MAYOR S MONTLY UPDATE February 2018 BUDGET 2018 Budget Preparation A proposed budget was presented to the township council at the council work session on Tuesday, February 27th. There is a township council budget meeting scheduled for Monday, March 19th. The proposed budget calls for a slight increase of one tax point or $38.78 on a home with a new assessment of $336,802. We are at the point where the township has a surplus that would cover any unforeseen emergencies, planning for and placing budget appropriations for small repairs and purchases instead of borrowing, addressing past tax appeals and bringing our police department to its full complement of officers. The proposed budget includes a new line item for reserving money for the payment to future retirees, maintaining and improving services to our residents, purchasing instead of leasing equipment needed by our departments, updating the township zoning map and the drug-free zone map, continuing with capital improvements for our road program, supporting our volunteer emergency services and updating water and sewer infrastructure as well as utilizing a portion of the surplus to offset some of the tax increase. Senior Tax Freeze Township senior citizen homeowners, 65 years of age and older, may be eligible for a tax freeze program initiated by the State of New Jersey. For eligibility requirements and additional information, please call the state s regional information center at (201)791-0500.
GRANTS Grants Awarded Recreational Opportunities for Individuals with Disabilities (ROID) The township received notification from New Jersey Department of Community Affairs that our ROID application seeking $10,000 for the Saddle Brook Angels programs was approved. Pending Grants Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Our grant writer organized the grant materials and met with Fire Chief Christopher Sloma concerning the township s AFG application. The contents of the application was reviewed and was submitted prior to the February 2 nd deadline. Little League Funding Saddle Brook Little League applied for two grants back in January 2017 requesting $20,000 for baseball and $10,000 for softball. Our grant writer recently checked on the status of these applications with Williamsport Little League and was told they are still under consideration and announcement of awards are pending. Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) A Firehouse Subs application was submitted for the Saddle Brook Volunteer Ambulance Corps on September 7, 2017 requesting an automatic cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) unit costing $15,003.71. Announcement of an award is pending.
Grant Opportunities Distracted Driving Our grant writer sent out an email grant alert to determine whether Saddle Brook Police Department is interested in applying for a Distracted Driving grant. Chief of Police Robert Kugler was contacted and is assisting in completing the grant application, which has a deadline of March 16, 2018 Dr. Pepper/Snapple Park Recycling Infrastructure Our grant writer issued an email grant alert for the Dr. Pepper/Snapple Park Recycling Infrastructure grant. He interviewed DPW Secretary / Recycling Coordinator Joan Ramsey, completed the grant application and submitted it February 14, 2018. The township is requesting 14 recycling bins. Fire Prevention and Safety Our grant writer sent out an email grant alert to determine whether Saddle Brook Fire Prevention is interested in applying for a Fire Prevention and Safety grant. Fire Prevention Officer Michael Seitz was contacted and is assisting in the completing the grant application, which has a deadline of March 16, 2018. New Jersey Board of Public Utilities Clean Energy Program: Energy Saving Improvement Program Our grant writer has investigated the Energy Saving Improvement Program, a grant which has yet to be released. The process starts with an energy audit of all municipal owned buildings. Afterwards, a vendor is needed to create an energy savings plan recommending improvements. The cost is covered by the monthly energy savings so there is no out-of-pocket cost to the township. Tree Seedlings Our grant writer issued an email grant alert for the free tree seedling distribution. The township requested 1000 seedlings from the program. Our grant writer completed the grant application and submitted it on February 23, 2018.
