April 12, 2024

CRANFORD TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE

Mayor Brian Andrews

b-andrews@cranfordnj.org

Deputy Mayor Terrence Curran

Recreation & Parks

t-curran@cranfordnj.org

Commissioner Kathleen Miller Prunty

Public Works/Engineering      

k-prunty@cranfordnj.org

Commissioner Gina Black

Finance

g-black@cranfordnj.org

Commissioner Paul A. Gallo

Public Safety

p-gallo@cranfordnj.org

TOWNSHIP ADMINISTRATOR

 Lavona Patterson

Township Administrator / Chief Financial Officer

l-patterson@cranfordnj.org

UPCOMING MEETINGS

• Wednesday, April 17, at 7:30 p.m. Planning Board Meeting
• Tuesday, April 23, at 7 p.m. Township Committee Workshop Meeting
• Tuesday, April 23, at 8 p.m. Township Committee Official Meeting
• Monday, April 29, at 7:30 p.m. Zoning Board Meeting

Mayor's Message

April 9 Official Meeting

Proclamations:

• Week of the Young Child - members of Calvary Nursery School & Child Care received the proclamation.
• April as Child Abuse Prevention Month. A representative of Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) received the proclamation. (note: CASA is changing its name to Child Focus.)
• Autism Advocacy
• Cranford Public Library Recognition - National Library Week

Commissioner Comments

Mayor Brian Andrews

750 Walnut Avenue construction project: The Township is pleased with the signage improvement for traffic flow in the area, but we want to see more action, including a clear plan for tree replacement and enhanced steps for dirt management.

Deputy Mayor Terrence Curran – Recreation & Parks

• Spring and Summer rec program registration is open, including tennis, playground camps, Men’s 35-plus basketball league, and pickleball.
• Memorial Day parade applications for groups who would like to walk in the parade are available at the Recreation Department and is also linked here.
• The outdoor pools registration has started. Encouraged residents to join the outdoor pools.
• 750 Walnut Avenue update—
• The dirt mounds were seeded and the contractor will be taking them down and using that dirt to rebuild the berm.
• New traffic signage is up on the site to keep truck traffic out of the neighborhood roads with trucks only to turn left or right.
• The Township is reviewing with the Police department the possibility to turning Behnert Place into a one way or a dead end road to aid in mitigating traffic. The dead end possibility would need to go to the state for review.
• Trees and landscape plan: Hartz is not in agreement with what the Township said that they took down more trees than was agreed upon. That is going through the attorneys. We believe we have a strong position in terms of what they agreed to in the landscape plans. There will be more updates as it progresses.
• Traffic—Township is working with the CPD enforcement in the area with speeding.

Commissioner Kathleen Miller Prunty – Engineering & Public Works

• Footbridge that connects Riverside Drive to Balmiere Pkwy.--Union County is expected to begin on April 15. The posts that hold up the bridge have a tendency to catch large limbs, trees and other debris, acting as dam. The new wider suspension bridge will negate those issues.
• Encouraged everyone to tune into TV 35, and the Township website and social media to receive information about this project.
• April 10 drainage work began under the Conrail underpass on Centennial Avenue to address a portion of sidewalk there with poor drainage. 
• Annual river cleanup is Sat., April 20, with a rain date of April 21 (see flyer below).
• Kickoff Age Friendly Cranford--see more information below.

Commissioner Paul A. Gallo - Public Safety

• Nixle Alerts—He responded to questions from residents asking why they get some Nixle notifications in email and others are texted. To receive the alerts in email and via text, he advised the public to check their Nixle alert settings to see if they’ve selected email and/ or text messaging. Also, certain advisory type alerts will only be pushed to email and Cranford Police Department (CPD) social media, as a cost-saving measure. Alerts sent to text messages come to an additional cost to the township, so the CPD sends text advisories to the minute area that is directly affected and saves those text credits for text messaging for alerts that affect those town-wide. 
• Commented on Ordinances adopted regarding Police personnel members—this allows for a temporary increase in CPD personnel in anticipation of CPD retirements later this this year.
• Commented on Ordinances adopted regarding Cranford Fire Department (CFD)--
• EMS soft billing to recoup costs for emergency responses.
• An increase in EMS transport fees that are better in line with amounts surrounding municipalities bill to insurance companies.
• CFD reminds residents to clean dryer vents once per year. Ensure air exhaust is clear. Check your dryer vents and clean your vents and traps. 

Commissioner Gina Black - Finance

• Discussed the Capital Budget process.
• Half of the amount of the engineering projects were funded through grants.
• Pedestrian improvements, NJDOT-funded road projects and stormwater projects are included in capital budget.
• Investing in Police and Fire equipment, including tools to help with speeding and flashing beacons for pedestrian projects proposed.
• Recreation: HVAC for recreation center and resurfacing Hillside tennis courts.
• Finance webpage has details.

Watch each commissioner's comments and the full meeting on TV-35.

Ordinances and Resolutions

Mayoral Appointment

Construction Code Official Gary Junkroft to the Emergency Management Council.

