Lawrence Township Council News Roundup

Various issues related to improving traffic and pedestrian safety, potential changes to the rules concerning brush collection, and funding for the soon-to-be-built segment of the Lawrence Hopewell Trail through Carson Road Woods were among the items discussed by members of the Lawrence Township Council during their meeting on May 17.

(An audio recording from the meeting and PDF copies of the meeting agenda, ordinances and other documentation can be found in the box to the right.)

Traffic Safety

Among the 13 resolutions that council members approved during the meeting was one authorizing an agreement between Lawrence Township and the New Jersey Department of Transportation that specifically outlines the responsibilities for the installation and maintenance of the red light speed camera system that later this year will be placed at the intersection of Brunswick Pike (Route 1) and Franklin Corner Road/Bakers Basin Road. Township officials anticipate offsetting the estimated $408,000 cost of the system with the revenue generated from fining drivers who speed through red lights.

(Another of the resolutions, appointing Kevin Nerwinski as Lawrence’s new municipal judge, is covered in .)

Six ordinances were adopted and one ordinance introduced by council during the meeting (see below). Among the adopted ordinances was one making Stella Drive a one-way street northbound, going in the direction of Gedney Road to Gainsboro Road. The change is the result of complaints from nearby residents about motorists using the narrow, alley-like road to go from Gainsboro Road to Gendey Road to bypass the traffic light at the intersection of Gainsboro Road and Lawrence Road (Route 206).

Also with regard to traffic safety, Township Manager Richard Krawczun advised council members that the New Jersey Department of Transportation, in response to a request made by the township, has agreed to make several improvements to the intersection of Brunswick Pike (Business Route 1) and Slack Avenue/Cherry Tree Lane.

“This intersection is not completely aligned and the timing of the traffic signals makes it somewhat confusing for motorists making lefts,” Krawczun noted.

He said improvements will include adjustments to better accommodate vehicles making left turns, countdown signals for pedestrians and preventing right turns on red lights from both Slack Avenue and Cherry Tree Lane onto Brunswick Pike.   

Krawczun also noted, to the displeasure of council members, that Lawrence Township has been informed by NJ DOT that the timetables for two long-discussed projects have been pushed back yet again, with construction work on those projects not expected to begin before 2014. Those projects include the in the form of a tree-lined median, on-street parking and other “Main Street”-like improvements from the Brunswick Traffic Circle to Texas Avenue, and the introduction of various safety improvements along Route 1 from Nassau Park Boulevard in West Windsor to Interstate 295 in Lawrence.

Brush Collection

On the subject of brush collection, continuing , Krawczun noted that under the current township ordinance residents are not legally permitted to put brush and yard waste out at the curb for collection until the weekend before their zone’s scheduled pickup. The township, he explained, is divided into four collection zones, with one week of every month dedicated to each zone.

“The difficulty we have is our trucks will enter a zone, say on Monday morning, and go down a particular street or a couple of streets and by Monday afternoon residents of those same streets are putting brush at the curb and now it’s there for four weeks,” he said.

The township, he said, is working on a plan to educate residents about brush pickup rules, with the intention of eventually issuing fines to those who repeatedly disregard those rules. He asked council members to consider changing the ordinance to allow residents to legally put brush and yard waste at the curb up to two weekends before their zone’s scheduled pickup. He argued that that would give residents some flexibility if, for example, they needed to be out of town or bad weather prevented them from doing yard work during the weekend immediately preceding their scheduled pickup week.   

Council members planned to consider Krawczun’s request and address it at a future council meeting.

Lawrence Hopewell Trail

With regard to the Lawrence Hopewell Trail segment through Carson Road Woods that was , the council awarded a bid in the amount of $29,250 to TC Landscape Construction Group Inc. of New Brunswick to begin work on the trail, with the money coming from a sub-grant from the Lawrence Hopewell Trail Corp.

Originally, township engineers envisioned work on the trail through Carson Road Woods being done in three phases, as money allowed. But during the meeting Krawczun noted that construction of the trail segment will now likely be done all at one time, thanks to a state grant the township previously received for recreational trail creation and also additional funds now being offered by the Lawrence Hopewell Trail Corp.   

The segment of the Lawrence Hopewell Trail through Carson Road Woods will link up on one end with the segment of the trail through the Bristol-Myers Squibb property .

“Reverse 911” System

During the meeting, Krawczun also advised council that was up and running. He encouraged residents to provide their phone numbers and other contact information to ensure they receive emergency alerts.

Ordinances

Introduced during the meeting was an ordinance which, if approved by council at a future meeting, will authorize the use of up to $60,000 – which had been approved but never used under a previous ordinance governing road improvements – to help pay for the creation of new tax maps for the .  

