Fall 2014 Vol. 7, Issue 3 Town Hall 1 Main Street • Woodbridge, NJ 07095 www.twp.woodbridge.nj.us “Ten Towns… Woodbridge Township Schools Continue One Community” Facilities Improvement Project Corporate PILOT Agreements Fund Community, Inside Athletic & Cultural Improvements This Issue… By Mayor John E. McCormac Important Numbers . 2 Council News . 2-5 The Township of Woodbridge and the Woodbridge Board of Education Mayor’s Pages . 7-11 have entered into a joint venture - the Business News . 12-15 Woodbridge Township School District Facilities Project - to rebuild, renovate, Greenable and refurbish dozens of community Woodbridge . 16-17 facilities and multi-use athletic fields Arts & Library News . 18-20 on school properties. WB Calendar . 23 This unprecedented project results Health News . 24-25 from an aggressive outreach to attract new corporate business and industry Recreation News . 26 CPV Woodbridge Energy Center under con - through the use of the PILOT struction at the Keasbey Redevelopment Area Public Works . 27-29 (Payment In Lieu Of Taxes) tax incen - tive program - an economic develop - Pet Corner . 30-31 ment tool employed to encourage rede - statute) with 95 percent going to the Police & Public Safety . 32- 33 velopment of blighted areas that Township and five percent to the Seniors’ News . 34-35 would otherwise remain unproductive County. The Board of Education col - and generating little economic benefit. lects no PILOT funds. Veterans’ News . 36-37 The underdeveloped areas can be Youth & Education . 38-39 unproductive because of contamina - Some argue that PILOTs are unfair tion, access restrictions, soil character - Continued on page 10 istics or other physical constraints that render the property unusable. However, through a PILOT we can incentivize builders to redevelop the property into productive use, ultimate - ly creating hundreds of jobs and spurring new “Buy Local” business. Under basic taxation, a typical Woodbridge home or business would have their tax bill divided four ways – less than 25 percent to the Township and nearly 55 percent to the Board of Education, with the remainder split between Middlesex County and the local fire district. Under a PILOT, the tax bill is reduced by about 20 percent to attract the company to Woodbridge Mayor McCormac and Dr. Robert Zega, Superintendent, Woodbridge Township and the reduced payment is split (by School District, unveil plans for new WHS Stadium and Field House. For the latest Township news, go to www.WoodbridgeNews.net Council News ToWN HAll A Township Remembers… 1 Main Street Woodbridge Honors 9/11 Victims & First Responders Woodbridge, NJ 07095 www.twp.woodbridge.nj.us On Thursday, Sept. 11, 2014, ElECTEd oFFICIAlS the Municipal Council and the mayor: Woodbridge Interfaith Clergy John E. McCormac Council hosted “A Township municipal Council: Remembers – A 9/11 Commemoration” Council President: to recognize and honor the 13th Kyle Anderson, At-Large anniversary of the September 11, Council Vice-President: 2001 attacks on the World Trade Michele R. Charmello, Third Ward Center and Pentagon, and the heroic actions of the citizens aboard United Nancy Bader-Drumm, First Ward Airlines Flight 93. The service hon - Richard A. Dalina, Second Ward ored the nine Woodbridge Township James H. Major, Fourth Ward residents who tragically lost their Debbie Meehan, Fifth Ward James V. Carroll, At-Large lives in the 9/11 terror attack and Brenda Yori Velasco, At-Large recognized the Woodbridge Town- ship First Responder community and Gregg M. Ficarra, At-Large 9/11 Memorial at Woodbridge Town Hall the many faiths and ethnicities that stands as a tribute to the residents who ImPoRTANT NumbERS make Woodbridge one community. perished in the September 11, 2001 All Numbers Area Code 732 “Attack on America.” Town Hall . 634-4500 Mayor’s Office . 602-6015 Municipal Clerk . 602-6007 Police . 634-7700 Municipal Prosecutor . 634-4500 Municipal Court . 636-6430 Office of Emergency Management . 602-7361 Tax Collector . 602-6010 Tax Assessor. 602-6002 Engineering . 602-6047 Purchasing Dept. 634-4500 Building Department . 602-6003 Housing Department . 602-6009 Woodbridge Community Center (WCC) . 596-4170 Members of the American Legion T. Nulty Post #471 present “The Colors” for the Pledge of Main Library . 634-4450 Allegiance. Barron Arts Center . 634-0413 Health Dept. 855-0600 Public Works . 738-1311 Sanitation . 738-1311 x3600 It’s Quick, Recycling . 738-1311 x3049 Parks & Recreation . 596-4048 It’s Easy. It’s Safe. TV 35 & 36 . 726-2310 Board of Adjustment . 602-6006 Pay Your Tax and Sewer Bill at the Convenient Planning Board . 602-6005 Drop-off Box Outside Town Hall. Just drive-up, Division on Aging . 855-0600 x5023 drop-off and go. Multi-Services Program . 726-6262 Evergreen Center . 