LIVINGSTON, NJ - Township officials are expected to meet with Millburn officials this week to help back a planned deer hunt by the United Bowhunters of New Jersey in September. The group will be hunting in the East Orange Water Reserve starting on September 1st and continuing until December.

According to Council members at the August 17th Livingston Township Council work session meeting, they continue to receive complaints from residents about deer chewing away at their plants and landscape.  In addition, there is always the threat of drivers hitting the deer while driving down township roads. "It’s becoming more and more of a problem," said Livingston Councilman Rudy Fernandez, about the increased deer population in the area. Councilman Fernandez will be one of the Livingston officials meeting with Millburn officials this week. Fernandez said that he will speak with Bob Hunter of the local Deer Management Committee about the talks with Millburn. Deputy Mayor Arlene Johnson said that she has been receiving several complaints for township residents about the deer. "There are a number of residents saying that the township should refocus on deer," said Johnson.

Joining up with Millburn and the United Bowhunters during the hunting period means that Livingston does not have to put together a Deer Management Plan, which would be costly and time consuming. Livingston officials said that the municipalities’ cost will be that of reimbursing the hunters’ group for the feed or bail that is laid down for the deer. The cost is usually a few thousand dollars. Fernandez pointed out that the United Bowhunters are an "experienced and qualified" group to handle the hunt.

The local police departments will know where the hunters will be hunting at all times.  "The [police] know every where the [hunters] are going," said Fernandez, allaying fears of some of the area residents who were expecting hunters to be in their neighborhoods.

As part of the planned hunt with the United Bowhunters, notifications are sent to the residents that surround the East Orange Water Reserve. The Water Reserve includes land that is part of both Livingston and Millburn.

According to Livingston officials, the first deer killed is kept by the bowhunter and then the remaining amount that is collected by a specific hunter is donated to area food banks.

In other news, representatives of the Livingston Youth & Community Services (LYCS) gave a presentation to the Mayor and Council regarding their planned activities. A new Director and Assistant Director of LYCS were introduced.  Bunnie Ratner, Chairperson of the Board of Directors of LYCS, introduced Susan Ridley, Director of LYCS and Jeff Steigman, the Assistant Director. Ridley was elevated from Assistant Director to the Director’s chair at the start of June. She had been Assistant Director since January 2008.

The Livingston Youth & Community Services program is a collaborative community organization sponsored by the Township of Livingston, the Livingston Municipal Alliance Committee and the Mental Health Association of Essex County. As part of their purpose, LYCS is a drug prevention program that educates Livingston adolescents from the 3rd through 12th grades. Ridley said there will be more work this season in getting the parents involved in the programs, including several substance abuse programs. One program is designed to create activities for the parent and his or her child so that they can talk about substance abuse. 

Ridley added that last year, LYCS held a drive to help soldiers in Iraq.  This year, they are holding a drive to help soldiers in Afghanistan.

The LYCS Director said that the group is open to any suggestions about future programs. "We’re trying to keep our communications open," said Ridley.  Livingston Mayor Charles "Buddy" August said, "I think you can depend on any support you need."

To find out more about LYCS. go to www.livingstonlycs.org. Ridley said that LYCS’s website is expected to be updated in the near future.