An “Off the Top of My Head” report
on Lawrence Township stuff!
One
of my favorite Lawrence residents (who contributes in many positive ways to our
community) emailed me and asked for an update on the Township that she can
share with her group that she was reporting to.
Like….what’s happening in my world?
So I riffed off some items that are in the hopper…. and it dawned on
me…..I just wrote my next blog article!
The
following are some things that are either topical in the community or things we
are working on that may be of interest to you.
Honestly, this is off of the top of my head stuff and is not supported
with concrete facts and data. Read this
as if you dropped by my office and asked, “So what’s up on all things Lawrence
Township?
1. Trenton Water Works – I continue to be very confident
that TWW is improving in its operations and in its communications with the
Township and its customers. We are working together to add a 911 feature
from TWW to its customers should there be any need for emergency notification
about the water supply. This is
NOT in anticipation of future problems but an effort to improve lines of
communications (a response to a common complaint from customers).
The water line replacement project (i.e., replacing the water lines from the curb to the house) is proceeding and should start in the next couple of months. The costs to the homeowners will be made directly to the Township Tax Collector (with the payment plan option or in full…customer choice)…but the details of that are being worked out with the State, TWW and the Townships … and information will be shared once it is all firmed up. TWW recently came to the Township for a community forum, and it was very informative and the reporting was all positive. Someday soon we will not have to “think” about our water.
(Shameless) DISCLAIMER: The Township does not own, control, maintain or is responsible to regulate the TWW….BUT….we do have a fiduciary obligation to advocate for our resident customers of this utility and we do diligently. We are looking over their shoulder and making sure they meet their obligations as required by law.
2. Shopping Center – Obviously the façade work is
proceeding nicely. New stores are being added as tenants. A
beautiful new sign will be installed to replace the present sign on US 1.
LA Fitness should be breaking ground shortly.
The food store issue still remains unconfirmed….but as soon as a lease
is executed….that information will be shared with all. If we all have a common interest in seeing
the LSC succeed, then we all need to support the stores doing business there!
3. New Township Website – We continue to work on our new website which will be more user friendly and provide many options for residents to do “township business” online. We have set up a kiosk with a large computer screen near our construction office that allows residents to use our current website for information and is proving to be very popular. We also added online payments for taxes recently and residents are using that option more than we anticipated so they must be enjoying the convenience factor. Our target goal for the new website to go live will be October if not sooner.
4. Brush Program - Ninety per cent (and possibly more) of our residents have been complying with the new brush program and have experienced no real hardship. Registering the landscapers that do work in our Town has been very helpful with the enforcement of the new program and they have all been very cooperative. We do, however, have a very vocal ten per cent (or less) who find enforcement and the new restrictions ……not satisfactory. A group did come to a local meeting and others have called my office and PW to voice complaints and concerns. Council and I knew that there would be some push back….and the need to adjust the program to address some resident concerns. A community conversation is always a good thing. We have listened and believe that there is an opportunity to further improve the program to address some of the unique situations around town. We are focusing on making the size of the brush piles bigger in the beginning of the season (April and May), possibly suspending pick up of brush in July and August, and pick up smaller brush piles in October and November while collecting all of the leaves (in separate piles). Just some ideas to maintain this service because we are not going back to the free for all days of dumping anything and everything at any time you want. Those days can be fondly remembered by residents (not PW) but we will not be going back to them. Public safety, effective use of public resources, and community appearance will not be sidelined.
5. Solar Program - The municipal building, the police building and the public works building will all have solar panels installed (car port style for the municipal and police buildings and roof style for public works), and once completed it is expected to greatly reduce our carbon footprint and energy costs. That work will be started in the next couple of months.
6. Colonial Lake – The preliminary due diligence period has been completed by the Township and the contract for the purchase of the property are being signed by the parties. The Mayor has already signed for the Township and we are waiting for the Shefts to countersign. The Survey work has been ordered as well as the title work. A closing should take place sometime in the fall if not sooner. Then the cool work to make that lake and park great for all of the residents to use will begin!
7. Route 206 the entire length of Lawrence Township will be repaved by the State over the next several months with the work occurring at night. (So I am preparing for the phone calls from residents complaining about the noise at night….). But the work at night is done to minimize traffic and safety concerns so hopefully the residents along 206 will understand that the noise is temporary, and what we get in return is a pristine roadway.
