Township Committee to vote on three ordinances tonight

Public works equipment and improvements to municipal buildings and grounds are covered by a $1.244 million bond ordinance scheduled for an adoption vote by the Hopewell Township Committee tonight

By: John Tredrea
   Public works equipment and improvements to municipal buildings and grounds are covered by a $1.244 million bond ordinance scheduled for an adoption vote by the Hopewell Township Committee tonight.
   The ordinance was introduced by a unanimous committee vote Sept. 6. As with any ordinance, a public hearing must precede the committee’s adoption vote, as is required by state law.
   Under the ordinance, the committee could appropriate $1,310,000 — this money to be raised by the $1.244 million municipal bond issuance the ordinance will authorize if adopted, as expected, tonight.
   Items that could be purchased under the bond ordinance include two dump trucks, one pick-up truck, a brake lathe, a 12-foot enclosed trailer, a street sweeper and road grader, all for public works, for a total of $622,500. Another $275,000 could be spent for a 2,000-ton salt storage dome, $75,000 for electrical service for a storage building, and $25,000 to upgrade a truck lift in the public works building. The salt that would be stored in the dome is of the type used on icy roads during the winter.
   Also scheduled for public hearings and adoption votes at tonight’s committee meeting are two capital expenditure ordinances, both introduced by a unanimous committee vote Sept. 6.
   Covered by one of the ordinances is the appropriation of $78,500, for items including: two mobile data terminal units, not to exceed $20,000; a municipal court video-conferencing center, not to exceed $15,000; a double-axled trailer, not to exceed $5,000; a brake lathe, not to exceed $7,500; a HVAC system, for the sign department of township public works, not to exceed $9,000; and up to $10,000 for a study on septic and sewer issues.
   Covered by the other capital improvement ordinance is appropriation of $11,400 from the township’s water utility fund, for: a chlorine monitor, not to exceed $6,000; the replacement of chemical feed pumps, not to exceed $900; the purchase of a pH (used to measure acidity) monitor, not to exceed $2,000, and purchase of a generator, not to exceed $2,500.