Special Report: The EnCap Debacle Continues

Stringham: We need another school if EnCap becomes reality!

Land originally targeted for school construction can't support facility!

Superintendent fears residents will pay for "lion's share" of increased costs!

Massa calls upon parents and students to reject EnCap!

NORTH ARLINGTON - Superintendent of Schools Dr. Oliver Stringham confirmed the worst about the proposed EnCap deal in a letter to parents and students dated May 22nd by pointing out "we need another school built to meet the impact of children that will result from Arlington Valley (click here - see letter)."

Stringham's assessment on the impact on local schools flies in the face of Mayor Pitman's assertions that building of 1,625 units of housing won't influence the cost of public education here in North Arlington. Currently, about 60% of all property taxes paid by homeowners is dedicated to school expenditures.

Councilman Steve Tanelli, the campaign manager for Councilman Pete Massa in his bid to wrest the Democratic nomination away from incumbent Democrat Russ Pitman was quick to respond.

"This is verifiable third-party confirmation from the district's educational leader that a new school must be constructed. With current construction costs at $250 a square foot, a new school facility would be in the neighborhood of 150,000 square feet. That means at today's cost the amount of money to construct a new school will be at least $37,500,000. This does not account for change orders, the cost of equipment and additional personnel. When you factor all these additional costs, we're looking at close to $50 million dollars," said a somber Tanelli.

Massa was pleased to see Stringham communicate "the true cost of EnCap back to parents and homeowners."

"Ollie's assessment of the need for an additional school is obvious. The Board of Education was shutout of these negotiations and treated as the black sheep of the North Arlington family. Mayor Pitman has negotiated a financial disaster for taxpayers that will have North Arlington go it alone in terms of these massive costs. If for no other reason, this agreement with EnCap must be rescinded now," stated the challenger.

Stringham's letter also stated that the ability to build a school in Arlington Valley as proposed is not even possible.

"Any building done there would need pilings. It seems another geological study had been done and this difficulty was discovered. This is unfortunate," said Stringham.

"Mayor Pitman has engineered an agreement that will call for at least $50 million dollars in added costs for a school, but doesn't have a location to build the facility. Those responsible for such incompetence can no longer be trusted to manage the needs of this community. I gave stated all along that the costs involved with EnCap far exceed any economic benefit. When Pitman has us giving EnCap 40% of all revenues, how can anyone suggest this deal makes sense for taxpayer?" questioned Massa.

Massa's council candidates were equally outraged by Pitman's inability to negotiate a fair deal for homeowners.

"Why would Mayor Pitman and his allies think getting $8 million from EnCap is an accomplishment when we need at least $50 million to accommodate the true need of parents and children? Why are ball fields a priority when we don't have the classroom space or the personnel to educate this influx of new students? This is an example of poor planning and not communicating the true needs of the school district because the school district was not at the bargaining table," observed council candidate Sal DiBlasi.

"When you look at the scope of problems the EnCap project creates, how can anyone support this dangerous path to higher taxes, crowded schools, increased traffic, the application of eminent domain and the construction of Low Income Housing?

No matter how you look at EnCap, it's just a mess for homeowners and a cash cow for the developer," noted council candidate Al Granell.

The Massa campaign switched into high gear today as signs began popping up like daisies on the lawns of hundreds of North Arlington homeowners.

"We have a core audience of people who oppose this project and want immediate change. They want a leader who will oppose EnCap and rescind this agreement. That is the call I hear at every door and stoop. I'm ready to take charge and clean this mess with a new team to protect the homeowner and families of North Arlington from this mass urbanization project nobody supports," said a confident Massa in between doors in his intense search for support come the June 6th Democratic Primary.

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