726-6261 2 Published by Jaffe Communications, Inc. • www.jaffecom.com THE WOODBRIDGE NEWS . • Fall 2014 Council News Report from the municipal Clerk’s office By John Mitch, Municipal Clerk Iselin-Area Residents To Renew Parking Permits ity pole, device, public or private structure, or placed in, Parking permits for Iselin residents who reside in a on or around any public right-of-way or abandoned residential parking permit area (see street list) are due to property, unless permitted by law. Municipal officers expire at the end of 2014. Residents must complete a will remove and destroy illegal signs. Regulations that new Residential Parking Permit form and provide evi - apply to signs can be found on the Township web page dence of residency (driver's license, registration and (General Ordinances or Land Use and Development insurance card). The new decals will be valid until Ordinances) at: www.twp.woodbridge.nj.us. 12/31/2019. Parking permits are required for the follow - Nov. 4 is General Election day: ing streets: Magnolia Road, Elm Avenue, North Oak Cast-A-Can-When-You-Cast-Your-Vote Avenue, Willow Avenue, Holly Road, South Walnut Street, Maple Road, North Laurel Avenue, Bird Ave., The Municipal Clerk’s Office will be open and at work Correja Ave., Fiat Ave., Harding Ave., Hillcrest Ave., on General Election Day – Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2014. Voters Laguardia Ave., Marconi Ave., Middlesex Ave., Oak Tree are reminded to bring their sample ballot with them to Road, Pershing Ave., Silzer Ave., Sonora Ave., and Trieste the polls. The ballot includes information on where you Street. Residents who currently possess a valid hang-tag go to vote and a complete list of candidates seeking elec - for these streets should bring their hang-tag with them tion to all offices – national, state, county, municipal, and when applying for the new decal. school board. Voters can verify registration by contacting Applications for the new decals can be obtained at the the Middlesex County Board of Elections at 732-745-3471. Municipal Clerk's Office. Polls are open from 6:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M. Go to the Council ordinance limits Advertising Signs Woodbridge Township web page (www.twp.wood - bridge.nj.us) for voting information. Advertising signs – whether permanent or temporary – are subject to regulation by the Department of Planning And, speaking of voting – the Woodbridge News & Development. By way of example, we often see con - reminds you that students from Woodbridge, John F. tractor’s signs on job sites. By ordinance, display of con - Kennedy Memorial, and Colonia high schools will again tractor signs is permitted upon the actual start of the job coordinate the Township-wide “Cast-A-Can-When-You- and must be removed within seven days of completion of Cast-Your-Vote” food drive. So, before you leave home the job. Signs cannot be displayed more than thirty (30) to vote on Tuesday, November 4, grab a can, or two or days in totality. Temporary signs, posters, notices, or three for drop-off at your polling location before you hand bills, whether handmade or professionally made, vote. Donating non-perishable food is a great way to including but not limited to political, job or price adver - help our less fortunate friends and neighbors this holiday tising, may not be posted or affixed to any lamppost, util - season. Go vote and donate a can of food. Fall 2014 • THE WOODBRIDGE NEWS . 3 Council News Council on the move Council President Anderson Promotes Wb Employment Center Woodbridge Township has embarked on an effort to connect Woodbridge businesses that have job openings with Woodbridge residents who are in the job market. Council President Kyle Anderson reports that local business - es can post job openings and job-seekers can submit a resume via the Township web page. Woodbridge businesses looking for workers can check the Township web site for applicants prior to going out to the general public with available positions. Woodbridge residents looking for employment can obtain leads on potential job opportunities through the Woodbridge Township Job Bank at: www.twp.woodbridge.nj.us/employment. Councilwoman Charmello Announces Autism Awareness month The Woodbridge Township Parents’ Organization Program for the Advancement of Children’s Education (PACE), along with teachers, professional staff, and parents from Matthew Jago School #28, joined Councilwoman Michele Charmello to announce Autism Awareness Month. Councilwoman Charmello works to assist PACE and its efforts to raise awareness of the needs of families parenting Autistic children. Councilman dalina Reminds Residents that County “Greenway” is open Councilman Rick Dalina reminds you that the Middlesex County Greenway is a great place to spend a fall afternoon hiking or riding a bike. The “rails-to-trails” Greenway follows the abandoned Lehigh Valley railroad along a 3.5-mile trail from Crows Mill Road in Woodbridge to Middlesex Avenue in Metuchen. Connected to several parks in the area, the Greenway weaves through Woodbridge, Metuchen, and Edison as a green ribbon that ties the communities together. The Woodbridge section of the Greenway provides residents with a walking/hiking and bike trail, as well as a living classroom for educational and environmental initiatives.