TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON—The Township Council on Nov. 13 approved ordinances providing for a “no knock” registry for peddling, soliciting, and canvassing; amending the property maintenance code with regard to condition of sidewalks; and amending commuter parking rules at the firehouse parking lot, establishing a $100 non-proratable fee for permits.
The new rules, which passed on second required readings, are posted at twpofwashington.us under the heading “Mayor & Council.”
The council also recently took on two items in closed session: potential litigation related to affordable housing, and personnel matters: the police chief’s contract.
Here’s a roundup of recent council and township business and current events:
Refunding rec fees
On Monday, the council agreed to refund a combined $755 in fees to five residents who had signed up for a rec basketball offering that was cancelled over a lack of interest.
The young ladies enrolled instead with Westwood’s rec basketball program, Mayor Janet Sobkowicz reported.
Bids out for repairs
In recent meetings the council also resolved to advertise bids for stormwater drainage repairs for the Police Department building, apply for state grants for Robinwood Road and Washington-Pascack intersection improvements, and advertise bids for a Mason dump truck with articulating leaf pusher and plow.
Police can apply for surplus military gear
On Sept. 25, the council unanimously approved the township’s participation in a federal program, 1033, that allows police departments access to approved military surplus equipment typically used in warfare but includes such humanitarian materiel as blankets, cots, sand bags, flashlights, and cold weather clothes.
Bayonets and combat gloves are not on the list of approved items.
In terms of police activity, the department answered 6,929 calls from Jan. 1 to Oct. 31, leading to what Sobkowicz described as a “quiet, relatively uneventful cabbage night and Halloween.”
She added that at the American Automobile Association awarded the township its Award of Excellence for a third year. The award is given to police departments that have instituted and maintained traffic safety programs to address distracted drivers, vehicle occupant safety, work zone safety, school safety, child passenger safety, and DWI enforcement.
Meanwhile, the Washington Township Volunteer Fire Department was also busy. From Jan. 1 to Oct. 31, the fire department was dispatched 415 times. Service calls include fires, rescues, accidents, and utility issues.
Adding their voice to protest on open records rule change
On Oct. 30 the council expressed unanimous opposition to legislative proposals regarding the Open Public Meetings Act and Open Public Records Act, following suit with the Municipal Clerks’ Association of New Jersey.
The bills aim to modernize rules vital to an open society and safeguard personal information, but opponents say they constitute an unfunded mandate, among other concerns.
Police department website
At the Oct. 30 meeting, a contingent of police officers in the rear of the gallery was on hand as Sobkowicz and the council thanked Joe Giordano of Reclaim Digital for a snappy redesign of the Police Department’s website.
Giordano volunteered his time and talents on the project, which updates the site with such features as tweets, a blog, forms, community policing resources, traffic updates, and a gallery.
Giordano is also hosting the department’s email server.
Veterans Day Ceremony
Due to frigid temperatures, VFW Post 6192 held its Veterans Day Ceremony in the Senior Center on the 11th day of the 11th month and at the 11th hour.
Sobkowicz said on Nov. 13 she was pleased with the turnout, “especially it being a Saturday when people are busy with errands and things.”
She noted of the event, the occasion of the 99th Veterans Day, “it was a great day to thank the many veterans we still have here in the Township and elsewhere for their courage and commitment to protect our freedom.”
Meanwhile, if you know of a veteran who lived in the Township at some point or still lives here and would like to have his or her picture added to to the Wall of Veterans, get it to Bernadette Pomykala at Town Hall.
Kudos to the DMF
In addition to leaf pickup, the Department of Maintenance and Facilities (DMF) has been busy with seasonal issues including removal of water meters at Gardner, Sherry, and Clark fields; repair of a lightning detector at Memorial Field; and shutdown of sprinkler systems.
Fifty tons of stone was laid at the driveways and pathways at Sherry and Clark fields. Stone Mill Gardens donated four yards of mulch, which was used to refresh the playground at Memorial Field.
All leaf collection vehicles and equipment were serviced during October. A lot of it was done in-house.
In related news, all leaves are to be placed at the curb no later than Dec. 4. Don’t put sticks, twigs, and branches in or on the leaves because they get stuck in the vacuum, holding up the works.
On Oct. 20 “No Parking” signs were placed as designated by the Police Department. Also on Oct. 20, a truck transporting large panes of glass lost its cargo on Washington Avenue. DMF carried out the cleanup.
Road program update
Because prices came in lower than expected, the township was able to pave additional roads, including Tulane, Amherst, and Madeline, and install ramps at Amherst.
In addition, some streets that were paved in the 2014-2017 road programs and that do not have street name signs will be getting them from leftover funds.
Girl Scout projects need your help
Troop 95583 teamed up with Operation Christmas Child to collect donations of toys, school supplies, hygiene items, accessories, and personal notes.
Troop 94343 is collecting items for the Pediatric Department at Valley Hospital in Ridgewood to help children express their creative side. Items needed include crayons, colored pencils, notebooks, markers, erasers, and gift cards to any stationery or craft store. There’s a collection box in Town Hall.
Recycling revenue down
For October, residents and businesses recycled 91.41 tons of paper and plastics with a revenue of $1,989. By this time last year, the haul was 102 tons and revenue rang in at $4,390.
“This was one of my concerns when the additional two pickups a year were included at an additional cost of $1,000 a month because prices for our recyclables were falling,” Sobkowicz said.
She explained the vendor told her commingle pricing was favorable but fiber dropped over political issues in China.
The view is that markets will improve in November and continue to trend slightly upward for the next couple of months. “No matter what,” Sobkowicz said Nov. 13, “please recycle more.”