“This is the first step in our process of conducting a revaluation,” Krawczun explained. “The tax maps need to be updated and then submitted to the New Jersey Division of Taxation for their approval so that they can be available as part of the revaluation once a contract is entered into with a revaluation company. The cost will exceed $60,000. We have a reserve fund from the last revaluation of about $53,000, and approximately $30,000 of this $60,000 will be authorized. At the next council meeting we will have a resolution for award of the contract for the tax map work.”

Listed below are the six ordinances that council approved at the meeting, along with explanatory information provided by Krawczun in his regular pre-meeting memo to council members:

Ordinance To Exceed The Municipal Budget Appropriation Limits And To Establish A Cap Bank For The Township Of Lawrence, County Of Mercer

Township Manager’s Memo: “Ordinance provides authorization for the creation of a ‘CAP bank’ for use in one of the next two succeeding municipal budgets.  The ‘CAP’ law limits selected appropriations to an increase of 2.5 percent or the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) whichever is less.  For fiscal 2011 the COLA was 2 percent.  The law permits a municipality to increase the permitted ‘CAP’ to 3.5 percent, which may be used in the current budget year or the additional amount can be ‘banked’ for use in subsequent budget years.  The ‘bank’ is only available for a two-year period.  Authorization would create a 'bank' of $399,781.92.”

An Ordinance To Vacate, Release And Extinguish Any And All Dedication Of Public Rights In Or To Certain Portions Of Piedmont Avenue In The Township Of Lawrence, County Of Mercer, State Of New Jersey

Township Manager’s Memo: “Ordinance is the second phase of vacating portions of Piedmont Avenue. The area runs from Route 206 to Rossa Avenue and is between Willis Greenhouse and the New Jersey Department of Military and Veteran’s Affairs properties. Previously, a partial vacating had been authorized for a small lot that was immediately adjacent to Route 206.  The ordinance contains the reservation of a fifteen (15) foot wide pedestrian access easement along the northern property line. This easement will provide for public access by bicyclists and pedestrians.  On January 18, 2011 the ordinance to vacate had been adopted. Since that time contiguous owners who previously declined participation in accepting any of the vacated portions of Piedmont Avenue have reconsidered and now want to fully participate.”

Ordinance Amending Chapter 13 Of The Lawrence Township Administrative Code Entitled 'Motor Vehicles And Traffic'

Township Manager’s Memo: “Ordinance amends the Lawrence Township Administrative Code regulating “Motor Vehicles and Traffic” by designating Stella Drive as one-way from Roxboro Road to Gainsboro Road.  Township residents adjacent to Stella Drive have registered complaints with the Police and Administration about speeding on Stella Drive by drivers attempting to bypass the traffic light at Gainsboro and Route 206.  There was an attempt to calm speeding by installing speed bumps but they have proved ineffective in this circumstance. Therefore, designating Stella Drive as one-way should correct the problem.”

Bond Ordinance Providing For Various Capital Improvements Of The Township Of Lawrence, In The County Of Mercer, New Jersey, Appropriating The Aggregate Amount Of $1,219,900 And Authorizing The Issuance Of $1,158,905 Bonds Or Notes Of The Township To Finance Part Of The Cost Thereof

Township Manager’s Memo: “Ordinance is a capital ordinance that will authorize various capital purchases of equipment, building improvements, public safety equipment and other items for municipal operations.  The ordinance authorizes $1,219,900 in funding, which will be made available from the capital improvement fund as a down payment in the amount of $60,995 and the balance of $1,158,905 as authorized debt.”

Bond Ordinance Providing For Twin Pines Parking/Recreational Facility Improvements By The Township Of Lawrence, In The County Of Mercer, New Jersey, Appropriating $156,000 And Authorizing The Issuance Of $148,200 Bonds Or Notes Of The Township To Finance Part Of The Cost Thereof

Township Manager’s Memo: “Ordinance is a capital ordinance appropriating $156,000 for improvements to the Twin Pines Recreational Facility.  The ordinance will provide a down payment of $7,800 and authorize debt in the amount of $148,200.”

Bond Ordinance Providing For Various Road Improvements In And By The Township Of Lawrence In The County Of Mercer, New Jersey, Appropriating $1,045,000 Including The Amount Of $250,000 Expected To Be Received As A Grant And Authorizing The Issuance Of $755,250 Bonds Or Notes To Finance Part Of The Cost Thereof

Township Manager’s Memo: “Ordinance is a capital ordinance that will authorize funding for the work associated with the milling, overlay and work incidental to the 2011 road improvement program.  The ordinance will authorize total funding in the amount of $1,045,000 which will be made available from a $250,000 Transportation Trust Fund Grant, $39,750 from the capital improvement fund as a down payment and $755,345 as authorized debt.”