Taxes

The township manager and attorney were given authorization May 22 to begin vetting a proposed peace and nonviolence monument park targeted for a piece of the former Consolata Mission property on Route 27. The park has long been a pet project of Township Councilman Rajiv Prasad (D-At Large). His vision is to erect bronze statues of Mahatma Gandhi, the Rev. …

Residents along Route 27 in Little Rocky Hill should finally be able to take a proper shower by the end of the summer. And, more importantly, fire hydrants in that area will work. That’s because the Township Council at its May 8 meeting awarded a $5.6 million contract to Basking Ridge-based Dewcon, Inc. to re-line a stretch of water main …

Construction is underway on the newest addition to Colonial Park: A spray park. The spray park should be open by late summer, a county engineer said Abraham General Construction of West Orange won the $819,036 contract for the park from the Somerset County Board of Chosen Freeholders in December, 2017. Located adjacent to the playground off Colonial Drive, the spray …

The Board of Education awarded a number of contracts at its April 26 meeting. Contracts awarded were for: The purchase of security supplies from CDW for Cedar Hill Prep School in the amount of $1,136.87, using non-public funding, through Educational Services Commission of New Jersey. The purchase of security supplies from OnScene Technologies, Inc. for Cedar Hill Prep School in …

The Township Council voted to purchase a variety of goods and services during its two April meetings. During the April 14 meeting, the council: Awarded a $418,566 contract for the resurfacing of Woodlawn Road to Meci Inc of Clarksburg. Awarded a $32,000 contract for a “Community Forestry Hazardous Tree Assessment/Survey” to CME Associates of Parlin. During the April 28 meeting, …

A $178 million budget for the 2018-19 school year that includes a slight decrease in the school portion of property taxes was approved April 26 by the Board of Education. The $178,220,898 total spending plan – an increase of $6,065,143 over the 2017-18 budget – includes funding for opening a new elementary school and placing police officers in every school, …

Pickup of tree limbs downed in the several nor’easters that struck the township over the last month should be completed by early May, Township Manager Robert Vornlocker said at the Township Council’s April 10 meeting. Vornlocker said that the Public Works Department has a full contingent of trucks and workers attacking the problem, and there is no reason to hire …

Township residents who are waiting for limbs downed in the recent nor’easters to be picked up by township employees were asked to be patient at the March 27 Township Council meeting. Township Manager Robert Vornlocker said that it looks as though it will take a month before all limbs are picked up, but there are now discussions to expand the …

Update: The Board of Education approved the tentative budget. The board will hold a public hearing on the budget at its April 26 meeting. Original Story: The 2018-19 school year could see a more-than tripling in the number of armed police officers in township schools. Included in the proposed 2018-19 school year budget set to be introduced on March 28 …

Update: The budget was adopted at the council’s April 10 meeting. Original Story: The Township Council March 13 introduced a $61 million municipal budget for 2018 that carries with it a slight tax increase, but, thanks to an increase in property values, a slight decrease in the tax rate. The total proposed budget – $60,855,068 – is up $1,548,656 , …