Tuesday, May 7, 2013
The council introduced its salary ordinance this week.
Salaries for department heads in the township will increase by 2 percent if the township council approves an ordinance setting compensations for municipal employees. The council unanimously introduced the ordinance at Monday’s meeting. “In general, we are recommending a 2 percent increase for department heads,” said township administrator James Naples. “The council and mayor compensations remain the same, and the prosecutor is paid by contract.” Naples said that none of the salaries will affect the budget because these figures and increases were already figured in to it before it was approved. “This will not increase the budget,” he said. The public hearing for the ordinance will be held May 20. The salary breakdowns are as follows: …
Monday, April 15, 2013
The 2013 municipal budget is set at almost $39 million.
The township council will be holding a public hearing Monday for its 2013 municipal budget with an expected vote to follow. The budget, as introduced in February, is set at $38,935,484.46, an increase of 1.26 percent over the 2012 budget of $38,451,229.13. As proposed, residents will pay a municipal tax of $1,053 for a home assessed at the average value of $411,662. This is the same amount residents paid in 2012. The meeting will also include a public hearing on several amendments introduced, mostly for housekeeping work based on vehicle damages sustained during Superstorm Sandy, as well as grants received. The most recent discussion on the budget concerned overtime costs for both the police department and public works. The 2013 budget …
Monday, April 1, 2013
The township council discusses overtime costs with the police and public works.
Although there were no comments from the public during Monday's budget public hearing, the council focused their attentions on what could be done to possibly streamline overtime costs in the police department. Councilman Matthew Moench said that, in overtime costs, the department spent $290,000 two years ago and about $289,000 in 2012. But this year, he said, they are only budgeting for $260,000. "I want to make sure we are budgeting accurately," he said. "It is great for the numbers to go down if we think they will be roughly the same." Township administrator James Naples said part of the increase in costs in previous years comes from the fact that there were four vacancies in the department—but they are looking to fill three of them very…
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Another resolution is for drainage improvements.
What follows is an account of actions taken on March 18 by the Bridgewater Township Council, which, while not breaking news, are still of note. Council requesting Community Development Block Grant The township council approved a resolution to request funding through the 2013 Somerset County Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program. If approved, the grant would help fund projects through the Somerset Home for Temporarily Displaced Children; Court Appointed Special Advocates of Somerset, Hunterdon and Warren Counties; HomeSharing, Inc.; Adult Day Center of Somerset County; The People Care Center; and RideWise. According to the resolution, the township has prepared one public service application already for “Youth Development Program…
Monday, March 18, 2013
Road improvements are starting on Country Club Road.
What follows is an account of actions taken on March 4 by the Bridgewater Township Council, which, while not breaking news, are still of note. Custodial services approved for municipal building The council unanimously approved a resolution to award a contract to RMC Maintenance Group LLC for custodial services for the municipal building and public works building. The contract is for $39,996.96, and it will expire Dec. 31, 2013. Township administrator James Naples said this was the lowest of 13 bids, and is even lower than last year, despite adding the new Department of Public Works Building to the roster of those needing the services. Township acquires open space property The council approved a resolution to authorize the acquisition of …
Thursday, March 14, 2013
Certain changes are being made that will save the township $41,000.
The council approved a resolution to renew its agreement with QualCare for employee insurance with the added protection of reinsurance to cap loses at a certain dollar amount. The renewal is from March 1, 2013, through Feb. 28, 2014. According to township Administrator James Naples, the township entered into a three-year agreement in 2012 that fixed administrative costs with QualCare. “It is a fixed cost, but the estimate is based on the membership,” he said. “The number will change if membership fluctuates. But the per member cost stays the same.” Naples said the township’s plan is self-insured and pays for individual claims as they are incurred for employees and spouses. Now, Naples said, they have added this layer of protection of …
Monday, March 4, 2013
Another resolution continues a shared service with Bound Brook.
What follows is an account of actions taken on Feb. 21 by the Bridgewater Township Council, which, while not breaking news, are still of note. Township to pay for Visiting Nurses Association services The council unanimously approved a resolution to enter into an agreement with the Community Visiting Nurses Association for public health nursing services. The services will be provided for $10,372.75, and services will include older adult immunizations, health screening sessions and more. According to township Administrator James Naples, this was previously supported through a grant—but that money has since been removed from the state budget. “We have to fully fund this,” he said. “There is no grant available, and it is a requirement to have …
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
And the county is continuing to pay for township social services.
What follows is an account of actions taken on Jan. 17 by the Bridgewater Township Council, which, while not breaking news, are still of note. Police purchasing new uniforms The council unanimously approved a resolution to purchase police uniforms, shoes and leather gear for the department. The purchase will be made from Universal Uniform Sales for $56,919.70. Township administrator James Naples said this was the low bid this year. “It is a significant different from the second low bid,” he said. “We are recommending the award.” The purchase of the uniforms is taken care of by the township as part of the contract between the union and the township. Change order re-approved for Foothill Road Phase 3 Project The council unanimously approved …
Thursday, December 27, 2012
The council approves changes in the costs of several projects.
What follows is an account of actions taken on Dec. 17 by the Bridgewater Township Council, which, while not breaking news, are still of note. Council approves grant for Newcomers Club The council unanimously approved a resolution to accept a grant from the Somerset County Youth Services Commission for the Newcomers Club at the Bridgewater-Raritan High School. The grant is for $5,000. According to township administrator James Naples, it is a mentoring club at the high school where current students are assigned to new ones to help them get acclimated to the high school. “It is very helpful, and having the youth services commission fund is great,” he said. “The money is for group meetings and two stipends for the teachers.” Foothill Road …
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
The council introduced the ordinance Monday.
The council approved the introduction of an ordinance Monday to regulate wireless telecommunication facilities, with the hope of instituting it before the end of the year. Township attorney William Savo said comments were submitted by both the planning board and zoning board concerning the ordinance, and he and a consultant made changes based on those comments. The planning board has expressed the opinion in the past that for wireless towers to be conditional uses, the conditions to be satisfied need to be explicitly explained. Township planner Scarlett Doyle has said that conditional use requirements must be explicit, and able to be answered with a yes or no. The first piece of the new ordinance states that the request for collocation …
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