By Nicole M. Wells, Special Writer
CRANBURY — The Township Committee unanimously voted to introduce bond ordinance 11-14-11 during Monday night’s meeting, which would supplement prior ordinance 5-11-12 to finish the Brainerd Lake dam project.
According to a copy of the ordinance, the township would appropriate $88,000 for the purpose of obtaining an easement at 1 North Main Street to complete the project.
The sum of $4,400 is included in the appropriation as a down payment, in accordance with local bond law, according to the ordinance.
The township would also authorize the issuance of $83,600 in bonds or notes to finance part of the cost not covered by the down payment, as per the ordinance.
When it came time to approve consent resolutions, Committeeman Dan Mulligan requested to take resolution R 11-14-129 separately from the others on the agenda, which relates to the issuance of the proposed bond ordinance.
There was initially confusion among the members of the public present, regarding what the committee was discussing, as the agenda item listed the property in question by lot number, as opposed to address.
"We had to pay for easements on that property (1 North Main Street) so that we could do the work to reinforce the property around their home to make their property more stable to better improve their property," Mr. Mulligan said. "It made it very costly and time-consuming for us."
According to Township Administrator and Chief Financial Officer Denise Marabello, the township is paying to replace landscaping that was damaged or dismantled during the dam project with the proposed ordinance.
Responding to a question from a member of the public, Mayor Susan Goetz said that had the committee not settled and agreed to pay for the easement, the township would have had to go to court to settle the dispute.
"This is something none of us are happy with," she said. "This was not an easy decision."
She added that the committee’s legal counsel advised it that settling was the best route to take for the town.
Committeeman Johnson was not present for the meeting and did not vote.
The second reading and public hearing for the proposed ordinance will be held on Dec. 8 at 7 pm. at Town Hall.

