Montgomery Database Maps Now On-line
Montgomery map-based public info can now be accessed on-line. “Geoweb Map”, as Montgomery’s system is known, is now available on the internet as a free service to the public.
‘Databased’ info includes property owner and tax assessment info, tax maps, zoning info and ordinances, subdivision plats and as-built plans, polling locations and census statistics. Locations of natural resources, flood insurance maps, sewer service areas, proximity to fire hydrants (for insurance purposes) & USGS quad maps are also searchable.
Montgomery Township Geoweb Map applications are available by visiting the township's website at www.montgomery.nj.us and clicking on Interactive Maps in the left-hand menu in red.
The township is gauging interest in conducting free public training. “We are available to provide an hour long introductory class on the “how to” of map-based info searches,” according to Montgomery’s Senior GIS Specialist Patrick McDonald.
If interested in training classes, please contact Mr. McDonald at (908) 359-8211 ext. 276 or pmcdonald@twp.montgomery.nj.us. It is also suggested that interested persons sign up for Montgomery Twp. e-bulletins at www.montgomery.nj.us. If sufficient public interest is expressed, class details will be sent out via email and posted on the township website.
“GIS technology is making it much easier, faster, and more efficient to manage all of the various types of geographic-related data the Township has to maintain and utilize,” said Robert Marmion, Montgomery CAD/GIS Director. “Most estimates have shown that more than 80% of the information managed by a municipality is of a geographic nature.”
Besides the general public; intended users of these applications include current and potential residents, township professionals, volunteer board members, emergency response personnel, engineers, surveyors, property appraisers, title companies, mortgages companies, realtors, other local, county, state, and federal agencies, and private consultants who need this information.
Montgomery Township began working with Geographic Information System (GIS) technology in1999. The township was the pilot GIS program for all of Somerset County earlier this decade. Grants dramatically reduced the costs of the township developing its GIS technology. Around 2005 the township created the Geospatial Information Technology Department to better serve the township’s spatial (geographic) data needs.
Notes From the Township Administrator
2010 will start with the reorganization of the Township Committee on January 7th. Appointments to Township boards and commissions will be made, the swearing -in of Committee person elect Thom Carter, as well as the selection of a new mayor and deputy mayor. In the weeks that follow the Township Committee in concert with staff will commence work on crafting the 2010 budget.
The draft 2010 budget as prepared will meet all state imposed "Caps" on taxes and appropriations. Staff will be looking for direction from the Township Committee for their directions and priorities for spending in the coming year. There are significant fiscal challenges facing the both state and local governments in New Jersey. Difficult choices will have to be made dealing with staffing and levels of service. Local government will have to redefine its mission and redefine what services "could" be provided versus what services "must" be provided. It is entirely possible that Montgomery will not be able to adopt its final budget until the State has solved their budget funding dilemma. Serious reductions in state revenue could have a dramatic effect on the 2010 municipal budget.
While completing the 2010 Budget, township staff will also be continuing negotiations with Somerset County on the sale of Skillman Village for the creation of a new county park. Simultaneously Weston Solutions will be completing the Environmental remediation and dam restoration on the site. Staff will also be overseeing the upgrade and expansion of the Pike Brook Wastewater Treatment plant and the upgrade of the Skillman Village Wastewater Treatment plant.
As the year unfolds, I will try to keep you informed as to the impacts to our community. All of us are facing difficult economic times, as we have all had to make difficult personal decisions, Montgomery will be facing difficult financial decisions, effecting, not only the levels of service we provide, but what services Montgomery must provide. I am hopeful that 2010 will be better for all of us.
COMPOST TEA: KEY INGREDIENT OF MONTGOMERY PARKS’ UPKEEP
Montgomery Township is finding simple ways to go greener while realizing cost savings. After careful research, the Montgomery Department of Public Works is implementing a compost tea program. Compost tea is a specific liquid biological amendment made by coaxing the beneficial organisms from compost into an aerated water solution from various sources such as brush, grass clippings, and leaves. A compost tea program will allow the township to take compost, liquefy it, and change it into an organic fertilizer to spray on park grounds and other grass areas.
