Right-Of-Way, Preservation Grant On Howell Council Agenda

HOWELL, NJ - The five-member Howell Township Council is set to discuss a right-of-way easement, an increased not-to-exceed limit for special counsel and a shared services agreement with Manasquan River Regional Sewerage Authority at its next meeting on Jan. 26, according to municipal documents.

• Services: A resolution outlining a shared service agreement with Manasquan River Regional Sewerage Authority (MRRSA) for vehicle refueling will be one of the first items on Tuesday’s agenda. Howell maintains equipment for the refueling of municipal vehicles at the Township Public Works Garage on Old Tavern Road, and the township is “desirous” to allow MRRSA vehicles to refuel at township facilities. “It is the intention of the parties that the new agreement will supersede and replace any previous shared services agreements for public works related services,” a resolution draft reads.

• Legal: The council is looking to increase maximum legal counsel not-to-exceed limit from $25,000 each to an additional $75,000 between two firms, Gluck Walrath LLP and Dasti, Murphy, McGuckin, Ulaky, Koutsours & Connors. The resolution seeks to correct an erroneous amount.

“Based on the work currently assigned to the firm, and the time and work required with regard to projects, the balance remaining on the not-to-exceed limitation will likely be insufficient to fund the remaining legal work for the year,” a resolution draft reads.

• Traffic: JCP&L and Verizon have asked the township to create a right-of-way adjacent to the Preventorium Road right-of-way as the parking area along Preventorium Road at Oak Glen Park completes reconstruction. As the township has requested nearby utility poles to be relocated for reconstruction, the utilities have asked to install six new utility poles along with necessary anchors and guy wires.

“The Township has limited right-of-way for Preventorium Road and therefore said
easement is necessary to allow for the relocation of the existing utility poles,” a
resolution draft reads.

• Preservation: A resolution is on the table in support of the Howell Township Farmland Preservation Program in 2022. Howell has preserved approximately 840 acres of agricultural land through the SADC Farmland Preservation Program and is required to submit annual Farmland Preservation Program Municipal Planning Incentive Grant applications for each year's funding round, according to council documents.

Resolutions/motions requiring separate votes include several appointments to township boards, including the appointment of Carolyn Conway to the Farmers Advisory Committee, the appointment of a shade tree commissioner to the Municipal Green Team and the appointment of a representative to the Manasquan River Regional Sewerage Authority.

The council is also slated to accept the resignation of Planning Board Class I Member C.J. Longo, appointing Paul Dorato at the mayor’s designation.

Read the full agenda here.

The Howell Township Council meeting will air live at 5 p.m. on the Howell Township YouTube channel. The meeting will begin with an executive session at 4 p.m.

The meeting also can be watched at the link titled 01/25/2021- Live Council Meeting feed on the municipal website here or via the Zoom link here. The meeting ID is 953 3570 7029 and the password is 9384500.

If you're watching live and wish to comment on the proceedings, you can call (732) 938-4500, ext. 2155, or email publicaccess@twp.howell.nj.us.

With reporting by Karen Wall.