Ordinances pass for updated amusements, pets in parks and fair-share housing
Two meetings ago, Jim Bonder, the department head of Parks and Recreation, discussed the possibility of repairing and possibly removing some of the tot lots in Monroe Township. At the latest council meeting on Aug. 27 he made a recommendation to council
“Over the last six to eight months, we got quotes to improve the playgrounds and bring them up to snuff,” he said. “If I’m not mistaken, some of those numbers are from $50,000 to $100,000. I think we can improve and bring everything up to snuff for about $20,000. That doesn’t include labor, which will be mostly us.”
Bonder performed an analysis on the playgrounds, the lots and the surrounding areas. He put together a playground review packet that included the cost to replace or repair. Second is a worksheet, an itemized list of the hardware items needed, suggested maintenance, what needs to be removed, if there is electric, fencing and the cost for everything. Third are pictures of the playgrounds as they currently stand.
Bonder reviewed seven parks: Forest Hills, NewBerry Farms, Eastwoods, Kimberly West, Pfeiffer (Oak Street), Ward Lane and Mink Lane.
Council voted to begin cleaning up the parks before beginning repairs.
Also at the work session, council voted to adopt three ordinances at its second reading.
The first will allow for amusement devices, like arcade games, that usually accept money through a coin slot to accept credit cards or other similar objects as a form of payment.
The second will allow pets to come to parks so long as they are restrained by a leash no longer than six feet that is attached to a collar or harness of sufficient strength to restrain the animal. However, pets will be forbidden from the premises during special events or on ball fields with the exception of companion animals for the disabled.
The third ordinance is in regard to the township’s fair share housing plan, which satisfies the low-income housing requirements.
In other news:
- Council passed a myriad of resolutions, including a contract for professional services to Omni Recycling, LLC, the donation of abandoned bicycles found by the Monroe Township Police Department to charitable organizations, establishing a green team advisory committee within the township and awarding a vendor to conduct a study and design a municipal-wide neutral host wireless/small cell and/or distributed antenna system within the township.
The next council meeting will take place on Sept. 10 at 8 p.m. at the Municipal Building. There is an open work session that takes place at 7 p.m. at the same location in the Caucus room.
