The Community Relations Advisory Board has requested that the Township Council hire an outside firm to help bring different groups together after a debate over school bus routes sparked tensions in the community. The Community Relations Board is seeking to hire either the American Conference on Diversity or Public Conversations Project to hold a "dialogue session.” The purpose of the sessions is “to increase understanding of attributes needed within a diverse community, build cohesiveness among the groups (and) build capacity for a better understanding to help repair the community to avoid …

The Port Authority's board of commissioners approved an increase in tolls and fares between New York and New Jersey on Friday morning. Tolls on cars using E-ZPass will go up $1.50 next month, followed by a $.75 increase every December from 2012 to 2015. This comes down to a $4.50 increase over the next five years. A single PATH ride—currently $1.75—will increase by $1 over the next four years, starting with a $.25 increase in September. What do you think about the toll and fare hikes? Is it an increase you believe is necessary? Or do you think it's unfair? Will the increases affect your …

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has nine public hearings on its proposed toll and fare increases scheduled for Tuesday, including one in Fort Lee at 6 p.m. and one online hearing webcast at 2 p.m. But if you want to ensure that your comments on the agency’s proposal to drastically raise tolls on the George Washington Bridge and other Hudson River crossings are heard, you can pre-register to comment at any of the hearings by 11:59 p.m. Monday. Pre-registration must be done online or by calling 212-435-6916. People who want to speak can also register at any of the public hearing …

The consolidation of non-public school bus stops drew a flood of criticism from community members last week when letters went out detailing new stops for the upcoming year.  Private school students were not the only ones impacted by cuts to busing. Under the 2011-2012 school budget, courtesy busing for public school students in grades 1-4 who live under two miles from school was eliminated.  School officials say the cuts save money. Consolidating non-public stops will save $85,000, according to district officials. The district is also willing to work with anyone impacted by the consolidated …

The town’s need for more public gathering space has been raised as a reason for several proposed projects in Teaneck. There have been calls to use the Teaneck Road Verizon Building as a cultural arts center and the Council recently voted to support the Teaneck Community Charter School’s exploratory efforts to bond for a new gym, which would serve as a shared public space. Initial plans for renovations to the municipal complex also call for adding public meeting space. Does the town have a shortage of public gathering spaces? Does Teaneck need more space for public meetings and cultural events…

Last week, the Township Council voted to allow the Friends of Teaneck Community Charter School to move ahead with a plan to borrow $11 million to refinance its debt in a step toward building a new gym that would also serve as a public community center. The Friends, a volunteer group working with the charter school, want the township to guarantee the bonds to get a lower interest rate.  The gym would be built at the Teaneck Community Charter School’s Chestnut Avenue building and be open to the public after school hours and on weekends. Township officials say the plan remains far from being a …

As reported by Patch May 27, the Planning Board voted to rezone an area along Route 4, near the Englewood border, as a hotel zone. Some residents voiced concern over traffic and safety issues that could come with a hotel. Others said a hotel would bring much needed tax ratables to town. Officials said the move was only conceptual, and any specific projects must undergo appropriate reviews.  The Township Council must also pass the required ordinances. What do you think about the new hotel zone? Do you have concerns about safety and traffic, or do think the hotel wound be a plus for the town?  …

For many, Memorial Day is the unofficial start of summer. A time to hit the Shore, fire up the grill and enjoy a three-day weekend. Yet for those who have served their country or continue to serve, the day can have a serious (and official) meaning as a time to honor those who have died in war.  However, even for a day with such a somber official meaning, it would seem that at least some Americans don't know much about the federal holiday.  Yahoo reports Internet searches for the history, meaning and even date of Memorial Day.  On a day with such conflicting meanings - celebration and …

With the Teaneck Public Library closed until June 1, Patch wants to know how the temporary shut down has impacted you.   Have you traveled to the Bergenfield library to consult with Teaneck staffers working there? Have you had any problems getting the service you need or is everything working well? What do you think about the temporary closure?  Share your thoughts in comments section below. To submit a "letter to the editor" e-mail noah@patch.com. 

