New Jersey Nightly News; 03/30/1982

Good evening. New Jersey Transit is ready to take over Conrail commuter service in the state if one remaining detail can be worked out. Theresa grants and those national champions from Rutgers make an appearance tonight in Sports Center tonight a closer look will talk to state transportation commissioner and Candy about that contrail takeover. New Jersey Transit announced today it will take over Conrail commuter service throughout the state. But the long awaited decision still comes with the stipulation additional federal funding. Diane doctor reports for you. And with that vote New Jersey Transit's board of directors made it official NJT will assume control of Conrail commuter lines as of January 1st 1983 when Congress relieved Conrail of responsibility for running commuter lines. New Jersey transit was given the choice of taking the lines over or contracting with someone else to do the job that someone else could have been the newly formed Amtrak commuter service. But that agency came under criticism as being too

disorganized and too political. But New Jersey Transit's decision is based on getting an additional 15 million dollars in federal funding for the takeover. We cannot undertake this transition unless it is funded. The state is getting sixteen point six million federal dollars already Candy says if the additional funding is not assured NJT can back out of the takeover plan. But that could put the state in the undesirable position of scrambling to contract with Amtrak commuter or someone else in the face of the January deadline. The other choice raising fares to absorb the additional cost was something NJT officials were reluctant to even discuss. Just last week the agency proposed an average 18 percent fare increase. Candy says he is so hopeful about prospects for additional aid they're willing to go ahead with a takeover. Over a 6 9 commuter lines and 70000 commuters The result according to NJT officials will be better service because the agency will have

direct control over the trains and the people who work on them. 16 labor unions represent 3000 Conrail employees the largest union represents conductors. The takeover means NJT will have to negotiate contracts with them since labor costs amount to about 60 percent of all operating expenses. The outcome of those negotiations will have a big impact on NJT his ability to hold down costs. A major goal of the takeover labor consultant Harold Candler says the unions are enthusiastic be efficient. Economical will be effective it will be productive not as enthusiastic. Was Governor Kaine But the governor gave final approval to the plan anyway. That seems to be the best I'm reluctant frankly because neither alternative that we were presented as a completely attractive one for the state. The governor will play a key role in lobbying the administration for the additional money the NJT board is optimistic that his efforts will pay off in Newark.

I'm dyin doctor. Today marks the third day of efforts to free a state trooper who has been pinned in the narrow passageway of a cave since Saturday was back on the scene today and filed this report. The scene here today was considerably different from yesterday's. I have a backhoe a drill and a bulldozer replace the rescue workers who had been on the job for three days now with little or no rest. Workers who had been tediously chiseling away at the Rock and limestone to no avail today employ dynamite as a final effort to blast away the thick layer of rocks separating them from State Police Sergeant Donald Weldon our official still won't say whether or not a 48 year old well there has been trapped in the crooked swamp caves and Saturday is still alive. They say they're waiting for word from a medical official after well there was free they say because of the cold temperature in the cave the trooper could be suffering from severe hypothermia if that's the case. His body is operating at such a slow rate that his vital signs cannot be detected.

I've talked to people from Nam ICU unit mobile intensive care unit from Mars town. They do say that they have had a chance to talk to different people in the mining business and they say that they did have one gentleman that was five. Down in there for five days and he did come out and they did so right now which is hopeful that it is. We couldn't tell until we get him out and really take a look at it. The rescue has been delayed because of problems breaking through the huge rock formations. Tonight's weather forecast places additional problems on the rescue effort. Officials on the scene are worried that a possible rain storm will complicate an already difficult endeavor in Lafayette Township. I'm realigned to Watts. A state prison inmate was shot and fatally wounded today after he attacked two courtroom attendants in Elizabeth. So Emily Williams was standing trial with a codefendant on weapons charges when he suddenly leaped from his chair with a makeshift knife in his hand. One courtroom attendant tried to stop him and was stabbed. Williams then ran to the back of the courtroom where he was

