‘Dump Day’ stickers on sale
Committeeman Bob Wagner announced March 9 that coupons and senior citizen stickers for the township’s annual clean up will be available as of March 18.
According to Mr. Wagner, the coupons can be picked up at the Department of Public Works (DPW) office between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday through Friday beginning March 18, as well as at the township clerk’s office from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesdays beginning March 23.
All coupons, Mr. Wagner said, are on a first come first serve basis.
The coupons are required to be presented for drop-offs at the Auten Road facility, which will be open on the first and last Saturdays of the money from May through October.
In addition, curbside pickups will be available for senior citizens, ages 65 and older, and disabled residents, beginning the first week in May.
”Materials must have stickers on them in order to be picked up,” Mr. Wagner said.
Schedules about pick-ups and drop-offs can be found on the township Web site, police headquarters, the township clerk’s office or by calling the DPW at 908-369-3950.
In addition, Mr. Wagner requested that Township Clerk Kevin Davis provide informational fliers to the senior center to inform members about the program.
Township rethinking accepting open space parcels
The Township Committee unanimously approved two ordinances Tuesday concerning the acceptance and rejection of open space parcels in keeping with the terms of a 2003 Planning Board approval for the Toll Brother’s Hillsborough Chase non-contiguous cluster development.
Mayor Frank DelCore did not vote as he was unable to attend the meeting.
In the first ordinance, the township accepted a 42-acre property on New Centre Road, which completes the transfer of five open space parcels there. The other four parcels comprised about 60 acres on South Branch Road; about 23 acres on Orchard Drive and Packard Terrace; and 31 acres on Beekman Lane.
According to Deputy Mayor Gloria McCauley, the property on New Centre Road was in need of environmental remediation, which is why it had not yet been transferred. The remediation, she said, was completed by Toll Brothers.
”And there is a recommendation that the land be farmed,” she said.
In the second ordinance, the Township Committee opted to reject the dedication of a two-acre parcel on the corner of New Centre Road and Beekman Lane because of a concern over costs.
The Planning Board approval had included the dedication of this piece of land, but Deputy Mayor McCauley said the township was not required to accept it.
”The decision was to be made based on the circumstances at the time (it was ready),” she said. “But landscaping costs for the property would be added costs for taxpayers.”
Committeeman Carl Suraci said the township has to examine these parcels and determine if it would be worth the costs of maintenance to accept them all. Currently, he said, the township already maintains eight pocket parks and 25 pieces of open space requiring lawn care.
”Maintenance is costly, and the recommendation is that we reexamine the policy of taking over portions like this,” he said. “We will continue to maintain the pocket parks we already have, but taking on additional small properties is something that has to be examined by land use boards in the future.”
New rules for signs placed by contractors introduced
The Township Committee unanimously approved the introduction of an ordinance to authorize the adoption of the current Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways, for the purpose of regulating the work of contractors throughout Hillsborough.
According to the ordinance, it is acknowledged that traffic problems can occur when traffic is move to accommodate for street construction, maintenance operations and utility work. The control and regulations outlined in the manual help regulate this work and promote safety throughout the township.
”All contractors must meet the standards,” Deputy Mayor Gloria McCauley said. “This ordinance provides the police with the mechanisms for enforcement of the rules.”
The regulations mandate that equipment cannot be placed in a roadway or sidewalk before signs and other warning devices are installed, and allows the police to discontinue work to fix any safety hazards. In addition, traffic directors must be placed at construction and maintenance sites, and road closings must be approved by the chief of police with detour plans submitted at least two weeks prior to the start of the work, and road closure signs for drivers installed at least one week before.
Public hearing for the ordinance will be held April 13.
Recreation, parks commissions merged
As the next step in a proposal by Committeemen Anthony Ferrera and Bob Wagner to combine the Parks and Recreation commissions, the Township Committee unanimously approved the introduction of an ordinance to change the township’s code to create one Recreation and Parks Commission.
The proposal was made in early January as a way to deal with overlapping concerns and plans between the two groups, which were initially separated into two commissions in 1994.