On Saturday, the New Jersey School Board Association voted to change its policy to state that charter schools should have voter approval before opening, and that voters and local school boards should have input into charter school decisions.  In Teaneck, a debate is continuing over the Shalom Academy Charter School, a Hebrew-immersion charter school set to open in the fall. The school was approved by the state as part of Gov. Chris Christie's education reform plan.  Currently, New Jersey is one of four states where the Department of Education is the sole authorizer of new charters, …

This Wednesday the polls will be open in the township from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.  Voters will be deciding whether or not to approve the proposed school budget. They will also be voting on candidates for open seats on the Board of Education.  Will you be heading to the polls on April 27? If so, how do you feel about the proposed school budget? What issues matter to you? Tell us in the comments.

Last week, the Board of Education voted to select Barbara Pinsak as the next superintendent of the Teaneck Public Schools. Pinsak, a veteran of the town's school system, had been serving as interim superintendent.  BOE President Ardie Walser praised Pinsak for leading the school through $6.1 million in budget cuts.  What do you think about the selection? Are you satisfied with the level of input from the community? Do you think the community should have any input? What priorities would you like the superintendent to focus on?  Share you thoughts about the selection in the comments section …

A Board of Education candidate forum will be held Monday night and Patch wants to know what questions you have for the six candidates vying for three spots on the Board. What issues do you feel are most important in the upcoming election? What do you hope to hear from the candidates? What questions do you have for them? Post your questions and thoughts in the comments section below.

The school district's tentative budget calls for outsourcing 26 custodial positions in a cost saving measure, however, some have raised concerns over the plan. Critics say having private contract employees working in the schools will make their children less safe, and the custodians are valuable district staff members.  School officials say outsourcing will save $900,000 and allow money to be used for instructional areas. The contracted employees will undergo fingerprinting and background checks, officials said.  What do you think about the tentative plan? Should the custodians have their …

As school superintendents in New Jersey are seeing salary caps, charter school administrators are able to avoid the pay limits, according to a report in Sunday's Record. Some school officials at small charter schools, including the Teaneck Community Charter School, are earning far more than the caps placed on public school leaders by Gov. Chris Christie, the report said.  The director of the 300-student charter school made "more than $200,000 in 2009-2010 when salary, bonuses and reimbursement of unused time are factored in," according to an Associated Press report. In contrast, Teaneck's …

Authorities announced last week that an Elm Avenue man found dead after a house fire was murdered.  The killing comes nearly seven months after the brutal murder of town gadfly Joan Davis. Robert Cantor, the Elm Avenue man, was found shortly after midnight last Monday by firefighters battling a three-alarm fire at his house.  Investigators said Cantor died from a gunshot wound but have not said if there are any suspects or leads in the case. The Bergen County Prosecutor's Office, which is handling both murder investigations, has released few details on the crimes.  The prosecutor's office has…

Thousands of unionized police and firefighters gathered at the statehouse in Trenton Thursday rallying against layoffs and Gov. Chris Christie's plan to have them contribute more to health and pension plans. Public safety workers from across the state reminded Christie of a 2009 campaign promise that police and firefighter pensions would not be changed. New Jersey State Policemen’s Benevolent Association President Anthony Wieners has pointed to rising crime, coupled with police layoffs as putting state residents in danger. Christie's plan is to have workers pay 12 to 30 percent of their …

The Township Council voted to approve borrowing up to $3.5 million to renovate the old police station and municipal building. A preliminary plan calls for the construction of a link between the old police station and the municipal building.  Township employees would be moved from the municipal building's basement to the new police station, according to an initial plan.  Officials have said township employees are currently working in cramped conditions. Some residents, however, have said they would prefer a larger council chamber be included in any renovations. Do you think the council chamber…

Last week, the Teaneck Board of Education released a roughly $85.8 million school budget.  The budget is still preliminary as the district awaits word on its state aid amount and a decision on courtesy busing. The preliminary budget for 2011-12 is $85,877,868 up from $84,399,246 in 2010-11.  School officials said the impact of the preliminary budget is a projected $53.93 increase to the tax bill for a homeowner with an average assessed value of $465,300. Voters will decide whether or not students closer than two miles for elementary schools and 2.5 miles for high school will still be bused …

Patch wants to know if you've seen any bad potholes around town. There have been some reports of large potholes on Route 4 in Teaneck, county police have said.  Know of any particularly rough sections of road around the township? Let us know by posting the location and a short description in the comments below.