By Audrey Levine, Staff Writer
Design subcommittee membership altered
The Township Committee unanimously approved an ordinance Tuesday to change a previous ordinance concerning the Architectural and Site Design Advisory Subcommittee in an effort to increase resident involvement.
”This adjusts the composition by putting residents as alternates,” Mayor Frank DelCore said.
With this change, the committee will still be made up of one member of the Township Committee, one member of the Economic and Business Development Commission, one member of the Environmental Commission and two members of the public. The two new alternate members will be from the public as well, as defined by the new ordinance.
Country Classic open space accepted
The Township Committee unanimously approved an ordinance to accept a deed of dedication that transfers property in Country Classics from Van Cleef ownership to the township.
According to the ordinance, about three acres are being transferred to township ownership to be used for open space preservation.
This move was originally mandated in a resolution by the Planning Board in January 2003.
Site plan bonds reviewed
In a continued effort to assist local businesses and the township’s economy, the Township Committee unanimously approved the introduction of an ordinance to amend Hillsborough’s code and allow for businesses to post surety bonds for site improvements.
”This will reduce startup costs,” Mayor Frank DelCore said. “The commercial site can post bonds, not cash.”
By taking this step, Mayor DelCore said, the businesses can pay a smaller fee for the bond relative to the cost of a full cash deposit.
”The goal is to ensure improvements are made in a timely fashion,” he said. “This will lower costs for businesses.”
If businesses choose to go this route, he said, they will not have to post the cash deposit.
Public hearing for the ordinance will be held March 24.
Pensions plan introduced
The Township Committee unanimously approved the introduction of an ordinance that establishes those positions eligible for the Defined Contribution Retirement Program (DCRP), as detailed by the state’s Pension Reform Act of 2007.
The DCRP provides benefits to state, county and municipal officials, namely elected officials, municipal administrator, municipal prosecutor, public defender, business advocate, director of the Building Department, director of Parks and Recreation and director of Social Services.
The municipal engineer position could be eligible for the DCRP in the future, if the terms of work change to allow the engineer to become a salaried employee, rather than an hourly worker.
According to Mayor Frank DelCore, this program will apply to new hires. Those already holding these positions will remain in the Public Employee Retirement System (PERS), he said.
The ordinance states that those positions exempt from the DCRP are certified health officer, chief financial officer, construction code official, licensed uniform sub-coded inspectors, principal public works manager, qualified purchasing agent, registered municipal clerk, tax assessor, tax collector and township planner.
Those who qualify for the DCRP contribute 5.5 percent of their base salaries to a tax-deferred investment account already established by the state with Prudential Financial.
Still, Mayor DelCore said, this progam could lower costs.
”It will bring lower pension costs for civilian employees,” he said.
Public hearing for the ordinance will be held March 24.
Landfill survey planned
In an effort to move forward with the Sunnymead Landfill, the Township Committee unanimously approved a resolution to hire CME Associates to conduct a wetlands delineation aerial survey, wetland location plan, boundary survey and letter of interpretation on the site.
The contract is for an amount not to exceed $30,642.
This information, Mayor Frank DelCore said, can be given to any company investigating the environmental restrictions of the land.
”We have been advised that the survey and letter will be important in marketing,” he said. “We are looking for businesses to take responsibility for the costs and to develop it for commercial property.”
Dispatcher hired
The Township Committee unanimously approved the hiring of Tiffany Lynn Crivelli as police dispatcher, effective as of Wednesday, to replace a former dispatcher who resigned in January.
Ms. Crivelli will receive a yearly salary of $39,700.79.
Median maintenance agreements OK’d
In order to continue beautification services in Hillsborough, the Township Committee unanimously approved a resolution to enter into agreements for local median maintenance with AEV Landscaping and Right Touch Landscapes.
According to the resolution, the islands will be mowed a minimum of once a week, with the grass maintained at no less than three inches. In the summer months, the resolution states, the islands should be mowed at the same interval as private customers in the area.
This agreement comes at no cost to the township.
”We are getting close to having all medians maintained by private company,” Mayor Frank Delcore said. He said there are currently about six different companies taking care of local medians, including the ones approved in the resolution.
The agreement with AEV Landscaping and Right Touch Landscapes will last for a period from April 15, 2009 through Nov. 15, 2009.
