Montville Makes Strides in Emergency Preparedness

A $65,000 federal grant administered by the Morris County Division of Planning brings Montville “one step closer” to emergency preparedness, said Town Administrator Victor Canning.

The grant will be used to make improvements at the Senior House on Main Road to make the building a free-standing emergency shelter.

The grant comes as a part of the Community Development Block Grant program that is funded by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. According to HUD, the program is meant to provide communities with resources to address a wide range of unique community development needs.

Initially Canning was unsure whether Montville would be awarded any funds but due to census changes, the grant came through.

Canning hopes to start the bid specs over the next few months and send them out by the end of the year in order to begin construction in the Spring, when the weather is milder.

Additional space will be added to the shelter to have an area for those with special needs or disabilities, said Canning. An emergency generator has also been installed in the Senior House.

The grant is bringing Montville closer to its goal for emergency preparedness and will help fulfill the promises made in the last 18 months by the Montville Township Committee, said Canning.