Officials Preview Stormwater Management Costs Forum Tackles Zoning
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Volume118 Number 9 THURSDAY, MARCH 3, 2005 75 Cents Harry Trumbore/staff photographer Eveline Speedie/staff photographer BLAME THE GROUNDHOG—March couldn’t have started more ominously. Approximately 5 Tuesday, when only the geese ventured out in Taylor Park. Department of Public Works per- to 8 inches of snow fell on the township between Monday and Tuesday, not as bad as the sonnel got an early start with their shoveling Monday when the snow started falling in late weather guys predicted, but bad enough. Schools were closed early Monday and all day afternoon. Good effort, guys! Officials preview stormwater management costs will be required by the state to pass tional costs the township will bear waste and wildlife feeding have lic Works is already conducting the are to put tarps over the salt supply. By Patricia Harris or amend a number of ordinances for state permits and inspections, been amended and are in the required annual catch basin clean- In other business, the Commit- of The Item to that effect. Within the next few although the federal government process of review. In a fourth area, ing, she said. tee introduced an ordinance years, the township will have to gave an initial grant of $12,000 for that of leaf collection, further Within a few weeks, Annoni amending the administrative fees Although municipal officials are build a salt dome and regulate the permitting process. “So this is township discussion will be expects to submit a draft of the charged for materials obtained chafing at the pending costs, town- vehicle fueling and maintenance. the rub,” he said. required to establish a policy more general stormwater manage- from the police department. The ship engineers are moving forward In addition, by April the town- Deputy Mayor Salvatore J. Bate before the fall, she said. Leaves are ment plan to both the local and changes were made to conform with writing plans and seeking to ship must adopt a more general likened the situation to the issue of not permitted to be left in the street county planning boards for review. with statewide fees for such mate- comply with new state stormwater stormwater management plan the state paying for its mandates. for more than seven days, or they Both entities will make recom- rials, including accident and inci- regulations. dealing with large-scale develop- “The federal government didn’t will have to be put in containers mendations and revisions, and dent reports, video or audio tapes, Martha Annoni, the township’s ment of an acre or more. The plan think it through” when they issued and left by the curb. then the local Planning Board will photographs and fingerprinting assistant engineer, came before the must be submitted to the state’s the regulations, he noted. Bate also Concerning control of solid and forward it to the Township Com- cards. Township Committee during its Department of Environmental suggested the issue of funding the floating waste, Annoni said street mittee with a recommendation for The Committee passed on final Tuesday night session to deliver an Protection (DEP), which issued its program should be brought up sweeping will have to be done approval. reading an ordinance adding update on the municipality’s efforts regulations in accordance with the with the state’s League of Munici- monthly on streets in commercial A new salt dome, which will be advance practice nurses to the def- to address and reduce the amount Federal Clean Water Act. palities. areas. Also, storm drain inlets will required by 2007, could cost inition of a medical-professional of pollutants entering the water After hearing Annoni’s report, With regard to improper dispos- have be changed immediately on between $175,000 and $200,000, office. The change will allow supply through street runoff. In Mayor Thomas C. McDermott al of waste, Annoni said, ordi- roads being repaved or recon- according to the assistant engineer. upcoming months, the township expressed concern about the addi- nances regulating litter control, pet structed. The Department of Pub- In the interim, she said, workers Continued on Page B12 Open house at Town Hall Litterman sends regrets as four service agencies, will man involved,” she said last week. run for a ness trips with her husband. By Patricia Harris tables set up throughout the build- “There are so many groups, each BOE head fourth Despite Litterman’s decision, it of The Item ing to explain their operations and appealing to a different interest. term is a still will be a contested race for pass out sign-up sheets. Township I’m sure everyone can find one won’t bid personal three open board seats. Two Residents will have an oppor- Committee members also will that suits his or her abilities.” one. incumbents, one