Upper Hears of Invasive Bamboo, Rec Mess Means OT for Employee

PETERSBURG – Upper Township Committee held its first regular meeting of 2016 Jan. 11. It unanimously passed, upon introduction and first reading, an ordinance designed to address certain dangerous areas in the municipality because of parked cars along the roadside.
The specific places that will be designated “no parking areas” are roadsides along the north and south sides of Tuckahoe Road, Tuckahoe Road 300 feet east of Stagecoach Road, and Mosquito Landing in Tuckahoe. Public hearing will be at committee’s meeting Feb. 8.
Updates on Route 50 Construction
Township Engineer Paul Dietrich, reported that paving of the southbound lane portion in Tuckahoe has been completed and that the paving of the northbound lane will begin next week. 
The contractor will also begin to address work needed for Tuckahoe Bridge which will then require start of alternating traffic for the life of the project. “The congested traffic pattern we saw over the summer might have some relief although there is the new issue of alternating lanes and how that’s going to happen. Also with (Garden State) Parkway construction going on at the same time, some additional traffic during the summer might be directed onto Route 50 from Mays Landing,” he explained.
In answer to Mayor Richard Palombo’s question as to when the project will be finished, Dietrich said it is scheduled for May 2017.
COAH Housing
Dietrich asked committee to consider reviving an ordinance from several years ago that provides for affordable housing per COAH (Council on Affordable Housing) requirements being reviewed and potentially administered by the courts.
“It’s good if we can show that we are in continued compliance,” he said. Township Solicitor Daniel Young suggested that the topic be folded into the topic of “litigation – affordable housing” on the agenda for committee consideration under a closed session portion of the meeting.
Rec Center Maintenance Mess
Committee member Hobart Young apprised committee that the Recreation Center continues to be left “as a total mess” after recreational sports teams are finished with their games and tournaments.
“There is no accountability, this time, after basketball, wrestling and skate night events throughout the weekend; the kitchen wasn’t cleaned after concession sales; the bathrooms were a disaster; the scoreboard and lights were left on; the doors were unlocked; this situation can’t continue even though we’ve talked about resolving the problem on many, many different occasions.”
After much discussion, committee decided to authorize overtime for an employee to be at the center when so many groups are using it over the weekend, such as is done in Ocean City and Sea Isle City.
“Let’s have someone there at least for the next several weekends until we can really figure out how to put an end to what seems to be a constant problem,” said Palombo.
Bamboo Invasion?
During public comment, a full-time Strathmere resident described what is happening to his home because of bamboo invading from neighbors’ property on both sides of his.
“It’s challenging the foundation of my house and has even gotten into my septic tank. I see a sprout and four weeks later it’s 12 feet high, and to eradicate it I read you have to dig down three feet and encase the entire area with concrete,” he said.
Young explained that the township does not have an ordinance which would address as a public safety issue invasive species such as bamboo. However, as a common law right the homeowner does have recourse to the damage to his property through private litigation against the neighbors, advised Young.
“Egg Harbor Township and other municipalities have such an ordinance since bamboo and other invasive plants are a real problem and these ordinances provide for coverage of costs to remove such plants if they exist and to prohibit any new plantings,” said Young.
Committee asked Young to research a potential draft ordinance which could be introduced and discussed by early spring.
To contact Camille Sailer, email csailer@cmcherald.com.