MILLSTONE — A proposed amendment to the township’s animal control ordinance will bring its disposition of fees into consistency with state statutes.
The ordinance, introduced at the April 6 Township Committee meeting, will have a public hearing on May 4.
The proposed ordinance states that license fees and other monies collected shall be forwarded to the township treasurer within 30 days, and placed in a separate account for certain purposes, such as “collecting, keeping and disposing of dogs liable to seizure” as per the township’s general ordinances; local prevention and control of rabies; and providing anti-rabies treatment for any person known or suspected to be exposed to rabies.
The township will have to keep any unexpended balances in the special account for three fiscal years and can only use the money for the ordinance’s purposes. At the end of the third fiscal year and any of the following fiscal years, funds may be transferred from the special account to the township’s general funds if the amount in the special account exceeds the total amount paid into it “during the last two fiscal years next preceding.”
The township’s current ordinance states that the municipal court can declare a dog to be potentially dangerous if there is clear and convincing evidence that the dog killed another domestic animal. The proposed ordinance would allow the court to declare a dog to be potentially dangerous if there is evidence that it “severely injured” another domestic animal.
In other business, the governing body awarded the 2011 curbside spring cleanup contract to Central Jersey Waste and Recycling for $11,995, or an $80 per-ton disposal fee. The contract for tennis and basketball court improvements at Rocky Brook Park was awarded to Racquet Shop for $29,950. The 2011 fertilization and chemical program contract for Wagner Farm, Rocky Brook, Abate Park, Millstone Park at Lee Farm, Brandywine Park, the municipal building, Veterans Memorial, the courthouse, community center and First Methodist Church was awarded to Tru- Green L.P. in the amount of $23,700.