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ANN MARIE EDEN, R.M.C. TOWNSHIP CLERK

DISCUSSION AGENDA:

Councilman Kafton cited some residents that complained when their roads could not be plowed in a snowstorm and the Township could not plow their road because the development wasn't finished. It took 3-4 days for the residents to be able to leave their streets. There is an ordinance in place for developers to clear their roads within 24 hours or the Township would clear the roads and bill the developer. He asked Council to develop an ordinance to do the same thing. Attorney Cipriani said the ordinance would outline the rules and the Township would have to keep track of the costs, which would be acknowledged via resolution and could be done per snowstorm. Councilwoman Rivere asked if it would be enforceable and if Public Works could handle the extra workload as it has difficulty keeping up with its own Township roads within 24 hours. She asked how it would be enforced. Attorney Cipriani said the first part (the ordinance) offers clear statutory authority to clear the roads. As far as more teeth, there could be a system of higher fines. The concern is that might ultimately provide incentive, but not immediate relief. The fines would be part of the ordinance structure. This ordinance is for roads that have not been turned over to the township and not its own roads.

Councilman Kafton referred to the flyer about leaf pick up. He had an issue with the program where leaves would be picked up from someone who called in but if his neighbor around the corner didn't call in till a week or so later, Public Works would come back again. Councilman Kafton asked if that wasn't ridiculous. Council President Bressi stated that the Director of Public Works said they would pick up contiguous leaves. Councilman Kafton felt people wouldn't know they have to call and the leaves wouldn't get picked up in a timely manner should it snow. Director of Public Works Fred Rasiewicz spoke, stating this year they were trying something different. Last year, the program began in early October and leaves didn't finish falling until the end of November, and the weather was an issue. This year, they started the program the second week in November. There are eight districts. People would rake leaves after Public Works came through and picked up leaves. They decided to utilize a call in basis, and they would pick up the leaves from the people who call and in addition, they would pick up all the leaves on the street. He has six crews to accommodate over 100 square miles, and it is time consuming. The residents have to be educated and must not co-mingle brush with the leaves. They sent out the flyers and utilized robo calls. It might not be a perfect plan, but it is different and they are looking to pick up the leaves and do so before the snow falls. Councilman Kafton felt they are punishing the taxpayers by requiring them to call or they won't pick up the leaves. He felt they should just go to pick up the leaves by the end of November and beginning of December. Councilman Martin said a crew came in a week ago and a number of houses weren't picked up. He felt the workers needed to be educated on that. Mr. Rasiewicz stated the response from the public has been good and is better than last year. Any communication problems would be addressed. Councilman Kafton said leaves should be picked up once the leaves are down. Councilwoman Rivere recalled a resident could call in once and if there are other leaves on the street they would be picked up, and another caller at another time results in another trip to the street. She suggested neighbors pooling their leaves and utilizing multiple pickups to maximize the leaf pickup procedure.