Baseball clinic plans sought
The Township Committee unanimously approved a resolution to allow for a request for proposals for a recreation baseball summer clinic.
According to the resolution, the township’s Parks and Recreation Department does not have the staff to operate such a clinic. With this request, the township is looking for a private entity to operate, manage and administer the program.
Proposals for the clinic must be received by 10 a.m. April 9.
Plumbing official post approved
The Township Committee unanimously approved a resolution to allow Township Clerk Kevin Davis to post for the position of plumbing sub-code official.
According to the resolution, the position was vacant as of Wednesday.
Records management program approved
The Township Committee unanimously approved a resolution to authorize a collaboration with the county in the 2009-2010 Public Records Infrastructure Support (PARIS) grant program.
The program was designed by the county in an effort to support municipalities in their needs for strategic records management, preservation and storage of government files.
For the 2009-2010 grant cycle, money will be awarded to county projects for performing municipal inventories, needs assessments and strategic plans.
According to the resolution, the township’s eligible funding of $40,000 will be leveraged with the county to participate in the grant program.
Zoning for squad, fire buildings introduced
The Township Committee unanimously approved the introduction of an ordinance to amend the township’s code to permit the building of fire companies and rescue squads in the township’s residential/agricultural zones, rural/suburban, all residential (R, R1 and R2), central residential, affordable housing and planned development zones.
This change was first recommended by the Planning Board Jan. 29.
”This should allow for the establishment of fire and rescue squad buildings in residential areas,” Mayor Frank DelCore said. “A use variance will no longer be necessary for these, just a site plan.”
This change will also help the rescue squad move forward with plans for a new Hamilton Road rescue squad facility that is planned to replace the current building. Construction is being funded by a $1 million off-site improvement contribution to the township by Van Cleef Engineering, developer of the Country Classics development.
”The desire is to have the facility off Hamilton redone,” Deputy Mayor Bob Wagner said. “It is in the planning stages now. This resolution makes it easier to move forward.”
Public hearing for the ordinance will be held March 10.
Employee program contract approved
The Township Committee unanimously approved a resolution Feb. 10 to execute a contract for an employee assistance program with Charles Nechtem Associates Inc., for the period from Feb. 1, 2009, through Jan. 31, 2010.
The contract is for an amount not to exceed $3,774 based on 185 employees.
According to Mayor Frank DelCore, this program has been used by the township in the past.
Committee opposes Alliance bill
In the hopes of saving the local Municipal Alliance to Prevent Substance Abuse, the Township Committee unanimously approved a resolution to oppose a recently introduced bill that proposes the transfer of the Governor’s Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, as well as control of the Drug Enforcement Demand Reduction Fund, to the New Jersey Department of Human Services.
”Taking this service out of the local hands would not be in the best interests of the community,” Mayor Frank DelCore said.
Lisa Gulla, of the Hillsborough Township Municipal Alliance, said that, if the bill were to pass, the alliance’s funds would be handled by Human Services, and the government would hand out grants based on a competitive determination, as well as the state’s view on what each municipality needs.
”Right now, we assess our own needs and tell the state what the problems are,” she said.
If the bill is accepted, Ms. Gulla said, she believes the municipal alliances will end up disbanding within a few years.
In addition, Ms. Gulla said, in Trenton there has been discussion that if the bill is approved, all municipal alliance programs would be evidence-based, meaning they would be run by professional organizations, rather than by the “grassroots community-based” groups.
”We would only be able to use licensed companies,” she said. “These can be very expensive.”
The township is planning to send a copy of the resolution to Gov. Jon Corzine, Senate President Richard Codey, Senate Minority Leader Thomas Kean Jr., Senator Christopher Bateman, Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts, Assembly Minority Leader Alex DeCroce, Assemblyman Peter Biondi, Assemblywoman Denise Coyle and other legislators.
Police to seek Safe Corridors grant
The Township Committee unanimously approved a resolution to allow the chief of police to submit a 2009 Safe Corridors Grant application to the Department of Transportation.
According to the resolution, the township will be eligible for up to $48,000 for enforcement equipment such as radar units, GPS systems, protective vests and communication equipment.
Township to share health services
The Township Committee unanimously approved a resolution Feb. 10 to allow for the execution of an interlocal health services agreement between Hillsborough and Millstone Borough.
This agreement is for health services of a technical and professional nature.