Public Works Director Art Villano is enthusiastic about the program. “Montgomery Township is the perfect place to implement this program. With ninety plus acres of parkland, including six baseball fields, ten soccer fields, and ten playground areas, there is plenty of land to fertilize. The switch should improve the soils and playing fields while the cost savings should be substantial,” he said.
Recently, Ann Raver reported in the New York Times that Harvard University is implementing this budget-reducing program and is having positive results. The startup cost is relatively inexpensive compared to the fertilization methods now in place. The Montgomery DPW has built its own compost tea maker and has started using the tea on a pilot basis.
Currently, Montgomery Township irrigates with 2,052,528 gallons of water a year. Since organics retain more water, Montgomery anticipates an irrigation reduction of 30%. This will save 615,758 gallons of water. At the end of one year, the township will have saved tens of thousands of dollars, while keeping our parks more chemical-free. In addition, switching from synthetic to organic materials will invigorate the soil, resulting in greener grass, healthier plants, and a healthier park environment.
Changing from a product based program (chemically formulated fertilizers) to a knowledge based approach of using compost tea should result in the ground retaining more water, building a healthier
surface while reducing injuries.
Montgomery Township plans on spraying all parklands by mid December. To date, the Township has made and sprayed ten batches of the compost tea organic fertilizer and has observed good results.
Montgomery Township is also implementing other improvements to our current waste management and recycling program. We purchased two Big Belly trash compactors that help to reduce trips to the parks. Secondly, we are making available to residents backyard compost containers. Anyone who would like to purchase a compost container or is interested in knowing more about the program, should contact Public Works Director Art Villano at (908) 874-3144.
Township Mayor’s Re-Organization Remarks
Since Election Day many people around Montgomery either called me, e-mailed me or pulled me aside to offer congratulations and to wish me well. And then, the conversation inevitably turned to the state of things in New Jersey, the state of things in Montgomery and then, of course, TAXES, and sometimes those same people would say they just can't see themselves staying in Montgomery, or for that matter staying in New Jersey for a whole lot longer because our town, our state, is just too expensive. I find it discouraging that too many believe that no matter what this township committee does, no matter what our school board does, and no matter what our freeholder board does, the challenges continue to outpace the solutions. For those of us born and raised in New Jersey, that loss of faith is both heartbreaking and it's a call to action.
More than at any time I can recall, our fate is tied to the fiscal mess in Trenton. And more than at any other time, it's frustrating that things like COAH, unfunded mandates, underfunded school aid formulas, huge pension liabilities and state budget shortfalls are tying our hands and pressuring us to either cut services or increase taxes.
Our new governor's got his work cut out for him. He deserves our support and he deserves our prayers. And I'm hopeful the Christie administration and his colleagues across the aisle in the legislature will put partisanship aside to work together and aggressively address these problems. But every crisis also presents opportunity - let us all use our voices to ensure that Trenton does not let this opportunity for real and lasting change pass.
But, at the same time, let's also commit ourselves to a singular goal: let's challenge ourselves to do what we can to make things better for our neighbors here in Montgomery. We just can't be content to settle for ever increasing taxes. Business as usual will just not cut it in 2010. Too often we hear elected officials talk of the "tough choice" to raise taxes. Well, to me, raising taxes isn't the tough choice, it's the easy one. Passing the buck to someone else is always easier than taking responsibility and doing the job yourself.
The tough call is to roll up your sleeves, figure out how to do more with less, reduce costs, reduce debt, create efficiencies and avoid tax increases. Our neighbors not only deserve it, they need it. Let us commit ourselves today to pushing the envelope, challenging the status quo, and leading by example.
Let us challenge every assumption and look anew at every nickel we spend. Let's cut costs where we can and continue to lead in the consolidation and sharing of services. Here's a great example - last year's transfer of our emergency dispatch services to Somerset County's communications facility has been a resounding fiscal and operational success. We should be advocates for even more innovative thinking.
I am a firm believer in home rule when it comes to land use and zoning and the health and safety of our neighbors. These functions are at the core of what local government is best situated do deal with. The fact that one third of our town is preserved as either public or private open space is proof of that. But the simple fact is the 566 municipalities in New Jersey can no longer afford to act independently, and in many ways terribly inefficiently, with many services and functions that can and should be regionalized using technology and modern communications.
