Verona Council Recap

The second meeting of the fall season for the Verona governing body included remarks of appreciation to those who attended the September 11 Memorial Ceremony and to those who made the ceremony possible. Comments focused on the attendance by the citizens as well as community groups and volunteers who showed their support.

A brief Manager’s Report was presented by Township Manager, Joseph Martin, who provided and update on costs related to the clean up from Hurricane Irene. Martin explained, “In addition to the water damage to township property, tipping fees to the township increased with the increase in debris and curbside piles of water damaged items. The township is required to collect and dispose of the waste at landfill sites for which we are charged a tipping fee per ton. It is minor compared to many towns around us but nevertheless, we will be reimbursed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, (FEMA). We will assemble the data and submit a reimbursement package to FEMA. Based on last October’s storm, where we were reimbursed 70-75 percent of what we submitted, I assume the reimbursement percentage will be the same from this storm. Our application for reimbursement may be in the vicinity of $300,000.”

An ordinance was explained by Police Chief Doug Huber and presented for second reading, public hearing and vote to amend the Vehicles and Traffic code in Verona. The most notable change will be to the three-way intersection of Sunset Ave. and Park Ave., near Verona Park. It is scheduled to become a three-way stop sign intersection to avoid the near, and not-so-near-misses that frequently occur at that location. There were no comments from the public and the ordinance was passed.

Police Captain Mitchell Stern then presented the Verona Police Email Alert System. According to Stern, “It gives us a reliable, timely and cost effective way to communicate with our residents. It’s free for people to subscribe on the Verona Police Department website, www.veronapolice.org. Before Hurricane Irene, we had less than 100 email addresses, after the storm, it is now up to over 400 and growing daily.” Stern went on to describe that the system can be used to alert the residents about road closures and power outages in specific areas as well as storm damage and other urgent information that needs to be disseminated in a timely manner.

Chief Huber returned to the podium to emphasize the importance of reminding residents to lock their cars. “This year we have had ten stolen cars and 20 to 30 vehicles broken into. A majority were left unlocked and this was mostly after midnight. Please lock your cars.”

After the public portion of the meeting, seven resolutions were introduced, mostly of a “housekeeping” nature. All were passed. The next Council Meeting will be held October 3^rd.