MANCHESTER – Members of the Township Council held their first virtual meeting on March 30, replacing their cancelled meeting of March 23.
The meeting was held with a computer program/app called Zoom, due to the outbreak of COVID-19. This was needed because of the social distancing required during the current public health crisis.
Last month, Gov. Phil Murphy banned gatherings of more than 10 people which has caused municipalities to find other means of conducting business.
The Council each reported in remotely, preparing for the virtual event 60 minutes earlier to make sure everything was ready for council interaction and public participation.
Council members introduced an ordinance that prohibits excavating on roads that have been recently paved. A public hearing about this will be held on April 20. No permits will be issued on streets improved within three years’ time unless the applicant can clearly demonstrate that public health or safety required that the proposed work be permitted or unless an emergency condition exists.
Also approved was a waiver of water connection fees to some residents in the Pineland Park section of the township. There were 30 homes that need to be hooked up and which had wells dug when there was no water capacity during that period of time.
Council President Samuel Fusaro explained the reason why the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers ran the water to that area for the homes was due to “site pollution from the Navy Base and this was ‘fixing a boo boo.’” This contamination issue required the base to provide Township water to the affected areas.
The township is accepting those waterlines and the 30 homes had township water lines in front of the homes they were building. At the time, Manchester did not have water capacity due to the township’s water agreement with Hovson’s development for these homeowners to connect.
Those residents had to drill their own wells. Now that the township has the capacity for them, the council passed the resolution waiving connection fees.
Councilman James A. Vaccaro Sr. once again urged the township council to consider a measure regarding the growing and distribution of marijuana ban. Vaccaro has been making this same request at each council meeting for several months now.
Changes During Pandemic
The governing body thanked everyone who was working hard through this unique situation.
During the council report section of the meeting Councilman Robert A. Hudak remarked, “this is an unprecedented time and we are taking unprecedented measures to make this happen. Stand tall. I hope everyone stays safe.”
“Everyone really appreciates everything you are doing during these hectic times,” Vaccaro said regarding township employees, police and emergency responders.
“Better times are coming,” Councilwoman Joan Brush said thanking Police Chief Lisa Parker for her efforts. “Thank goodness we did our paid EMS system when we did.”
Councilman Craig Wallis thanked emergency responders and ShopRite workers and he also thanked the township’s director of data processing, Joshua Schnoor, for setting up the virtual meeting.
“Residents please follow all the rules to keep yourself safe. Better days are coming but as the president said they aren’t coming for the next two weeks or who knows when they are coming,” said Fusaro.
“We are open in a sense, all functions are being provided they may just be a little longer,” Business Administrator Donna Markulic said.
Asst. Administrator James Gant said, “our employees are incredibly resilient. No doubt our township employees have everything in hand.”
Mayor Ken Palmer said, “I want to thank our residents who have been complying (with the stay-at-home order). No one on our roads. People being respectful at ShopRite. Parks open – we didn’t have any reports of any congregating. That is a great thing. Thank council for water hookup issue. Manchester Day is at the end of June. We don’t know where we are heading in the coronavirus situation. The same goes for our fireworks. We have time to push it back or cancel events. Let’s wait and see…at the end of April.”
Resident Rory Wells said he was sad for high school seniors who will lose senior prom and possibly graduation and asked if Manchester Day could be a setting to recognize the seniors by reading off the names. “They are really being cheated of what is milestone events in their lives. Perhaps we can do some small part of it as recognition to our students.”
Township Clerk Sabina Martin said “the 2020 census has been extended until August for responses. There is a code online that you can use to respond to it. All data is private. It is all data collection. They will send you a paper form for those who don’t have access to online and that can be sent through regular mail.”
Due to many factors, the township’s budget was not introduced during the meeting. Martin said, “the state has extended the date for budget introduction and adoption for all towns due to current circumstances.”