stopped by two other attendants. One of them was stabbed. Finally either an armed court attendant or a prison guard drew his weapon and shot Williams. He died this afternoon in St. Elizabeth's Hospital Superior Court Judge Donald McKenzie who was presiding over the trial says it's not clear yet how Williams smuggled the weapon into the courtroom or who shot him. Neither of the stab guards was seriously hurt Don. Pagan motorcycle gang member Glen Turner was arraigned today on charges of attempted murder aggravated assault and possession of a weapon in the shooting of a New Jersey state trooper Camden County Superior Court Judge Donald Bigley said bail for the 34 year old Turner of $150000. Turner was arrested yesterday near Wilkes-Barre Pennsylvania and was arraigned there on a fugitive warrant charged before being returned to New Jersey. Trooper Jacobs was shot in the face last Wednesday in Gloucester Township after he stopped a car on Route 42. He remains in satisfactory condition at Cooper Medical Center in Camden County. Meanwhile state senator John Gallagher plans to introduce a bill that would provide state troopers

with more protection. The Monmouth County Republican says the trooper should be equipped with eight hundred more bulletproof vests as well as nine millimeter automatic pistols for maximum firepower a 9 millimeter handgun would replace the 357 magnum. And although the 9 millimeter is more powerful state police superintendent Clinton by Gano has opposed the weapon saying it needs more testing. The cost of the 9 millimeter hasn't been determined but the additional vests would run about one hundred and eighty thousand dollars. Senator Gallagher began preparing the legislation after meeting with members of the state troopers fraternal organization in the wake of the recent shootings. Outgoing education commissioner Fred Burke was found guilty today of violating the state's conflict of interest law by the executive commission on ethical standards. The commission which Feinberg two hundred fifty dollars said the education commissioner engaged in the appearance of conflict and not an actual conflict when he helped get a state job for a long time associate without revealing their financial ties. Burke and his associate

Robert Stevens are shareholders in a Virgin Island yachting company. Burke was indebted to Stevens when Stevens was named executive secretary to the educating coordinating commission in 1975. Burke leaves his post tomorrow Don. Oh there are some signs that our economy is recovering. The housing industry is still in a very bad slump. The state Builders Association says their plan to use public employee pension funds for mortgages will change that. Steve Katz reports. It's a rare sight in New Jersey these days a new home under construction. The scene across the street is more typical empty lots where houses could have been built. The money was available at affordable rates. The New Jersey Builders Association has spent the past two years looking for ways to make mortgages affordable. The best method of doing that they say is to tap into the state's 6 billion dollar pension fund with a pension fund which is a very large position in our state and growing very effectively is a properly viable source of. Mortgage money. While creating at the same time an exceptionally

viable and prudent investment opportunity for the pension plan. Under the builders proposal made to Governor Kaine last month a small part of the pension fund around 200 million dollars will be made available for mortgages through a program called Jersey shares. The mortgages would be made at a lower rate than conventional mortgages with those new mortgages the builders say out-of-work builders would be back on the job. Families could buy houses and the pension fund would grow without any risk because the mortgages would be insured. New Jersey's tax base would also benefit because the money could only be used in this state. The plan faces some stiff opposition. The State Investment Council which oversees how the pension fund is invested says the state will lose too much money if it went ahead with the Jersey shares program. But there's also some potential support in a very important area. Half the money in the pension fund comes from state employees through payroll deductions. The union that represents most of those workers says that if certain provisions are agreed to it would be in favor of using its members money to help stimulate the housing market.

