By Frank Mustac, Contributor
Applicants for major developments in Hopewell Township will now be charged a fee to review storm water management plans.
The Township Committee passed an ordinance on Monday requiring developers to place $500 into an escrow account to pay for a review.
Voting in favor of the measure were Mayor Kevin Kuchinski and Committee members Todd Brant, Vanessa Sandom and Julie Blake. Committeeman John Hart cast the lone vote against the ordinance.
Township Administrator Paul Pogorzelski said the new fee followed more stringent storm water management permitting requirements mandated by the state, which require the township to hire consultants to help with the review process.
“In fairness, it should not be the general taxpayer that picks up that fee,” Mr. Pogozelski said.
Before voting, Mr. Hart said he disagrees with the ordinance.
“We’ve had these issues many, many times in the 20 years I’ve been here, and we’ve always addressed the issues and had them done right and taken care of the neighbors as far as development goes,” he said. “I’ve seen many applications where we put that development in and someone has some runoff problems and we address it and they come back and say they’re fine.”
Mike Pisauro, policy director with the environmental advocacy group the Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association, spoke in favor of the ordinance at the Sept. 26 meeting.
“Having adequate professional review of storm water management plans is vital,” he said. “Often the impact on properties and all the downstream properties is not fully understood because no one took the time to look at those plans and really understand them.”
Mr. Pisano said he has seen residents throughout the area complaining of new flooding conditions following various development projects “time and time again.”
In other news, the Township Committee discussed the prospect of hiring a senior services coordinator.
A general description of the coordinator’s duties is to develop and implement a program and services for the seniors citizens of Hopewell Valley.
Mr. Pogorzelski updated committee members on the hiring process being proposed by township’s senior advisory board to interview candidates.
“They asked for permission essentially for the entire senior advisory board to conduct interviews of the best candidates and then make a recommendation,” he said. “They felt fairly strongly because they said they are the individuals who will be working with that particular person whoever it may be.”
Mayor Kuchinski said that since “there are some township concerns and considerations” involved, he would like to see either Mr. Pogorzelski, Robert English from the township Health Department and perhaps a subcommittee of the township committee also be involved in the interview process.
Mr. Pogorzelski said he would communicate with the senior advisory board and inform them of the comments made by the township committee.
The senior services coordinator job is a full-time position with a 35-hour work week. The position comes with an annual salary of $63,195, according to the township’s job posting. The ad does not indicate the value of benefits the coordinator would receive.
Earlier this year, Capital Health System offered a $31,000 grant that will go toward funding the salary and benefits for the next senior coordinator.
Although the senior services coordinator will be an employee of Hopewell Township, the boroughs of Pennington and Hopewell have formally made commitments to provide $5,000 each as part of a shared services agreement with the Township for a senior services coordinator for 2016.
