Berkeley Heights Township : Council Meeting Preview

Press release from the Berkeley Heights Township:

July 19, 2021

Want to know what is being discussed by the Town Council at its next meeting?

By Council President Jeanne Kingsley

 The next Town council meeting will be held on Tuesday July 20th at 7:00PM.  Member of Council, Mayor Devanney, and Administration staff will be participating electronically via ZOOM in this meeting.  For this and all future electronic meetings, members of the public will be able to comment by video and comments will also be accepted by email to aminkoff@bhtwp.com or by writer letter to Township Clerk, 29 Park Ave, Berkeley Heights NJ 07922.  Comments must be received by the Township Clerk by 4:00 PM on the date of the ZOOM meeting.   The meeting ID for the Zoom meeting is http://zoom.us/s/3575747364.  

 The first item on the agenda is a conference session to discuss the Van Cleef Engineering drainage study findings for Peppertown Park.   

 The second item on the agenda is a conference session to discuss a potential ordinance prohibiting smoking in public places.  This draft ordinance, if approved, would prohibit smoking in public places including municipal buildings, public parks and public recreational facilities.  Smoking is defined to include smoking, vaping, or aerosolizing tobacco products, cannabis products and electronic cigarettes.   

 The council will vote on the following resolutions:

 Approve Bill List dated July 20, 2021 in the amount of $456,761.17 for vouchers that have been properly approved for processing and payment.

• Amend resolution #141-2021 to extend the Mayor’s Advisory Committee for Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation through December 31, 2021.
• Authorize the purchase of a Police Vehicle in the amount of $50,409.85. This vehicle is part of the capital items in the 2021 Capital Budget that was voted and approved by the Council on June 1, 2021.
• Authorize the grant submission to the NJDOT for the Safe Streets to Transit program for a Springfield Ave Sidewalk, Crosswalk & Lighting Improvements to Boost Safety, Walkability to Transit project.
• Authorize a grant application to the NJDOT for 2022 road improvements to Kline Place and Fickler Place. 
• Approve the insertion of an item of revenue in the budget for the year 2021 in the amount of $59,102.00 for the Body Worn Camera Grant program.
• Approve the insertion of an item of revenue in the budget for the year 2021 in the amount of $2,000 for the Sustainable Jersey Grant by the PSEG Foundation for the Adopt-a-Drain program.
• Authorize an agreement with the Morris County Cooperative pricing for the period of October 1, 2021 through September 30, 2026.
• Authorize the execution of a grant agreement with AARP New Jersey for the 2021 AARP Community Challenge Grant in the amount of $15,090.  This project is for the design, print and display of readable Township maps of public walking trails, to be housed in covered structures at four locations around town.
• Consent to the appointment of Howard Van Salisbury as Part-time Tax Assessor, beginning on July 27, 2021 and continuing until June 30, 2026.
• Authorize the CFO to conduct financial matters between the meeting of July 20, 2021 and August 17, 2021 since there is only one council meeting in August.
• Authorize an amendment to the contract with Mast Construction for 10 hours per week in connection with the Municipal Complex Redevelopment project, in an amount of $4,500 per month.

 The council will introduce an ordinance amending the township code to eliminate the need for bicycle registration in the township.  If the introduction of this ordinance is approved, there will be a public hearing and final vote on this ordinance on August 17th. 

 The council will introduce an ordinance making the provisions of Subtitle 1 of Title 39 of the Revised Statues of New Jersey applicable to the property located at 450 Springfield Avenue and regulating the use of driveways and parking lots thereon by motor vehicles.  This ordinance will empower the Berkeley Heights Police and other law enforcement agencies to enforce the provision of this state statute, which include parking rules and appropriate signage.  If the introduction of this ordinance is approved, there will be a public hearing and final vote on this ordinance on August 17th.

 The council will introduce an ordinance creating a Technical Review Committee to provide advisory review of development applications and requests for development review as presented to the Planning Board and Zoning Board. The purpose of this committee is to certify completeness of applications and provide preliminary review by Board professionals to help streamline the application process and provide technical guidance to applicants before applications are heard by the respective Boards.  If the introduction of this ordinance is approved, there will be a public hearing and final vote on this ordinance on August 17th.

  To view the complete Council agenda, go to

https://www.berkeleyheights.gov/AgendaCenter/Township-Council-9/?#_07202021-885

The next council meeting is scheduled of August 17th, 2021 at 7 pm.

This press release was produced by the Berkeley Heights Township. The views expressed here are the author’s own.