Ordinances - Adopted

(unanimous vote to approve)

• Ordinances to amend the Township Code:
• To correct the zoning of 102-104 and 106 South Avenue West.
• Chapter 93 Police Department, Section 10, number of personnel.
• Chapter XVII of the Code of the Township of Cranford to amend the section entitled “Fire Prevention”.
• Chapter 40, Article V, Section 28 Emergency Medical Services Transport Fees.

Resolutions

• Authorized an award of contract to McAuliffe Contractors, LLC for the Hanson House Foundation Shoring Project.
• Authorized Contract Change to Safeway Contracting Inc. for the Cranford Firehouse Roof Replacement Project.
• Authorized personnel appointments and advancements:
• The appointment of James Pisauro as Fire Sub­Code Official within the Building Department effective March 25, 2024.
• The advancement of Brian Cassini to the position of DPW Mechanic within the Department of Public Works, effective April 10, 2024.
• The advancement of Jiam Diaz to the position of Tree Trimmer within the Department of Public Works, effective April 10, 2024.
• The appointment of a per diem Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) - Chapin Taggart.
• The appointment of a per diem Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) - Chelsea Kassock.
• The appointment of Fire Department Call Members.
• Authorized the Township Clerk to advertise the sale of abandoned bicycles at a public auction to be held on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
• Support the "2024 Distracted Driving Crackdown".
• Authorized the Township Clerk to advertise for bids for 2024 Bulk Waste Collection.
• Authorized the Township Clerk to advertise for project bids for the Hanson House Roof Replacement Project.

Municipal Clerk Patricia Donahue, Clerk's Office

Polling locations announcement, effective June 2024:

• District 3 is moved from the Municipal Building to Bloomingdale Avenue School.
• District 7 is moved from the Municipal Building to Cranford High School.
• District 26 will remain in the Municipal Building.

Recreation and Parks Department

Spring and Summer Recreation program registration is ongoing now. Go to the new Recreation and Parks Website to find all of the programs available to our community.

Environmental Commission

Native Plant Webinar

New to native plant gardening? To celebrate Native Plant Month, Cranford is offering a free webinar on the many benefits of native plants in the home garden: The first 50 residents to complete the 30 minute pre-recorded webinar will receive 8 native perennials and a native plant gardening book!

Click on the link to learn more and Register Now at: https://bit.ly/4amHqdg

Learn more about the Cranford Environmental Commission at:

http://www.mygreencranford.org/home.html

Cranford Fire Department Supports Autism Acceptance

The Cranford Fire Department will support “Autism Awareness Month” throughout April by wearing custom t-shirts and by lighting up Fire Headquarters blue. 

The Cranford Fire Department, along with FMBA Locals 37 and 237 are selling a Puzzle Piece T-Shirts and Puzzle Piece Patches. Both are available for purchase via Venmo (@Cranford-Local) or by visiting Cranford Fire Headquarters at 7 Springfield Avenue. Cost of the shirt is $25 and patch is $10. Proceeds will go towards local charities. If purchasing a shirt in person, please have exact change. Checks will also be accepted and must be made out to Cranford FMBA Local 37. 

Upcoming Events

The Cranford YMCA Announces Grand Opening

The whole community is invited to come out and experience the new fitness and indoor pool facility, party room and brand new restrooms/locker rooms.

• Ribbon Cutting: April 23 at 4 p.m.
• Open House with kids games, crafts, activities in the pool, fun snacks, and more! Come out April 27 from 1 to 3 p.m. Bring the whole family!
• Try the Y for a full week for free. Stop by and get your pass.

401 Centennial Avenue

Cranford, NJ 07016

Contact the Cranford YMCA at (908) 709-7260

Cranford Police Department

The Cranford Police Department invites Cranford families to join officers for a morning of fishing fun at the 2nd Annual Cops and Bobbers Fishing Derby. The event will take place on Saturday, April 20, 2024, from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Nomahegan Park.

Cops and Bobbers is free and open to Cranford residents ages 5-13 years old. Pre-registration is requested by April 15 via the Cranford Police Department App.

For more information, contact the Cranford Police Department at (908) 272-8989 or Detective Muhammad at A-muhammad@cranfordNJ.org

Age Friendly Cranford

Tickets for the first movie of the Downtown Cranford Senior Citizen Film Series are available now on Eventbrite! You can reserve your tickets here. Here is the link to purchase tickets: https://shorturl.at/mAS39.

We will be showing "Singin' In the Rain" at the Cranford Theater on April 17, at 4 p.m. Tickets are available on a first come, first served basis to Union County senior citizens (ages 55+). There will be a guest speaker prior to the movie and a Q/A after.

Please reach out to the DMC Office with questions at (908) 709-7208.

This event is made possible by funds from the Union County Office of Culture & Heritage Affairs, a partner of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.

Job Openings

Please go online to view our current job openings at:

https://www.cranfordnj.org/home/pages/employment-opportunities

Health Department

KEEP GARBAGE CANS IN REAR YARD OR DRIVEWAY

Residents should leave garbage cans on the rear yard or driveway of their house, per township ordinance.

No solid waste or solid waste receptacle may be placed on the street, front sidewalk or between the front sidewalk and curb of the street. Kindly ensure that you keep the sidewalk and curb in front of residential premises free of obstructions. Please refrain from placing garbage cans in the street prior to the pickup. Garbage cans should be kept on your property at all times.