Medical Weight Loss in Chatham Borough, NJ

Education

Board Member Weber: 'It's not sustainable to keep raising taxes, raising taxes, raising taxes'

Board member Jill Critchley Weber said the tuition from Harding students would be one way to raise needed revenue for the districtPhoto Credit: TAP Chatham

Chatham BOE President Ann Ciccarelli gave an update on the consideration of bringing in Harding Township students to CHS for the 2026-2027 school yearPhoto Credit: TAP Chatham

A deal with Harding Township would bring in 25 to 30 students per year to Chatham High School at a tuition cost of approximately $1.8 millionPhoto Credit: TAP Chatham

Photo Credit: TAP Chatham

There is room for Harding students at CHS because Chatham High student population is on the declinePhoto Credit: TAP Chatham

The Harding student tuition would help ease the reliance on property taxesPhoto Credit: TAP Chatham

Chatham Superintendent Michael LaSusa answers questions from the Chatham BOE about adding Harding Township studentsPhoto Credit: TAP Chatham

Board member Jill Critchley Weber said the tuition from Harding students would be one way to raise needed revenue for the districtPhoto Credit: TAP Chatham

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By Ed Barmakian

Published October 14, 2024 at 10:53 PM

CHATHAM, NJ – Chatham Board of Education President Ann Ciccarelli gave an update on the potential addition of Harding Township students to CHS at Monday night's regular BOE meeting.

Ciccarelli said that nothing had been decided, but gave a presentation on numbers that would benefit both communities if there is an agreement made for the start of the 2026-2027 school year. Harding's contract with Madison for its high school students runs through June 2025.

“I think we all agree that it's not sustainable to just keep raising taxes, raising taxes, raising taxes, raising taxes," board member Jill Critchley Weber said during the discussion on a Harding deal. “At some point, something has to give … this is kind of a once-in-a-generation opportunity to offset our reliance on property taxes. This is one of the only ways to increase revenue at this rate … I don't know if the negativity outweighs $1.8 million.”

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Board member Bradley Smith, chair of the finance committee, noted that the revenue would equal the two percent tax levy of $1.48 million when calculated from last year's budget.

“It would be irresponsible for us even not to consider this,” Smith said. “So that's what we're doing, we're considering it. Nothing is signed. We're not going to make a bad contract.”

Update on Possible Starting Time Changes

Board member Susan Ross gave an update on possible start time changes for the Chatham Middle School and other realigned schools for the 2026-2027 school year. She said the possible time changes for CMS would be between 8:30 and 9 a.m and the lower grades from 7:40 to 8 a.m. Chatham Superintendent Michael LaSusa said the decision to change times for next year would be made by the end of January.

The Chatham Board of Education meeting for Monday, Oct. 14 can be viewed below

Chatham Borough Mayor Carolyn Dempsey has contacted the NJ Economic Development Authority for advice on filling the vacancy left by the departure of Kings Super MarketPhoto Credit: TAP Chatham

Chatham Borough has been in contact with the NJ Economic Development Authority about getting a grocery store to enter into a lease at the former Kings Food Market at 393 Main St. in ChathamPhoto Credit: TAP Chatham

The mayor and Borough of Chatham Council at Monday night's meetingPhoto Credit: TAP Chatham

Chatham Borough Mayor Carolyn Dempsey has contacted the NJ Economic Development Authority for advice on filling the vacancy left by the departure of Kings Super MarketPhoto Credit: TAP Chatham

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By Ed Barmakian

Published March 10, 2025 at 11:52 PM

CHATHAM, NJ – Mayor Carolyn Dempsey confirmed that developer Bergen County United Way will break ground by the end of the month on construction of the 15 all-affordable units at Post Office Plaza at the regular meeting of the Borough of Chatham Council on Monday night.

It was reported in January that Chatham Borough has received $5 million in funding from the state's DCA for the 100% all-affordable housing that will go up adjacent to Bowers Lane.

Dempsey responded to concerns from citizens that Chatham Borough would not meet its court-ordered deadline to start the project in her remarks below.

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Chatham Borough Administrator Steve Williams confirmed that the project will break ground by the end of the month.

Mayor Dempsey also said (see video below) she spoke to Brandon Parrish, senior advisor of the NJ Economic Development Authority, earlier in the day on Monday about possible ways to incentivize a grocery franchise to fill the space left by the departure of Kings Food Market.

Parrish is going to put Dempsey in contact with officials from Highland Park in Middlesex County, where Parrish informed Dempsey that “Highland Park went through a similar situation", and could give the borough ideas on how to entice a new tenant to Chatham.

Dempsey, council member Brian Hargrove and administrator Williams have also been in contact with Michael Nachtome of Murray Construction, the owner of the former Kings building at 393 Main St., about leasing to another grocery store. Nachtome is looking for a tenant, not a developer.

“There has been some interest, but he's not in a rush to lease it to a tenant without making sure it's the right fit,” Dempsey said.

On the subject of Bank of America closing its doors at 269 Main St., Dempsey viewed it as an opportunity for a new business.

“Bank of America didn't really do much in the town, so this is a great opportunity for a new business that can be beneficial to the downtown,” she said.

Digital Upgrade in Council Chambers

Chatham Borough Administrator Steve Williams reported that a digital upgrade is coming to Borough Hall's Council meeting room, where two 85-inch video screens will be installed on opposite sides of the chamber. The portrait of William Pitt, the first Earl of Chatham, has been moved to another place on the wall to accommodate one of the new screens.