Police, firefighter unions send scathing letter to SOBOT; trustees and Collum fire back and support proposed pay freezes

Police, firefighter unions send scathing letter to SOBOT; trustees and Collum fire back and support proposed pay freezes

SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — Locked in a feud with the New Jersey State Firefighters Mutual Benevolent Association and the New Jersey State Policemen’s Benevolent Association, the South Orange Board of Trustees and South Orange Village President Sheena Collum released a statement in response to a letter that FMBA President Edwin Donnelly and PBA President Patrick […]

BOT introduces $36.8M budget

BOT introduces $36.8M budget

SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — The South Orange Board of Trustees introduced the 2020 budget at its virtual May 11 meeting, passing the $36,873,694.78 budget, in which municipal taxes will be raised by 2.72 percent, on first reading with a 5–0 vote. The average increase between 2011 and 2020 has been 1.8 percent, while the average […]

Shift in NJ’s fiscal year could impact school district

Shift in NJ’s fiscal year could impact school district

SOUTH ORANGE / MAPLEWOOD, NJ — The South Orange–Maplewood Board of Education dived into the waters of virtual meetings on April 20, when it held its first meeting since the COVID-19 pandemic shut down all nonessential businesses and gatherings. After Superintendent Ronald Taylor’s update about distance learning, each BOE committee chairperson gave a report, including […]

SOMSD audit shows effective management

SOMSD audit shows effective management

SOUTH ORANGE / MAPLEWOOD, NJ — The South Orange–Maplewood School District heard an audit report of the 2018-2019 school year at its Jan. 27 meeting, learning that all financial operations during the year were working effectively. The report was presented by Robert Morrison of the accounting firm Hodulik & Morrison, who has been working in […]

Two towns receive $267,740 through CDBG program

Two towns receive $267,740 through CDBG program

MAPLEWOOD / SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — Essex County recently announced that approximately $5.4 million will be distributed to 14 Essex County municipalities and 34 community organizations through the Community Development Block Grant program and the Emergency Solutions Grant program. Maplewood received $164,840 and South Orange received $102,900. The CDBG and ESG programs are funded through […]

Gov., AG to lead SALT lawsuit

Collum discusses taxes, then introduces Murphy at South Orange firehouse

Gov., AG to lead SALT lawsuit

SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — Gov. Phil Murphy and Attorney Gen. Gurbir S. Grewal announced at a July 17 press conference at the South Orange Fire Department that New Jersey has filed a federal lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service and the U.S. Treasury Department, in an attempt to protect state taxpayers from what the Murphy […]

District unveils plan for buildings, grades

MAPLEWOOD / SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — Acting Superintendent Thomas Ficarra unveiled the South Orange-Maplewood School District’s long-range facilities and integration plan at the Board of Education’s May 14 meeting. In his presentation, Ficarra introduced a plan to renovate and upgrade the district’s school buildings while better integrating the schools by redrawing district lines. The plan […]