MANALAPAN — The Township Committee has adopted a bond ordinance that will provide funding for road work, the purchase of equipment and the completion of several municipal improvement projects.
The ordinance was adopted in a 5-0 vote during the committee’s April 23 meeting.
Officials appropriated $2.86 million for the work and the equipment, and authorized the issuance of $1.74 million in bonds and notes to finance a portion of the costs. They reappropriated $550,000 in excess bond proceeds that were not needed for their original purposes in order to finance the cost of road work and buildings and grounds improvements.
The improvements consist of:
Road, curbing and paving improvements, and road work in the Yorktowne and Monmouth Heights developments, and the replacement of a catch basin.
The acquisition of capital equipment, including a tandem dump truck, an asphalt roller, a pickup truck, a 2013 Ford F150 4×4 pickup truck, defibrillators, and E-Ticket systems.
Improvements to municipal properties, including Manalapan Community Center renovations including door access and lot repaving, the Town Hall project, including concrete walks and paving, the construction of a retaining wall on Alexandria Drive, the New Beginning playground, and field renovations.
Technology information upgrades, including the acquisition of computer work stations and the upgrade of the telephone system.
In other business, the committee voted 5-0 to adopt an ordinance that will permit outdoor dining at certain restaurants in Manalapan.
According to the ordinance, the township recognizes that the allowance of outdoor dining facilities will stimulate public interest, benefit economic productivity, provide an aesthetically pleasing atmosphere in the business community and promote the general welfare of residents,
A business owner who wishes to provide outdoor dining will be required to obtain a license from the township and to obtain minor site plan approval from the Planning Board. The initial license fee will be $100 and the annual renewal fee will be $100. Outdoor dining will be permitted between April 1 and Oct. 31.
During the public hearing on the ordinance, resident Rhoda Chodosh asked if a barrier would be placed around an outdoor dining area to separate it from an adjacent parking lot in order to prevent a car from entering the dining area.
Township Attorney Roger McLaughlin said a barrier separating a parking lot from an outdoor dining area is required. He said that aspect of the application would be addressed during the Planning Board’s review of the business owner’s request for outdoor dining accommodations.
Finally, the committee voted 5-0 to adopt an ordinance that creates a “no knock” list as it regards commercial and noncommercial solicitors. Residents will be permitted to give their address to the municipal clerk and request that it be placed on the “no knock” list.
When a solicitor notifies the municipal clerk that he is going to be soliciting door to door, he will be provided with the addresses of residents who have indicated they do not want a solicitor to come to their door.
Solicitors will only be provided with the addresses of homes they may not approach. They will not be provided with the names of residents on the “no knock” list.
Contact Mark Rosman at [email protected].