Town Meeting Focuses on Power Outages and Trash

PSE&G's response to power outages and , were the two top areas of discussion during Tuesday night's regular Maplewood Township Committee meeting. 

The attendance at the meeting was in direct contrast to last Monday's informal Township meeting where Maplewoodians came out in droves to discuss the proposed new garbage plan. Only a few were in attendance last night — understandable due to the light agenda and the recent power outages that have affected residents in town.  

The meeting began with a statement from Mayor Vic DeLuca, who expressed frustration with response to the power outages, stating that PSE&G has "not been as forthcoming" as desired. Mayor DeLuca did say that he has been told that most power would be restored by Wednesday night, and 95% of the town's power would be restored by Thursday.

Sarah Lester, new director of the Maplewood Memorial Library, and a resident of five years, was introduced by Katherine Hilaire, President of the Library Board of Trustees. In conducting the search for a new Library Director, Hilaire stated that the Board of Trustees wanted "someone who is unafraid of change" and had a "positive and creative approach to the financial challenges."

During the Board of Health meeting, an idea to craft an anti-smoking ordinance to potentially stop smoking in areas populated by children — such as playgrounds — was discussed. The smoking ban will be included as a topic for discussion, after more information is provided, at the December 6 Board of Health meeting.

After presenting results from surveys completed by residents concerning the proposed single contractor and pay-as-you-throw garbage proposal (many residents preferred the use of stickers over bags for pay-as-you-throw), the Township Committee members were in agreement that more information is needed about the recent garbage proposal and its potential to reduce costs for residents. Some members of the Committee noted that larger families with children could be at a disadvantage with a "pay-as-you-throw" system because they will generate more trash and have less ability to reduce the amount of trash they produce.

Committee members discussed administrative staffing for the new program, the particulars of billing (quarterly vs. annual), and potentially increasing the number of times recycling is picked up per month (the recycling contract is separate from garbage hauling and runs through January 2013).

The consent agenda and ordinances on the Nov. 1, 2011 Township Committee meeting agenda were all approved. They are listed below and copies are available to the general public from the Municipal Building:

Ordinances on Final Passage

Ordinance 2680-11

Refunding bond ordinance of the Township of Maplewood, in the County of Essex, New Jersey, providing for the advance refunding of all or a portion of general improvement bonds, series 2005, appropriating $15,600,000 therefor and authorizing the issuance by the township of general improvement refudning bonds in the aggregate principal amount of not exceeding $15,600,000 for financing the cost therefor.

"Interpretive Statement" - (This ordinance will refinance the balance of the 2005 General Improvement Bond dated October 15, 2005. Refinancing this bond will save the Township of Maplewood on future debt service payments.)

Ordinance 2681-11

Ordinance appropriating $50,000 from the capital surplus fund to provide for environmental improvements in and by the Township of Maplewood, in the County of Essex, New Jersey.

Consent Agenda

Resolution Number 168-11

Resolution designating limited overnight parking at Maplecrest Park Parking Lot - Lot #1

Resolution 169-11

Resolution authorizing the Mayor of the Township of Maplewood to officially notify the Essex County Division of Housing and Community Development of the Township's desire to pariticipate in the "Urban County" requalification process for program 2012-2014.

Resolution 170-11

Resolution determing the form and other details of not to exceed $15,600,000 of general imrpovement refunding bonds of the Township of Maplewood, in the county of Essex, New Jersey or such other amount as determined by the cheif financial officer to accomplish the refunding on the terms approved by the local finance board consistent with the refunding provisions of the internal revenue code and providing for the sale and the delivery of such bonds to RBC Capital Markets, LLC.

Resolution Number 171-11

Resolution of the Township of Maplewood in the County of Essex, New Jersey authorizing the planning board of the Township of Maplewood to Investigate whether Block 48.48 Lot 6.01 should be designated an area in need of redevelopment (98 Burnett Avenue).