Council questioned on pending resolution

Council questioned
on pending resolution
BY VINCENT TODARO
Staff Writer

EAST BRUNSWICK — The Town-ship Council is expected to pass a resolution urging state officials to hold a forum on ways to change public school funding.

But it took the governing body some time to take action on the matter, according to a former East Brunswick Republican councilman.

During its meeting Monday night, the council decided to put the resolution on the agenda for the next council meeting. It urges the state to convene a constitutional convention to discuss ways to reform the system used to fund public schools.

But the Democrat-controlled council was asked by former councilman Anthony Riccobono why it has taken so long to show their support. Riccobono had sought a resolution while campaigning for a council seat in 2002.

"Does this sound better now than when Republicans said this two years ago?" he asked.

In 2002, Riccobono did not see support from any council members, as some said the matter was a state issue.

Three of the five council members have changed since then, as Meryle Asaro, Saul Fink and Jeff Simon have been replaced by Democrats Catherine Diem and David Stahl, and Republican Christi Calvano. Edwin Brautman and Donald Klemp are still on the council, but did not offer a response to Riccobono Monday night.

"It’s strange that it’s on the agenda now," Riccobono said.

No council members responded to Riccobono’s comments at the meeting, nor did Mayor William Neary.

When approached on the matter in 2002, officials including Neary said they were proactive in other ways to support reform at the state level. Neary said township officials were holding ongoing discussions with school and state officials in the matter.