UPDATE: Cedar Grove Passes Two-Hour Parking Limits

[UPDATED 10 a.m. Tuesday]
Commuters traveling to New York City from Cedar Grove will have to search a little harder for places to park following the passage of a time-restriction ordinance limiting parking to two hours on four township roads.

The ordinance involves parking on four roads in the township — Briarhill Road (south side), Devonshire Road (south side), Lakewood Avenue (north side) and Union Street (north side) — and was unanimously approved by the council members in attendance. Councilman John Zunic was absent from the meeting.

“These roads will have time limits for parking due to congestion from people commuting to New York and parking on these roads all day,” said Deputy Mayor Robert O'Toole.

The ordinance limits parking on the four roads between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. to two hours.

In April, the council discussed parking issues and discussed instituting a two-hour parking time limit on Devonshire Road after residents petitioned the board complaining commuters caused parking issues for homeowners.

In other news:

• The council discussed construction costs for the South End firehouse.

“The South End Firehouse has some structural deficiencies and we have talked about helping them out and having them repay us,” O’Toole said.

The firehouse is not owned by the township, but by the fire company, he added.

The cost for demolition is $20,000 and reconstruction will cost $58,000, said Township Manager Tom Tucci. 

“We embrace the fact that they are an integral part of the community and as a volunteer organization their revenue is generated through contributions from the residents,” said Councilman Joseph Chiusolo.

Chiusolo suggested the township help the fire company with their reconstruction costs instead of making their annual contributions towards their rental costs.

• The council also decided to change the schedule for the township council meetings starting in September. 

Instead of having a meeting every week, totaling four meetings a month, the council will now meet only two times a month.

Starting in September this council will meet on the first and third Monday of every month. 

“Our township has been running so well that the need for meetings on a weekly basis has become a thing of the past,” said Chiusolo. 

If they need additional meetings they will have the second and fourth Monday of the month for special meetings, he said.