Cedar Grove Council Approves 2012 Budget

After more than a month of discussions, the Cedar Grove Township Council unanimously approved the $12 million 2012 municipal budget at Monday night’s council meeting.

Under the township budget, taxes for the average homeowner with a home assessed at $470,400 would go up an average of $55.51 per $100,000 of assessed valuation. The budget is $12,524,502, which is $276,154 higher than the 2011 budget.

Also approved last night was the 2012 Solid Waste Collection District Budget for $1,773,024, an increase of $120,865 from last year.

The council introduced the following four ordinances and scheduled a public for May 7 to discuss:

• Background checks for all coaching volunteers in town. The Megan Kanka Foundation will pay $10,712 for the 412 people who have signed up to be coaches. The check we be rerun every three years.

• An ordinance for $450,000 for water utilities improvements. $428,000 will be financed with bonds or notes from the town and will be broken down as follows:

$12,500 for Storz hydrant connections.

$5,500 for Swiftreach Reverse 911.

$15,000 for geological information system.

$20,000 for water meter replacement.

$20,000 for remote read radio units.

$14,000 for annual leak survey.

$3,500 for an aquisition of computer hardware and related software.

$18,000 for water main improvements.

$229,500 for water tank rehabilitations.

$23,000 for Francisco Pump Station motor control.

$90,000 for a water department equipment truck. 

$5,000 for hydrant makers. 

• An ordinance of $1,725,000 for sewer utility improvements. $1,642,000 will be financed with bonds or notes from the town. The breakdown is as follows:

$1,642,000 will be financed with bonds or notes from the town.

$50,000 for a sewer infiltration collection system.

$1,531,000 for an acquisition of rotating biological contactor.

$24,000 for a ferrie chloride tank.

$50,000 for sewer system improvements.

$50,000 for a sewer jet replacement.

$20,000 for a copper study. 

• An ordinance of $425,000 for various general improvements. $404,000 will be financed with bonds or notes from the town. The breakdown is as follows:

$3,500 for Morgan Farm gazebo painting.

$5,000 for police traffic directors.

$12,000 for an aquisition of computer hardware and related software.

$3,500 for department of public works office equipment.

$20,000 for a diesel fuel truck.

$10,000 for fire department safety equipment. 

$40,000 for 2012 Tree Replanting Program.

$42,500 for department of public works mason dump truck.

$8,000 for fire department breathing apparatuses. 

$5,000 for municipal office equipment.

$240,700 for 2012 Road Overlay Program.

$15,000 for an aquistion of safety equipment.

$12,000 for 2012 Curb and Sidewalk Replacement Program.

$7,800 for fire department pagers. 

The council approved a resolution to pay for the $126,000 downpayment for the improvement ordinances by amending the capital budget.

In other news, the council:

• Discussed the project originally discussed at the March 6 council meeting.

Essex County Department of Parks Director Dan Salvante, who is also the township’s liaison to the project, told council members the state has asked the township to pay for traffic control during the three- to four-week period the project is worked on.

The project, which involves a path running over Pompton Avenue, would need a police officer monitoring traffic from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Township officials expressed their displeasure with the county request, with Township Manager Thomas Tucci saying the police overtime for monitoring traffic could cost “between $10,000 and $15,000.”

Mayor John Zunic agreed, saying, "We just don't have the money."

"It takes a lot of nerve to even ask, not you [Salvante], but through you," Deputy Mayor Peter Tannella said.

Tanella also expressed his frustration further, saying the county property would be painted county colors and not Cedar Grove's, although it went through town. "It's just obnoxious," he said.

Councilman Robert O'Toole also disapproved of the cost, "Unless they guarantee to reimburse us."

• Approved the payment of township bills totalling $2,720,360.47.

• Endorsed the recycling tonnage grant application for the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and designated Tucci to be responsible for the fund. Monies collected will be put in the recycling trust fund to be used only for recycling.

• Approved a 50/50 and merchandise raffle for St. Vincent’s Nursing Home Auxiliary, 315 E. Lindsley Road, on May 17, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.