CRANFORD — The Cranford Township Committee adopted an annual capital bond ordinance on Tuesday of $4,735,000 to authorize various public-improvement projects and to pay for the acquisition of new, additional or replacement equipment for the township. The governing body also followed up with the introduction of an ordinance to allow for an opt-in advertisement notice option in order to reduce waste from unwanted distributed advertisements.
Mayor Brian Andrews also spoke about working more at the state and federal levels to address flooding after attending the New Jersey Conference of Mayors last week. Deputy Mayor Terrence Curran provided a quick update about the 750 Walnut project and made note of the daily email exchanges with the Somerset Union Conservation District. Mr. Curran assured residents that the conservation district has been in touch with Hartz, the project’s redevelopment entity, to make sure the latter is keeping the area clean. As a veteran, Deputy Mayor Curran joined members of the Cranford Veterans of Foreign Wars in honoring Memorial Day and invited residents to attend the parade on Monday, May 27, at 9 a.m. He also asked residents to join the township at Memorial Park in commemorating the service of fallen soldiers.
“Memorial Day is more than just barbecues and parties,” Deputy Mayor Curran said.
Commissioner Kathleen Miller-Prunty spoke about a few of the engineering items on the agenda, including the paving of Riverside Drive in connection with the 2023 Road Program. A resolution was passed authorizing the suspension of “Resident Only” on-street parking on Forest Avenue between the dates of Mon- day, May 20, and Friday, June 14.
“We were awarded a contract of $135,000 for road-improvement projects for the full length of the street and we’ll need residents over there to explain the schedule,” she said. “There’s a change order in the amount of $37,400 to the contract for roadwork specifically on Riverside Drive, which we just finished the curbing, but there’s a section of North Union Avenue that’s pretty treacherous from Riverside Drive to the driveway entrance of the municipal building.”
Another $69,800 contract was awarded for a roof improvement at the township’s historic Hanson House.
“I know it seems like it’s a lot of money, but it’s not a typical roof. It has a lot of sections and elevations, and the gutters are original to that house, so it’s a much-needed project,” Ms. Miller-Prunty said.
Downtown Cranford will kick off its Summer Sounds Concert Series on Thursday, June 6, and the 2024 Painted Piano, an annual summer installation, was scheduled to be presented May 22 at the gazebo. This year’s piano was painted by Girl Scout Troop 40624 as part of a service project benefiting senior citizens.
