WEST AMWELL: Group home idea may meet affordable housing goal

By John Tredrea, Special Writer
WEST AMWELL — The Township Committee is investigating the possibility of having a group home in the township as way to help it comply with the state mandate to provide affordable housing units, township Clerk Lora Olsen said Monday.
No final decisions have been made yet on whether to try to have a group home in the township, what type of home it might be or where such a home might be located, she said.
The committee discussed the issue with Barbara Walsh, who advised the committee on affordable housing matters, at its Feb. 22 meeting.
There is some time pressure on the township to commit money in its affordable housing trust fund. Ms. Olsen said if no commitment is made before July 5, the state may take the money in the fund.
It isn’t necessary, officials said, for actual provision of new affordable housing units to be provided before July 5. However, some commitment to do so must be made before July 5 if the township is to avoid the chance of the state taking the money fund.
In other business, Ms. Olsen said, the committee sent back to the Planning Board an ordinance on some renewable energy facilities in the township. The measure, which had been reviewed in writing by the board, was scheduled for a public hearing and adoption vote on the 22nd. However, the committee opted to send it back for further reworking of the language.
The board reviewed the proposed ordinance after the committee introduced it on first reading last month.
Also at the meeting, the committee voted unanimously to adopt an ordinance that amends maps and other portions of the township’s flood damage ordinance in order to put them into conformity with requests made by FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Administration).
The committee also authorized Ms. Olsen to re-bid the job of replacing a portion of the roof on the West Amwell firehouse at 24 Mt. Airy Road. The all-volunteer company was formed in 1949.
The committee noted work on trimming trees back from PSE&G power lines will continue through March or April. The work is being done on roads throughout the township by Lewis Tree Service.
West Amwell Township is expected to put a bin on municipal property for the collection of used clothing, Ms. Olsen said Friday. Money raised from the clothing will help support the DARE (Drug Awareness Resistance Education) program run by the township Police Department. DARE programs have been run in that manner in municipalities throughout the state for many years. Installing the bin for the DARE program was discussed at the Jan. 25 Township Committee meeting.
Also at that meeting, the committee renewed for three years its agreement with the firm, Colgate, on single stream recycling collection in the township.
Ms. Olsen said the committee also is moving ahead with inspection of road signs on Federal Road. The signs may be changed to put them into conformity with state regulations.
The committee reminded residents 2012 dog licenses were supposed to be purchased by Jan. 31 at the latest.