We're not opposed to the overall plan with proper safeguards if if the unions have clear input into how the money's being spent. If you've got more say in that matter and if the money is made available only to our members people who are part of this pension plan the builders plan calls for limiting eligibility for the low cost mortgages to state workers but only for a specified period of time and then opening up the program to the general public. But they say since the money belongs to the state workers they're willing to negotiate a plan that's acceptable to the union. The plan could be put into effect immediately if Governor Kaine issues an executive order. But the builders and the union want the state legislature to act on the mortgage proposal first. I'm Steve Katz. Governor tank came today attended a get acquainted session with 16 asked me presidents the state hospital union employees their main topic the effect Cain's proposed 6.3 billion dollar budget will have on those state jobs. Asked Me President Al Werfel for the governor several money saving suggestions. Among them keeping tabs on budget waivers and cutting back on administrative personnel but the union's major concern involves the governor's proposal to

say forty six million dollars by imposing a selective job freeze on state workers. Cain promised the unions today he will preserve what he calls essential areas there in your view. There is another very thing that. Tomorrow the state joint Appropriations Committee will hold its first formal hearing on the governor's proposed budget. Adam Levin the man who once ran the state consumer affairs office is officially running for Congress as of today. Levin announced he will seek the seat in the new and in some quarters infamous 7th District the so-called fishhook Republicans charge Democrats tailor the district just for 11 11 shows to make his announcement before a senior citizens group in Plainfield and stressed his opposition to the Reagan cuts in social services. He also complained that he's a target of the National Conservative Political Action Committee which he contends will spend half a million dollars to defeat him. Critics

say Levon bought a safe district by contributing thousands to Democratic candidates who reapportion the state. 11 views the seventh district differently. You win you win. Going home to his district looks the way it looks now because of Adam Levin. All I was concerned about is that Lindsay Elisabeth become part of this particular district. There were other interests representing incumbents for their own reasons needed certain chunks of land the result is this is what was left after everybody who needed something got what they got. This is known as the famous left over district. The new 7th runs through parts of union Mercer Somerset Monmouth and Middlesex County. Well that's forest fire season in New Jersey from mid march to the middle of May the risk of fires is greatest. There were over 150 fires in the state last week alone over 11 hundred acres have been burned this year. That Hodgson has more on the story including steps the state is taking to fight the problem.

Dry windy spring weather bind with heavy accumulations of dead leaves from last fall makes this season the worst forest fire hazard time of the year in New Jersey. These 20 acres of blackened charred forest and marshland in Burlington County are the result of just one of more than 70 forest fires in the state since last Friday. The State Forest Fire Service says a cigarette tossed from a passing car was probably the cause. But in fire watch towers like this one in the Wharton State Forest Service Fire watchers most often see fires of a more distressing sort. Almost all of the forest fires in New Jersey are said by people. And what's even more disturbing is that fire officials figure over half of them are not accidental but set on purpose. Arson destroying around 7000 acres a year. And although it's one of the most difficult crimes to prosecute forest fire arson convictions in the state have jumped over 130 percent in the past three years. If you look into arson whether it be in the woods or in any other situation you can find a variety of motives from grudge to just a maliciousness.

I guess it's down to human nature what motivates people. Service officials also say there's a big problem with juveniles who set fires just for the fun of it. As part of an effort to deter arsonists the penalty for intentionally setting a forest fire was increased the first of this year from the previous fine of up to $400 to a new maximum possible fine of $100000. Forest Fire Service officials say they think the new law will help. But the biggest factor in controlling whether or not we have a lot of forest fires is still whether or not we have a lot of rain in Bass River State Forest Burlington County. I'm Dan Hudson. Applying for two New Jersey counties to build a new juvenile detention center may have to be scrapped because one of the counties can't decide if it wants the facility. Steve Katz reports. Both hunted in and Somerset County send their juvenile offenders to the detention center in Middlesex County. But about a year and a half ago Somerset County officials approached hundred county with a