So I will be an advocate for taking a hard look at the potential for regionalized or shared courts, tax assessor's, health services, recreation functions, building code functions and what municipal government and our school board should look to consolidate where it makes sense.
I will never agree to give up local control over core municipal functions, but the assumptions of the past about what can only be done locally have been superseded by economic reality.
As I have said at every reorganization meeting I have participated in, public service is a privilege. A truly fulfilled life is about making a difference in the lives of others. I am honored to serve the people of Montgomery and excited to work with colleagues who care first and foremost about keeping Montgomery one of the best places to live and raise a family in New Jersey. Yes, we face challenges but let us on this Committee rise to the opportunity presented to us by this crisis to deliver real and lasting change.
As I look around this room I see so many who serve at our food bank, as EMT's and firemen, and on countless boards and commissions. Thank you for your public service. Thank you again for being here tonight and thank you for the tireless work you do for this community.
"The Montgomery Guide" Now Available On-line
The Montgomery Guide gives an overview of Montgomery government and community. It is now posted for viewing or download on the township website at www.montgomery.nj.us. It contains key contacts and info on our leadership and each department of the municipal offices. It also has info on emergency and fire services, voting and elections, recreational and cultural opportunities, County resources, senior services, hotlines and much more. The Guide can be picked up at the front reception desk of the municipal building, 2261 Rt. 206, or the Otto Kaufman Community Center, 356 Skillman Rd., M-F, 8-4:30.
If you are a new resident we also have a welcome packet for you! The New Resident Packet includes the above-described Montgomery Guide and is also packed with helpful brochures and flyers on need-to-know topics for new residents. Recycling schedule, sewer or septic care, voter registration forms, dog license forms, maps of township parks – these are some items in the new resident packet. (Available for free at the reception desk of the municipal building, 2261 Rt. 206, where new households can also pick up their recycling bucket.)
HOMEOWNERS – Things You Should Consider”
The Somerset County Coalition on Affordable Housing (SCCOAH) is a HUD-approved housing counseling agency that has helped its clients overcome their housing hurdles for over 20 years.
“Homeowners – Things You Should Consider” is an in-depth educational program for current homeowners. This FREE program will ensure that your home ownership experience continues to be a successful and positive one. It is offered only one time per year and is held in the month of February to allow homeowners with property tax questions enough time to submit appeals (4/1/10 is NJ deadline) or get answers.
“Many homeowners recognize that their home value is less now than in previous years and therefore feel their tax assessment is too high, but do not understand the tax appeal process.” stated Realtor Judy Lewis, SCCOAH Board Member.
The program is scheduled for February 25, 2010 and will be held at the Somerville Elks Lodge, 375 Union Avenue, Bridgewater, NJ 08807. The program begins promptly at 5:15 pm and ends at 8:15 pm and will include a light dinner.
Police Message to Community; Changes to Dispatch & New Phone Number Added
After lengthy deliberation and consultation, the Montgomery Township Committee decided in January to transfer the emergency communications function from the municipal Police Department to Somerset County Communications, for the purpose of realizing cost-savings to township taxpayers.
Somerset County Communications is a county-wide emergency communications center located in Somerville and directed by the Somerset County Division of Emergency Management. It currently dispatches police, fire and emergency medical assets for several Somerset County municipalities, and will now also perform this function for Montgomery Township.
The transfer will be complete on or about July 6, whereupon the Police Department will close its fullservice emergency communications center. Here is how the new system will work:
1. All 9-1-1 telephone calls generated from any hard-wire telephone within Montgomery Township
will be received at Somerset County Communications. (As is currently the case, 9-1-1 calls
from cell phones may be received by other agencies and transferred to County dispatch.)
2. The non-emergency (908) 359-3222 number will remain operational but will be answered at
the County. Somerset County Communications dispatchers will direct your call in order for you
to receive the appropriate response. Use this number if you have an immediate need of police
assistance, but not for regular police business calls (see back side).
3. A police business phone number, (908) 874-3333, will allow callers to contact the Police Dept.
directly during regular business hours M - F 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and will access voicemail
after hours. This phone number is for administrative business ie. requesting a police report, a
firearms permit, leaving a message for a specific police officer, etc.
