Council Discusses Possible Parking Rule Changes

The Verona Township Council will study a parking concern brought up by a local business owner at Monday night’s meeting after the business owner express concern about the issue causing problems for his business.

Kim Cheung, owner of , told the council he’s seen cars parked overnight in metered spots on multiple occasions in the lot behind his restaurant, which has caused problems for his business, including delivery problems and garbage removal issues.

Township Manager Joseph Martin said the while the cars have not violated any laws, the council and police department are reviewing the issue, especially in light of the Verona Inn opening on that block as well.

This (not violating any laws) may be true, Cheung responded, but the cars have certainly interfered with businesses on that strip of Bloomfield Avenue. He explained the cars present challenges to the trucks, which have difficulty maneuvering in such a tight lot when cars are present.

Typically, in the early morning hours when the trucks arrive, the lots are vacant. If not, the trucks are occasionally unable to provide service.

“We are coming up with an entire new plan for parking there,” Martin asserted.

In other council news, Martin lauded how the partnership the township has made with the Hilltop Conservancy not only restored wildlife at the site of the former Essex Mountain Sanatorium, but also how October’s storm helped save the township money.

According to Martin wood chips from trees damaged in the storm are being used by the Conservancy to cover the old asphalt and remaining building foundations. More than 5,000 cubic yards of wood chips have been deposited to the site over which topsoil is to be placed, he said.

“It saved us thousands of dollars in disposal costs,” Martin said. “It shows citizen groups and the township can work together.” And, according to Martin, this partnership has also “accelerated the restoration schedule.”

Council Member Jay Sniatkowski concurred, saying, “The Hilltop Conservancy has done a superb job.” He was amazed by the different trails the Conservancy created, restored and cleaned up. “Very impressive effort by everyone involved.”

Martin noted access to the hiking trails from Verona will be improved once the construction on the Hilltop is complete.

The council also:

• Approved an ordinance saying trees planted by the Shade Tree Commission — which have been removed because of storm damage, disease, accidents or natural causes — will be replaced at no charge to the property owner.

• Awarded the food contract for the Verona Community Pool snack bar to Vending to Please, LLC. The company, located in Mountainside, has serviced other nearby municipalities including Westfield and Maplewood, according to Township Engineer James Helb. He also noted the contract was awarded to the highest bid, yielding the township $20,000 in this case. The contract is for one year with an option to extend for one to two additional years. 

• Approved resolutions to extend the temporary budget until the final budget is prepared and to appoint Helb as the township’s representative to the 2012 Essex County Community Development Block Grant Program with Martin and Assistant Municipal Engineer Noreen Jones as alternative representatives were also passed.

• Authorized the Sanitary Sewer Extension Permit to service a portion of Grove Avenue. Although the section of street impacted is actually in Cedar Grove, the pipeline constructed will be part of the Verona Waste Water Plant, according to Helb. He added, “There is virtually no impact to the town’s residents.”