8/9/2019 2010-07-02 Ewing Mayor Wont Give Up

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Ewing mayor won't give upFriday, July 02, 2010David KarasSTAFF WRITER

EWING -- Although the repercussions of the state budget crisis are bearing down on him, Mayor Jack Ballsaid he is not giving up his efforts to prevent the impending layoffs of 21 township employees.

Ball recently announced that 21 workers, including six police officers, will be laid off under his plan to helpclose a $2.5 million budget gap.

The firings, along with several demotions, are to be effective Aug. 18 under a plan approved by the stateCivil Service Commission.

"We still have (about) 45 days with everybody working together to try to rescind as many of those layoffs aswe possibly can," Ball said during a phone interview yesterday.

He added that his hands are tied because the $2.5 million budget shortfall was created by a reduction instate aid.

"This is not something that I want to do," he said of the layoff plans. "It is something that we have to do."

However, two police sergeants who had been slated for demotion will remain in their posts, he said, nowthat township officials have received notice that another sergeant plans to retire at the end of December.

Ball hopes to hear more news such as this as Aug. 18 draws near.

"We'll keep looking for things like that as we go along," he said. "We're continuing to keep the dialogue openbetween administration and all of our eight unions (for) anything we can possibly do in terms of concessionsthat will help to save more jobs, along with some initiatives that we have in progress right now."

The township unveiled plans recently to auction off 10 properties the township acquired through taxforeclosures, and Ball said officials are also considering the sale of the Hollowbrook Community Center,since the new community center at 999 Lower Ferry Road is large enough to accommodate Hollowbrook'soperations.

In addition, Ball said the township's municipal court has about $2 million in unpaid fines, which officials willconduct an "aggressive movement" to recover. While much of the money would go to the state, a portion willbenefit the township.

He also is rallying for state support through other revenue channels.

"I still continue to make calls to the governor's office to fight for what is called PILOT money, or Payments InLieu Of Taxes, for state-owned property" in the township that is exempt from property taxes. These

properties include The College of New Jersey and the state Department of Transportation.

"All we're looking for is a fair share to help Ewing with respect to state-owned property," Ball said.

"I'm still optimistic that hopefully we will get through this," Ball said.

David Karas can be reached at (609) 989-5731, or dkaras@njtimes.com.

8/9/2019 2010-07-02 Ewing Mayor Wont Give Up

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