4. There will no longer be a police dispatcher in the municipal building 24 hours per day, 365
days per year. The municipal building will be closed outside of regular business hours.
Arrangements have been made to accommodate public access at evening meetings that take
place in the municipal building.
5. Individuals who come to the municipal building after hours in search of a police officer or other
municipal service may use special telephones located beneath blue beacons immediately
outside the Police Department lobby and the front door of the municipal building. These
phones automatically connect with county dispatch so that callers are assisted.
This transition has been planned with great care and consideration to its impact on Township
residents. Township and County officials are confident that this partnership will deliver the highest
level of service while minimizing any inconvenience to our community. We look forward to hearing
from residents about any questions or concerns you may have.
Notes From the Township Administrator - December 2009
Township staff has been working diligently on the 2010 Draft Budget. It should come as no surprise to anyone that the fiscal condition of the State of New Jersey could have a very serious impact on all 566 municipalities in the state. Montgomery receives over $1,000,000 in revenue from the State. That number has been declining year to year as the State has retained more of that money to assist in balancing its own budget.
If reductions like this continue, the Township will be hard pressed to find alternative sources of funds. Other revenue sources such as Federal and State Grant programs have been negatively impacted by the changing fiscal landscape. Towns throughout the state will have to take a hard look at the services they provide and decide what is absolutely essential and what can be reduced or eliminated, possibly redefining the mission of local government.
The Township continues to work very closely with Somerset County and the Somerset County Municipal Manager's Association reviewing all options on sharing of staff, services, and equipment. Montgomery continues to pursue shared service and departmental consolidation opportunities whenever and wherever it maintains and /or enhances services and makes economic sense.
Municipal government is being redefined in New Jersey as we all face the economic realities of 2010. Budget meetings will begin early in January 2010 as the staff and Township Committee work hard to try to meet the demands for service and maintenance of infrastructure while dealing with the fiscal realities facing New Jersey and Montgomery.
While some of the staff is dealing with the 2010 Budget, other staff in Public Works is preparing for winter storms, installing snow fence and getting our plowing and sanding equipment ready for Winter's first icy blast. The use of brine to pre-treat or roadways prior to snow and ice storms saved thousands dollars in materials and wages by making snow and ice removal so much easier and environmentally responsible. There are many times that our Publics Works Department will work around the clock to insure that Township roads are plowed and safe for travel.
In closing, although 2010 presents challenges for all of us in town hall I look forward to the New Year and on behalf of the entire municipal staff I want wish everyone a very happy holiday season.
Montgomery Earns “Sustainable Jersey” Certification
Sustainable Jersey representatives have announced that Montgomery Township has met the rigorous requirements to achieve Sustainable Jersey Certification. Montgomery is one of 28 towns out of the 240 registered municipalities that have attained certification in the first year of the program. Montgomery was honored at the Sustainable Jersey awards luncheon on Tuesday, November 17th at the Sheraton Hotel in Atlantic City. Mayor Louise Wilson accepted the award.
“This is a real honor for Montgomery; and it was no small feat. It represents a lot of great work and a deep commitment to protecting natural resources, reducing energy use, and integrating sustainable practices into virtually everything we do in local government, from land use planning to equipment and purchasing,” noted Mayor Wilson, who serves on the township’s Sustainability Committee.
“It’s important for people to understand,” she continued, “that the energy and ongoing efforts of many volunteers made it possible for us to qualify: we have one point-person on staff, and dozens of outstanding volunteers. Because of their work, Montgomery has taken big steps in recent years, adopting sustainable policies and procedures that save substantial dollars. Of course there is always more to do, so it’s fortunate that this certification qualifies the township for additional grant funds.”
To become Sustainable Jersey certified, Montgomery submitted documentation to show various ways the township policies, actions, ordinances and partnerships advance specific environmental objectives. Where a minimum of 100 “action points” were required, Montgomery submitted 150 points’ worth. In addition, every town seeking certification appointed a “Green Team” (the Sustainability Committee) and was required to undertake a series of priority action options. Montgomery took a Sustainable Land Use Pledge, completed a Municipal Carbon Footprint assessment, conducted energy audits of municipal facilities, and is completing and a water conservation ordinance.
