?

Why didn’t the Council consider the environmental risks and consequences BEFORE commissioning a Plan to Redevelop River Road, adding at least another 1,000 residents in a 500+ unit apartment project twice the size of the Ivy? https://chathamchoice.org/2024/10/will-the-truth-come-out/ https://chathamchoice.org/2024/12/pitiful/

Why didn’t they consider the effect on our water supply, for instance?

Chatham Borough draws its water supply from the Buried Valley Aquifer system of the Central Passaic River Basin via three deep wells near the Middle School.

https://www.chathamborough.org/forms-documents/forms/maps/1263-chatham-borough-well-head-protection-area-overlay-zone/file

https://www.chathamborough.org/government/forms/public-works/2450-2023-water-quality-report-chatham-water-utility/file https://www.usgs.gov/centers/new-jersey-water-science-center/major-aquifers-new-jersey

https://www.chathamborough.org/forms-documents/forms/maps/1263-chatham-borough-well-head-protection-area-overlay-zone/file

Because “there is no practicable or affordable alternate water supply, as certified by the United States Environmental Protection Agency,” the Borough Code restricts the use of water, even when there’s no drought.

https://ecode360.com/6793268#6793268. https://ecode360.com/6796030

Given the scarcity of well water, why did our Council allow the Ivy project on River Road to bring in at least 500 more residents and even put a swimming pool on the roof increasing the demand for water by 27,554 gallons per day?

https://chathamborough.org/government/news/453-nj-declares-drought-watch

https://chathamborough.org/government/documents/forms-documents/redevelopment-projects-documents/river-road-redevelopment-documents/2181-11-community-impact-statement-bne-chatham-2021-02-23-with-schools-and-updated-bedroom-mix/file

And why is the Council now rushing to build another huge apartment project in the middle of another drought?

https://www.tapinto.net/towns/chatham/sections/news-around-new-jersey/articles/drought-warning-declared-in-new-jersey-residents-urged-to-limit-water-use-13

Can our wells satisfy the demands of yet another 1,000 residents, flushing toilets, showering, bathing, running dishwashers and washing machines? Will the new place also include a swimming pool?

What will happen to Chatham if our wells run dry?

Will we be forced to rely on a less desirable source?

https://www.ewg.org/tapwater/system.php?pws=nj0712001

Will the Council consider any of the other potential water consequences of overdevelopment, including runoff, flooding, and pollution of the wells and the Passaic River?

Water Plant Operator:

https://legistarweb-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/attachment/pdf/2367988/RESOLUTION__24-39_APPOINTMENT_OF_PETER_ATKINS_AS_WATER_PLANT_OPERATOR.pdf

Water quality:

https://www.chathamborough.org/government/forms/public-works/2448-chatham-swap/file

https://www.nj.gov/dep/watersupply/pdf/violations2023.pdf

Well head protection: https://ecode360.com/6793268

Storm water: https://chathamborough.org/government/documents/forms-documents/plans-reports/storm-water-reports/2727-2023-stormwater-pollution-prevention-plan/file

Flooding: https://firststreet.org/city/chatham-nj/3412100_fsid/flood

https://water.noaa.gov/gauges/camn4

Water treatment: https://www.rosenet.org/256/Madison-Chatham-Joint-Meeting. https://ecode360.com/6796352

Water pollution: https://www.ewg.org/tapwater/system.php?pws=NJ1404001

https://www.njwatercheck.com/SystemFinder/433/Detail

Passaic River: https://rucore.libraries.rutgers.edu/rutgers-lib/29153/PDF/1/play/

https://rucore.libraries.rutgers.edu/rutgers-lib/32341/PDF/1/

Water resources: https://dep.nj.gov/wp-content/uploads/water-supply-plan/docs/nj-water-supply-plan-draft-2024.pdf

November 30, 2024
Severe drought

With water in such short supply, why is the Borough Council looking to build yet another housing project that would increase demands on our wells? https://www.tapinto.net/towns/chatham/categories/letters-to-the-editor/articles/blind-faith

Find out Monday, November 25, 7:30 pm, Borough Hall, 54 Fairmount Avenue or by Zoom: https://www.chathamborough.org/resident/calendar/mayor-council-meeting-13-1730154600

November 19, 2024
Here we go again

Do you love the giant Ivy apartment complex on River Road?

