PETERSBURG — The Upper Township Senior Center soon will be a cooler place to hang out — literally.
Mayor Jay Newman said June 24 that the township has received a grant to fund repairs to the HVAC system at the center on Stagecoach Road, noting they have had trouble with it for two to three years.
“With outdated equipment, the technology bypassed the equipment,” Newman said.
“The emergency that we have with the senior center, the best course of action is to close that building. They are now at the community center. The community center is not the senior center and the senior center is not the community center but for the short term we are working with the county to make sure the comfort and the programs continue,” Township Administrator Gary DeMarzo said.
Township Committee adopted a resolution approving an emergency expense of as much as $75,000 to replace the system.
Committeeman Curtis Corson asked if there would be more than the single quote sought for the work.
“At this point we are waiting for another quote but there is not a necessity for that because of the emergency nature of the work,” DeMarzo said
Chief financial officer Barbara Ludy said a second quote was expected June 29 and they were seeking a third bid.
“It would be pertinent before we award a contract that we have at least two quotes,” Corson said.
Newman noted that now that summer has begun, there has been an increase in activity in the township, particularly in its island community of Strathmere.
“Parking enforcement have issued some summonses and tickets,” he said, noting they have been “trying to get order at the Beesleys Point beach.”
The mayor, who also is chief of the Marmora Volunteer Fire Company, said illegal parking in the fire zones at Acme in Seaville and ShopRite in Marmora has been persistent, noting that tickets will be issued to scofflaws.
Newman noted the township is partnering with the U.S. Coast Guard to hold Walk for Dylan on July 27 to benefit the young man who was seriously injured several weeks prior.
DeMarzo said the township had to resubmit a grant application seeking funds to upgrade the skate park at Amanda’s Field.
“The engineer and myself are retooling that for resubmission,” DeMarzo said.
Committeeman Victor Nappen said he has seen a lot of chatter on social media regarding youths riding electric bikes without helmets.
“I’m a big proponent of bike safety, making sure that they are wearing helmets,” Nappen said, noting he enjoys riding his own Ebike. “I’m not sure as a committee what we can do but it seems to be something they care about so I figured I would bring it up.”
Corson said the Legislature was working on introducing some legislation regarding the lack of safety controls but believes it was stalled.
“We need to make a general safety announcement to make parents aware that their kids are riding around and they need to be safe.”
Engineer Ryan McNeil reported that the flood water pumps are fully installed and fully operational at Putnam and Webster avenues in Strathmere and that the one at Sumner is expected to be completed soon.
“We are at the finish line,” he said.
Finally, Township Committee adopted a resolution, its 35th, urging the New Jersey Turnpike Authority to move forward on construction of full interchange at Exit 20 of the Garden State Parkway.
– By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff