Historic and Rare Heritage Trees Sought
Part of Earthweek Cleanup Day |
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ISLAND HEIGHTS – What’s fairly tall, gently aged, hard to find and holds a special or historic spot in the fabric of Island Heights culture?
That’s what the borough environmental committee and a group of students from Central Regional High School want to find out this month as they leave no leaf unturned, no trunk unmeasured and no crown uninspected during the borough’s Heritage Tree Hunt.
Borough Council President Betsy Hyle announced the project during last month’s council meeting, here, stating that students would be participating in order to help fulfill their obligations as part of the school’s People to People Student Ambassadors Freeman Delegation. |
The students will be wearing special identification badges and going door-to-door on Saturday, April 24th to map and preserve the trees in words and pictures “in preparation for a community service project abroad that is part of a 19-day journey throughout Western Europe for these students.”
According to the People to People Ambassador Program’s official website, the organization was founded by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956 because, in his words, “I have long believed, as have many before me, that peaceful relations between nations require mutual respect between individuals.”
As a result, the mission of the program is to “bridge cultural and political borders through education and exchange, making the world a better place for future generations” and thus “offers extraordinary, life-changing educational travel opportunities for students, athletes, educators, and professionals.” It counts over 400,000 alumni and eight presidents that have supported the program in the fifty-plus years since its inception.
All residents are asked to aid in the project’s success by helping identify any potential heritage trees in their property prior to April 24th by downloading and printing the “Heritage Tree Hunt Form”, located on the borough’s official website, and dropping the completed form off at specially marked boxes located at borough hall or the library.
Characteristics of a potential heritage tree include:
• Superior Height or diameter
• Advanced age
• Rare or unusual species
• Special community or historic significance
According to the heritage tree hunt document, “the ‘Heritage Tree Hunt’ and subsequent Island Heights Heritage Tree Book will help to promote public awareness that these trees are living treasures and are an important part of our borough’s rich historic and cultural assets.”
The form also includes a chart in which to enter the tree’s species, location, and explanation as to why it is a heritage tree. It also includes information on how to take measurements on the circumference of the trunk, approximate height of the tree, and width of the crown or canopy.
For more information, please call Environmental Committee Council Liaison, Betsy Hyle, at 732-831-1060 and also visit the borough’s official website at www.islandheightsboro.com for the official Heritage Tree Hunt form.
The next meeting of the borough council will take place on Tuesday,
April 13th at 7pm in borough hall. |
Real Estate Report with Robert Suarez |
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ISLAND HEIGHTS – This is the real estate report for single-family homes in Island Heights for March 2010.
There are 12.5 months of inventory (months to sell present inventory at present sales rate), 24 active listings with an average list of $870,111 spending an average 185 days on the market.
Throughout the month, there were two new listings carrying an average list price of $409,000. The number of new listings for March of last year was seven; however, the average list price was $553,971, indicating a drop in the pricings of new listings over the course of the past year.
There were two sales this March, carrying an average list price of $217,500 and a final average sale price of $234,000 after spending 67 days on the market. Last March, there was one sale with a list price of $415,000 after spending 41 days on the market with a list price of $449,000. |
One home listed expired after spending 365 days on the market and with a list price of $315,000. This is comparable to last March’s one home listing expiration, also priced at $315,000 after spending 341 days on the market.
Judging the numbers, my opinion is that the sale of two homes this March brought the number of months of inventory down. Whether or not Island Heights can sustain that sales number average after the end of the tax credit will be seen in next month’s report.
Robert Suarez is a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Flanagan Realty and an independent real estate correspondent for the Riverside Signal. For more information, he can be reached at Coldwell Banker Flanagan Realty’s Toms River office, located at 1541 Route 37 East, 732-270-6100 or through e-mail at robert.suarez@coldwellbanker.com and online at www.robertsuarez.net. |
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Scenes Along the River
March 28, 2010 |
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Boro Engineer: CMX Out; Birdsall In
Council approves switch |
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ISLAND HEIGHTS – The recent announcement that the borough-appointed engineering firm, CMX Engineering, was going out of business surprised borough officials and residents, who worried that a number of borough projects would be compromised if a different firm were to take the reins mid-stream.
Borough Engineer Dave Applegate, formerly of CMX Engineering, was present at last week’s borough council meeting, here, in an attempt to quell residents’ fears by introducing his new firm as a viable option to borough officials. |
“CMX Engineering will no longer exist as a company by May 11th,” he stated, noting that he had been with the firm for 26 years. “As the engineer of record I’ve made the decision to join Birdsall Service Group.”
Birdsall Service Group is an engineering service firm that has operated within the tri-state area since 1919, when it was founded by Claude W. Birdsall.
The firm’s president, Scott McFadden, was also present to introduce the option of keeping Mr. Applegate on as borough engineer by accepting Birdsall Service Group as the new borough engineering firm.
“Our firm bought many of the public and private assets as well as real property from CMX, and hired a number of its employees,” he said, stating the number of hired former CMX employees to be about 400. “We’re now going around to ensure that we will provide a seamless transition as far as your end goes.”
“Other than making out the paperwork to a different name, you’d have the same people on the projects, with Dave leading them,” he added.
“This is an assurance to the council that it will be business as usual and a very smooth transition,” Mr. Applegate said. “I’m asking that you continue to put your trust in myself and also in my new employer.”
Members of the borough council aired their questions and concerns to the borough engineer and the proposed firm’s president.
“In purchasing the assets of CMX, does that include work already being done in terms of what we started here?” asked Councilman John Bendel.
“Yes,” replied Mr. Applegate.
“And you’re not going to has a problem getting those records?” continued Mr. Bendel.
“We bought everything – the files [and] the file cabinets,” answered Mr. McFadden.
The councilman asked whether there would be an issue with projects currently underway that bear the name and title block of CMX Engineering and other engineers that may not have been part of the Birdsall Service Group transition.
“No - when we finalize each project we have, it will bear my name and the Birdsall title block,” Mr. Applegate said.
Councilman Al Gabriel wanted to know whether the firm handled marine work, specifically bulk heading.
“We took a hell of a beating in that last storm,” he said, referring to the fierce storm that struck the region over the March 13th weekend that brought heavy rainfall and winds up to 70 mph, causing structural damage and erosion along the Toms River and Barnegat Bay.
“Our group did the design on the terminal [for Carnival Cruise Lines] in Bayonne,” replied Mr. McFadden. “[Marine work] is one of our specialties, from large to small bulk heading.
Local projects completed by Birdsall Service Group, he continued, included the new Mantoloking Bridge, completed in 2006, and the Trader’s Cove bulk heading and waterfront redevelopment, in Brick Township, currently ongoing.
Councilman Greg Heizler was concerned with a recent Coastal Area Facilities Review Act [CAFRA] permit application fee requested by CMX Engineering on the borough’s water tower replacement project that may not have been necessary. The application fee would have cost the borough $14,500, notwithstanding the engineering fee, which Councilman Brian Taboada estimated as being approximately $5,000 at the time.
“If it wasn’t for Brian, we would have been authorized for a CAFRA permit that we probably didn’t need, along with the engineering fees associated with it,” he said. “We’re really relying upon you guys to [only] do the work that is necessary.”
“I like you guys and am happy you’re here, but that was kind of disturbing, seeing that we’re being billed to get an audit done that wasn’t necessary,” he added. “Do you have an internal audit process to avoid doing unnecessary work?”
“We have a very good permitting department,” said Mr. McFadden. “One of the things about permitting is to find out how you don’t need it before going for the permits - we check that we have to get the permit.”
Mr. Applegate stated that the borough would still have to submit something to CAFRA to first find out whether a permit was needed or not.
“I’m satisfied that the transition should be seamless with your company,” stated Councilman Jeffrey B. Silver, after listening to the answers given by the Birdsall Service Group representatives.
Mayor Jim Biggs commended Birdsall Service Group’s status as a local company hiring local residents. The firm has offices in Barnegat and Cranford, with its headquarters located in Eatontown.
“We are a large, full service firm,” said Mr. McFadden. “We’re large enough to serve you and small enough to know you, and can provide every form of engineering service you may want.”
The borough council approved the transition to Birdsall Service Group.
The next meeting of the borough council will be on Tuesday, April 13th at 7pm in borough hall.
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Boro Recycling Center Updates |
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ISLAND HEIGHTS – During this week's meeting of the borough council, here, Councilman Brian Taboada alerted the public to updates and changes with the borough recycling center.
"According to the [Environmental Protection Agency] and the [Department of Environmental Protection], regular batteries are now considered solid waste and no longer considered hazardous - they go in your regular trash." he said. "They're [now] only recycling rechargeable batteries." |
The councilman also emphasized that "the recycling center for private borough residents, not businesses or private contractors, regardless of affiliation with the town."
According to the borough's 2010 recycling center calendar, Commingle [metal & aluminum cans, glass and plastic containers] items are to be rinsed and placed together in standard plastic or metal receptacles. Automotive product containers, lids, or bottle caps will not be recycled.
Mixed paper (newspaper, junk mail, magazines, paperback books, etc.) will be picked up in one container with a lid and cannot exceed 40 pounds.
Leaves are to be placed in untied plastic bags or open top trash cans and leave empty can for used bags after leaf removal.
The recycling center, located at the Public Works Building on the corner of Lake Ave. and Laurel Ave. will be open until 6pm on weekdays.
The full 2010 Recycling Calendar can be found at http://islandheightsboro.com/2010RecyclingCalendar.doc
The next meeting of the borough council will be on Tuesday, April 13th
at 7pm in borough hall. |
BOE Announces Board Vacancy |
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ISLAND HEIGHTS – Are you or do you know someone who may be interested in serving on a board of education?
Then the Island Heights Board of Education would like to hear from you.
During this week's borough council meeting, here, Councilman Brian Tabaoda announced a vacancy on the board exists for someone to "get their feet wet and see what it's like." The term of the vacancy will last only one year; until April 2011. |
Interested parties are encouraged to send a letter of interest to the board at: Island Heights Board of Education, John R. Lichtenberg, Superintendent, 115 Summit Avenue, PO Box 329, Island Heights, NJ 08732.
In addition, Mr. Tabaoda stated that the next election of the board will be held on Tuesday, April 20th.
"As our mayor would say - come early and vote often," he joked.
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Scenes Along the River
March 18, 2010 |
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Heizler Reports Boro Police Activity |
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OCEAN COUNTY – At last Tuesday’s meeting of the borough council, here, Councilman Greg Heizler reported the following police activity taking place in the period from February 23rd to the meeting date:
• Two warrant arrests
• One theft of bank information fraud
• One impounding of a vehicle for lack of insurance
• One found property |
Additionally, he said that borough police had made 3,647 year-to-date calls for service.
