Township briefs

By Audrey Levine Staff Writer
County OKs GSA purchase
   Township officials announced at the Oct. 14 meeting that the Somerset County Board of Chosen Freeholders approved three resolutions Oct. 7 concerning the purchase of the General Services Administration Belle Mead Depot.
   ”This is a true shared service we have with the county,” Mayor Anthony Ferrera said. “Other than a few people, everyone is very excited about the purchase.”
   According to Township Clerk Kevin Davis, the first of the approved resolutions was one to account for the joint management of the cost, remediation and development between the township and county.
   The second resolution, Mr. Davis said, approved the shared purchase offer of $15.7 million. The final resolution approves the escrow agreement to place about $11.8 million in an account to pay for the estimated cost of the cleanup, with the remaining about $4 million to be placed in a second account for additional funding that might be needed for the cleanup.
   Mr. Davis said the GSA has acknowledged that the federal government would be responsible if additional funds are needed to clean the property.
Radio tower deal approved
   The Township Committee unanimously approved an ordinance concerning an agreement with the township and Omnipoint Communications for a ground lease in Hillsborough.
   The ordinance also sets a date for rental payments to begin with the requirement for the company to pay back payments to November 2007, when construction on the cell tower began.
   Mayor Anthony Ferrera and Committeewoman Lisa Nisivoccia abstained from the vote because of a conflict of interest. Both work for AT&T, which recently instituted a policy that requires its employees who are also members of township government to abstain from votes on cell tower leases or other similar matters for all phone companies, including those not owned by AT&T.
   The lease with Omnipoint Communications was originally approved in October 2006, to provide the company with ground space for the construction of a telecommunications tower. The company had planned to begin paying rent for the land when the cell tower became operational this year, but Township Attorney Albert Cruz led negotiations to change the date for beginning payment.
   The back pay totals $11,800, and will be deposited in the township’s general fund.
Sign ordinance changes pass
   In an attempt to comply with standards set in the newest amendments to the township’s sign ordinance, the Township Committee unanimously approved an ordinance to change regulations for signs in the new Gateway A and B districts, and the Town Center zones.
   ”This is an update of the sign regulations in line with what we have done already,” Township Planner Bob Ringelheim said.
   The regulations increase the sign sizes to 30 square feet from 20 square feet. In addition, they are not to exceed 8 feet in height. The regular sign ordinance, on the other hand, allows signs to be 40 square feet.
   The size of wall signs is also being increased from 10 square feet to 20 square feet, and sidewalk signs have been increased in size from 4 square feet to 8 square feet.
   In addition, the ordinance states that light sources cannot exceed a height of 15 feet.
   Mr. Ringelheim has said that the main goal of the ordinance changes is to distinguish the Gateway districts and Town Center from the other sections of the township.
Artistic uses approved
   The Township Committee unanimously approved an ordinance to permit art galleries, studios and other related businesses in the Town Center Zone on Route 206, between Amwell Road and Andria Drive, and on Amwell Road near Route 206, as well as the Gateway A and B districts, which adjoin and extend out from the Town Center.
   These uses would allow the building of art studios for the creation of work, art education classes and galleries where pieces can be exhibited and sold.
   In addition, Bob Ringelheim, township planner, has said that the ordinance amends the township code to allow for the developing of commercial instructional schools that are not run by the Board of Education, including karate and driver’s education.
   Mr. Ringelheim has said that the ordinance was developed after a local artist approached the township about six months ago with the desire to open an art studio, which was not accounted for in the current township code.
Easement accepted
   The Township Committee unanimously approved an ordinance to accept a triangle easement from Somerset County through Country Classics in the Millstone Valley.
   This easement is at Amsterdam Road, which is owned by the township.
   According to the ordinance, Amsterdam Road was originally intended to become a county road, but that intent never came into fruition, so the easement is being transferred over to the township’s care.
Design committee may be expanded
   In order to gain additional input from residents, the Township Committee unanimously approved the introduction of an ordinance to amend the township’s code concerning the Architectural and Site Design Advisory Subcommittee.
   According to the ordinance, if approved, the committee will gain two additional members of the public to be appointed by the mayor.
   Mayor Anthony Ferrera said the committee currently has three members and two alternates, but the ordinance would allow it to have five members and two alternates.
   Currently, the members of the committee are professionals in architecture and design fields, but the two new members will just be from the general public.
   ”The additional two can be anyone from town,” Deputy Mayor Frank DelCore said.
   ”It will be good to have a couple of people from the public at large,” Mayor Ferrera added.
Township joins credit union
   The Township Committee unanimously approved a resolution to authorize the grant of a concession to the Financial Resources Federal Credit Union, on New Amwell Road, to offer membership in the union to Hillsborough township employees for a period of two years.
   ”This resolution permits the business to offer membership to township employees,” Mayor Anthony Ferrera said.
   According to the resolution, the membership will not incur any costs for the township itself.
Einstein’s Alley initiative OK’d
   To continue to promote business in Hillsborough, the Township Committee unanimously approved a resolution to endorse the Einstein’s Alley initiative in town.
   ”Anything to promote economic development is great,” Mayor Anthony Ferrera said.
   Einstein’s Alley is a non-profit initiative in Central Jersey that aims to increase economic growth. Representatives from the organization spoke about the initiative at the Sept. 9 committee meeting.
   For municipalities, the program sponsors the placement of signs around town to demonstrate that the community is part of Einstein’s Alley, and that it supports innovative technology-based industry.
   According to the resolution, 10 Einstein’s Alley Hi Tech Corridor signs will be placed on the roadways throughout the township at a cost of $100. The cost will be paid for by contributions from local businesses.
Appointments approved
   The Township Committee unanimously approved a resolution to authorize various staff actions and appointments.
   First, the committee approved an extension of Department of Public Works employee Thomas Winchatz’s unpaid leave until Dec. 31, 2008. Mr. Winchatz had initially requested the leave from July 20 through Oct. 11.
   Also included in the resolution is the hiring of Robert MacMaster and David Greenhill as part-time electrical inspectors in the Construction Department. The contract states that they will receive $28 per hour for working no more than 29 hours per week.
Computers purchased
   The Township Committee unanimously approved a resolution to allow for the purchase of Dell computer equipment from Dell Marketing, L.P. under state contract at a total cost of $20,607.43.
   According to the resolution, the township will purchase four Dell Desktop Computers, and additional equipment for the police department.