Emergency Generator Ignites Debate; Shopping Cart Retrieval Woes Surface

COURT HOUSE – The November 2015 election produced a change of control in Middle Township with Democrat Jeffrey DeVico winning Republican Daniel Lockwood’s seat on Township Committee. Since then the partisan divide on the municipal governing body is evident.
The race for this year’s election, where Lockwood will try to regain his seat by running against Mayor Michael Clark, is already underway even though Clark has yet to announce.
Committee’s May 16 work session saw a disagreement over an engineering bid for a Federal Emergency Management Agency grant-funded emergency generator quickly turn into a verbal sparring match between DeVico and Committeeman Timothy Donohue. 
At issue was a bid for engineering work on the purchase and installation of a generator for the Public Works complex. Funding for the project is provided through a $100,000 FEMA emergency preparedness grant which, when originally announced, was expected to be $140,000.
Township plans, based on the earlier amount, exceed the new amount, risking the possibility that the municipality would have to come up with the unbudgeted extra funds if the project moves ahead.
DeVico implied that he had not been given the proper information during the recent budget process and was blindsided by the issues when it first appeared on the agenda earlier in the month.
Donohue, with an assist from Lockwood who attends all meetings, argued that the project has been in the works for years and coincidentally came up again just as the new budget was approved.
The sparring went on with DeVico indicating that he is new to the committee and did not know of the history of this project. At one point, Donohue reacted to the protestations of being new with a remark directed at DeVico, “This is not an internship.”
Business Administrator Constance Mahon said that FEMA would likely cover any overruns, although that could not be guaranteed.
By then the issue had spilled over into one of a need for greater competition on engineering services, especially for special projects. DeVico several times said he found the bid from the township engineer’s firm, Remington, Vernick & Walberg, excessive.
Donohue responded that the concept of greater competition on engineering work might be a good one, but that this project, long-standing, and funded by FEMA, “is not the place to start.”
The debate came down to DeVico feeling that he had been blindsided and not supplied with information just as Donohue, weeks before, argued that he had not been given sufficient information on the budget process.
At that time, Donohue submitted what Clark called a last-minute, politically motivated email on suggested changes to the municipal budget.
The scene put added pressure on Mahon and Chief Financial Officer John Clifford to try to ensure that information flow to all members of the committee is sufficient. Members seem quick to conclude that any information they have not received was withheld.
Shopping Carts
The township has been considering ways to eliminate the problem of discarded shopping carts at bus stops and other areas in Rio Grande. The problem leads to both an image issue with visitors to the township seeing overturned carts that have been taken off store properties. Police also see it has a safety issue since carts can eventually roll into traffic.
Up to now the attack has largely been an information campaign informing the public that taking carts off store property is illegal. Regular efforts are made by public works to retrieve carts and take them to a central location for store pick-up. 
Police Chief Christopher Leusner suggested that the township creates an ordinance that places the burden for cart management on retailers. That would eventually require the use of an electronic cart locking system for retailers whose efforts do not result in better control of carts.
Representatives of several retailers were present with notable exceptions. “I wish Walmart and Kmart were here,” Leusner said.
A representative of ShopRite spoke of the store’s efforts to control its carts. The carts cost between $80 and $120 depending on size.
A district representative from Save-A-Lot cautioned that forcing expensive cart control technology on smaller companies like his would be harsh and detrimental to the store’s financial health.
He admitted that the problem is real. “I had 92 carts at Christmas and I have 65 now,” he said.
Leusner acknowledged that the problem is not significant in the Court House shopping district. Concentration is clearly in Rio Grande where a portion of the population does not have cars to drive to the stores.
The discussion resulted in Leusner handing out a draft ordinance to store representatives and Clark urging them to submit comments directly to the chief.
Clark emphasized his desire to have input. “We want to partner with you on this problem,” he said.
Seagrove Subdivision
The Seagrove subdivision, a Cape Bank development with 24 lots, somehow gets through its final approval by the planning board over two years ago with clarity on the responsibility for maintenance of its stormwater basin. A consultant for the bank presented an interpretation of ordinances that would imply that the responsibility should devolve to the township. That interpretation was quickly rejected by committee.
At issue is that fact that the development never established a Home Owners Association which is the normal way in which aggregate expenses of the homeowners are handled.
The homeowners have not assumed responsibility for maintenance of the basin, maintenance has not been done for two years, and the township is not about to assume the responsibility.
The issue was left for the bank consultant to work with Solicitor Frank Corrado to discuss ways to create an organized homeowner entity that can assume the traditional responsibility.
To contact Vince Conti, email vconti@cmcherald.com.