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BY HILLARY VIDERS
SPECIAL TO NOTHER VALLEY PRESS
On Sept. 11, the Mt. Calvary Baptist Church in Englewood was the scene of an important NAACP Town Hall Forum.
Narrated by National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Bergen County Chapter Anthony Cureton, the panel consisted of Councilman Wayne Hamer, City Manager Ed Hynes, Fire Chief Erik Enersen and Councilwoman Katharine Glynn.
The room was also filled with many community members, including Councilman-at-Large Charles Cobb, Rev. Sanetta Ponton, Rev. Dr. Stephanie Harper, firefighter Joseph Hoyle, former School Board President Howard Haughton, Dismus School Principal Lamarr Thomas, mayoral candidate Dierdre Paul, and several NAACP executives including Third Vice President Barbara Gardner.
The forum was the first of its kind for Englewood.
“Rather than write up a formal agenda,” Cureton explained, “I spoke with many residents and gathered questions that they wanted addressed.”
He explained that the meeting was neither political nor partisan, but rather focused on social justice and equality for all.
The following were the main questions that Cureton and attendees posed:
What is the City doing about road repairs on municipal streetsand/or communicating needed repairs to county/state roadways?
Hamer addressed this by explaining that some roadwork is simple, such as repaving a street, whereas there are more complex jobs that involve working on the underlying sewer systems that affect the city’s infrastructure. The city prioritizes its budget allotment for the worst situations, such as streets which are over 100 years old.
Hamer pointed out that Englewood sits in a valley and relies on more than one sewer system that is shared by surrounding towns such as Fort Lee, so water flows down from Northern Valley communities into Englewood’s infrastructure.
“We also get a lot of soot and debris that washes down into the channels of the infrastructure that builds up over time,” said Hamer. “We are currently working to clear this debris.”
Hamer advised residents that if they report repairs that are needed on their local streets they will be addressed.
How will the increased construction of luxury condominiums and the additions of the assisted living property on South Van Brunt Street affect Englewood tax payers?
A number of residents were concerned whether these properties will bring in sufficient tax revenue for the town in light of the additional expenses with respect to impact on infrastructure, like water, sewage, road wear and tear, schools or the size of first responder forces and budget.
Hynes explained how tax revenues are divided between the municipal government, Bergen County and the school board, and that both The Bristal Assisted Living, as well as One William Street luxury apartments, have different tax structures and that they are available on request to all residents.
Hamer said that the Bristal facility on Route 4 would not affect the city’s taxable rate base or the school budget, but it will have an impact on other city services, particularly fire and ambulance.
Hamer went on to say that the One William Street complex will use a private garbage disposal company, thereby not exerting or burdening the city’s DPW. They expect that the building may have full occupancy by January 2019 which will generate tax revenue for the city.
Several forum attendees wanted to know why the new 270-unit apartment complex being built on Bennett Road had no affordable living, thereby changing the historic designation and the predominantly black demographic of the Fourth Ward.
Hynes explained that the Master Plan for Englewood development has had an ordinance requiring affordable housing, but when the plan for the building on Bennett Road was approved by the planning board in 2018, there was a temporary repose from this requirement (it will be reactivated in 2020). He advised that everyone can review the city’s Master Plan online.
How will quality of life concerns, such as increased gun violence, speeding, signage and loitering be addressed?
One resident spoke of how she has seen drug selling on Howell Road, right across from one of the schools. Hamer advised that people should report incidents of criminal activities and that they will be addressed.
In recent years, there has been concerns regarding the hiring of minorities in the police and fire departments. The NAACP has attended meetings where potential candidates for positions in each department inquired on their status in the hiring process and why they were not considered for employment. A secondary question on this topic was, why are Englewood residents given preference for police and fire department jobs over non-residents?
Fire Chief Enersen addressed this issue. He spoke of how he grew up and lived in Englewood, attended the Lincoln School, and eagerly dedicated himself to becoming physically fit and knowledgeable for fire service. He mentioned that the Fire Department now has a summer camp called the Junior Fire Academy Program as well as an internship program with Dwight Morrow High School, both designed to give young Englewood residents a firefighting education.
Enersen stated that jobs in the fire department were open to all qualified candidates and not defined or capped by race. But, if two equally qualified candidates are seeking a job, the one who lives in Englewood would get preference.
What is the status of Englewood having a community center?
Many people seem to be in favor of a community center. A proposal for this was written in 1996, and there is currently a petition with 600 signatures, but to date no action has been taken.
Hamer pointed out that such a project has to be approved by the City Council and there has not yet been a special meeting to discuss that issue. Hamer also emphasized that a community center involves not just constructing a building but maintaining it, which can be costly.
Ponton suggested that the expense of a community center may be absorbed by funding from a non-profit organization, but Glynn indicated that it that can be complicated, particularly if that organization has a religious affiliation.
A pervasive theme throughout the evening was the importance of voting. Cureton stressed that many of the issues being discussed needed voices to be heard at the ballot. So, he urged everyone to make sure that they get people to vote and he passed out voter registration cards for residents to give to non-registrants.
When the Town Hall Forum was adjourned, many stayed behind to speak with the panelists and discuss the issues further.
Photo by Hillary Viders