Odds and Ends as Summer 2019 Officially Begins!

The following is a brief report on some things a brewin’ in the Township.

1.       The Pit Stop property – Yaaaaaasssss! I received a letter issued from the NJ DEP and the Hazardous Discharge Site Remediation Fund (HDSRF) confirming that our application for funding has been completed and the Department found the proposal to be “technically” eligible.   What this actually means is that our application has been approved for completion of Remedial Investigation activities in the amount of $239,524 (subject to final approval by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority or NJEDA).   What this actually means (yes, I used the same words to begin this sentence as I did the last sentence….I have had better writing moments but speed writing is a dangerous game) the building is coming down and what is under the building will finally be investigated to determine what further clean-up efforts are necessary.  I repeat, the building is coming down!  The scuttlebutt in the NJDEP hallways is that final action by the NJEDA is a formality so we are looking good for future demolition work and contemporaneous partying while the building is taken out!  “What’s the time-frame you ask?”  Who knows?…..so far this has all taken a solid year of work and waiting to get this far.  But my sense is we are pretty close.  Stay tuned.  As I receive more, so will you.

 2.       Lawrence Road and Eggerts Crossing Road – A group of 4^th Graders from Lawrence Intermediate School appeared before members of council at our public meeting this week and provided a “Walk This Way” report of the perils they observed on the roadway and sidewalks leading to their school off of Eggerts Crossing Road.   These kids were really amazing (and at times intimidating) in their delivery of the information and demands.  Which, upon reflection, were well thought out and made sense.  The primary issue was the lack of blinking school zone lights at the crosswalks.  This is a designated school zone intersection and should have these types of warning lights.  As I began to explain the Township’s efforts in working with the NJDOT (the State owns, controls and maintains Route 206), and that recently it appeared that these lights were going to be installed, Andrew Tunnard – the Assistant Commission for Operations of the NJDOT, dramatically came to the front of the meeting room to announce that the installation of those lights was in the works.  It was an immediate victory for the 4^th Graders and all of the students who walk or ride their bikes to LIS.  Such a great civic lesson.    

 3.        Princeton Pike and Fackler Road – Anyone traveling Princeton Pike (northern section of town) near the intersection with Fackler Rd during the morning or late afternoon knows that this is a major traffic situation that needs to be addressed.  Yes, we live in the most densely populated state in the Country, and our population is not decreasing.   This translates into certain facts like roads that were once lightly travelled are now more intensely travelled.  Some call it progress, but more accurately it is simply human kind increasing in numbers.  This, of course, makes fixing traffic related problems extremely difficult and most often very expensive.  In order to try and solve this problem, the Council approved funding for a complete engineering/traffic study of this location to determine options to best address this public safety issue.  Some may reflexive say that installing a traffic light will solve the problem.  Ohhh…if things were that easy.  The installation of a traffic light in one location directly impacts the flow of traffic in the surrounding areas.  The study will look at the present configuration of the intersection and problem solve from there. 

4.       Fire Apparatus Purchase -  Lawrence Road Fire House, Slackwood Fire House and our Career Fire Staff have patiently waited for the moment that happened at our last council meeting; the acceptance of a bid for purchase of two custom built “pumpers” to provide service to the community out of those two fire houses.  It has been a very long process that included the valuable input by the Fire Companies, our Emergency Management Director, Jack Oakley, and our Chief Mechanic of PW, Clyde D’Angelo.  The lowest responsible bidder was Absolute Fire Protection Company, Inc. and the cost totals $1,177,027 ($588,513.50 each).  They will take approximately one year to build and deliver to our community, and will replace two vehicles that are very much ready for retirement!

5.       Colonial Lake/Acquisition of the Sheft Property – We have completed the due diligence period and have performed a Phase I Environmental Study of that portion of the Sheft Property that we intend to purchase.  Our environmental consultant has confirmed that there is no contamination concern that should cause the Town to abandon this acquisition.  As a result, Mayor Chris Bobbitt did sign the Agreement of Sale (the Shefts previously signed) creating a binding legal obligation between both parties for the transfer of title from the Shefts to the Township.  I expect the closing to take place in the next couple of months.  Some details you may be interested in:  5.9+ Acres of land for a total of $3.65 million with contributions from the County ($1,470,000) and the State ($211,132).  At closing $2.65 million will be paid to Seller and then 2 annual payments of $500,000.  Extending the payments over three years will allow the Township to apply for other grant opportunities and hopefully reduce our contribution from the Open Space fund.  Also, the agreement provides that the Township has the right of first refusal should the Shefts wish to sell the Colonial Bowling & Entertainment.  This could give us an opportunity to expand upon the recreational site.

