The Alternative Press

HARDYSTON TOWNSHIP, NJ - Hardyston Township had their first council meeting of the month of March on Tuesday March 5. The workshop meeting that was canceled last week due to weather was held then, with a combined workshop, and regular meeting. 

The first part of the meeting was the workshop. The first thing item for discussion was the use of salt on roads during snow storms. The township has only used 33 percent of the salt supply for the year. With the end of winter approaching, the township will have more than enough to last through the spring.

The council also discussed the repair of the fuel pumps at the DPW. They are getting replaced next week, even though they were supposed to get fixed this week. The order was delayed.

They also discussed the construction of a helipad and recommendations from JCP&L. They want it constructed running lines from 515 to the helipad because of cost.

"As much as we'd like the Cadillac, they're gonna give us the Volkswagen,” said councilman Wayne Ross.

Township manager Marianne Smith then discussed some recreational programs. The township is trying to push health and wellness for the children. Smith said that they are working with the YMCA so that seventh grade students in town will all have a free membership for the YMCA.

Smith stated that nationally this age is considered to be the age at which children pick up healthy habits and if the children are not active by then, it is assumed that they will not be active, and pursue exercise. They are working on a possible bus that will transport the students from the school to the YMCA building for events. This is to make it easier for parents to get their children there without having to worry about having to get their child to the YMCA.

“If kids in that age haven't had physical activity as part of their everyday lives they may never implement that into their routine,” says Smith.

They also discussed legislation calling for early voting. This is for people who cannot vote in the regular election. They would need to keep the clerk's office open for two weeks prior to the election. The council felt that people could do early voting by using an absentee ballot.

They also discussed that Service Electric Cable TV (SECTV) is being asked to give refunds to customers for the days they did not have service during Hurricane Sandy. SECTV is the main cable provider for Hardyston.

The council then proceeded into the second part of the meeting. This portion was the regular meeting in which the council approved most of the items discussed in the workshop portion of the meeting.

During this portion the council approved CJS Investments' request for septic permit renewal fees, for which these fees are for Emerald Estates. They also approved a tax appeal for Value Research Group, LLC, for the Real Estate Appraisal and Consulting Proposal in regards to Eastern Concrete Materials, Inc. They also agreed to approve the request for SECTV to refund or give credit to customers who were without cable service for the almost two weeks after Hurricane Sandy when service and power was finally restored. They also motioned to pay all of the bills.

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