Now our Mayor & Borough Council are hell bent on getting yet another massive housing project built there – one that’s more than twice the size of the Ivy – all without having considered any alternatives or implications.

This project is NOT necessary. The Borough does NOT need it to meet its current affordable housing quota and, if built, the new place wills NOT count toward the Borough’s quota (RDP) for 2025-2035.

On Monday November 11, the Council will vote to direct a Borough planner to start drafting just such a plan. You can see it on their agenda here: https://d3n9y02raazwpg.cloudfront.net/chathamborough/54501977-9f8c-11ee-a93d-0050569183fa-87c420e4-d6a2-4396-b701-70ff66871099-1731095422.pdf

How do we know the Plan will be for 500 units? That’s what the Borough planner told the Council on March 11, 2024.

Not only would this new project be massive, we taxpayers would inevitably wind up having to pay for it by granting the developer a corporate welfare PILOT tax exemption.

Is that what you want? Would you prefer that our Mayor & Council consider some options before committing to this scheme? Do you have any questions? Don’t wait until it’s too late to ask them.

Come to the Borough. Council meeting on Monday, November 11, 7:30 pm at Borough Hall, 54 Fairmount Avenue. Use the north entrance. Take the elevator to the upper level. Or attend by Zoom: https://d3n9y02raazwpg.cloudfront.net/chathamborough/54501977-9f8c-11ee-a93d-0050569183fa-87c420e4-d6a2-4396-b701-70ff66871099-1731095422.pdf

Poor response: https://patch.com/new-jersey/chatham/borough-supporting-another-massive-development-river-road-nodx?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR3WyQLIJjRrA656yOFZhCsqROaE5baV9gYZ9WzT4wwfflvk8LfY5WYe4j0_aem_POd3z1AP3xU68-EadQWMWw

Better follow up: https://www.tapinto.net/towns/chatham/categories/letters-to-the-editor/articles/blind-faith

Find out Monday, November 28, 7:30 pm, Borough Hall, 54 Fairmount Avenue or by Zoom: https://www.chathamborough.org/resident/calendar/mayor-council-meeting-13-1730154600

November 10, 2024
A slick infomercial for corporate welfare
Back on September 23, Council President Mathiasen promised to level with residents about the crucial differences between PILOT payments of the kind the Borough gets from the Ivy, and the normal property taxes the rest of us have to pay.

Instead, she used our tax money to hire a slick financial consultant to do an hourlong infomercial for corporate welfare.

That’s the only way to describe her consultant’s presentation at the October 15 Council meeting. He made his best case for continuing to waive property taxes on big, new apartment buildings for decades, so that the Council can get its hands on a cut of the revenues, which they call PILOT payments.

https://chathamborough.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=1&clip_id=298

Those PILOT payments are actually our money. And it’s a lot of money. With the Ivy, for instance, the consultant says the PILOT payments will average $1.7 million per year for three decades. That’s ten percent of the Borough’s current budget, and 13% of the municipal tax levy.

Does that PILOT revenue reduce the property tax burden on the rest of us, as a new taxable development would? No. The Council can spend it all and go right on raising taxes every year as usual.

In effect, PILOTs take money out of the pockets of the rest of us, by depriving us of the automatic tax break we’d get if the Ivy paid property taxes.

PILOTs also deprive us residents of the right to vote on how to use those extra public funds.

Ms Mathiasen’s consultant actually touted PILOTs as a way to use public funds for projects that are politically unpopular. Check it out here:

03:00:17 here: https://chathamborough.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=1&clip_id=298

Huh? Why does the consultant think spending taxpayer funds to thwart the wishes of voters is a good thing?

Now the Mayor & Council are ready to plunge ahead with a second, luxury redevelopment project on River Road – one that’s twice the size of the Ivy, with 500 apartments, and will require taxpayers to subsidize it with yet another PILOT tax break.

Demand that before taking another step, the Council first:
1. Identify the alternatives.
2. Do its due diligence.
3. Present a timely, thorough matrix, comparing the costs, benefits, and other implications of that 500-unit PILOT project with other alternatives, including the normal, wait-and-see approach.
4. Hold a timely, robust public discussion.
“By using PILOT agreements, local governments can essentially raise revenue and finance public services in ways that sidestep the constraints of tax caps or spending limitations.”
– Chat GPT
October 30, 2024
This just in

So what is Chatham’s affordable housing quota for 2025-2035?