Borough Police Lieutenant Kevin C. Arnold was present to clarify the definition of a call to service.
“[It is] anything an officer responds to,” he stated. “A lost cat or dog… anything.”
Mr. Heizler added that the number also reflects backup calls for assistance made from the Toms River Police Department.
The next meeting of the Island Heights Borough Council is scheduled for Tuesday, March 23rd at 7pm in borough hall.
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Boro Announces Easter Egg Hunt |
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ISLAND HEIGHTS – At last Tuesday’s meeting of the borough council, here, Council President Betsy Hyle reported that the Island Heights Recreation Committee will holding their annual Easter Egg Hunt at Memorial Field on Saturday, March 27th at 10am.
"With all the snow this winter, this will be an especially welcome visit with neighbors and friends," she said. "There’s nothing better than to see the excitement when the egg holds that special ticket which means getting an Easter prize from the Easter Bunny himself." |
With the event growing each year, residents are being called upon to help stuff the thousands of eggs to be distributed throughout Memorial Field. Interested volunteers can report for duty to the borough hall at 7pm on Thursday, March 18th.
The rain date for the event is Sunday, March 28th, also at 10am. |
Real Estate Report with Robert Suarez |
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ISLAND HEIGHTS – This is the real estate report for single-family homes in February 2010.
There are 23.25 months of inventory (months to sell present inventory at present sales rate), 26 active listings with an average list of $835,256 spending an average 171 days on the market.
Last month, there were four new listings carrying an average list price of $770,750. The number of new listings for February of last year was the same; however, the average list price was $891,000, indicating a sharp drop in the pricings of new listings over the course of the past year.
One home originally listed for $364,999 spent 168 days on the market (DOM) before selling for $360,000. This is an improvement over last February with zero sales during the same period. |
Two homes listed expired after an average of 263 days on the market and holding an average list price of $559,450. This is in stark contrast to last February’s average list price of $2,490,000 with an average of 352 days on the market, although the number of expired listings remained the same, at two.
With inventory at such high levels it is my opinion that the home market is still on a downward track in Island Heights. If you list your home in this market keep in mind to compensate for this downward track in your comparative properties that you use to arrive at your home’s list price. In short, a home that sold for $200,000 would sell for less three months later.
Robert Suarez is a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Flanagan Realty and an independent real estate correspondent for the Riverside Signal. For more information, he can be reached at Coldwell Banker Flanagan Realty’s Toms River office, located at 1541 Route 37 East, 732-270-6100 or through e-mail at robert.suarez@coldwellbanker.com and online at www.robertsuarez.net. |
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Boro Police: 2,971 Calls for Service Since Jan. 1 |
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ISLAND HEIGHTS – Borough Councilman Greg Heizler announced during last week's meeting of the borough council that the borough police responded to 2,971 calls for service thus far this year and made 18 vehicle stops in the past month.
The next meeting of the Island Heights Borough Council is scheduled for Tuesday, March 9th at 7pm in borough hall. |
Boro Council Balks at $14,500 CAFRA Permit Fee for
Tower Replacement
Tabaoda states CAFRA not applicable to site |
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ISLAND HEIGHTS – The borough council may have dodged a bullet worth nearly $15,000 during their meeting Tuesday night, here, after noticing a potential error in a permit application fee submitted for approval by the borough engineering firm, CMX Engineering.
The issue arose during a motion to approve the certified bills list, which included a Coastal Area Facilities Review Act (CAFRA) permit application fee of $14,500 for the replacement of the borough water tower and treatment plant, located between Van Sant and Summit avenues.
Borough Councilman Brian Tabaoda said he researched the need for the CAFRA permit and found the borough did not appear on a qualifying annual list generated by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA).
“I talked to CMX, and to me it doesn’t appear that we are required to have a CAFRA permit,” he stated, adding that he sent the DCA document to their office but that the contact handling the permit was not in to respond.
“The problem I have is that this is an application fee, and the state does not pay that back,” the councilman continued.
“I’m very concerned how this got into the application, and I’d like to hear from CMX,” said Councilman John Bendel. |
“Maybe they assumed it because in Island Heights, we’re surrounded by water,” stated Councilman Greg Heizler, adding that he felt council should scrutinize closer their submitted bills in the future. “Why is it going on? That’s a concern moving forward.”
A March 1st deadline for all application materials related to the replacement of the tower and treatment plant facilities had the engineering firm concerned. Tuesday was the last council meeting before that deadline.
“Their concern is whether they can get in all the paperwork on time, so they wanted us to authorize this money and if the letter comes thru in a negative way that we would cut them a check,” said Mr. Tabaoda. “I am unwilling to cut any check before I see a letter of jurisdiction determination.”
Adrian Fanning, the borough’s chief financial officer, was also anxious that the application would miss the deadline if not approved.
Council President Betsy Hyle recommended that the borough risk it as she did not feel the CAFRA permit was applicable to the site.
“A waterfront permit is not required and there are no mapped coastal wetlands on this site,” she noted. “It has got to be on CMX to get that letter in.”
Mr. Heizler questioned whether the engineering firm was charging the borough for an unwarranted fee.
“I can guarantee the permit will cost an additional $5,000,” responded Mr. Tabaoda.
Mr. Bendel made a motion to approve all bills, with the approval of the permit application fee subject to approval by Mayor Jim Biggs upon receipt of a letter from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection that the permit is required for the site.
The motion was passed unanimously by all council members present.
When contacted for comment, Brian F. Carr, project manager for CMX Engineering, stated that the firm had submitted for determination whether a CAFRA permit was required on the site, and that he expected an answer between 30 to 60 days from the date of submittal.
He noted that the application would be considered valid as the request for determination was made by the March 1st deadline, and as council conditionally approved the permit fee if it is found necessary by the state.
The next meeting of the Island Heights Borough Council is scheduled for Tuesday, March 9th at 7pm in borough hall. |
Council Mulls Grade School Contest for New Water Tower Façade
Corporate sponsorship also considered |
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ISLAND HEIGHTS – Arriving with the borough’s replacement water tower may be a new façade decided by a student near you.
During Tuesday night’s meeting, here, the borough mayor and council approved a motion to research holding a contest that would allow students in the Island Heights Grade School to offer suggestions and vote upon what should be on a new 250,000 gallon water tower scheduled to replace the borough’s current aging 280,000 gallon standpipe.
Earlier in the evening, the borough council adopted a resolution that would authorize the borough to apply for a loan through the New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Financing Program to make that replacement. |
Borough Councilman Brian Tabaoda said the idea was originally brought up by fellow borough councilman Al Gabriel, who was absent from Tuesday’s meeting.
“Dave Applegate from CMX [Engineering] mentioned that soon we have to determine what we want on our water tower,” he stated, continuing that he felt it was a “really good suggestion” to have the borough grade school students enter a contest with the winning entry chosen by the borough mayor and council.
He asked that a motion be passed to inquire with the borough board of education whether such a contest would be possible in the immediate future.
Councilman John Bendel was reluctant.
“I don’t have a problem with the kids picking between four options but I do have a little problem opening it up [for broad interpretation],” he stated.
“We would give them different ways you could put ‘Borough of Island Heights’ up there,” agreed Council President Betsy Hyle. “[Not] something more like a cute wave or beach ball; you have to paint that every time and that’s a lot of money.”
Mr. Bendel suggested looking into the possibility of renting out a part of the tower’s façade to a private sponsor in order to bring in revenue, as he stated was previously proposed by borough councilman Greg Heizler.
“I find it offensive personally,” Mr. Heizler admitted, “but if we could get some money…” |
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Mr. Tabaoda supported the idea to offer the students options to choose from, with the winner or winners commended for their “effort to determine what’s on a landmark structure in town.”
“I like the idea in spirit, but I feel it opens up doors we may have a hard time closing,” replied Mr. Bendel.
“I have every confidence you would not vote for something like that,” responded Mr. Tabaoda.
“And you would be absolutely right,” said Mr. Bendel, laughing.
The motion to inquire with the board of education about the contest was passed by an affirmative vote of all present members of the borough council except Mr. Bendel, who gave the lone dissenting vote.
“They’re gonna egg your house on Halloween,” joked Ms. Hyle to Mr. Bendel after the roll call.
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Scenes Along the River
Week of February 22- 26, 2010 |
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Snapshot of the Past: Island Heights Winters |
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In this series, we invite local residents, past and present, to share their stories and memories of living in the area. Below is Ms. Eileen O. Fancher's story of frigid winters spent growing up in Island Heights during the Great Depression.
Any resident interested in sharing their story with the Signal and its readers, please write riversidesignal@gmail.com |
Island Heights – During the Great Depression, when times were hard, the winters were also especially difficult with heavy snows and record-low temperatures. Homes had no insulation and most of the year-round population had to worry about houses with frozen pipes and cars with frozen radiators. Anti-freeze puddles could be seen in every parking place around McKaig’s grocery store.
As the snow fell steadily and covered the roads, the borough superintendent, Ernie Wilber, would start his steady plowing of the streets. The noise of the plow could be heard regularly all through the night as he kept each road open. The plow had no cab and Ernie rode out in the open in the brutal cold. His friend, Alley Irons, kept his back door unlocked and a fire going in the kitchen stove so that Ernie could come in and warm up with hot coffee. Extra gloves were there and Ernie would pick up a dry pair leaving his soaked ones near the heat to dry before he ventured out for another round of plowing.
Even though the grownups had to work extremely hard in those challenging economic times and the bitter cold of the winters, the youngsters of the town loved the snow. If the weather was just right they could sled down Central Avenue and onto a path shoveled over the snowy beach and shoot out onto the ice of the river. They roamed the town looking for the best hills to slide on and were thrilled when several weeks of deep cold settled in because that meant the ice on the river would be extra thick and cars could drive out onto the frozen surface and head east into the brisk wind off the bay. It was a high-risk venture avoiding the air holes and thin ice, but there were always people who rose to the challenge. On some weekends, cars, like a swarm of ants, could be seen scooting up and down and back and forth all over the frozen Toms River. It was one of the most exciting times of the winter.
This winter, so many years later, finds me a thousand miles away avoiding the cold but enjoying a video that was taken just hours ago of the Island Heights streets. The snow banks are tall and enormous piles of snow are covering a few parked cars, but the streets are plowed and clear. It’s good to know that there is someone still making certain that all is well in Island Heights.
Eileen O. Fancher
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Island Heights Introduces Fertilizer Regulation Ordinance
Rising appearance of algal blooms, sea nettles spurred effort |
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Island Heights – Citing concerns over the rising issue of nitrogen-linked pollutants in the Toms River and Barnegat Bay, the Island Heights Borough Council voted unanimously at last month’s council meeting, here, to introduce a fertilizer regulation ordinance that could provide sweeping benefits to the health of the area’s ecosystem.
