Requests for new equipment and new staff positions highlighted the Township Council’s first hearing for the 2018 municipal budget on Feb. 12. This is the first of two expected hearings, during which department heads and Township Manager Robert Vornlocker appear before the council to make their case for requested money for the coming year. Vornlocker then takes the information from …
Read More »Update: Proposed Ordinance Ties Water Rate Hikes To Suppliers’ Increases, Establishes New Charge
Update: The Township Council tabled the ordinance at its public hearing on Dec. 12. Township Manager Robert Vornlocker suggested the move, saying that he may have a “better way” to keep water rates in synch with rising supplier prices and ensure there is money for needed maintenance and upgrades. “I took the opportunity over the last two weeks to look …
Read More »Township Council Votes To Sell Liquor License, Buy Pothole Filler
The Township Council at its last meeting voted to sell one of the township’s plenary retail consumption liquor licenses and to purchase a piece of heavy machinery. Bids for the liquor license, which start at $250,000, will be accepted until Dec. 6. The licenses allow for the sale and consumption of alcohol on the licensee’s premises. The number of plenary …
Read More »Township Looking To Add Electric Cars To Fleet
Acting on a suggestion from a Township Councilman, Township Manager Robert Vornlocker is researching prices for a mini-fleet of electric cars. Vornlocker said he’d like to have a recommendation to propose to the council during the 2018 budgeting process. Vornlocker said he’s looking at five cars, which would probably be used by the construction department. The cars cost about $35,000 …
Read More »Township Council Approves Purchase, Contract Amendments
The purchase of a data storage unit and amendments to several contracts were approved by the Township Council at its Oct. 24 meeting. The council approved a $70,000 contract with Starnet Solutions of Farmingdale for a data storage unit to replace an aging one in the township’s data center. The purchase was made through a state contract. A $25,000 contract …
Read More »Taxes At Work: Township Council Awards More Than $450,000 In Contracts
Contracts worth more than $450,000 were awarded Oct. 10 by the Township Council. The council approved a $400,000 contract with Total Lawn Care & Landscape Services of Somerset for 20 snow plowing routes for the 2017-2018 snow season. The rate for the contract is $175 per hour for each truck, and the contract can be extended for two additional snow …
Read More »Little Rocky Hill Water Main Woes May Be Ending
It looks as though issues with the state have been resolved, and the woes associated with a water main in Little Rocky Hill may finally be coming to an end. Township Councilman Ted Chase (D-Ward 1) made the announcement at the Sept. 26 council meeting. Chase has been working on getting the main replaced for at least the last five …
Read More »Dump Trucks, Police Radio Systems Upgrade Among Items Purchased By Township Council
Among the goods and services purchased were: $36,700 for shade trees for Middlebush Park from Northern Nurseries of Somerset. The cost is for the trees only, the township’s Department of Public Works will plant them. $73,742.58 for two 2017 10-foot Stainless Steel Dump Bodies, $36,871.29 each. The bodies will be installed on: Two 2018 Model SD 108 Freightliner Cab and …
Read More »Coming Soon To Airwaves: Township Emergency AM Radio Station
A $73,000 contract to create an AM radio station for the township was awarded to a Michigan-based company by the Township Council. The station – the frequency of which has not yet been determined – is mainly envisioned to serve as a way to reach township residents with important information during emergencies, especially during widespread power outages, Mayor Phil Kramer …
Read More »Township Council Approves $242,000 In CDBG Grants
More than $240,000 in Community Development Block Grant applications were approved Aug. 8 by the Township Council. CDBG grants, as they are known, originate at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and are used to help communities “address a wide range of unique community development needs,” according to the program’s web site. According to Deborah Mitchell, the township’s …
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