See p. 33 of the October 18 report: https://nj.gov/dca/dlps/pdf/FourthRoundCalculation_Methodology.pdf

Word is that our planners will adjust the numbers shown in that report to allow for the scarcity of vacant land in Chatham Borough, and then try to persuade the State to accept its adjusted numbers as the quotas.

That analysis will probably be similar to that used in 2022, as shown on page 5 of the current Housing Elements, linked here:

https://www.chathamborough.org/government/documents/meeting-documents/planning-board-meetings/2022-planning-board-meeting-documents/2022-planning-board-agendas/2108-2022-05-16-hefsp-amendment-final4/file

The State says the Borough Council has until the end of this January 2025 to negotiate the final quota, and to adopt a binding resolution accepting it. https://www.njlm.org/civicalerts.aspx?aid=2924

For a list of deadlines facing the Borough Council, click here: https://chathamchoice.org/2024/06/deadlines/

October 18, 2024
Will the truth come out?

Now we know that the Mayor & certain members of the Borough Council are aiming to partner with for-profit developers to build 500 MORE rental apartments on River Road, right next to the 245-unit Ivy project that went up last year. https://chathamchoice.org/2024/09/wait-another-big-project-on-river-road/

They claim that in return for the chance to collect big rents on the new complex, the developer will throw in some “free” goodies for the Borough, including a lovely riverside park.

Of course, in reality nothing is free.

To get the riverside park and other “free” goodies, the Council would have to agree to excuse the property taxes on the new project for 30 years.

That means instead of picking up part of the Borough’s ever growing expenses, automatically reducing your tax bill, the developer would pay smaller amounts known as PILOT payments.

Why would Council members even consider that? Because unlike tax money, which is subject to certain limits, the Council could spend the PILOT money on frills, gifts, or whatever else, and go right on raising your property taxes to pay for the “free” riverside park and other goodies.

In other words, you would pay for the “free” goodies for the next 30 years.

Why would the Council take on that long term burden – and put more than a thousand more people and hundreds more cars on River Road forever – when it could pay less for whatever the Borough needs and wants on its own?

Ask the Council’s financial advisor on Tuesday, October 15, 7:30 pm, Borough Hall, 54 Fairmount Avenue. Use the side door. Take the elevator to the upper level. Or Zoom here:

https://www.chathamborough.org/resident/calendar/mayor-council-meeting-13-1728948600?fbclid=IwY2xjawF6FoZleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHasSMW6-NiNkg-3-2lFLZ8wJz2h7iH8Q7GMc8mYRExEilNWeqS9nsLmWlw_aem_KhQbSrxfm87K-GFVKf_Q-w

PS: Is it true that the Council must do this deal or lose any hope of influencing what happens on River Road? No. https://chathamchoice.org/2024/08/myths-about-future-development-at-river-road/

October 13, 2024
The great spinmeister

Jocelyn Mathiasen is running for a third term on the Borough Council, trying to position herself as a mainstream opponent of overdevelopment, just as she did In 2018, when she first ran for Council using the slogan “Keep Chatham Chatham.”

https://patch.com/new-jersey/chatham/post-office-plaza-another-reason-vote-dems-tomorrow

Ms Mathiasen’s anti-overdevelopment posture is totally inconsistent with her six-year tenure on the Council.

During that time, she has never opposed, or even failed to promote and vote for, any step toward every overdevelopment scheme that has ever come along, including at Post Office Plaza and River Road.

There is no reason to believe she has changed.

September 26, 2024
Wait. Another big project on River Road??!

Yes!

At its Monday, September 23 meeting, the Borough Council will reveal plans to use your money to pay a planner to draft a redevelopment plan for yet another huge project on River Road – a 500-unit apartment project – twice as big as the Ivy at the corner of Watchung Avenue.

Start at 1:49:45 here: https://chathamborough.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=1&clip_id=268

ChatGPT must be a real estate shark! Despite repeated demands, Chat GPT refused to generate an image of a four story building, but only a taller building like this.

