The Daily Register from Red Bank, New Jersey • 3

The Sunday Register 3A Colts Neck high school fight hits roadblock a SEE EDITORIAL SA By LAURENCE ARNOLD THE REGISTER Now, that fight may end up in court. At issue is how the school board deals with a budget shortfall between the voter-approved $36 million and what is now thought to be a price tag rising several million dollars above that. The boards decision to go ahead with four renovation projects on area high schools but to postpone the largest project the construction of Colts Neck High School has prompted threats of legal action by outraged township officials. We take very strong exception to the boards decision, said Deputy Mayor James Day. We think it is illegal, because the voters approved an entire package for $36 million.

The township hired a lawyer and is considering legal action to prevent the board from committing what it sees as a breach of its agreement with the voters. "We have informed the board that we will take every legal action at our means, Day said. Township Attorney John O. Bennett said he is optimistic that a solution can be reached out of court. We want to exhaust every possibility of avoiding litigation, he said.

One attempt at settling the controversy was a proposal by Bennett contained in a letter to Carrie Saltzbart, president of the Freehold Regional Board of Education. In it, Bennett explained that after speaking to some of the contractors who had submitted bids, he was convinced that an informal meeting between the contractors and the architects could lead to aesthetic changes in the plans that would significantly decrease the shortfall. The board rejected the idea on the grounds that such a meeting would be illegal. Deputy Mayor Day called that decision a dodge. The board continues to give every indication that they are not acting in good faith, Day said.

COLTS NECK Two years ago, when voters approved a $36.4 million for construction and renovation within the Freehold Regional High School District, it appeared that Colts Necks fight for a high school had succeeded. SUNDAY, DEC. 4, 1988 Police continue Route 35 collision inquiry I 4 By SEAMUS McGRAW THE REGISTER 3 teens arrested at game RELATED STORY IB By SEAMUS McGRAW THE REGISTER 'yy m-'f "frM tg- 4 fW i i fjsr esses ry (- ate. ip; ul rz? ill lifiifXl t. Id 4s-' HAZLET Police are still trying to determine what caused a passenger car and tanker truck loaded with gasoline to collide Thursday at the intersection of Route 35 and Miller Avenue, killing the driver of the car.

Were still investigating. said Ptl. Edward Podstawski, who heads the townships probe. We're going to contin- ue investigating and then we'll make a decision in conjunction with the (Monmouth County) Prosecutors Office." Investigators have been in-terviewing witnesses, Podstawski said, adding that two new witnesses came forward yesterday to give police their version of the crash that claimed the life of 51 -year-old Rose Cattano of Dartmouth Lane. Basically, their accounts were the same as the others, Podstawski said, noting that there were some places where they conflict.

According to witnesses. Podstawski said, the accident occurred at about 3:20 p.m., as the truck driver, identified as Frederick Rossi of Carteret, was traveling south on Route 35. Witnesses maintain that the THE REGISTERMARTIN PETTERCHAK FATAL ACCIDENT Thursday's accident in which a passenger car and a tanker truck loaded with gasoline collided at the intersection of Route 35 and Miller Avenue, Hazlet, killing the cars driver, is still under investigation. over onto the car, crushing it. Cattano, who was declared dead at the scene, was not removed from the car until 8 p.m.

Although the investigation is continuing, police said yesterday that preliminary reports do not indicate that either Rossi or Cattano was guilty of recklessness. traffic light at the intersection had switched into a flashing mode sometime before the crash, with a yellow caution light on the highway and a red stop light on Miller Avenue. Police say they received no reports prior to the accident about the light. Witnesses said Cattano across the intersection. The car, which witnesses say was being pushed by the tanker, was reportedly smashed against a 3-foot-high divider, while the truck climbed the divider and continued south for about 200 feet before it flipped and rolled stopped at the light on Miller Avenue before proceeding into the intersection, apparently trying to get to the northbound lane of Route 35.

Instead, her car collided with the tanker, police said, at which point the two vehicles careened ABERDEEN Three people were arrested yesterday as police from six municipalities descended on the Matawan Regional High School field to break up a melee after the Central Jersey Group III championship final between the Huskies and the Franklin High School Warriors. According to preliminary reports, a series of small fights broke out at about 3:15 p.m. after the Huskies edged former state champs Franklin, 14-6. There were a couple of small fights, said Sgt. John Powers, and we have no idea what triggered them.

