Watching Hills BOE Preps for Possible Referendum

The Watchung Hills Regional Board of Education took another step toward a proposed fall referendum by approving a slate of projects Monday that could be covered in the public vote.

The board has been discussing the referendum and projects for several months, identifying the projects deemed most urgent; Monday's vote approved sending project applications to the New Jersey Department of Education for review, as well as adding them to the board's Long Range Facility Plan.

Projects approved by the Department of Education may then be included in a bond referendum which could be set for September.

Monday, board members approved submitting plans for roofing work for the north and south buildings, replacing the south building steam heating system steam pipes, replacing the glass wall, update the kitchens in both buildings, replace and repair roof fans, install a new emergency access driveway (required by local fire regulations) and repave the front and rear parking lots.

Only the parking lot repaving failed to receive unanimous support, with Board members Lisa DiMizio and Laura Mandell voting against it. DiMizio challenged the resolution's statement that the parking lots are in need of "severe repair creating tripping hazards throughout."

"I was informed the tripping hazard exists on the sidewalks and we can repair the sidewalks separately," she said.

Board member Gerry Binder noted the resolutions being voted on were only intended to update the facility plan and send the projects to the Department of Education, and did not mean they would necessarily be placed on a referendum, but it did not sway the votes.