“The 2009 certified towns are the Sustainable Jersey pioneers that can forever boast that they were the first, having achieved certification in the year one of the program,” said Fred Profeta, Maplewood’s Deputy Mayor for the Environment and Chair of the New Jersey League of Municipalities’ Mayors Committee for a Green Future. “We have more than two-hundred and fifty people attending the awards luncheon to salute the first-rate municipalities that have led the way in developing sustainability initiatives in New Jersey.”
Certified towns excelled in areas such as improving energy efficiency and health and wellness, smart land use and transportation, reducing waste, sustaining local economies, protecting natural resources, and addressing diversity and equity. “These are exceptional towns with outstanding programs that set an example for all of us because they have taken the responsibility to cultivate a better environment,” said Randall Solomon, Sustainable Jersey program partner and Executive Director of the New Jersey Sustainable State Institute at Rutgers University. Sustainable Jersey program partner Donna Drewes, of the Municipal Land Use Center at The College of New Jersey, congratulated the certified towns. “Our winners are municipal leaders that are making extraordinary contributions toward the long-term goal of a sustainable New Jersey and world.”
New Jersey is the first state in the nation to have a comprehensive sustainability program for communities that links certification with strong state and private financial incentives, and a fully resourced program of technical support and training.
Discarded Christmas Tree Pick-Up Or Drop-Off
The Montgomery Township Department of Public Works will be starting curbside Christmas tree collection on Monday, January 4, 2010. This collection takes several days so please be patient. But please do not wait to put them out. If your section of town happens to be collected first, it is possible that trees placed to the curb after January 4th may not be picked up.
As an alternative, an area at the Depart of Public Works site, located at 12 Harlingen Road, will be set up to receive discarded Christmas trees if you would prefer to drop them off. This site will be available for drop off at any hour, or day, starting December 27, 2009 until January 31, 2010. All trees either to be pickup up or dropped off must be free of tinsel and ornaments.
Regular tree limbs/brush may also be brought to the Public Works yard without charge but ONLY during the regular Saturday drop-off dates from 8 to 12. There is a container facility day on January 9th. If you have any questions, please contact the Department of Public Works at (908) 874-3144.
Videos of Twp Committee Meetings To Be Posted On-line
Meetings of the Montgomery Township Committee will be videotaped and posted on the Township website at www.montgomery.nj.us. Check the Elected Officials page, where contact info, upcoming meeting agendas and meeting minutes may also be found.
A Conversation with Donato Nieman, Township Administrator
On a beautiful November morning, Donato Nieman sits in his sun-drenched office, surrounded by family photos and awards for dedicated service, and talks about the job he loves.
A lifetime resident of New Jersey, Nieman was born in New Brunswick, but grew up on a nearby farm in Franklin Township. Though his parents were not farmers, he milked cows and harvested corn as a boy on other farms and brought the lessons he learned from his parents to all of the jobs he’s held throughout his career.
“My parents instilled in me a hard working ethic,” says Nieman, “and that you should always treat everyone as you would like to be treated yourself.”
Nieman has spent nearly his entire career in the public sector. After graduating college and teaching social studies for two years, he went back to school to get a master’s degree in public administration, and except for a brief stint in the private sector, has worked in the public sector since 1974. Since 1984 he served as either a municipal administrator or assistant administrator, all in central New Jersey, before coming to Montgomery in 1999 to serve as Township Administrator.
He seems to relish the challenges and opportunities of serving Montgomery. “I love working here,” says Nieman. “It’s been the best professional experience of my career.”
What does the Township Administrator do? He oversees the management of all the day-to-day operations of the Township and its departments, including engineering, finance, health, Kid Connection, planning, zoning, code enforcement, public safety, public works and recreation. Under his direction, the Department of Administration is also responsible for the municipal budget and seeing that the policies and procedures of the Township Committee are carried out.
“Look at it like the CEO of a private corporation who takes directions from the board of trustees,” explains Nieman. “In municipal government, the Township Committee directs the Township Administrator.”
Nieman views municipal government as responsible for providing customer service to its citizens. “It’s our only product,” he says, “and we’re obligated to provide the best we can.” His department gets phone calls every day from citizens with questions and he sees his job as one to help people solve problems.
