Committee Approves Downtown Assessment Increase

One downtown building owner raised questions about the increase in the special improvement district assessment, but the Township Committee unanimously approved the increase Tuesday night.

The Township Committee approved an increase in the assessment from $160,000 to $195,000 when it approved the Downtown Millburn budget last fall. Tuesday night the committee held a public hearing on the division of the assessment between the properties located in the special improvement district.

William Lipkin, a doctor who is a new owner of a Millburn Avenue building, said he didn't know about the assessment until he received a notice from the township about the public hearing. "I came here tonight seeking an education," he said. "Nothing ever told me it existed or that my building was in a Special Improvement District."

Tax Collector Gerald Viturello said the information should have popped up during a title search before the closing of the sale on the property.

James Suell, a committee member, said special improvement districts that assess a payment are not unique to Millburn. The intention is the money raised will help the businesses in the district.

Harold Klein, Downtown Millburn executive director, said a major goal for the organization, formerly known as Downtown Millburn Development Alliance, is to attract consumers downtown. The organization increased its marketing budget by $10,000 for the next year.

For 18 years the organization did not increase its assessment. They spoke about doing it, he said, but they didn't do it saying it wasn't the right time. They know it's hard times for everyone, Klein said, but Millburn's downtown has 13 or 14 vacancies out of 180 spaces. And new businesses are moving into town, and he cited a bakery could move into downtown.

In other action, the Township Committee approved hiring Emergency Services Consulting International of Wilsonville, Ore. to complete a study to find more shared services between the Millburn and Summit fire departments. The contract costs $48,870, but each town would pay approximately $2,500 each in a hope a SHARE grant would cover the rest. But there was no discussion Tuesday night, including on what would happen if the grant was not awarded.

The committee also approved an ordinance that would increase recreation fees in 2010 by 6-7.5 percent. It's part of the increase that happens every three years. A vote on an ordinance on sustainable development was postponed until the March 2 meeting.