Witnesses said they believed words may have been exchanged between supporters of the two teams and that the exchanges may have triggered the bouts. Powers said police have no idea how many people may have been involved in the donnybrook, adding that the way the high school is set up. everythings so far-flung, it's kind of hard to tell. He denied, however, that there ever was any danger of the fist fight developing into a riot. Aberdeen police summoned help from five neighboring police departments includiing Matawan, Keyport, Holmdel.

Marlboro and Hazlet. But Powers insists that the other departments were enlisted to help people move safely to their cars and get out of there, rather than to contain the fights. In the end, he said, only three people, two of them juveniles, were arrested in connection with the incident. Arrested were 18-year-old Joseph A. Corbin of Franklin; a teen-ager, also from Franklin; and another juvepile who reportedly hails from Neptune.

All three are charged with disorderly conduct. Powers said. Powers insisted that the crowd, drawn from several communities, was by and large very well behaved, before, during and after the fight. County reaches accord with probation officers By NED KILKELLY, THE REGISTER The settlement will be voted on tomorrow at the courthosue in Freehold. Since 65 percent of the union members arc at the starting salary, the measure is not certain to pass.

Shissias said, but he added that he is confident a majority will approve the new contract. the county in 1990) than they are with people who have worked in the countys prison system for years, Shissias said. Shissias, a nine-year veteran of the probation department, said he is reasonably satisfied with the pay increase he will receive. working without a contract in the future, he said. That scenerio would put undue pressure on the union to reach an agreement before a contract expired, Shissias said.

The terms of Fridays agreement also included having probation officers report a half-hour earlier to work, for which they will be paid 7.7 percent extra, Shissias said. The countys main interest is attracting new people, Shissias said. The turnover rate among probation officers has fallen from about 30 percent in 1983 to about 7 percent this year, he added. Better salaries have helped retain officers, as the county seeks to compete with state facilities, Shissias said, but he added that the county does not do enough for experienced probation officers. Theyre more concerned with somebody whos now getting ready for their junior fall semester finals (and will start working for Itll do, Shissias said of the agreement.

Robert Hrebek, the assistant county counsel in charge of labor negotiations, said the parties involved enjoyed a working harmony during the all-day bargaining session. Both Hrebek and Shissias credited Gloria Korman, the mediator from the state Public Employees Relations Commission, with helping to smooth over personality conflicts and work through outstanding issues that had blocked an earlier settlement. "She did a superb job, Hiebek said, adding that he would recommend that Milberg and the freeholders approve the agreement. The freeholders will consider the settlement this week. Shissias described the issje of retroactive pay as crucial to the agreement.

If they hadn't agreed to pay it, we would have a very tough time After their first session with a state mediator Friday, negotiators and union representatives for the countys probation officers reached a tentative settlement in their year-long contract dispute, sources said. The three-year pact, which includes a 7.5 percent pay hike for 1988 and 6 percent increases in 1989 and 1990, needs to be approved by assignment Judge Alvin Yale Milberg of state Superior Court in Freehold, the Monmouth County Board of Freeholders, and the union members. The union won retroactive pay for this year, which the county had contested since members have been working without a contract since Dec. 31, 1987. But the union did not gain additional benefits such as dental insurance, said Mark Shissias, president of Local 32 of the Office and Professional Employees International Union, which represents about 100 county probation Ccrrccticn An article in Fridays Register incorrectly identified the location of a fight among Long Branch Middle School students.

The fight occurred at Westwood and West avenues. vLA-UviAi Twas that time before Christmas when people are out, Shopping, scurrying, hurrying about. All the gifts to buy. All the presents to get. In a twinkling youll find them At Rumson Roulette.

The turtlenecks and sweaters, how many arc they. The robes and the nighties, how cheerful and gay. Dresses, blouses, holiday blazers, patchwork and purses The selection ama.es! A handwoven scarf. A bright silky blouse. even have gifts for the man of the home.

Kvery corner and countertop is piled high; ith wonderful holiday treasures to Inis. TflO So relax and enjoy a fine shopping spree. Well gift wrap your panels i fZ for under your tree. And we want to say, in this season of cheer, Merry Christmas to alh and a Happy New Year. iSS- VOl IS- BIHATTAI RT ASaie Sat Dec.

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