MILLSTONE – Municipal officials are taking action in an attempt to discourage littering in Millstone Township.
On June 7, the Township Committee adopted an ordinance increasing Millstone’s penalty for littering. Under the ordinance, anyone who violates or fails to comply with the township’s littering law will be liable for a minimum penalty of $250 or Millstone’s general maximum penalty if convicted.
According to Township Administrator Maria Dellasala, the general maximum penalties in Millstone are a $2,000 fine, 90 days imprisonment and 90 days of community service.
Prior to the adoption of the ordinance, littering in Millstone could be punished by the township’s general minimum penalty, which is a $100 fine.
After the ordinance was adopted, Deputy Mayor Fiore Masci spoke about posting signs to notify individuals of the penalties for littering.
Masci and Committeeman Gary Dorfman made note of Millstone Road, Prodelin Way and Burnt Tavern Road as locations where litter is present.
“If we place some signs along those roads and people saw the signs [saying] ‘$1,000 fine – Jail,’ maybe they would have a little bit of a second thought on rolling down that window and tossing out that soda cup, or a hamburger box or whatever is being tossed out there,” Masci said. “We have even found toilets and tires on the side of the road.”
In other business, the committee introduced a bond ordinance providing an appropriation of $640,000 for the township’s 2017 road improvement program and authorizing the issuance of $608,000 in bonds or notes to finance part of the appropriation.
According to the ordinance, the 2017 road improvement program includes, but is not limited to, improvements to Pine Drive, Old Noah Hunt Road from Pine Drive to Joan Drive, Deer Trail Drive, Gravatt Circle, a portion of Agress Road and various drainage and pavement repairs throughout Millstone.
According to the ordinance, $32,000 will be made as a down payment on the improvements.
Finally, the committee received a letter from the New Jersey Department of Transportation (DOT) informing the township the state is unable to provide a municipal aid grant for an improvement project on Nurko Road.
In February, the committee passed a resolution approving the submission of a grant application to the DOT for the first phase improvements to Nurko Road (Route 571 to Parkside Way). The estimate was $437,500 and officials were seeking $300,000 from the DOT.
According to the letter, the DOT was unable to provide a municipal aid grant for the Nurko Road project because the state received 628 applications requesting more than $270 million, when $78.75 million was available from the state.
Millstone officials did not say how they will proceed with the Nurko Road improvements.
