VOL. XXXV NO. IX ROCKY HILL, NEW JERSEY NOVEMBER 2004

The Rocky Hill Gazette welcomes your comments and will publish items of social, civic and governmental interest to our readers. News articles and letters may be sent to The Rocky Hill Gazette, 29 Toth Lane, Rocky Hill, NJ 08553. We will endeavor to print all items as received, however limitations of space on occasion may require some editing on our part. The deadline for the December issue is Monday, December 13, 2004. Since it is our policy that The Rocky Hill Gazette be non-profit, we are happy to accept your sponsorship of $45.00 or contribution in any amount up to the limit of our printing costs. Individuals living outside of Rocky Hill who wish a copy might send us a supply of stamped, self-addressed, business-size envelopes, and we will be happy to mail the paper to them. Visit The Rocky Hill Gazette online at: www.rockyhillgazette.com

This month’s issue is sponsored by

MERRITT AGENCY

EMERGENCY - POLICE * FIRE * MEDICAL 911

Police Non-Emergency - (609) 584-5000 Ext. 5297

Borough Hall 924-7445 Wednesday 3:30-6 PM - Animal Control (732) 329-4000 Day; (732) 329-4646 Night/Weekend

GAZETTE CALENDAR

NOVEMBER

22 Monday Al-Anon Family Groups - First Reformed Church, 10 AM (every Monday)

Planning Board – Schoolhouse, 7:30 PM re Schafer tract

23 Tuesday Alcoholics Anonymous - First Reformed Church, 12 Noon (every Tuesday)

Toddler Sing (ages 1 - 3) - Library, 10:30 AM (also Nov. 30, Dec. 7, 14, 21) *

24 Wednesday Library Closes at 5 PM

25 Thursday Thanksgiving Day

Al-Anon Family Groups - First Reformed Church, 8 PM (every Thursday)

Library and Montgomery Schools closed (also Nov. 26)

26 Friday Alcoholics Anonymous –First Reformed Church, 8:30 PM (every Friday)

Recycling – curbside, 7 AM (also Dec. 10)

28 Sunday Alcoholics Anonymous - First Reformed Church, 7:30 PM (every Sunday)

29 Monday Story & Craft (ages 4 & 5) - Library, 10:30 AM (also Dec. 6, 13, 20) *

DECEMBER

1 Wednesday 76’ers Senior Citizens – Trinity Church, 11 AM

2 Thursday Toddler Stories (ages 2 – 3) – Library, 10:30 AM (also Dec. 9) *

3 Friday Toddler Sing (ages 1 - 3) - Library, 10;30 AM *

5 Sunday Holiday Tree Lighting – Community Group 4 – 6 PM

6 Monday Borough Council – Schoolhouse, 7:30 PM

7 Tuesday Community Group – Community House, 7:30 PM

9 Thursday Hanukkah

YA Galley (grades 5 – 12) – Library, 5 PM *

10 Friday Library Closed – Mary Jacobs Birthday

14 Tuesday Planning Board – Schoolhouse, 7:30 PM

Gazette Editorial Meeting – Library, 7:30 PM

15 Wednesday Chess (grades 2 - 8) - Library, 4 PM *

School Board – Schoolhouse, 7 PM

16 Thursday Toddler Craft (ages 2 – 3) – Library, 10:30 AM & 11 AM *

Teen Newsletter (grades 5 – 12) – Library, 5 PM *

Municipal Court – Schoolhouse, 7:30 PM

17 Toddler Sing (ages 1 - 3) - Library, 1 PM *

20 Monday Borough Council – Schoolhouse, 7:30 PM

24 Friday Christmas Eve

Library Closed (also Dec. 25)

Montgomery Schools Closed (Dec. 24 – 31)

Trinity Church – Family Service & Carols, 7:30 PM, Holy Eucharist 9:30 PM

25 Saturday Christmas Day

Trinity Church – Holy Eucharist, 9:30 AM

* PLEASE REGISTER

BOROUGH COUNCIL _ 11/1/2004

Engineer’s Report: Engineer Bill Tanner suggested snap-back reflector posts be installed on the traffic bumps installed on Princeton and Montgomery Avenues. Council passed resolution to install posts. Price of oil is increasing and the asphalt proposed for County Park will be put on hold for bidding process and the paths will be prepped with gravel. A resident inquired about removal of grids at Borough intersections. Mayor Nolan said it is on the County list for consideration. The County paid for recent repainting.

The January reorganization Council meeting will also be the open house for the newly refurbished Borough office.

The Rocky Hill Nursery School had its state inspection. The playground will have to be re-mulched. Council recommended that Council purchase mulch for both the Borough Hall playground and Panicaro Park.

NOTICE: a truckload of non-playground quality was delivered in error and now sits adjacent to the tennis courts. It is free to residents who want to cart it away.

There will not be a court session in November due to the Thanksgiving holiday. Next Court session will be on December 16th at which there may be two sessions to handle the crowd.

State Police issued ten tickets in October.

Rocky Hill averages $3300 per month in revenue from South Bound Brook Police ticketing. Residents with traffic issues and/or complaints can go directly to the South Bound Brook Police.

Council discussed Ordinance 15-04 to raise escrow fees. L. Raffaelli said some of the proposed fees are too high. Residents seeking approvals pay an escrow fee for the professional services incurred by the Borough. Unused monies are returned to resident. Ordinance public hearing will be on Dec. 6th .

Ordinance 16-04 was introduced. It calls for the purchase of a new ambulance. Public hearing will be on Dec. 6th. Resolution to spend a maximum of $130,000 was passed.

