The Alternative Press

SPARTA, NJ - The March 12 Sparta Township Council meeting was fairly light one lastly approximately an hour and a half.

The meeting opened with the appointment of new fireman, Howard Fischer, where he was welcomed to the force by the council.

 “I have been in contact with the attorney that represents SECTV and a meeting will be scheduled in the near future,” said Township Manager David Troast during the manager’s report.

The council is looking to get answers to several prior issues stemming from the power loss during Hurricane Sandy.

The other items on the manager’s report included:  the treatment works approval for Hawthorne Park, where the environmental commission reviewed the information, and it will be added to the next meeting’s agenda; Camp Sacajawea’s lease will be the same as prior years, which enables the Sparta Summer Camp program to utilize its beaches and camp grounds; and finally there will be a special workshop meeting on March 19 at 7 p.m. regarding the 2013 Budget.

The introduction of the Ordinance to Exceed the Municipal Budget Appropriation Limits and to Establish a CAP Bank was approved as well as the expenditures.

The following resolutions were approved: the Municipal Budget in title only, a one day ABC license for the Pope John High School Booster Club, refunds for tax overpayments and water account overpayments, a resolution to appoint a special officer, a resolution opposing Early Voting and a resolution supporting participation in the Sustainable Jersey Municipal Certification Program.

In the committee reports section of the meeting the following updates were given: the economic board is opening up the idea of a Shop Sparta event to local businesses to see if they are interested; the planning board will be having a liquor store moving to a building where there are at least 30 parking spots; the communications committee will soon launch a new website, has started their e-newsletter and they have started Operation Uplift, hoping to get the community involved with sending cards to people serving in the military.

In unfinished business the only updates that were discussed included that the council will view what they have and try and put it out to the community regarding the Grant Writing Service and that the DPW is working on getting reflectors or signs to help make Houses Corner Road safer.

In new business a volunteer was appointed to the Municipal Alliance Committee, the town is working on fixing the lights at Ungermann Field before the spring sports season begins, Councilwoman Quinn will be attending a few communications seminars to look into new ventures she could incorporate into Sparta’s communications plans and on March 23 Breakfast with the Easter Bunny will be held.

The open public sessions only found one speaker at this meeting.

“I’m here to ask the council and the citizens of Sparta to support our mission of bringing the best possible talent to the Summer Arts Concert Series. We have had diminished funding for the last year, but we understand everybody’s in the same boat. We have struggled, but we have worked hard and all of us have fulltime jobs and families, but we are very passionate about bringing talent and culture, as a matter of fact for the first time we are having Shakespeare in the park in conjunction with Sparta high school, but we still need funding for lights and sound.We are very constrained by the low amount offered in our recent history to reach our goal. We’ve considered this a valued resource as we think that people get a lot out of the spring concerts. We’d like to offer more, like black and white movies, but at this point what we’re really focusing at is a diverse group of talented artists from jazz to classical to pop and bringing in the best we can. Please support us and help people see that Sparta is the place to be and be seen,” implored Bernice Verwys from the Sparta Cultural Affairs Committee.

The council explained to her that they are currently looking at giving them the same budget they were awarded last year, but that they are still in the process of working with the budget.

 The next township council meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 26 at 7:30 p.m.

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