ROBBINSVILLE: News briefs

By Joanne Degnan, Managing Editor
New lease OK’d
for town’s offices 
   The Robbinsville Township Council on June 9 unanimously approved a resolution authorizing a new three-year lease agreement for the township’s municipal offices inside the Sharbell office building at 1 Washington Blvd.
   The township will pay $158,140 for the first year of the lease; $160,512 for the second year; and $163,279 for the third year, the resolution states. The township also has the option to extend the lease for two additional one-year terms at a cost of $166,442 for year four and $170,000 for year five.
   All township offices, except police, fire, public works and the courts, are now located in 8,000-square-feet of leased office space at 1 Washington Blvd.
   The township-owned municipal building at 1117 Route 130 was damaged in a 2005 flood and never reopened due to a mold infestation. Township officials have said it’s cheaper to tear the building down than to remediate and repair it.
   An ordinance was introduced at the council’s May 23 meeting that, if enacted, would appropriate $103,000 from the township’s capital improvement fund to demolish the 88-year-old former municipal building.
   The public hearing on the ordinance that appropriates the funds to raze the old municipal building is set for 7:30 p.m. on June 23.
Town to receive
two park grants 
   The Robbinsville Township Council gave the go-ahead June 9 for the administration to execute agreements with the county for two recreation grants totaling $206,394 to help pay for projects at Tantum Park and Community Park.
   The “Mercer at Play” grants require the township to provide a 50 percent local match for the two projects that total $468,099. The township paperwork submitted to the county in March states that it already has the matching funds on hand.
   The $110,618 project at Tantum Park on Meadowbrook Road includes improvements to the girls’ softball field at Field T-4, including benches, bleachers, picnic tables, fencing, lighting, a storage shed, batting cage and playground. The county is providing a $55,309 county grant toward the project.
   The $357,481 project for Community Park on West Manor Way and Gordon Road where the township’s soccer and lacrosse teams play, includes a 2,400-square-foot field house with a kitchen/concession stand, indoor bathrooms, and meeting room. The field house would be built on the west side closest to West Manor Way and the parking lot there will have lights installed for the first time.
   The plans also include an underground sprinkler system and lighting for three new athletic fields under development on the east side of the park closest to the Turnpike. The county grant for Community Park is for $151,085.
   There are more than 600 children who participate in the township’s Little League and softball programs, which play their games at Tantum Park. A total of 1,000 youth soccer players and 300 lacrosse players use the fields at Community Park, according to the Mercer at Play grant application submitted to the county.
Green energy
panel created 
   The Robbinsville Township Council voted June 9 to create a new Citizens’ Energy Conservation Advisory Committee tasked with studying whether it is feasible for the township to utilize alternate “green” energy.
   Councilman Rich Levesque had recommended the creation of the advisory committee, which will have five voting members and a council liaison.
   The mayor will appoint the committee members with the advice and consent of the Township Council. Members will serve one-year terms that begin July 1.
   The advisory committee will be responsible for studying the feasibility of implementing alternative forms of energy in the township, including solar, wind and biofuel and then make recommendations to the mayor and council. The committee will also be charged with educating the public about the benefits of alternative forms of energy.
PRMS assistant
principal leaving 
   Assistant Principal Michael DeTuro is leaving his job at Pond Road Middle School in Robbinsville effective June 30 to take a position as a principal in the Mahwah School District in Bergen County, school district officials said.
   The Board of Education accepted Mr. DeTuro’s resignation at its May 31 meeting. Schools Superintendent Steve Mayer said the next day that the district is currently conducting interviews with several finalists for the assistant principal position and hoped to make a hiring decision by the end of June.
   ”It’s a terrific opportunity for Mike, but obviously we’re sad that he’s leaving us,” Mr. Mayer said.
   The Pond Road Middle School is the district’s largest school, serving 1,150 students in grades 4 through 8. The advertised salary for the position is $93,600.