The ordinance is modeled on the one created by the local environmental non-profit organizations, Save Barnegat Bay, headquartered in Lavallette, and Clean Ocean Action, headquartered in Highlands. The ordinance was previously adopted by the southern Ocean County township of Stafford. |
Lifelong resident and borough councilman, Al Gabriel, “has been a very loud voice in raising concerns about the health of the Barnegat Bay estuary system,” said Gregory S. Heizler, a fellow borough councilman.
Island Heights Borough Mayor Jim Biggs said he and council would be hard at work in the weeks leading up to its second reading, due sometime this month.
“We will perfect the ordinance as it relates to Island Heights and take every opportunity to keep the people of Island Heights informed about the Bay and its condition,” he stated, adding that he will “do my best to encourage each councilperson to take the initiative to help make Island Heights the best place to live on the Jersey Coast.”
Fertilizers, according to documentation produced by Save Barnegat Bay and Clean Ocean Action, contain nitrogen and phosphorous that eventually runs off into the bay, adding pollutants and nutrients to the water. Exponential growth and development in South Jersey, combined with the use of certain fertilizers, contributes to an overabundance of algae as a result of excess nutrients, also known as eutrophication.
In response, Save Barnegat Bay and Clean Ocean Action began a Nitrogen Pollution Action Project (NPAP), which saw the creation of its Barnegat Bay Buddy program, in 2008.
"Nitrogen is an important nutrient that helps plants grow, however there is too
much in Barnegat Bay,” states Barnegat Bay Buddy literature. “As a result, the Bay’s unique ecosystem is dying. Excess nitrogen from human activities causes harmful algal blooms, which block light in the water from reaching plants, fish, and shellfish.
In a New York Times article dated July 20th, 2008, Pete McClain, wildlife biologist and retired deputy director of the State Division of Fish and Wildlife described the effect algal blooms have on eelgrass.
“It’s like putting a rug over your green lawn,” he said. “Leave it there for two or three days and see what you have – yellow grass, because it can’t photosynthesize.”
“It’s got to have sunlight,” he added.
A Fall 2004 “Barnegat Bay Beat” newsletter, produced by the Barnegat Bay National Estuary Program (BBNEP), delves further into the issue of photosynthesis and its vital role in the estuary’s ecosystem.
“To remain healthy and thrive, seagrasses need comparatively clear transparent water. As bay waters become more turbid due to algal blooms and suspended sediment, the light levels needed to sustain photosynthesis and seagrass productivity decline. Nutrient enrichment of the bay’s waters, whether from nonpoint source pollution, atmospheric deposition or boat wastes, promote algal blooms, as well as infestations of ephiphytic algae coating the seagrass blades and macro algae overwhelming the seagrass beds. Thus, healthy and abundant seagrass signals that the bay’s waters are clear and clean.”
Another side effect of the eutrophication is the encroachment of sea nettle jellyfish into swimming areas. Sea nettles are a stinging jellyfish and have, according to BBNEP, a 10 centimeter bell cap with tentacles extending up to one meter in length.
According to the NPAP website, “eutrophication decreases the amount of dissolved oxygen in the system. When oxygen levels are low, predator fish that would normally prey on jellyfish swim to waters with more oxygen. Since there is less competition for food, the sea nettles eat more and the population increases.”
During the last summer season, lifeguards on Beachwood Beach reported the highest jellyfish levels to occur beginning in mid- to late-July, and lasting through much of August. Many patrons of that beach found levels to be so high on certain days that they pulled themselves and their children out of the water entirely, rather than engage in the elevated risk of getting stung multiple times. |
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The fertilizer ordinance can be broken down into two categories: type of fertilizer and application of fertilizer. Below is an abridged checklist of some of the bullet points detailed in the ordinance.
On permitted types of fertilizers:
• An applicator shall not apply any fertilizer to turf that contains less than 30 percent slow-release nitrogen
• An applicator shall not apply fertilizer that contains phosphorous, unless a soil test indicates a phosphorous deficiency
• Any fertilizer applied to soil with a demonstrated phosphorous deficiency shall be in accordance with the recommendations of the Rutgers Cooperative Research Extension
• Fertilizer application must not exceed the manufacturer’s recommended rate
Prohibited conducts of applying fertilizers are:
• Apply fertilizer immediately before or during heavy rainfall, such as but not limited to, thunderstorms, hurricanes or north eastern storms or when the soil is saturated due to intense or extended rainfall
• Apply fertilizer between December 1st and March 1st
• Apply, spill or deposit fertilizer on any impervious surface and fail to remove the applied, spilled or deposited fertilizer immediately
• Apply fertilizer closer than ten feet to water bodies
• Deposit grass clippings, leaves or any other vegetative debris into water bodies, retention and detention areas, drainage ditches or storm water drains, or into impervious surfaces such as, but not limited to, roadways and sidewalks, except during scheduled cleanup programs.
For more information on this model ordinance, please visit the Save Barnegat Bay website at http://www.savebarnegatbay.org |
Sustainable Jersey Comes to Island Heights
Seeks a better tomorrow, one community at a time |
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Island Heights – A new idea in the popular concept of connecting municipalities for better overall efficiency has found its way into the spotlight in the form of Sustainable Jersey, a certification and incentive program designed to help townships work through the often confusing process of “going green,” and one area borough has taken on that challenge with its help.
