By Alexis Tarrazi / Senior Reporter

LYNDHURST (Dec. 24, 2009) — Officials with the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission passed a cost-conscious budget Wednesday, Dec. 16, which failed to renew grant programs that local municipalities relied upon.

“We are faced with the situation of the downturn of the economy, and as a result of that downturn, the Meadowlands Commission is making adjustments to its economic picture,” NJMC Executive Director Robert Ceberio said.

The Municipal Assistance Program (MAP) and Meadowlands Area Grants for Natural and Economic Transformation (MAGNET) programs, which offered thousands of dollars over the last five years to each Meadowlands municipality, have expired.

“This is not a good sign,” said Joseph Crifasi, Carlstadt councilman and finance liaison. “We probably already spent the grant money on a new police car. It’s going to hurt.”

Both five-year programs, which were set to expire this year, allowed the NJMC to distribute $6.7 million in MAP grants for municipalities to purchase emergency vehicles and improve streets. MAGNET disbursed $23.5 million for flood control projects and remediation, and to help offset EnCap costs.

“It’s disappointing,” said North Arlington Councilman Richard Hughes. “The money enabled us to do pretty neat projects, or buy good equipment that normally we wouldn’t have the money to do.”

Municipalities have used the grants for the purchase of new police vehicles, fire trucks and ambulances; public works trucks and equipment; and park and community beautification projects. Last year, North Arlington purchased new police vehicles.

Ceberio said the commission is working on a new MAP and MAGNET program for 2010.

The commission has dropped its budget by 15 percent over the past two years — by 10 percent for 2009 and 5 percent for 2010. The 2010 budget totals $12,622,586 and is $659,278 less than last year. Over the years, the budget has jumped up and down: 2005 — $14,057,023; 2006 — $14,007,608; 2007 — $14,995,215; and 2008 — $14,865,246.

To lower the 2010 budget, cuts were made to consulting and payroll contracts. A hiring freeze began, so when a position becomes vacant, current employees take on the work.

Ceberio said that in 2001, there were 107 full-time and four part-time employees; in 2005, there were 123 full-time and four part-time employees; and, in 2009, there are 119 full-time and five part-time employees. One or two resignations are anticipated in 2010.

Utility bills have also been trimmed as a result of the commission’s efforts to install energy-saving measures such as solar panels.

“We are recognizing that because of the economy, our solid-waste operations (are) down considerably,” Ceberio said.

To counter the loss, the commission has turned to methane recovery and solar energy. “Solar energy will bring us back to a different source of revenue, rather than depending on solid waste,” Ceberio said.

Although the commission is pinching pennies, it is still offering many services to area municipalities to help reduce the local tax burden.

A camera truck, jet-vac truck, pumps and light tower are all provided to local towns. The camera truck can take video footage of sewer lines, while the jet-vac can remove debris clogging sewer lines or storm drains. Since 2006, the vac truck racked up 2,450 hours and the camera truck 1,300 hours of usage by local towns.

“The primary concern of ours,” Ceberio said, “is that we provide services to the 14 municipalities in more ways than just reviewing development.”