Northfield Cemetery
The sale and subsequent demolition of the Northfield Baptist Church has led to numerous problems, most glaringly, a large vacant lot at the corner of South Livingston Avenue and East Northfield Road. After the purchaser abandoned plans to develop the property, the site has been the topic of much consternation among residents.
Since the dissolution of the Northfield Baptist congregation and the death of its pastor, the Rev. Peter Picos, in 2022, an ancillary question has arisen as to who is now responsible for the maintenance of the nearby Northfield Cemetery. The historic burying ground on West Northfield Road, dating to Colonial times, had been established by Northfield Baptist Church, and was formally deeded in 1811 to the church by the congregant who owned the land. For more than two centuries, the congregation has taken care of the cemetery. Now, the graveyard – the final resting place of many notable Livingston settlers – is in limbo.
This issue was first brought up in 2021, when some residents and town officials noted that they were unsure who would care for the cemetery after the church was demolished. At that time, some in town offered to pick up the mantle. When the Tribune wrote about this development, however, Pastor Picos wrote the paper to say that, while the sale of the church property was used to help fund buildings for two Bolivian congregations, Northfield Baptist still had a practicing congregation that would maintain the church. That was nearly two years ago, however, and, following his passing last year, the question of who will care for the cemetery is once again at the forefront.
At a meeting earlier this month, Council members discussed the matter, unsure of who is currently caring for the property. If there is nobody left to contact about it, the town should designate a community organization to take on the maintenance. Perhaps this would be another Livingston congregation, the Livingston Historical Society, or one of the town’s many service organizations or scouting groups.
The Northfield Cemetery is an important piece of this community’s history, and it deserves to have some basic upkeep at least once per season. We expect, should the town formally request it, that there would be no shortage of people, groups, and organizations willing to step up. Hopefully, this can be done soon.
Board of Education
Last week, Fang Gong became the first resident to throw her hat in the ring for the open seat on Livingston Public School’s Board of Education, which is up for election this November. We are thrilled to see a resident step up and mount a campaign. From what we hear, she will not be the last to do so, but as of press time this week, the Essex County clerk’s office said that Gong is the only person that has filed a petition to seek a three-year term on the Board.
Still, we hope to see at least one more qualified person enter the contest. Those interested still have until 4 p.m. on Monday, July 31, to file a petition. The forms can be downloaded and printed by going to www.essexclerk.com. For information on what is needed to file, see the New Jersey School Boards Association’s candidate kit at www.njsba.org. The kit also includes details about nominating petitions, legal qualifications for school board candidacy, the role of the school board member, and information about the New Jersey School Ethics Act.
All Livingston residents benefit from the exceptional quality of the township’s schools, whether it’s the top-ranking education their children receive or the increased value of their homes because of the outstanding education that is offered. Since all residents benefit from our schools, not just the families of students who attend them, it is worth mentioning that any residents may run for the position, not just parents of students in the district.
As it is for any public office, running for the Board of Education is not a decision to be taken lightly. Qualified candidates need to be involved and should be up to speed on what’s happening in the school district. A candidate should understand that the responsibility is not to administer the schools, but to work with the professional staff to see that the schools are well run and fiscally responsible. A successful Board member must listen to opposing views and be able to explain the board’s philosophies. There is no pay for the position, which requires a significant time commitment.
The legal requirements to be a member of the Board of Education are minimal. One must be able to read and write; have citizenship and one year’s residency in the district; have no contract with or claim against the Board; not hold office as mayor or member of the Township Council; and be a qualified, registered voter in the district. That should cast a net wide enough to include most adults in town.
We have said it before: we believe there is great value in having a contested election. When there are multiple candidates vying for positions, the dialogue produced can help educate the public about issues facing the school district. Forums such as the League of Women Voters’ Candidates’ Night – which is not held if there is an uncontested election – provide an opportunity for members of the community to express their opinions, ask questions, and get answers to issues that concern them.
In a matter of days, we will know exactly who will be seeking a spot on Livingston’s Board of Education. For the benefit of the community, we hope this election is not decided before it even begins.
