MANCHESTER – Members of the Township Council looked at several forthcoming projects and programs during a recent meeting. One concerned the future of a solar farm.
Among the items on their consent agenda was the naming of NextGrid as the developer of a Landfill Solar Project.
Council President Sam F. Fusaro Jr. provided background on the solar field saying “it is in its earliest phases, with the town just getting approval from the State Bureau of Public Utilities (BPU) and Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) in the last couple weeks.”
“Work will probably start in early spring. First, we have to cap the old township landfill before we can start the solar farm. Our estimate is at least a year before the job is completed,” Fusaro said.
“The site is in Whiting, part of the Whiting Public Works trash and bulk recycling facility off Route 70 on Sam Bitts Road just west of the town’s Public Works garage,” he said. “The ongoing work will not interfere with the current bagged garbage and bulk trash operations.
“Before we can move on to the solar farm, we need to cap the old township landfill which will be the site of the solar panels. As part of the project, NextGrid will complete and pay for the capping which will save the township over $1 million,” he said.
New Water Tower
In other news, the council also approved the non-condemnation area in need of redevelopment on the property on the southeast corner of the intersection of Rt 530 (Lacey Road) and Lake Road in Whiting. The township’s Lake Road park and trails are directly across Lake Road.
Also approved was conservation deed restriction/easement agreement for Harriet Avenue with the NJDEP.
Fusaro explained that “Harriet Road is adjacent to the Ridgeway Firehouse on Rt 571. The Township will be building a 1.5-million-gallon water tower at the back of the property north of the fire company.”
The property is filled with trees at the current time. “The town will need to cut down trees on a small portion of the total. The State DEP has designated that property as a migrating bird forest and required the town to declare two thirds of the property as wildlife open space in order to clear the necessary space for the tower,” he said.
Fusaro said the project should start this spring and when completed should end Manchester’s need to impose water restrictions during the late summer months.
“We are hoping to have it done this summer but may be delayed,” Fusaro said.
Getting Grants
Al Yodakis, the township’s director of public works was appointed as Community Development Block Grant Coordinator during the meeting.
Yodakis has been the township’s CDBG coordinator for several years. “The county distributes the funds yearly. Each town gets funding annually with a larger grant every other year,” Fusaro said.
Fusaro said in 2019, “we received a larger grant to improve the Cheer Barn at the Youth Football Complex on Rt 571. The barn is also used for a number of other Township activities to include the chili contest and movies (not) by the lake when the weather doesn’t cooperate.”
“If we do get a CDBG this year it will be a much smaller amount. We have not decided on next year’s project yet,” Fusaro said.
EMS And Vaping
As the township is preparing for a new full time EMS system the council discussed the mass turnout of approximately 60 individuals showing up for the EMS testing during the early portion of January.
The testing included physical portion and knowledge related portions of the evaluation. Nearly 60 candidates participated in the training which included an extensive testing process at Manchester Township Middle School. The testing represents the first step for those candidates wishing to be considered for employment with the Division of EMS.
Police Chief Lisa Parker described the training session saying, “the candidates appeared eager to have the opportunity be a part of this new program. This is an exciting time for Manchester Township, as expanding EMS is one of the largest projects I’ve seen during my 30-year career here.
“It is also one that will help us to better serve our community in a significant way,” Parker added.
Candidates for the positions of Emergency Medical Technician and Emergency Medical Technician/Firefighter were both tested during the session and all candidates were required to take a written examination for the position(s) they wished to be considered for.
All candidates were required to complete three EMT skill stations. Those wishing to be considered for the position of EMT/Firefighter were also required to participate in a firefighter physical agility test.
During several prior council meetings there had been some discussion by members of council regarding the possibility of drafting a resolution concerning banning vaping products in the township.
In lieu of a recent state action banning children oriented flavored vaping products this became a moot point on the municipal level. “We will go with the state decision and not take additional action,” Fusaro said.