“We try to be very transparent,” says Nieman. “We are the first point of contact, the first level in the government, and we want that experience to be positive. We have an excellent staff, all of whom are committed to giving the best service possible.”
He describes his staff as a group of high quality employees working in a professional environment. Nieman is proud that people in other towns contact Montgomery on a regular basis to inquire about working here and believes the caliber of the staff is directly related to the stability of the community. “Our community values professional management and quality in their elected officials. I believe we are serving our residents well.”
One of the things he is most proud of is that in the face of financial constraints, they are operating with 26 fewer employees than six years ago, yet running efficiently and successfully.
When he first joined the department, there were no computers and no internet. Now, the department uses state-of-the-art technology. Critical information about the Township and its infrastructure are in databases and can be accessed, with information provided within minutes in a time- and cost-effective manner. In 2010, on-line payment options will be available for paying tax and sewer bills, recreation fees and anything else requiring a fee. All this, says Nieman, allows the department to do more work with a reduced staff.
As a testament to the Township’s emergency management staff, Nieman, an animated storyteller, recounts how during hurricane Floyd 100 motorists were stranded and sought shelter at the municipal building when parts of Route 206 became flooded. They were made to feel comfortable for the night, while a Township employee braved the high waters in a pick-up truck to get food for everyone.
“Montgomery is known to be the most user-friendly,” says Nieman. “The template our health department created for the swine flu clinics is considered to be so successful and efficient, that the State has given a grant so that this template could be used by others.”
What is he currently working on? In addition to the budget, which is ongoing, the two major projects Nieman is working on right now are the upgrade of Skillman Village sewage treatment plant and the upgrade and expansion of the Pike Brook treatment plant. With some of the most stringent laws in place, the latest permit standards require the removal of copper and zinc from wastewater. Those metals actually come from the pipes themselves, and not sewage, says Nieman, but they still have to be removed.
“I’ve had a great career. It keeps me busy,“ Nieman says, smiling. “I don’t think I would have enjoyed any other career as much as this.”
Montgomery Township website link
Residents Will Soon Be Able to Pay Taxes or Sewer Bills Online
Montgomery Township’s Administrator Donato Nieman and Chief Financial Officer Walter Sheppard are hoping that Township residents will have the option of paying tax or sewer bills online by the end of the year. Bank of America - the Township’s bank - recently approved an agreement that would allow online payments through an automated clearing house electronic check paying process. The next step is to work with software company Cit-E-Net, who will implement their existing software system after customizing it to meet the Township’s needs.
Nieman and Sheppard note that a surcharge, or convenience fee, would have to be paid by taxpayers if they pay via credit card. The Township, unlike commercial businesses, would not be able to absorb such charges. However, wire transfers from checking account debit cards could be made with no fee.
Township Plans to Sell 1860 House
The 1860 House on Montgomery Road, which has been empty since last fall when the Montgomery Center for the Arts closed, may soon be for sale. Since “empty homes deteriorate”, as Montgomery Township Administrator Donato Nieman notes, the Township will seek a buyer who will restore the home maintaining its historical integrity.
The land on which the house sits, bordered by the Millstone River and the Beden’s Brook, was originally bequeathed to Daniel Hollingshead (hence Stonebridge’s Hollingshead Spring Road) in the1690s and purchased by Thomas Skillman around 1729. Roughly thirty years later it was sold to Peter Vander Veer. It is believed that Peter’s grandson Isaac built the three story house around 1860; hence its name. After several other owners, Henry Young, grandson of the Ballantines who made their fortune brewing beer, bought the house in 1946. Young and his family spent summers here, installing an in ground pool that was eventually removed.
Several years later Ingersoll Rand later bought 225 acres including the house to build its Research Center, which opened in the mid 1960s. After the facility closed, Ingersoll Rand wanted to sell the house and land to developers who envisioned some 200 units of high density housing on it. Instead, a two-year grassroots effort by local residents (including this reporter) resulted in the 1996 sale of roughly 180 acres with the 1860 House to the Township for $7.1 million and 40 acres to Presbyterian Homes for their assisted living facility Stonebridge. Ingersoll Rand painted and repaired the exterior of the house. Preservation of the tract, a valuable natural resource, was accomplished when it was designated Green Acres, and was “one of the proudest days of Montgomery’s history” according to Donald Matthews, then Mayor of Montgomery Township.