former board tunity to ask questions and greet and speak with attendees. Haimoff said she conceived of She said member and one newcomer to become involved in their munici- Township Committeewoman the idea for the session last year for seat she is board politics have declared their pal government and community Sandra H. Haimoff organized the and presented the concept to her developing candidacies. service agencies at a special event, the first of its kind, working fellow Committee members in By Harry Trumbore a real Running for seats on the board “Know Your Town” open house with a committee of volunteers, early January. The idea met with of The Item estate busi- are resident Scott Kamber, former Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon at Town Hall administrators and fel- their approval, and at the Jan. 18 ness in board member Joel R. Reidenberg Town Hall. low Committee members. Township Committee meeting, Mary Litterman, president of Colorado and board members Noreen Representatives of a dozen “It’s extremely important for the Board of Education for the past building Brunini and Debbie Frank. boards and commissions, as well members of the community to get Continued on Page B12 seven years, has decided not to run homes and Mary Litterman “I certainly will miss board for another term in the school hopes to members I’ve been working with board elections this April. devote more of her energies there. for so many years,” Litterman said. Litterman, who finishes her With her two children now in col- She also said she will miss the third three-year term this spring, lege, Litterman said she also will said Tuesday the decision not to have more time to travel on busi- Continued on Page B12 Forum tackles zoning ing has ing was held Feb. 15. At that time, By Patricia Harris been post- the Committee decided to contin- of The Item poned ue the hearing at the March 1 ses- until after sion, although that date has now To accommodate members of the March been pushed back. the community who are question- 17 forum. The ordinance imposes new ing the township’s proposed The restrictions on side and rear yard McMansions ordinance, a public proposed setbacks, alters height require- forum will be held Thursday, zoning ments and specifies lot coverage March 17, at 7 p.m. at the Millburn ordi- for homes in the larger districts of Free Public Library. nance— the municipality in an effort to Michael Gorman, chairman of dubbed control the placement of houses on the subcommittee that has been the their properties and their architec- drafting the ordinance, announced McMan- Michael Gorman tural features. Patricia Harris/staff photographer the forum this week as part of the sions ordi- “We felt it was important to give PLANNING FOR OPEN HOUSE—Township Committeewoman Sandra H. Haimoff, left, and subcommittee’s efforts to address nance because it seeks to restrict people a chance to come and ask Township Clerk Joanne Monarque review informational posters that will be placed around public concerns raised during and homes deemed to be overly large specific questions,” Gorman said. Town Hall Saturday morning during the “Know Your Town” open house. Residents are following the public hearing at the and massive—was introduced on “The forum gives us a chance to encouraged to volunteer for the township’s various boards and commissions as well as Feb. 15 Township Committee first reading at the Committee’s community service agencies. meeting. Continuance of that hear- Feb. 1 meeting and a public hear- Continued on Page B12 Please recycle. At least 15% recycled paper. Inside Rauch first at Harvard. See Page A11. MHS grapplers excel. Story, Page B1. Classified B13-B15 Education A11-A14 Movies A8 Public Notices B12 Social A10 For home delivery, Editorial A4 Entertainment A8, A9 Obituaries A6, A7 Religious news A6, A7 Sports B1-B11 phone (973) 233-5005 Page A2 Thursday, March 3, 2005 THE ITEM of Millburn and Short Hills www.theitemonline.com Motorists suffer test of winter driving skills Orange asks firefighters due to a snowstorm that began the Godfrey A. George of South near the intersection of Lack- for aid in battling blaze By Harry Trumbore previous afternoon, leaving some Orange, 43, told police he was awanna Place and Essex Street suf- of The Item township roads covered in snow involved in a one-car accident Sat- fered an ankle injury Feb. 22 when Firefighters arrived at a Short and ice. No injuries were reported. urday morning shortly after 7 a car drove over his foot, police By Harry Trumbore Hills Avenue residence Friday of The Item Because township officials were Police said a car driven by a o’clock while driving east on South reported. The driver of the car, around 9:20 p.m.to investigate a prepared for Monday night’s North Brunswick man skidded off Orange Avenue near the intersec- Genevieve O.