The Hopewell Township Committee met on February 20 for a regular Committee meeting including recognition of a number of accomplishments, both on the part of the Township itself and of citizens.
Recognition of awards to Photo Contest Winners and Eagle Scout
The winners of the Hopewell Township Photo Contest were invited for their award and a group photograph. The pictures are now on display in the Hopewell Township Municipal Building auditorium, and have been published in this year’s calendar.
There were sixteen winners, as follows:
- Ranajit Bhol
- Mike Breese
- Mike Chipowsky
- Carrie A. Coward
- Sherry Cronin
- Sari Decesare
- Victoria Harvey
- Jennifer Hirsch
- Jeanne lmbrigiotta
- Nirmal Siyaal Jain
- Amanda Janack
- Craig A. Reed
- Monica Leigh Seabridge
- Judi Steward
- Lauren Turner
- Marisa Young
Thomas Carter was recognized for achieving the rank of Eagle Scout. For his final project, he helped build a picnic area for the Watershed Institute.
Staff reports: recycling success, upcoming Town Hall meeting, sand dune protection
Township Administrator George Snyder recognized the hard work of the Township staff and administration during the metal recycling event hosted in conjunction with Joanne Held and the Hopewell Valley Green Team. More than seven tons of metal were brought in at the event. Deputy Mayor Uma Purandare, who attended the event, commended Snyder and the team for an exceptionally well-organized event.
Snyder mentioned that the results of an Emergency Services future needs study, which was budgeted for in 2022, is now complete. In a follow up email to MercerMe, Snyder explained that the study “is for future needs regarding personnel, assets, and funding. The needs study was not initially designed to consider the closing of Pennington EMS. However, that will be factored into the results. The money is for a one-time analysis. The contract with Capital Health is working well for emergency services.”
Snyder also asked for the Committee’s input on an upcoming Town Hall meeting to be hosted with Jersey Central Power & Light, the power company that services the western portion of the Township. The tentative date is March 12 at 7pm. Mayor Courtney Peters-Manning agreed that a Committee member should be present, and asked that the meeting be hybrid if possible.
Now that Christmas tree collection is done for the year, the collected trees have been delivered to beach parks, where they are laid against the sand dunes. This helps protect the dunes, and the bird habitats they provide, from erosion.
Department of Health: well water testing, shingles vaccines
The Township is currently working with the New Jersey Department of Health to bring shingles vaccinations for all Township residents over the age of 50. In addition, there will be a public meeting on March 13 at 7pm to discuss drinking water.
The State Department of Environmental Protection will provide a community update about water contaminants. All homeowners who use well water are encouraged to attend.
During public comment, Richard Fletcher of Orchard Avenue asked about the current sewer work that is being done to hook up new developments on Diverty Road. He was concerned that his house and most of the houses in that area are on septic systems, but the sewage pipes currently being installed do not have cross-laterals – in other words, a sewage pipe is passing right by his house, and it seems like his family and neighbors will not be able to connect to it.
Director of Community Development Jim Hutzelmann assured Fletcher that the pipes will have an extra ten thousand gallons in flow capacity and the fixtures necessary to hook up houses that are currently on septic. Fletcher returned to the podium during the second public comment to say that as it stands, there are no such fixtures, and he would be willing to provide photos that demonstrate this. Hutzelmann agreed to look into the matter further.
Open Space acquisition
The Committee authorized an easement on the Carcagno Property, which will become permanent Open Space and a part of the D&R Greenway trail network. Linda Mead of the D&R Greenway Land Trust was invited to speak about the success of the Open Space initiative in Hopewell Township, as well as goals for the future.
The Easement, which was procured using funding from the Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space, the Green Acres Program, and Mercer County, will provide 72 acres of land to serve as permanent open space. The Easement will allow the property owners to keep a small portion of land for their own use, as well as a seven-acre lot that might be developed in the future. The land that is designated public will expand the existing D&R Greenway trail network . Hopewell Township has more Open Space than any other township in the county, according to Deputy Mayor Purandare.
Committee member Kevin Kuchinski added that the Township has a land procurement strategy that is designed to make the trail network as comprehensive as possible. The plan is to make sure that the trails connect not only to one another, but to safe crosswalks built as part of a Complete Streets policy.
Speed limit changes around Hopewell Borough
The speed limit on Broad street in Hopewell Borough is going to drop to 25 mph, and the speed limit on the surrounding roads will change to accommodate this change. All motorists should be wary of the reduced speed. Krista Weaver, a traffic safety advocate in Hopewell Borough, thanked the Township Committee for their help improving pedestrian safety. There will be increased speed enforcement and ticketing in the Borough in order to ensure that the new speed limit is recognized and accepted.
The featured photo is of photo contest winners and Township Committee members, courtesy of Hopewell Township.
*Edited on 3/5 at 8:02am to clean up some style issues, thanks to input from Kim Robinson.
*Also, MercerMe was contacted by Mayor Peters-Manning to provide context for some of the issues addressed in this story. Those comments will appear in the next Hopewell Township Committee meeting article.