Councilmember Zimmerman proposed changing the Borough Hall cleaning service to Duo who submitted a bid to clean weekly for $185. If bid accepted the Nursery School rent will be raised to cover their share.

Mayor Nolan discussed aid that is available to qualifying residents for home improvements. This is a program sponsored by the Somerset County Community Development Office. Brochures are available at Borough Hall and the Library.

Council adjourned to Executive Session and did not conduct any further public business.

BOROUGH COUNCIL 11/15/2004

State Police report: Two minor criminal calls, two minor medical calls and two minor motor vehicle calls.

Resident inquired as to why the speed limit signs on Princeton Avenue are 35 mph when the speed humps signs require 25 mph. Councilmember Harris said the signs will be moved so as not to be so confusing, but in fact, the white mph signs are the legal limit while the yellow signs associated with the humps are a recommended speed.

Council adjourned to Executive Session.

Upon return, Public hearing on Ordinance 14-04 – the renewal of the contract with Patriot Media. Motion to adopt passed unanimously.

Introduction of Ordinance 17-04, concerning the re-zoning of the Schafer tract to allow senior housing consistent with the village center designation of the Borough and the terms of the 1996 contract of sale for the park property. Public hearing is scheduled for December 20th at 7:30 PM at Borough Hall. Notice will be sent to all property owners within 200 feet. This will be an age-restricted, traditional development, zoned R-1C, consisting of 17 two-family buildings resulting in 34 units. Eleven buildings will face a common area. A greenbelt will be maintained along Princeton Avenue. A path will connect the development with the planned County Park adjacent to the property.

Ordinance 17-04 was referred to the Planning Board for review and , if necessary, Master Plan revision. The Planning Board will hold a special session to review this ordinance on Monday, November 22nd at 7:30 PM in Borough Hall.

Council considered a resolution to settle potential litigation for the re-zoning of the David Schafer property permitting 34 units of age-restricted housing. Council passed this resolution unanimously.

Mayor Nolan received notification from the County that the new park will be named Van Horne Park. Phil Hayden and Jeanette Muser submitted this name. They will be recognized at the park dedication TBA.

Rocky Hill collected $4200 from traffic tickets this month

The Community Group received a grant of $198,000 from the NJ Historic Trust.

Councilmember Harris gave a traffic study summary for the period January 5 – October 4, 2004. In the seventy days of coverage during that time 914 tickets were written, an average of 13.1 daily. The were 704 violators, 41% living within 7 miles of RH, the highest percent of these being from Princeton.

The second round of bids for the County park project resulted in one bid below the $1,200,000 budget. Flanigans of Hillsborough will probably be awarded the contract on December 6th.

Borough Clerk Toby Whitlock discussed the 2005 budgeting for Deputy Clerk Donna Griffiths in anticipation of his retiring at the end of 2005 or 2006.

ELECTION RESULTS

*Elected

*George Bush (R), 167, John Kerry(D) 219

*M. Ferguson(R), 182; S Brozak(D), 187

*R Batchelder(R), 205: *J Witt(I), 188; T. Roshetar(R), 176;

.M. Engelbrecht(I)160; W O’Brien(D), 72

REMINDER

Please dig out fire hydrants after a snowstorm so there is no time wasted locating them when needed.

PLANNING BOARD – 11/9/2004

Chair Susan Bristol announced that the historical preservation brochure would go to print by the end of the week.

Representatives from AT&T Wireless came before the Board to present their plans to increase their number of antennas on the water tower. AT&T Wireless proposed three additional receive-only antennas to support E911 services. The FCC requires that in the event a mobile phone user dials 911, the service provider must be able to locate the caller with an accuracy of 100 to 300 meters. During discussions, the Board expressed concerns that the antennas would in some cases obscure the “Rocky Hill” lettering on the water tower. AT&T agreed to work with the Borough Engineer to find a placement arrangement that would not obscure the lettering. The Board also requested that AT&T paint the antennas, the cables and any housings to match the water tower. The Board approved AT&T’s request for use and bulk variances and granted minor site approval to their plan with the caveats (in addition to those already mentioned) of; approval of Borough Engineer, better photo simulations, a maintenance plan for shrubbery, more complete documentation of all revisions and compliance with the conditions of previous agreements.

There will be a special meeting of the Board on November 22nd at 7:30 PM to discuss master plan approval and the Schafer tract.

KEEP ROCKY HILL BEAUTIFUL

Sidewalks and roads should be kept clear of debris and bushes. Tree limbs should not interfere with walkers or cars. Also be aware of driver sightlines if your property is at a roadway intersection.

FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS

A daughter, Annika, was born to Shari and Bob Steen of Toth Lane on October 24th . She joins big brother Sam.

Ruth Robbins has been transferred from the Somerset Hospital to the St. Lawrence Rehabilitation Center, 238 Lawrenceville Road, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648. She continues to improve. We wish her a speedy recovery.

Dan Hartmann has returned home from the hospital and is improving every day. We also wish him a speedy recovery.

Audrey Mack, a former long-time resident of Rocky Hill, is celebrating a BIG birthday on December 1st. She would love to hear from her many friends in Rocky Hill. Her address is 108 Byron Road, South Meriden , CT 06052. The telephone is 203-238-2479.

Nicholas Muccilli died Sunday, November 14th at the age of 92. He was born in Rocky Hill and had lived here many years. Our deepest sympathy is expressed to his family and friends.

SCHOOL BOARD – 10/27/2004

No reporter.