proposal to jointly build a smaller facility of their own. Since 100 county's population is only about a third of the size of Somerset it would pay only a small part of the 1.7 million dollars needed to build a detention facility. I didn't like the idea and passed a resolution saying so. No official site was chosen until a legal agreement could be signed. But a committee agreed that the most likely site for the facility would be about halfway between the county seats of Flemington and Somerville in rural Reddington. But the plan ran into some trouble when residents of the area found out about it. Last Tuesday at a public meeting here at the hundred and county courthouse almost 200 angry residents loudly protested the idea of a juvenile detention center near their homes. In the wake of that protest county officials here say they're having second thoughts about the proposal. As of now my mind is open and I don't know where we're going to go. We're going to talk to other counties we're going to talk to the state. We're going to do some of the things we should have done before. Coquelin said he's not even sure now if the facility is needed. Somerset County officials were hoping

to move quickly on the planet. They're dismayed by the delayed but still hopeful some agreement can be reached in Somerset County yet we do need a detention facility. It's part of our responsibilities to have a detention facility and I think that even after public the public opposition dies down which I believe will happen after a while I will see a final agreement between both counties take place on it in counties freeholders will hold another public hearing in a month. And if they decide not to go ahead with the project Somerset County may have to build the facility by itself. There's still a chance the two counties can agree to build the facility together but that depends largely on whether hundred and county officials can convince themselves and county residents that a juvenile detention center is needed here in hundred in county. I'm Steve Katz. And here's a look at our weather forecast not to be cloudy and mild with a chance of some showers by morning the temperature in the low 40s that range should end by tomorrow afternoon the temperature will remain mild the high near 60. Now the outlook for Thursday fair and mild.

Do. You. Know what this thing. Yes yes yes. Yeah I. Was fine. Earlier in our newscast we reported that New Jersey Transit had decided the state should take over operations of commuter rail lives new responsibility could bring many new headaches to the state and its paying commuters can't as with end can be the state transportation commissioner who may have to find a cure for some of those ills.

Thank you Don. Commissioner Canby you said today at your news conference that the state takeover of the Conrail commuter line was contingent on the fact that the state would come would be guaranteed the additional 15 or so million dollars from the federal government on top of the sixteen point six million which has already been guaranteed. Did the deadline requirements allow for that kind of leeway or is in fact the deal finalized at this time and if the state doesn't get that additional federal funding will have to come up with the money. Well we've. Sent a letter to Secretary Lewis and Dave Marston who's the head of Amtrak commuter. Indicating that we would be willing to and we are ready to take over the service assuming that we. Can get the full amount of transition costs that we think will need to do it. We've also made it clear that we don't feel bad by. My letter. If those funds are not forthcoming.

So if they are not forthcoming then the additional money is not available. Where would the state be. And that at that point. Well we're in the middle now of negotiating with the Federal Department of Transportation and I think that's the course we need to keep our sights on at the moment. Traditionally the job of running the railroads has belong to the private sector. What kind of experience does the state have to successfully run a railroad and I put the emphasis on successfully because there are some critics who say that the government can't even run itself in New Jersey. Well I think it's important to understand that right now we are contracting with Conrail for the operation of our commuter rail network in the state. And it is our hope and we will be proceeding over the next few months to talk with the Conrail workforce and hopefully the vast majority of those people will shift from Conrail to New Jersey transit so the

actual operation of the train system will continue as we see it today with the by and large the same people who are running it and they've been doing quite an excellent job. We've had days in the recent past where 100 percent of our trains have been on time and that's because the Conrail employees are out there making it happen. And we see no reason why they should not continue. Operating those trains. With New Jersey Transit as the operator with the takeover one of the biggest jobs that New Jersey Transit will have will be in dealing with the labor unions. There are some 16 unions I believe who represent some 3000 workers. Does the state have the kind of personnel that's necessary to deal with the unions. Well one of the things we'll be doing in the next few weeks is putting together a top flight team of people to give us the