8. Eldridge Park – The Township budgeted for, and the preliminary work has been started, to install an electrical panel in the park so that “Movies in the Park” and other activities will have an electrical source. Homeowners were donating their own electric by long extension cords so this will be a nice addition to the park and its users. I love that park and it is definitely targeted for more improvements in the future.
9. Fire Houses – Our 2019 municipal budget provided for the upgrade of our 3 fire houses (Slackwood, Lawrence Road, and Lawrenceville). The halls will be improved, and eventually we will have them open for more community and resident use. The volunteer’s member rooms and bunk houses will be renovated as well as a part of a plan to increase membership in our volunteer ranks. In addition, the Township is starting a Pay-Per-Call program that will provide a small payment (e.g. $5 per call) to volunteers responding to fire calls. This incentive payment plan will provide volunteers with bi-annual payments. Our volunteers perform an incredible service to our community and save tax payers hundreds of thousands of dollars each year. These volunteers deserve our full support and appreciation. We are trying to strengthen their numbers and we believe these efforts will help.
10. The Pit Stop – Oh man…. We are so close to a decision from the NJDEP. We will all rejoice when that building is razed. Maybe a wine and cheese party (or beer and pretzels…whatever) should be had to watch the building go down. Thoughts?
11. Our Police Chief Brian Caloiaro graduates this week from the prestigious FBI Academy for Law Enforcement Officers. His selection was an honor, and our PD and community will benefit from this additional training. Lt. Timothy Drew did an awesome job as Acting Chief of Police.
12. Brunswick Streetscape – The work on the design/plans for the public streetscape on Brunswick Ave. has begun. Meetings with the Planner, Mayor and Township Officials have occurred. A public meeting(s) will be held to share the plans and receive feedback. What to place in the new round-a-bout will be an interesting challenge!
Photo cred to Unique Harmony Photography, Lawrenceville, NJ
6 comments:
We thank you for your commitment to our town
Excellent information!
Yesterday, i noticed that there aren't any construction trucks or equipment in the parking lot. The anchor facade is not done. That is a big eyesore. The rest of the center looks nice and inviting! Hold up?
The anchor facade is not done because the identity of the anchor store is not set. When that happens, that facade will be completed. Hang in there! There is no "hold up." It's a big space and involves a lot of money. Those deals just take time.
Thanks for your time informing the residents of our wonderful town what's happening.
Thank you for your update and all your hard work to improve/maintain our lovely community. I was not one of the people who called your office or came to the meeting about the brush issue, but I will say that I was disappointed and annoyed to receive a note in my mailbox informing me that my brush pile was 1 foot over the length limit. I pulled up the township requirements as a guideline and spent a lot of time diligently chopping up the brush pile to conform to standards and making sure the pile was in compliance. I understand that contractors might be abusing the policy, but please try to avoid penalizing homeowners who are honestly trying to comply. I felt like the note and 1 foot over was kind of petty/draconian and not in the spirit of what you're trying to accomplish. I would think a violation shouldn't be recorded unless the brush was ridiculously over the limit. Consider that even after measuring one's own brush pile with a tape measure, that wind and rainstorms can blow some errant sticks and leaves over the limit by a few inches during the week of collection window. Bigger brush piles and more reasonable enforcement would be welcome.
Hello Anonymous:
That is very surprising that you received a note saying you were one foot over the length limit. Our PW has been taking it as a win if any pile was close (within a couple of feet) of the size requirement…and picking up the pile. In an effort to actually help, please provide me with a copy of that notice so I may address the situation. It is completely against the tone and policy that I have established and believed the PW has been following. If someone left 20 ft of brush, we pick the 12 feet up and leave the remaining amount with a note informing the resident of the reason. Unfortunately, leaving a note is all we can do at this point since we do not have enough employees to wait for a resident to come home and have a conversation. Believe or not, there have been times when those residents would call and complain that the brush pile was not picked up and attest that the pile that was there was compliant and should have been picked up. Unfortunately for those residents, we have kept the information on all of those piles that were partially picked up in anticipation of the “call back” and complaints. This leads to some uncomfortable situations. We hope, however, that these personal interactions with residents will lead to future compliance as many residents still are surprised by the new regulations and the enforcement.
Please email me at knerwinski@lawrencetwp.com and let me know your address and a contact number. I am very interested in the note that describes your violation being one foot over. That needs to be addressed in some manner. I'm really concerned and need to confirm these facts.
Kevin
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