COMMITTEE UPDATES Access for All Meeting Wednesday, January 3rd The Access for All Committee continues to address the needs of persons with disabilities in our community. The Committee has registered with Bergen County to host a Mental Health First Aid training course. County representative will provide eight hours of training here in Saddle Brook over a two-day period on Tuesday, March 13 th and Wednesday March 14 th. There is a minimum enrollment of 12 and maximum of 25. Attendees who complete both sessions will receive a certificate. The next meeting of the Access for All Committee will be Wednesday, March 7th, 7:00PM at the Senior Center. Community Partnership Committee (CPC) Meeting Thursday February 8th The group discussed ways to recruit snow shoveling volunteers as requests are increasing and we are having difficulty meeting the demand. The Community Partnership will have a food donation table set up at the township s March 24 th Easter Celebration. Mayor s Youth Group Meeting February 21 st The group discussed the upcoming Easter Celebration on Saturday, March 24th and the group s overall role in helping prepare for the event. We also spoke about cleanup projects at the Fifth Street Park and the Library Park as Earth Day activities. The Mayor s Youth Group helped purchase a park bench that will be placed at the Kern Street Park later this spring. UPCOMING EVENTS Annual Easter Celebration Saturday, March 24th Resident of all ages are welcome to attend the event taking place at the Saddle Brook High School gymnasium from 12:00PM 2:00PM. There will be lots of fun games and a special visit from the Easter Bunny. Pizza and juice will be served in the cafeteria. The Mayor s Youth Group in conjunction with the Community Partnership Committee will be holding a canned food drive. A donation table will be set up in the gym.
CAPITAL PROJECTS Resurfacing of Streets Caldwell Avenue This is a New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) 2016 Municipal Aid Project. The township has authorized the design of Caldwell from Lanza Avenue to approximately 200 feet north of Hillside Avenue. Claremont Avenue The township engineer is in the process of completing the design. This project should be constructed sometime this spring. Fairlawn Parkway The township received notification that our New Jersey Department of Transportation NJDOT FY 2018 Municipal Aid Application for Fairlawn Parkway was selected to receive funding in the amount of $200,000. Fifth Street This is a New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) 2014, 2015 & 2017 Municipal Aid project, which has been awarded to 4-Cleanup in the amount of $390,688.50. This construction will begin this spring. A preconstruction meeting was held on February 8th. Notice to Proceed will be issued soon. Kenny Place Construction of this project has been awarded to JA Alexander, Inc. in the amount of $164,555.25. The contracts were executed and a preconstruction meeting was held on October 13, 2017. Construction will begin this spring.
Mayhill Street A New Jersey Department of Transportation NJDOT FY 2018 Local Freight Impact Fund application was submitted by our township engineer and confirmation was received from NJDOT that our application is being reviewed. The township is currently awaiting notification from NJDOT. President Street Construction of this project has been awarded to AA Berms, LLC in the amount of $97,980.00. The contracts were executed and a preconstruction meeting was held on October 10, 2017. This work will begin this spring. Bergen County Senior Housing Building 29 Caldwell Ave Bergen County Housing and Development required that the township have the original three deeds for the property merged into one. This legal task was assigned and completed by our township attorney who recorded the new deed with the Bergen County Clerk s Office. Site clearing has been completed, drainage and other underground work has been started. Foundation work should be starting shortly. Municipal Building Generator The Generator and the ATS has been set in place. PSE&G Gas has inspected and approved the work to date. The contractor is running the conductors and will order the electrical rough-in inspector shortly. The Construction Code Official has requested bollards around the generator. This work will be done under the Kenny Place Project and should installed within the next few weeks. Veteran s Field Concession Building Construction is nearing completion. The Contractor is working and submittals are being processed and approved. Interior punch list items are being completed and installation of outside pavers has begun.
OTHER Mayors Round Table with Governor Murphy I attended a Mayors Round Table meeting in Teaneck held by Governor Phil Murphy with several other mayors from Bergen County and County Executive Jim Tedesco. The Governor briefly discussed various topics including: Infrastructure and transportation funding, natural/green infrastructure, transportation and sustainability, opportunity zones, affordable housing mandates and arbitration cap. We also had discussion on priorities and crucial issues facing the municipalities in Bergen County. I applaud the governor for reaching out and working in a bipartisan way with local officials in hope of solving problems.