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Vol. LXIII, No. 28
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Wednesday, July 15, 2009
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Vol. LXIII, No. 28
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Wednesday, July 15, 2009
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In the absence of a consensus among Southern Way residents about the installation of Belgian block curbing, Township Committee endorsed a compromise agreement at a work session during its Monday evening meeting.
Township engineer Robert Kiser reported that as of the most recent neighborhood meeting, “roughly two-thirds” of the residents had wanted to install Belgian block curbing, with one-third saying they didn’t want it.
The list of road design provisions is informed, according to Mr. Kiser, by concerns expressed by the residents. The provisions state that the road “will be repaired and resurfaced to a uniform 20-foot width”; that the southern side of the road “will be widened by two feet to three feet in areas requested by individual neighbors to provide additional parking width”; that no new Township curbing will be installed, and that existing private curbs will be permitted to remain (although “curbs will be installed at the Cedar/Southern and Southern/Harrison intersections as per Township policy”); and that, in order “to address neighbor drainage concerns, two type A storm sewer inlets will be installed on either side of Southern Way a distance of approximately 400 feet from Harrison Street.” Mr. Kiser pointed out that the plan will not “impact landscaping, driveways, or the fronts of people’s homes.”
Mayor Bernie Miller thanked Southern Way residents for their “forbearance,” noting that attempting to find a resolution was “not an easy process.”
Other actions included the approval of a resolution to extend the grace period for payment of third quarter 2009 property taxes. Chief Financial Officer Kathryn Monzo said that bills would be going out next week, and that payments would now be due on August 10. A Citizens’ Finance Advisory Committee leaflet, similar to last year’s description of tax dollar dispersal, will be included with the bills.
The Township’s Deer Management Program was the subject of some discussion as the Committee agreed to defer contract approval for 2009-2010 with the United Bowhunters of New Jersey. “I want to commend the bowhunters on the job that they’ve done for the past three years on township properties,” said Mayor Miller, who had asked that the item be removed from the evening’s consent agenda. “During that period of time they’ve taken some 36 deer. However, we do have a Citizens’ Deer Management Committee, and before moving ahead, I would like to hear their recommendation.”
Animal control officer Mark Johnson noted that the hunting season starts September 12, and that “we would like to get this passed as soon as possible so we can get guys out in the field as fast as we can.” The Deer Management Committee, he added, was supposed to have convened in March or April, but still had not met. “I feel we should pass this as soon as it can be passed, even if we have to stop if the Deer Committee opts for that,” he suggested. He reported that there have been “no problems for the last four or five years with United Bowhunters,” and that “homeowners down the end of Puritan have personally asked for the same guys back.”
It was agreed that the contract approval would be considered at the Committee’s August 17 meeting, by which time the Deer Management Committee will hopefully have met and made a recommendation.
Mr. Kiser reported that Rosedale Road bridgework, “a difficult project,” is “moving along as well as can be expected.” Mayor Miller cited the County’s noteworthy cooperation in this project, saying that “they have gone the extra mile.”
Both Township and Borough residents were encouraged to attend “Annual National Night Out,” on August 4, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Community Park Pool where they can meet Police, Fire Department, and First Aid Squad representatives.