Our Montville

"Environmental Mayor" Takes Aim at Clear Cutting

Montville's Deb Nielson has been described as an "environmental mayor" due to her advocacy for the environment.  A NJ licensed planner and landscape architect, Nielson has long served on the Open Space (past chair) and Environmental Committees.  She brings that committment to her fight against clear cutting the 7 miles of utility company right of way:

In the township of Montville, which is host to approximately seven miles of PSE&G transmissions lines at a width of 150 feet, there is the potential for up to 127 acres of clear cutting. This is the practice of cutting all trees in a designated area regardless of size and maturity. In 2008 eleven spans in Montville were clear cut and more of the 33 spans of transmission lines in the township are scheduled for "maintenance" in 2009.

And while 30-day notification of maintenance work is provided, the municipalities want more. Montville Mayor Deborah Nielson attended the BPU meeting to share the concerns of her constituents.

"We don't want them to tell us, this is what we're going to clear cut, we're looking for a management plan. We want to hear about what can be saved and must be cut.  Before 2006 the utilities did work with the property owners but since the new rules went into effect no matter what the homeowner says the land is clear cut," she explained
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Nielson added that the same notification has been sent for years however the new version has just a one-sentence change, and that was where they said they would be clear-cutting.

The effect of clear-cutting on suburban communities was of great concern. "The small town appeal of our community is diminished solely from this over aggressive BPU mandated maintenance policy," said Nielson.   See Neighbor News.

Montville Library open Wednesdays at 10 am

Effective January 7^th, 2009, the Montville Twp Public Library will be open 10 AM to 9 PM on all Wednesdays. Previously, the Library had been closed Wednesdays until 1 PM. Additional modifications to our schedule are underway, and Library staff will be asking patrons their opinions in the coming weeks.

Republicans renew effort for online state database

Montville's own Joe Pennacchio aims to increase transparency, ability to track N.J. spending - Republican state lawmakers Monday renewed their push for the state to establish a user-friendly, online database allowing people to track every dollar the government spends.

Flanked by like-minded national activists and local officials, bill sponsor Sen. Joseph Pennacchio, R-Morris, said people have a right to easy access about state revenue, spending and debt, current and historical.

"Lack of transparency feeds into that cynicism in New Jersey that voters have, that citizens have, that feeling of helplessness," said Pennacchio, R-Morris.

"We as New Jersey citizens well know that the more sunshine that gets shown on how money

Montville backs off plan for sewer use rates

Decision comes after outcry ----but new proposal will be coming

By Tehani Schneider • Daily Record •

December 11, 2008

MONTVILLE

-- The township committee has scrapped an ordinance that would have established sewer rates on a usage-based system that would have significantly increased bills Jan. 1.

Instead, the committee Tuesday night pledged to rework the rates during the first quarter of 2009 and keep the public informed of its progress in crafting a new ordinance.

The decision followed more than an hour of protests from residents upset over the proposed rates and the perceived lack of advance notice for the public hearing.

Legal notices were sent to newspapers, but residents pointed out news of the hearing was not posted on the municipal Web site or mailed to homes.

 

Such a large change should be given more than a legal notice," resident Sal LoBiondo said.

He cited other "flaws" in the proposed ordinance and asked the township committee to send the ordinance to the township's long-term financial planning committee, which he sits on.

The committee consented to LoBiondo's request, and voted 4-1 to withdraw the ordinance. Committeeman Art Daughtry was the sole dissenter.

 Daily Record

Montville men strike a pose for charity

'09 calendar created by the Montville Women's Club 

 

Please consider giving back to a group that gives to our township every year.  The Montville Township Women's Club has been a non for profit organization in Montville for over 35 years.  In that time this group has given so much to our community and continues today.  

Today they still make special pillows for breast cancer survivors, collect packages to send to our troops over seas, provide clean under garments for rape victims, provide tooth brushes and other items for abused women, Collect food for the Food Pantry, collect can tops for Ronald McDonald House, Township park clean up, reading in Montville Schools, Arbor day, visit seniors in our town, bake cookies for our township nursing centers, make hats for chemo patients and provide 4 scholarships toMontville Schools every year.

The MTWC has made a Men of Montville Township calendar for 2009 as one of its major fund raisers for the year.  It cost $10.00 and it is a tax deduction.  Help the MTWC continue providing support to these many programs in Montville Township.

Provided is a direct link to the MTWC web site where you will find an order form for your calendar. http://www.mtwc.org/1.html

Vincent Sacco appointed Acting Library Director

The Montville Township Library is pleased to announce the appointment of Vincent Sacco as the Acting Library Director. He has been heavily involved with library personnel and activities as the library Computer Trainer for over six years. He is past president of the Montville Township Library Endowment Fund. He is an active community volunteer including President of the AARP Chapter # 3948 and Adjutant Treasurer for two years, veteran’s organizations, and board member in Montville UNICO.

            He has been a resident of Montville for over 30 years.

            Before retiring, Mr. Sacco worked at Becton Dickinson for 23 as his positions included Plant Manager and Director Technical Services. Previously he worked at Avion Electronics as the Program Manager for aerospace programs.

            His educational background includes a Master of Science in Engineering Management and Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from NJIT.

Memories of O'Dowd's Dairy

As if Yankee fans in Parsippany needed another reason to root, root, root for the Rockies, did you know that many of us grew up drinking milk from the family of Colorado General Manager Dan O'Dowd?  Longtime Parsipany residents fondly remember O'Dowd's Dairy. How could we not? The name was stenciled on the milkboxes that sat outside our front doors. Two or three times a week, we would hear the lid shut and knew the milkman had come and gone.