Politics & Government

Grants to Fund Anti-Smoking, Other Programs

The council approves resolutions for grant funding.

The township council approved several monetary changes to the budget with resolutions May 12 concerning receipts of grants.

The first was the inclusion in the budget of $39,673 for the Municipal Alliance Program.

“This is a grant we share with Raritan, and we get it pretty much every year,” said township administrator Robert Bogart.

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Bogart said the grant money is used for several different items, including a mentoring program for grammar school children; a program in which high school students talk about the dangers of smoking; classes for senior citizens; Red Ribbon Week; Project Graduation; and other projects.

In addition to this grant, the council approved a resolution to accept $75,732.58 into the budget for clean communities.

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This grant, Bogart said, is also something the township receives yearly, and is used for such projects as disposal of street sweepings; school assemblies on litter prevention; township-wide cleanups; public works supplies for cleaning streets; and other projects.

Also in money news for the township, the council approved a resolution to appoint Francesco Taddeo as municipal public defender for $600 per court session through Dec. 31.

Bogart said the township’s previous public defender left the township because of another position, and they needed to hire someone quickly.

“We reviewed qualifications and staged interviews, and felt he was the best person to fill our vacancy,” he said.

In non-monetary township news, the council also approved a previously introduced ordinance to outline .

“The ordinance was referred to the planning board, who found it was not inconsistent with the master plan reexamination report,” said council president Howard Norgalis.

The ordinance outlines zoning setbacks, design standards and other issues pertaining to these kinds of facilities throughout the township.


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