By Audrey Levine, Staff Writer
Vehicles will be sold at auction
The Borough Council unanimously approved a resolution Nov. 23 to auction a dump truck owned by the Department of Public Works.
Council President Sue Asher and Councilman Ted Petrock were not at the meeting.
According to the resolution, the truck is no longer needed for use, and will be part of an auction for surplus equipment and vehicles that will be scheduled by the Somerset County Purchasing Department.
Also approved was a second resolution to auction a 1995 Ford Bronco that is no longer needed by the Manville Police Department.
Positions will be advertised
In view of the upcoming reorganization meeting for 2010, the Borough Council unanimously approved a resolution last week to advertise certain offices and positions as being open for the coming year.
Those chosen to fill the positions will be determined through the fair and open process.
Among the positions open are municipal attorney, bond attorney, COAH litigation attorney, redevelopment attorney, special projects engineers, environmental engineer, architect, planner, municipal auditor and Section 8 housing administrator.
The positions will be appointed at the upcoming reorganization meeting.
Voting district consolidation
Borough Clerk Phil Petrone asked, with the council’s approval, to contact the Somerset County Board of Elections with a request to move all polling districts to the Veterans of Foreign Wars, on Washington Avenue, rather than having them scattered throughout the borough.
The council unanimously approved the action.
According to Borough Administrator Gary Garwacke, they lost one polling place after the recreation center in Lost Valley burned down in 2006, and the VFW itself is large enough to fit all the machines.
”We are one of the few towns with that large centrally located building,” he said.
If the locations were all moved to the VFW, Mr. Garwacke said, it would allow all poll workers to be in the same place, thereby increasing the ability to contact them in the case of any problems.
In addition, Mr. Garwacke said, the fees for the rental of the space would go directly to the VFW, which could always use the extra funds.
”Right now, polling districts get money for renting,” Mr. Petrone said. “In this way, the VFW would get the money.”
Mr. Petrone said the other goal in moving polling locations to one place is to get the voting out of the schools. He said there is no need to have so many people entering the schools on Election Day while students are around and working.
”I can’t see subjecting students to that situation,” he said.