Jeanine Cava, Public Outreach Coordinator of the Barnegat Bay National Estuary Program and member of the State Sustainable Communities Working Group, gave a seminar last Thursday in
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borough hall, here, to approximately a dozen concerned citizens interested in learning about the program and its ability to help them better deal with subjects such as pollution, land use, and agricultural sustainability.
“We are one of the only states in the entire country that has a program like this,” she said.
In attendance were Island Heights Borough Mayor Jim Biggs and Council President Betsy Hyle, the latter of whom invited Ms. Cava to explain the program so that the Borough of Island Heights may move forward with the certification process.
According to materials presented, that process begins with the passing of an ordinance that would create a “green team” of borough citizens who will each bring their own expertise to the table.
Once assembled, the team will begin the process of deciding which actions to take from the long list provided by Sustainable Jersey.
Actions fall beneath categories, listed by the program as being Community Partnership and Outreach, Diversity and Equity, Energy Efficiency, Greenhouse Gas, Green Design, Health and Wellness, Land Use and Transportation, Local Economies, Natural Resources, Operations and Maintenance, Sustainability Planning, Waste Reduction and Recycling, Innovative Demonstration Projects, Animals in the Community, and Arts/Culture/Historic Preservation.
Mayor Biggs suggested that a simple solution to satisfying the Green Historic Preservation category of the Sustainable Jersey plan might be to implement a cleanup schedule for the town’s historic camp meeting ground.
“It’s not regularly cared for as an historical site,” he said. “It has kind of gone its own way.”
“Sustainable Jersey doesn’t have just to do with the environment,” Ms. Hyle said. “It’s a quality of life issue.”
Potential goals discussed included the exploration of solar power or incorporating a conservation program that would address recycling at the elementary school, or the collecting of batteries for proper disposal.
“The council has been discussing ways to [collect batteries] in town,” the council president stated, continuing that “it might cost us a little bit, but it might be worth the cost to do the right thing.”
Last month, the Island Heights Borough Council learned that the Ocean County Department of Solid Waste would no longer be accepting non-rechargeable batteries. |
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According to material produced by that department on the change, “Non-rechargeable batteries such as AAA, AA, C, D and 9-volt batteries produced by manufacturers like Energizer and Duracell as well as less common and/or generic manufacturers now fall below Federal and state hazardous waste standards and can and should be thrown out in the ordinary garbage.”
This “brainchild” of Sustainable Jersey, Ms. Cava said, is the product of two New Jersey mayors - Mayor Meryl Frank of Highland Park and Fred Profeta of Maplewood- who, in 2006, combined their efforts with the League of Municipalities, New Jersey Sustainable Institute at Rutgers, and the Municipal Land Use Center at the College of New Jersey to establish a list of standards for going green that every municipality could aspire to over time.
“Green communities are becoming an important way for municipalities to increase the quality of life for their residents and employees, and save money,” stated Mayor Frank, according to the program website.
Ms. Cava said that the program has grown in the past four years.
If certified, Island Heights would become the 35th municipality in the program, and the second in Ocean County. Manchester Township is the other participating county community.
“It’s a popular program,” Cava said as she pointed out dozens of currently certified towns on a Google map. “It’s really progressive and so simple it’s like a beautiful thing.”
For more information on Sustainable Jersey, go to the official program website at http://www.sustainablejersey.net
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Island Heights Council Debates Grant Project Options |
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Island Heights – An array of potential municipal improvement projects were considered by the borough council, here, for submission into the federal Community Block Development Grant program during last Tuesday’s borough council meeting.
Steve Schreiber, a representative of the borough-appointed engineering firm CMX, was on hand to help identify the projects council would submit.
The grant program, commonly referred to by its abbreviation, CBDG, was utilized by Island Heights in past years to install handicap access to all the doors at borough hall, the police station and the library, and to remove barriers that would restrict handicap movement around the borough. |
Borough Chief Financial Officer Adrian Fanning confirmed that no suggestions were made by the public in the weeks leading up to the second public hearing. No members of the public present at Tuesday’s second hearing made any suggestions for projects.
During the first public hearing, the borough council tentatively decided to seek the replacement of the borough library’s side access ramp and install handicap improvements at Memorial Park.
At Tuesday night’s second hearing, however, the borough engineer alerted council members that the park project may be beyond the scope of the CDBG grant.
“Unfortunately, it looks like the park project would require some permitting which may prohibit the ability for the borough to get funding,” he stated, continuing that with an application deadline of February 5th looming, the council needed to decide whether to risk pursuing that project at the potential loss of much of the grant money should they be denied or choose alternate projects to take its place.
“Permits take 90 days to deem them complete,” Mr. Schreiber continued. “Then there’s fieldwork that needs to be done, you have to delineate wetlands, the wetlands have to be accepted by the [Department of Environmental Protection].”
“The fastest permit you’re gonna get in this day and age is six months,” he added.
Council President Betsy Hyle asked whether the engineer thought it would get denied, even if they were willing to wait for the permits, because it was not “shovel-ready.”
“You can still do it, but they rank everything, so if every other municipality has a clean job everywhere, that one’s going to fall to the bottom,” Mr. Schreiber replied.
