The Harrison Township Committee adopted four ordinances during their work session meeting on July 1 which focused on township management and projects.
The first two ordinances passed, Ordinance No. 19-2024 and No. 20-2024, both focused on abiding by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) stances on stormwater management and privately owned salt storage, respectively.
Township Engineer Dennis McNulty explained the adoption of Ordinance No. 19 keeps “most of the same stormwater control ordinances that are dictated by the state under a model ordinance.”
“Part of the reason we have to adopt it by July of this year is because the state has a climate resiliency division of the DEP and basically, they are trying to address the fact that the data they’ve collected now is showing a much greater rainfall intensity,” he said. “So, all new projects are being subjected to a much stricter standard.”
Ordinance No. 20, on the other hand, focused on privately-owned salt rock storage facilities. The purpose of both ordinances is to ensure that salt rock and other de-icing materials are not exposed to stormwater and that these facilities follow a set amount of requirements, McNulty said.
These requirements include placing the salt at least 50 feet from storm outlets and bodies of water; the materials must be placed on a flat, impervious surface to prevent stormwater run-through; and be properly covered with a cover that will protect the salt.
The third ordinance passed was Ordinance No. 21-2024, which appropriated $950,000 of bond money to be used in capital improvement plans around Mullica Hill. This fell in line with what was in the 2024 township budget that was introduced and passed in May, Deputy Mayor Lawrence Moore said.
The last ordinance passed, Ordinance No. 22-2024, authorizes the conveyance of land on Cohawkin Road as part of a housing plan with Project Freedom, a non-profit focused on affordable housing for people.
“This sends equipment per our agreement to convey the land as part of our Cohawkin Housing Plan,” said Moore.
The ordinances were adopted by all members of the committee. Mayor Louis Manzo was absent from the meeting.
The committee tabled Ordinance No. 18-2024 which focuses on parking on residential properties, for the Monday Aug. 5 meeting, in order to do more research before adoption.
The next committee meeting is scheduled for Monday July 15 at the Harrison Township Municipal Building at 7 p.m.
