STOCKTON: Firehouse addition OK under ordinance

By John Tredrea, Special Writer
   STOCKTON — An amendment to Stockton’s land use ordinance that will allow an addition to the town’s firehouse was adopted by Borough Council at its Aug. 13 meeting, Clerk Michele Hovan said Monday.
   She said the council is expected to introduce, at its September meeting, an ordinance on bulk requirements that also would pertain to a firehouse addition.
   Bulk requirements cover the length, width and height of buildings, the distance they may be from property lines and other factors.
   Ms. Hovan said the fire department has not yet filed a formal application for site plan approval of the addition.
   The council also:
   — Agreed to extend, until Aug. 20 (Monday), the grace period for payment of third-quarter property taxes. Without that extension, the grace period would have ended Aug. 10. Those who did make payments by Monday now face penalties.
   — Agreed to renew, through the end of 2013, its participation in the South Hunterdon chapter of the Municipal Alliance. Several other South Hunterdon towns are members of this Alliance chapter, as well. A nationwide organization with many local and regional chapters, the Alliance works to discourage substance abuse by young people.
   EXPECTED to begin soon is painting on interior and exterior portions of Borough Hall, Ms. Hovan said. The courtroom is one of the areas that will get some new paint. The job will cost about $1,200, Ms. Hovan said.
   The council’s Buildings and Grounds Committee is working on color schemes and other aspects of the job, she said.
   With three members absent from the Aug. 13 meeting, the council decided to defer, until its September meeting, discussion of a road improvement project on Wilson Drive.
   The work will be funded by a grant from the state Department of Transportation (DOT). Each year, DOT grants cover improvements to municipal roads in towns and cities throughout the state.
   Also deferred until the September meeting, Ms. Hovan said, was a discussion of sewer billing issues.