Mayor Biggs inquired about how much money the borough could expect from the grant. |
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“They’re anticipating giving each municipality forty to forty five thousand this funding round,” the engineer replied, and estimated that work for the other CDBG project the borough was considering, to replace the handicap ramp at the borough library off Central Avenue, would cost approximately $15,000.
“[We would] replace it, [also] probably have to replace the handrails, actually have to widen it a bit,” he added.
Council members Al Gabriel and Brian Tabaoda inquired whether the remainder of the grant money could be used for repairing bulkheads.
“It’s really geared toward improvements to barrier free handicap accessibility,” said Mr. Schreiber. “In the past I think you’ve done concrete repair work at intersections and depressed curbs and created handicap accessibility at the sidewalks.”
Mayor Jim Biggs asked whether all the “quasi-public” areas and structures used by residents were handicap accessible.
Mr. Schreiber said he believed they were, and pointed out that a number of them even had automatic doors to allow wheelchair access.
Mr. Gabriel pointed out that the docks located off West End Avenue and near the boatyards were not barrier free, and that West End Avenue was not handicap accessible overall because it was built almost a foot above the regular footpath, and has a step, rather than a ramp, leading up to it.
Mr. Tabaoda urged for improvements in the area surrounding the Island Heights Elementary School.
“There’s no sidewalk on Lake Avenue [by the grade school],” said Mr. Tabaoda. “Wheelchairs are not able to go from the handicap parking spots over to the gym - would that be something that might be covered?”
“Yeah, it could be,” replied the engineer. “They rank handicap accessibility projects high.”
“There’s a need for a sidewalk that goes from Van Zant to Summit on the east side,” noted Mayor Biggs. “That’s all just a path and that leads directly to the school.”
He added that on rainy days, schoolchildren walking down that way are forced to walk in the road as water flows down the sandy path, which runs along Simpson Avenue.
A project list adopted by the borough council for submission to the borough engineering firm under the CDBG program included:
- constructing new sidewalks along the east side of Simpson Avenue and on Lake Avenue in front of the Island Heights Grade School
- ramp and handrail replacement at the Island Heights Borough Library
- handicap access to the municipal tennis courts at Memorial Park
- a height realignment of West End dock to allow for handicap access
- repairs made to the boatyard dock to allow for handicap and pedestrian access |
Deferred Maintenance a Problem of the Past, Council Says
Summit Avenue DOT Grant Project Approved; Borough Buildings being Inspected |
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Island Heights – The recent replacement of two 15-year-old furnaces in borough hall, resulting from years of neglect, spurred the borough mayor and council to announce, at Tuesday’s borough council meeting, here, that deferred maintenance would be a practice left in the past.
Councilman Al Gabriel stated the issue with the furnaces was known for about three years, but never acted upon.
“All of a sudden when D-Day comes, and the bomb hits, we run in panic mode; we evacuate,” he said. “Don’t wait so long next time.” |
Mayor Jim Biggs stated the furnaces became a critical problem over the holidays.
“Our personnel in borough hall was without heat, and in some cases with the heat blowing back carbon monoxide, et cetera, which made it a very unsafe position,” he said, adding that the workers continued to work through the issues.
A question over the new furnaces’ efficiency over the old ones was brought up by Councilman Brian Tabaoda. It was stated that the replacements performed at the same efficiency as the prior equipment, about 80 percent.
Council President Betsy Hyle requested the borough seek out the most efficient options when replacing equipment, in order to adhere to its Sustainable Jersey program commitment.
Mayor Biggs noted that in light of the recent emergency replacement, costing the borough an unexpected $8,550, he had asked Mr. Gabriel, a past building contractor, code enforcement officer and building inspector, to begin an inspection of all “immediate borough buildings.”
“Nothing has been done in the way of maintenance from the time these buildings were first brought in operation,” the mayor said. “There are some obvious problems that you can see at some of our windows, where they’ve been allowed to just almost rot away.”
“I just started an inspection on the building here,” said Mr. Gabriel. “You’re gonna be shocked what I found out - what’s wrong with it.”
“I’m concerned about getting out of the deferred maintenance rut and start doing things when those things arise,” stated the mayor. “It saves us all money.”
Immediately following the discussion on the borough buildings, the issue of maintenance was tested through a project approval that would see a $145,000 grant from the New Jersey Department of Transportation utilized for improvements on Summit Avenue. The firm that proposed the project was CMX Engineering. |
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Councilman Greg Heizler questioned the need for the work.
“It’s another $32,000 in attorney fees that we’re going to have to pay for, and I don’t know if it’s absolutely necessary right now to incur this additional cost,” he stated. “I drive down Summit Avenue, I make that turn every day, and that little stretch of road looks fine - I’m concerned about incurring [the fees] just so we can use the benefit of $145,000 towards the roadwork which may or may not be necessary.”
“Every year, the engineer, and the mayor and myself and sometimes [the superintendent of public works] ride around town, we walk around town and we pick a road that’s eligible for DOT money,” said Adrian Fanning, the borough’s chief financial officer. “The philosophy has been always to maintain and upgrade.”
Councilman John Bendel felt the issue related to the deferred maintenance the borough just stated they were trying to get away from.
“If we’re not going to do it this year where we have the possibility of having most of it paid for, then we’re going to have to do it two, three years from now and will have to pay for it or it won’t get done,” he said. “I understand the reluctance to spend $32,000… on the other hand, here’s an opportunity, and I think that the borough should take it.”
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Mr. Fanning said that much of the engineering cost should be covered by the grant money.
