Clinton Township Newsletter

3 j a n u a r y 2 0 2 0 www.MSIPlumbingAndRemodeling.com 1109 Rte. 31 S. Lebanon, NJ 08833 New Jersey Licensed Master Plumber #8722 Your Remodeling Experts! 908.735.4438 Carol Beder's $ 10 PER TREE* Leave a message if no answer 908. 797.6060 & Son CURB- SIDE PICKUP! As 2019 comes to a close, it's the perfect time to reflect on the many good things happening in our Township. What truly makes our Township a great place to live are the volunteers whose time and efforts contribute so much to our community. There is no better example than our annual Community Day, which provides a place for all our residents to gather, have fun and learn from many of our volunteer committees, volunteer Fire Department, and Police Department. Many thanks to our Recreation Committee, Parks and Recreation Department and Public Works Department whose hard work created a successful event in spite of difficult weather conditions. Other committee happenings in 2019 include a walking tour of historic Annandale, co-hosted by our Historic Preservation Commission, while our Environmental and Open Space committees continued to work to improve our environmental education and open space. On Open Space, Councilwoman Switlyk and Mayor Higgins met with Exxon and secured a donation to be used for the creation of an Environmental Education Center at Windy Acres. We are very excited to begin development of ideas and a plan for this fantastic new educational opportunity. We also took steps this year to formally preserve the remaining acreage of the Windy Acres property, and completed demolition and clean up of structures on the site that were a public safety hazard. The Township continues to improve our surplus, and has taken measures to move away from borrowing for large, predictable capital expenditures (roads, vehicles, etc.), instead setting aside funds to pay for them directly. In 2019, we paved David Post Road and obtained a State grant to pave Herman Thau Road in 2020. This is the fourth year in a row we have received a grant and, in fact, we are hard at work planning the second phase of the Stanton Mountain Road project. We are also taking measures to have the future site of the Doctor's In complete their work so that we can pave Fairview Avenue, Fulper Place, Fulper Alley and the portion of Grayrock Road by the Goddard School. Our Police Department continues to do an exceptional job keeping our residents safe under the leadership of Lieutenant Thomas DeRosa, who was recently appointed Officer in Charge. We also want to welcome to our community officers William Musacchio and Frank Praino, whom we hired in September to fill recent retirements. The Annandale Hose Company, our volunteer fire department, works tirelessly day and night responding to an ever growing number of calls. We've had the great pleasure to work with Chief Bob Emery over the last few years - we wish him well as he steps down, and congratulate all the newly elected officers in company, especially Chris Sloss, who was elected to serve as Chief in 2020 and Tom Long, who was elected Deputy Chief. In closing, we'd also like to extend our thanks and appreciation to Council, the Township's staff, and to all the residents who volunteer their time, whether it be on a board or commission, or through their involvement with our recreation programs, and who make Clinton Township the wonderful place to live in that it is today. With best wishes for a happy and healthy New Year! Respectfully, John Higgins, Mayor Brian Mullay, Council President "Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end." ~ Seneca

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