The Alternative Press

HAMPTON TWP., NJ – The township committee will pursue the purchase of a foreclosed house on Route 519 with $140,000 in COAH funds.

A state court ruled municipalities must use their Route 2 Council on Affordable Housing funds before Aug. 19.

The house is on the market for $149,000.

Mayor Philip Yetter commented he knows the house and the rooms are quite small. Township Administrator Eileen Klose said people might appreciate the house anyway. Yetter said the COAH funding was collected from residents who built their homes and businesses in the community, so it should stay in the community. If it isn’t used by Aug. 19, the money goes into the state’s coffers.

Klose said the state League of Municipalities recommends pursuing purchases even if the closing is not until after the deadline and arguing about it with the state later.

On another matter, the committee voted to go to bid for a drainage project.

The drainage on Kemah-Mecca Lake Road now includes a pipe going onto private land without an easement to the township. The landowner will grant an easement but the drainage pipe will go closer to the house than the township Department of Public Works is comfortable with, so it must be installed by a private contractor. Township Engineer Dave Simmons estimated the cost of the project at $23,430.

Klose will check with the township planning board on the status of a proposed ordinance regarding used clothing bins.

Township Committeeman David Hansen noted clothing bins are popping up in parking lots all over the township. He noted many are actually not owned by non-profit organizations, but by people who sell the clothing as rags for profit. Township Committeeman Keith Gourlay said one guy was selling clothing collected in a bin from a shop in Newton. He said the bin in the Lowe’s parking lot “looks like it was made in somebody’s basement.”  Items left by the bin collects in the parking lot, and Lowe’s ends up throwing it out.

Klose said she gave two copies of a proposed ordinance to the planning board chairman and has not heard back.

Hansen also asked Klose to look into what the township committee can do about signs that pop up on lawns all over the township. He said campaign signs are exempt from local regulations, but other signs, such as those posted by furniture stores, can be regulated.

Yetter said “when we take the signs down, they put them back up.” Hansen said it falls on the DPW to get rid of the signs. Klose said she will research if the township ever had an ordinance on temporary signs.

After a brief executive session, the committee accepted the retirement of assistant road foreman Ed Hayes as of October 1. They promoted Bryan Metlar to assistant road supervisor at a salary increase of $1.25 per hour.

In other business, the committee authorized the 2012 oil and stone program. They received a $53,000 estimate from Morris Asphalt through the Morris County Co-op.

The meeting started a few minutes late because of a meeting between the committee liaisons and the fire department and emergency squad. The squad captain said later they are in need of new members, especially for the day shift, band old use help for any shift.