“While the engineer’s fees cannot exceed $32,000, typically almost 50 percent is covered by the DOT grant itself,” he stated, noting that the inspection part of the engineering fee was the part not covered, and that if bids came in under the $145,000 grant limit, the borough may not incur that cost at all. “We always look at how the bids come in and what impact that’s going to have on our kick-in.”
“Summit Avenue is one of those county roads that we were short changed on, in that a portion of it is ours,” said Mayor Biggs, noting that the borough holds a total of about four miles of county roads, including all of Ocean and Van Sant avenues. “This was a road that we can get out of the way at their expense.”
The Summit Avenue improvements project was passed by unanimous vote of the borough council. |
And in other Island Heights Borough Council news:
- The borough council introduced, by unanimous vote, a model ordinance created by non-profit organization Save Barnegat Bay and previously passed by Stafford Township to restrict the types and usage of fertilizer within the municipality. Citing concerns over rising nitrate levels in the Toms River and Barnegat Bay, Mayor Biggs said that they “wanted to get this done early” in order to begin tailoring the ordinance for the borough.
- The first public hearing on the Community Development Block Grant [CDBG] for 2010 was heard. In the past, this grant was used to install handicap access to all the doors at borough hall, the police station and the library, and to remove barriers that would restrict handicap movement around the borough. This year they would be looking to use the grant to replace the ramp leading into the library and install handicap improvements at Memorial Park.
- The second public hearing, at which time the public may comment and a prioritized list of projects will be created, is to be held on Tuesday, January 26th in borough hall.
- Two resolutions authorizing the renewal of the Municipal Alliance Committee for 2010 and the application for a Municipal Alliance Committee grant for 2011 were passed.
- A resolution authorizing the interlocal agreement between the borough and Long Beach Township for purposes of utilizing the latter municipality’s mobile data terminal for the Island Heights Police Department was passed. Lieutenant Kevin C. Arnold stated that the borough enters into the agreement each year as “to purchase the [mobile data terminal] would be a couple million dollars.”
- Mayor Biggs reported that Mr. Fanning would be giving deposition in Lacey Township during the ongoing original litigation between Island Heights Borough and the Central Regional School District.
- With the Census 2010 coming soon to all municipalities of the United States, the mayor and council urged residents to give 100% participation and cooperation with the census takers as a more accurate count would benefit the borough by creating the potential for better federal aid. Mr. Bendel joked that he encouraged 200% participation, and Mayor Biggs recalled a story once told by former New Jersey Governor Brendan Byrne that upon his death, he wanted to be buried within the borders of Jersey City so that he may “continue to participate in the voting process”, making light of past voter corruption cases where deceased residents were counted by certain political factions to boost their numbers.
- Ms. Hyle returned the dialogue to a more serious tone by recommending borough residents be careful of anyone who comes to their door stating to be a census taker, and to ask for official credentials. Borough residents can expect to receive Census 2010 packets through the mail, with an opportunity to meet a census worker in during a scheduled session held at borough hall to answer any questions regarding their forms.
- Ms. Hyle inquired about progress made on placing a post office box near the parking lot of the post office that would be accessible to patrons without causing them to leave their cars. Mr. Heizler reported that the postmaster stated that not many were available anymore, the United States Postal Service apparently having either reduced or discontinued their production some years ago. The council discussed possible moving the box currently located near the borough first aid building, but determined that without the long neck allowing patrons to easily slip mail down the chute, it would not be a workable solution. Mr. Heizler stated he would continue to work with the post office in finding a solution.
- Mr. Bendel reported that the borough newsletter would, for the first time in its nine years of production, be going all digital unless otherwise requested by borough residents who want to continue receiving it via physical mail.
- Mr. Taboada reported that the Island Heights Board of Education would be holding three meetings to begin the process of interviewing for a new school superintendent. It was recommended that the public not attend as each meeting would immediately go into executive session, and no other business would be discussed or acted upon.
- It was reported that as of January 29th, the county would no longer be accepting disposable, non-rechargeable batteries for recycling, and that residents should just throw them away in their regular trash. Ms. Hyle was dismayed by this, and stated that prior to the deadline would work to find a better solution to offer borough residents.
- It was reported that by March, all county residents would be switching to single stream recycling, allowing for all recyclable paper, plastics and metals to be placed loose within a single bin. The new system allowing the county to make this switch is to use compressed air for the separation of the recycled material.
- Ms. Hyle reported that the Environmental Commission was applying for two grants through the Barnegat Bay National Estuary Program that would go toward supplies and equipment for planting trees in the borough hall parking lot for shade and aesthetic and environmental value.
- The borough will be hosting the program, Sustainable Jersey, on Thursday, January 28th at 7pm in borough hall. Jeanine Cava, Public Outreach Coordinator of the Barnegat Bay National Estuary Program would be presenting. Ms. Hyle noted that the borough would like to create a “Green Team” that would include a cross section of business owners and residents that would donate time to improve the sustainability of the borough.
- During open public session, longtime borough residents Joseph and Kathleen Gunteski approached mayor and council regarding issues they were having with borough police and resident complaints as their contractor set up to build their new home, located on a subdivided lot at the end of Bay Avenue. It was determined that miscommunication, coupled lot access difficulty and a nearby resident’s apparent disapproval of the construction that lead to the ongoing complaints, were factors in the problem. The borough council approved a motion urging the police department to issue a memo to all officers that the construction was authorized to continue.
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