Mr. Ferrera said there really is no need to have the two different commissions because several members are in both groups, and, often, the topics discussed overlap. Every year, he said, the township looks at all boards and commissions to determine if changes should be made.
”We are trying to streamline the process,” he said. “It is important that the groups are now one, as opposed to having liaisons going back and forth.”
With the one commission, there will be seven members and two alternates, each serving five-year terms as appointed by the mayor.
The responsibilities of the commission will include maintaining the Recreation Office, properly staffing recreation programs, scheduling the use of Board of Education facilities for activities, developing new recreation programs, formulating plans for the development of public parks, exploring the need for new facilities and providing for safety of the parks, among other duties.
Public hearing for the ordinance will be held April 13.
Affordable housing work can get fee waiver
The Township Committee unanimously approved the introduction of an ordinance to allow the construction department to waive enforcing agency fees for non-profit organizations that are constructing or rehabilitating affordable housing units.
According to the ordinance, this action is allowed by New Jersey statute.
Public hearing for the ordinance will be held April 13.
Quiet zone notification approved
With the recent completion of the quiet zones at Valley and Roycefield roads, the Township Committee unanimously approved a resolution to confirm Mayor Frank DelCore’s action in executing a notice of establishment of the zones to inform about the change.
According to the resolution, Mayor DelCore signed the notice of establishment on Feb. 24, and there is a 21-day transition period before the zones go into affect, which will finish Tuesday.
This is the final step for the completion of the two quiet zones, which are in addition to ones implemented in 2008 at Auten Road and Beekman Lane.
The completed zone at Valley Road is an interim system to be used until the wayside horn is approved for use by Norfolk Southern Railway Company, after it finishes completing its testing of the backup systems. At this pint, the quiet zone is designed the same as those on the other roads, and will reduce the decibel level of the horn sound as the train comes through the areas.
The quiet zone on Roycefield Road could not be put into effect before now because the Valley Road zone was not complete. Since the Roycefield Road is within less than one-half mile of the latter road, federal regulations required them to be set as quiet zones together.
Commitee endorses energy program bid
The Township Committee unanimously approved a resolution to confirm the action of Township Clerk Kevin Davis in submitting the Somerset County Improvement Authority Renewable Energy Program Feasibility Study.
According to Deputy Mayor Gloria McCauley, the county has asked municipalities if they would be interested in having solar panels installed on certain public buildings. She said Mr. Davis submitted the survey to consider the panels on the municipal complex, Department of Public Works garage and at the Sunnymead Landfill.
The municipal complex has 73,000 square feet of roof top space; the municipal garage has two sections with a total of more than 17,000 square feet of roof space; and the 10-acre landfill has been projected to provide a solar array, which could have beyond three megawatts of power.
”The county is also researching the feasibility of contracting with a solar company,” Deputy Mayor McCauley said. “It is seeking the best opportunity for the taxpayers.”
The program through the county is being done to make municipalities more sustainable, reduce the carbon footprint and reduce retail electricity costs. The work will be done at no cost to the actual communities.
Vanderveer House architectural work approved
The Township Committee unanimously approved a resolution to execute an amendment to the agreement with Farewell Mills Gatsch Architects LLC concerning repair and restoration of the Vanderveer Harris House.
The additional costs will be for an amount not to exceed $3,000.
According to the resolution, Farewell Mills is providing construction documents and administration for the house, according to a contract awarded in May. It has since been determined that there is a need for the installation of structural shoring, so a signed architectural design plan must be submitted so the house can qualify for building permits.
The additional costs will be paid for by a county historic preservation grant given to the township.
Drug-use prevention programs approved
The Township Committee unanimously approved a contract with the Somerset County Board of Chosen Freeholders for the Hillsborough-Millstone Municipal Alliance Program for programs promoting the prevention of drug and alcohol abuse.
The contract is for an amount not to exceed $30,954 provided by the county, with the township providing a 75 percent match of $23,215 for in-kind services and the Municipal Alliance Committee or municipality raising a 25 percent cash match of $7,739.
”This is an annual grant program for drug and alcohol prevention,” Deputy Mayor Gloria McCauley said.
Among the programs led by the Municipal Alliance are Girls on Track, Pride, Parents United and Push.