UPDATE Here’s what the Tap had to say about the meeting: https://www.newsbreak.com/share/3608817195691-chatham-borough-council-president-we-re-taking-baby-steps-on-redevelopment-plan-for-river-road-residents-wary-of-a-pilot?_f=app_share&pd=0EKN9Y6I&lang=en_US&send_time=1727313832&trans_data=%7B%22platform%22%3A0%2C%22cv%22%3A%2224.38.2.6%22%2C%22languages%22%3A%22en%22%7D&sep=ns_foryou_recall_exp_24q3-v7%2Cns_local_strategy_24q3_exp-v15%2Cns_summary_v1-v2%2Cns_foryou_rank_exp_24q3-v1%2Cns_xjk-v1%2Cns_foryou_blend_exp_24q4-v5%2Cns_foryou_model_exp_24q4-v3&s=i1&fbclid=IwY2xjawFiQs9leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHUgHWE-FFDK_3-l0U0A6tM4HsHuKY1O8Xy3X_lG09ZZJdAtwirK_kYzWRA_aem_RO5Av1Ni9fx4WSmylJDheQ

September 23, 2024
While the cat’s away….

While you were relaxing on LBI, our walkable little Borough was changing into to a less attractive place, with motor bikes on crowded sidewalks and higher property taxes for all.

“Higher taxes?” you may wonder. “How could the Council raise our taxes in the middle of the summer? Did they do that to pay for the new fire trucks we so desperately need?”

Nope. The. Council used a taxpayer asset to make an outright gift, depriving Borough taxpayers of an automatic tax break, and the chance to choose to use those funds for some urgent municipal need, like new fire trucks.

It was not consensual. How did that happen? Here’s how:

Given certain caps on local taxes and spending, the Borough Council’s annual budget is only about $17 million. All other things being equal, a new, taxable development automatically triggers a little more revenue to the Borough, along with lower property taxes for all of us, unless residents vote to spend more instead.

But the Council can take away our right to that tax break, and free up far more spending money for itself, far above the normal limits, simply by designating the new development exempt from property taxes, and allowing the developer to pay smaller, negotiated amounts known as PILOTs.

PILOT payments aren’t subject to the normal spending limits, and the Borough Council isn’t required to share the PILOT money with residents in the form of lower taxes. The Council doesn’t even need to ask voters before spending the PILOT money.

WIth a PILOT, the Council can simply plunge ahead and spend 95% of the revenue however the Council members please. They can spend it on urgent necessities like fire trucks. They can spend it on luxurious pet projects like the Stanley church. They can even spend all the PILOT money on outright gifts, and still go right on increasing the Borough budget and raising our taxes every year.

That’s exactly what the Council did at its August 12 meeting. The Council voted to give part of the Ivy PILOT payments to the Joint School District of the Chathams, a separate entity with its own $90 million budget and its own sources of funds, to cover expenses that would otherwise be shared with Chatham Township. That’s a gift.

That gift would be acceptable if the Borough Council had made it with the informed consent of Borough residents, for instance if residents had voted for it. But in this case, the Council approved the gift on the spot, the same night the public learned about it.

Why would the Council make such a gift when the Borough is in desperate need of at least two fire trucks, according to the experts the Council paid $18 thousand to evaluate the situation? Ask the Council members.

Won’t that gift help curb our school taxes? Not one bit. The School District is still legally entitled to the same annual increase in its share of our property taxes, which taxpayers had already voted to increase permanently in 2023. https://www.tapinto.net/towns/chatham/articles/vote-no-on-public-question-1-which-will-permanently-raise-property-taxes-for-an-expenditure-already-in-the-school-district-budget

In fact, the effect of that gift is to raise the school tax burden on the Borough, because it’s on top of the Borough’s fair share of the cost of running the schools as determined by a longstanding formula.

https://chathamchoice.org/2023/06/why-should-chatham-borough-pay-more-than-its-fair-share/

Isn’t the Township also kicking in more money to the School District? No.

Most of the members of the Township Committee are too smart to throw away assets as the Borough Council has, done, if only for fear of getting voted out of office. Instead of giving more than its fair share to the School District, the Township Committee is buying TWO new fire trucks right away, to save money.

https://www.tapinto.net/towns/chatham/sections/government/articles/chatham-township-committee-votes-to-bond-4-8-million-to-buy-fire-trucks-police-cars-study-for-expanded-police-headquarters

Why didn’t the Council ask us first? Good questions for the Borough Council.

https://chathamchoice.org/2023/06/why-should-chatham-borough-pay-more-than-its-fair-share/

Will Borough voters ever wise up and rein in Council abuse of our PILOT funds? You tell me.

See for yourself at 2:55 here: https://chathamborough.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=1&clip_id=263

August 25, 2024