depth of that we need and don't have within our own organization. Just very briefly commissioner can be will the state takeover mean and what will it mean I should say for the average commuter who gets on that train every morning and commutes to his place of work. Will he see any changes will he see any improvements in service. Well first of all we will be working to make sure that come the first of January the trains will be running and will be running as well as they are today. I think that's a very achievable goal. Secondly I think that. Since we now own all of the equipment we own all of the rights of way with the exception of the northeast corridor between Trenton and New York and all of the station facilities we're now bringing in the third link if you will control over the operations and that will give us the opportunity we believe to improve

the service over time over the course of this summer we'll be introducing substantial amounts of new equipment. I'm going to have to cut you off because we are out of time thank you for being with us Commissioner Canby. And when we come back Bill Perry will have sports. A. OK catch your breath everybody with her is here with sports. William. OK Don I've got an educated guess

tonight and I expect Seton Hall to name its a new basketball coach this week. But Gary Williams the top candidate who may also now figure in the Boston College picture because Dr. Tom Davis has left D.C. for Stanford so really who knows OK St. Peters Bobcat a PC grad may also enter the picture at Boston College to research grants will stay put at Rutgers as coach of the champion a lady Scarlet Knights Rutgers as you know won the eight IAW national title Sunday our trip to Gasper US has more. When asked what she does differently from all the other college coaches Teresa Grant said I pray harder and those prayers were answered on Sunday as the lady knights won their first ever national championship defeating Texas 83 77 yesterday what has brought a victory in Holland and there was the traditional bell ringing ceremony one chime. There were 25 seniors Mary and Patty Cornell talked about the end of their college careers and about the greatest one of their lives I thought it would happen a lot sooner we had so much town the last four years.

But if any time in my senior year we shared everything to share this to that's just one more thing. Patti Cornell played the best game of her career scoring 30 points. She was named the tournaments most valuable player. And what is Theresa grants have to say about that first place trophy. I hate second place trophy. Oh I hate them and you know don't we get them just ruler you know. But I've often looked at the championship trophies as a coach and for one to be great I'd love to see a team out there. You know one of my teams go out and get one. And they did at Rutgers. I'm Trisha Gasper us. Imagine a newspaper guy trying to quote it when you saw her. It's likely the AI A.W. will go the way of the dinosaur but rector's despite losing 6 senior should be tough in the next year grants has recruited well for high school Americans have already signed with Rutgers the National Football League will hold its college draft four weeks from now last night. Giants general manager George Young was my guest on sports insight Young's been evaluating the players but unlike

his first three drafts he's not sure he'll get a blue chip for the Giants got Phil Simms with the eighth pick on the first round three years ago. Mark Ames with the seventh pick two years ago and Lawrence Taylor with the second pick last year but this year the Giants will get the 18th player on the first round. So you'd figure Young would maybe answer this question. If you should be able to answer this question George because you don't have the first pick in the draft last year you had the second pick in the draft I can understand you want to be a little invasive but if you had the number one pick in the college draft this year who would you take. Come on George. Why can't you answer not come I can answer that because if I like a running back I don't want to talk about a running back and somebody's going to take that we might hope it may survive because you really follow that thing well because there isn't a George Rogers in and you have to honor Campbell or somebody like that so I don't want to talk about I don't want to mention the name of a running back that somebody made you know there may be something there for it but Giants Coach Ray Perkins will name names.

Or you can name a lot of names as far as running backs and there Nelson as the Marcus Allen say Walter Abercrombie as the General Riggs and people like that which will fall from Issue time you know you can name six great running backs. I mean it will go in the first round I don't know whether we'll get one or whether we'll draft one of the first round I can't answer that I would like to get I'd like to come out of the draft with a good running back. You're young right Perkins That's our Sports. Thanks a lot Bill. That's also our news for cannot end a Bill Perry andan cards wishing you a good night. New Jersey likely new this is a joint presentation of the New Jersey network and W in 1813. The program is broadcast on weeknights at 6:30 on Channel 13 and 7:30 on the New Jersey network. There is a repeat broadcast at 10:00 p.m. on the New Jersey network and at 8:00 the

following morning on Channel 13. Portions record. Why.