Hopewell Township Mayor Michael Ruger opened the August 7 Hopewell Township Committee meeting with a moment of silence in honor of New Jersey Lieutenant Governor Shiela Oliver who passed away recently.
Traffic
Hopewell Township was awarded a lead line inspection grant of $7,800, according to Administrator and Public Works Director George Snyder.
“On Denow Road traffic calming, we got quotes, and design, and funding is in place,” said Snyder. “So we are working on the P.O.’s and should be ordering the materials tomorrow. That will take six to eight weeks for the flashing lights to come in and the rumble strips may be installed in about two weeks.”
Cannabis
One item on the evening’s agenda was an ordinance amending Chapter 14 on cannabis and Chapter 17 on land use and development, would permit class two cannabis manufacturing as a conditional ese in the special industrial zoning district. That item was carried to the August 21, 2023 Township Committee meeting session.
“The deputy clerk and I completed the super-notice mailing today and delivered all the letters to the post office,” said Municipal Clerk Katherine Fenton-Newman, “so everyone should be getting their notice regarding the change in zoning for the cannabis.
Fenton-Newman said that she sent 175 notices, which were sent both regular and certified mail.
Liaison Reports
Township committee member, David Chait, shared that public works is conducting road repair, drainage maintenance, and mowing as well as working on the construction of the Lawrenceville Hopewell Trail/Mount Rose connection. Chait also announced that bulk waste collection has been scheduled for September and reminded residents that registration with Public Works is required.
Committee member Uma Purandare shared that the eighth annual Full Moon Ride, a night of music and fun which includes a moonlight ride through Mercer Meadows Park will take place on Saturday, September 30. Registration is open on the Lawrence Hopewell Trail website.
Purandare also said that the Health Department has scheduled five flu clinics the first of which is on September 8 at the Municipal Building from 10am until 2pm. And, Purandare noted, residents should remember to renew their pet licenses.
Deputy Mayor Courtney Peters-Manning shared that a recent police open house in Brandon Farms was successful and well attended. She added that any other neighborhoods who wish to host a Q&A event with the Police Chief James Rosso and members of the department can send an email to her or to the chief directly to set up an event. Peters-Manning noted that National Night Out, which was hosted last week, was also a success.
“On deer management, we have a mandatory, all-hunter meeting on August 23 at 7pm,” Peters-Manning stated.
Consent agenda and resolutions
Ruger moved quickly through the consent agenda, which included resolutions authorizing the resignation of Arkeyris Richiez, a part-time nurse in the Health Department. The committee also approved applications by the Rutgers Master Gardeners of Mercer County to conduct an insect festival, the Sourland Conservancy to conduct the Sourland Spectacular Festival, and the Watershed to conduct the “Fest” Festival.
Resolutions were also approved by the Committee appointing Melissa Laing as a Clean Communities coordinator and approving a shared services agreement between Hopewell Township and the Mercer County Improvement Authority for curbside collection of recyclables for five years, for the term of January 2024- December 2028.