6.       Brush Pick-Up Program – Ugh….  Just an FYI to all, Council Members and I are considering modifying some of the regulations in the ordinance to address resident concerns.  We are considering making the brush piles bigger for the months of April/May/June (to 20ft), suspending pick up in July/August and then starting up again with current size for brush and unlimited leaf pick up during Sept/Oct/Nov.  Our Public Works Director Greg Whitehead will be appearing before council at the July meeting to discuss the current status of the program.  Suspending pick up will allow our PW Department to address the other needs in the community (maintenance of parks, recreational fields and roads).

           I have been called stupid, an idiot, my decision making asinine as a result of the changes made to the program….you name it, I along with our PW people have been called it.   They tell me this all a part of the job…..but I don’t think it should be.  Common decency should be the standard way we address each other, but I digress.   Trust me when I tell you I don't sit in my office and try to come up with ways to anger people so they lash out me!  The one thing I will tell everyone in this community is that decisions are not made in a vacuum.   I have tried…I guess unsuccessfully to some….to explain the reasons for the need to now enforce the brush pick-up guidelines in order to save this service for the community. 

          There are those that believe it is the municipal government’s obligation to pick up and discard brush waste that comes from private residential property owners.  No.  It is not a governmental obligation.  This is a service that this Town has chosen to provide to its residents.   A government obligation is providing police protection, fire protection, health protection, construction regulation, etc.    Many towns do not provide this service because they have done the analysis about how costly it is in terms of manpower, equipment and disposal.  Whether you know it or not….and you probably don’t….we have serious needs to increase our police force and our fire department.  By State law, a municipality cannot increase its municipal budget by more than 2% each year.  On January 1 of every year for the past couple, we are at approximately 1.5  % without adding anything.  This is just from contractual obligations relating to cost of living increases etc.  So when people call and complain that our parks and playing fields are not being maintained properly or inspections are not being done fast enough by our construction department, or ask where is police enforcement of speeders on the roads ?, or how long does it take to respond to a fire by our volunteers or career staff?.... I simply ask all of you to think about these things while you demand that the Town continue the non-regulated brush pick-up service (i.e., the good ol’ days when you could dump anything you wanted on the road any time most convenient for you).  Setting aside the financial aspects of this, there are legitimate public safety (for pedestrians and cyclists) and environmental concerns (storm water management and flooding) when large piles of brush are allowed to remain on our streets for extended periods of time.    We have to set and follow rules in our community.  If the regulations don't meet your particular circumstance completely, it is unfortunate...I agree.  But the idea that the municipal government must solve your individual problem for you, is something I just don't agree with.   Let the hate begin.   I live at an intersection with nowhere to put brush for pick-up so I have to haul it myself or have a landscaper remove it and drop it off at the Township's ecological center (where it is accepted for free).    It's a bummer for me.  It's not convenient.  But it is my situation and I have to deal with it.   

           There is no doubt that the brush pick-up program is a valued program in our community.  It is also a strain on our resources.  It just is.  I see if from my vantage point.  You may focus on how this all affects you personally, but I along with the elected officials have a fiduciary obligation to focus on what is in the best interests of our community.  There is more to consider.  And the answer isn’t just to hire more PW employees and buy more PW vehicles and pick it all up!  That is not a financially prudent decision based upon all of the concerns we have to address as a community.  Despite all of this, our elected officials are committed to providing this very valued service in a responsible manner.  We have to make difficult decisions, withstand the firestorm of push back but also be willing to listen and make the adjustments we can that address concerns and allow for the service to continue.  That is the dance.....  I promise we have heard you and will be as responsive as we can. 

DISCLAIMER – These are my personal reflections on the brush issue, not our elected officials who may or may not share my opinions. 

I wish everyone a very happy Summer!

                                                                     Sheft Property Purchase