Mantua Township has received two grants that Mayor Robert Zimmerman said will “save taxpayer dollars, and help to keep services in check.”
The township committee approved by resolutions the authorization of two grants at a meeting on July 8, and the funds became part of the adopted 2024 budget.
The first resolution will authorize a grant in the amount of $1,960 for the Click It or Ticket campaign, which aims to raise awareness among drivers and passengers about the lifesaving importance of wearing seatbelts.
This year, 119 state law-enforcement agencies got $766,010 from the Division of Highway Traffic Safety (DHTS) to help pay for increased road patrols, seat belt checkpoints and other enforcement initiatives in the Click It campaign.
The campaign is part of the DHTS’ ongoing efforts to increase safety and reduce fatalities on New Jersey’s roadways. According to the most recent data from 2022, the state had 140 unbelted fatalities, and 39% of all motor-vehicle occupant fatalities were unrestrained compared with 44% nationally.
Over the last five years, nearly 16% of all unrestrained occupants killed in state crashes were between the ages of 20 and 24, compared with 13.5% nationally, according to the New Jersey attorney general.
Last year, law-enforcement agencies participating in the Click It or Ticket campaign issued 6,989 seatbelt citations statewide, wrote 2,320 speeding summonses and made 232 impaired-driving arrests.
The second resolution will authorize a grant in the amount of $42,363.44 for the Clean Communities Program. Zimmerman said funds have been used for the following:
- Community cleanups: Volunteer high-school clubs, sports organizations and civic groups are given a donation for each of their community clean efforts.
- Educational outreach and literature: Costs to inform the community on recycling and stormwater regulations.
- Salary for a litter patrol and clean communities grant coordinator.
“We take great pride in keeping our community clean,” the mayor said. “This funding helps to offset the costs of the proactive measures that are implemented each year.”