The Township leased the house to the Montgomery Center for the Arts (MCA) for a minimal fee on condition that MCA maintain the house. Heating the house with its single pane windows and insuring and protecting the artwork within – which entailed installing an alarm system - proved too costly and MCA ran out of funds. The barn located behind the house was moved from its original location at the corner of Route 206 and Orchard Road and restored. For ten years, The Van Harlingen Historical Society has maintained it as a Farm Museum which exhibits agricultural artifacts from the area. A small cemetery is also situated on the property.
The Township may sell the house by the end of the year through public bidding, similar to when the Beekman House off Route 206 was auctioned off after its owner - the last of the Beekmans - died. The Township will first subdivide the roughly seven acre lot on which the 1860 House is situated from the surrounding Green Acres and place a historic easement on the house so that its new owner would restore it appropriately.
For a detailed history of the 1860 House and surrounding land, please see Ursula Brecknell’s article in the winter 1993 issue of the Van Harlingen Historical Society’s (VHHS) newsletter, available at the Mary Jacobs Library. Thanks to Judy Peters of VHHS for identifying this resource.
Township Committee Takes 10% Pay Cut
The Montgomery Township Committee decided to cut their salaries by 10% earlier this year, but due to an oversight this change was not included in the Township’s salary ordinance for 2009. Mayor Louise Wilson explains, “The pay cut was a decision made by the Township Committee early in the course of the budget process as we were implementing layoffs, pay freezes and other severe cost-cutting measures. Because of a miscommunication, for which I take responsibility, the pay cut had not been reflected in the salary and wage ordinance we originally adopted.” However, the ordinance was recently amended and the cut became effective October 15.
Cuts for the 2009 municipal budget included laying off four part-time employees, reducing hours for four construction code workers and one GIS/CAD worker, and freezing salaries for all nonunion employees except Kid Connection teachers. These cuts were made due to the economic climate and 4% budget caps that the State of New Jersey imposed on municipalities starting in 2007, according to Montgomery Township Administrator Donato Nieman. Annual salaries for Township Committee Members had been $5,006 for Mayor and $3,752 for other Township Committee Members.
Township OK’d for $215K State Grant for Cherry Valley Rd. Improvements
Montgomery Township has received a $215,000 grant from the NJ Department of Transportation for improvements to Cherry Valley Road between Rt. 206 and Billie Ellis Lane. Montgomery applied jointly with Princeton Township for funds to improve safety and pedestrian access; Princeton also received funding for this project.
Cherry Valley Road is a major east-west connector roadway that also is the border between Montgomery and Princeton Townships, and between Somerset and Mercer Counties. These improvements will enhance safety and traffic flow, providing wider lanes with shoulders to accommodate bicycles, intermunicipal sidewalk/pathway connections and drainage improvements. The project will widen the western portion of the roadway to a uniform 36-foot width to match the existing roadway abutting the Yorkshire Woods and Woods Edge neighborhoods in Montgomery.
According to Montgomery Township Engineer Gail Smith, Montgomery Township was awarded $215,000 and Princeton Township was awarded $300,000. The total project cost is estimated at $822,360.
There are deep drainage ditches on either side of the roadway at various locations and no existing walkways. This project would extend an underground storm sewer system to eliminate problematic roadside ditches. Other enhancements will include improvements to roadway pavement slope and surface.
When the improvements are complete, residential neighborhoods on the western end of the project area will have pedestrian links to retail and service districts located near Route 206. The proposed pathway and roadway improvements will provide a safe route for residents to walk or bike to local businesses. This will tie into the recent update to the traffic signal timing by NJDOT which provides a pedestrian phase to allow walkers and bikers to cross the State Highway and municipal roads at this location.
The new roadway improvements will help to enhance the operation of Dunn Way and Duffy Place, two connector roadways that were constructed by Montgomery Township and Princeton Township, respectively, which were partially funded through grants from NJDOT awarded in 2003. The current road roadway improvement project will also help accommodate future intersection improvements.
Montgomery Township and Princeton Township will continue to work with NJDOT to coordinate the improvement project. The grant requires that the project be awarded within 18 months of execution of the grant award.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |