Mtown News Flash 9-19-11

Equipment Permit Fees Waived to Ease Storm Recovery
To ease the burden of storm clean-up, the Township Committee is waiving permit fees for residents who need to repair or replace equipment damaged as a result of Hurricane Irene.

Fees will be waived for permits requested from August 29 through the close of business September 30 to repair and/or replace of service-related equipment such as water heaters, furnaces, air conditioners, pumps, and service panels. Under normal circumstances, if a resident removes and replaces any of those items, there's a permit fee to cover the cost of a township inspector who determines if the replacement was installed to code. For more information contact the Building Department at 732-615-2104.

Meanwhile, the township's emergency brush collection has been underway since September 7. The Township scheduled the collection due the volume of brush generated as a result of the storm. All brush should have been placed curbside by September 6. Residents are reminded not mix leaves with brush. Regularly scheduled leaf collection will occur in November, said Public Works Director Ted Maloney.Register for FEMA Disaster Assistance

A FEMA Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) has been established in the Leonardo section of Middletown at the Henry Hudson Trail Activity Center, 945 Route 36. The office will be open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. until further notice. Before visiting the DRC, residents and business owners who sustained losses should register by calling between 6 a.m. and 1 a.m. daily to 1-800-621-FEMA (3362), or for the speech or hearing impaired TTY 1-800-462-7585, online anytime at www.disasterassistance.gov or www.fema.gov or via mobile phone application m.fema.gov.FEMA assistance can include grants for temporary housing, home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.

Thank you 9-11 Flag Sponsors
Thanks to an outpouring of support from the community, Middletown has hung approximately 80 flag banners to honor the 37 residents who died in the World Trade Center Tragedy. Click here for Sponsor list. The list also viewable on Comcast Channel 20 and Verizon Channel 26.

Oceanic Bridge Information Sessions
Monmouth County Bridge S-31(Oceanic Bridge)
County Route 8A, Bingham Avenue , Locust Point Rd over Navesink River

Monmouth County Division of Engineering, in cooperation with the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority, the New Jersey Department of Transportation, and the Federal Highway Administration, will be holding Public Information Centers to discuss the replacement alternatives of Oceanic Bridge (CR 8A, Bingham Avenue – Locust Point Road Bridge S-31) over Navesink River located between the Borough of Rumson and the Township of Middletown. The purpose of the Public Information Center is to inform the public of the alternatives and to solicit public input and comment. These meetings are being conducted in conformance with Federal and State regulations including the Section 106 consultation process. The public is invited and encouraged to comment on the project.

The Public Information Centers will be held on and at the following locations:

RUMSON
Monday, September 19, 2011, 7:30pm to 9 p.m.
Rumson Borough Hall
80 East River Road, Rumson, NJ 07760

MIDDLETOWN
Monday September 26, 2011, 7:00 - 8:30 pm
Middletown Town Hall Conference Room
1 Kings Highway, Middletown, NJ 07748

Written comments will be accepted through Wednesday, October 26, 2011. Comments may be mailed or faxed to: Inkyung Englehart
Monmouth County Engineering
Hall of Records Annex, 3^rd floor, One East Main Street, Freehold, NJ 07728
Fax: 732-431-7765

Volunteers Needed for Middletown Domestic Violence Response Team
Middletown Township Police Department is currently recruiting volunteers to serve on the Middletown Domestic Violence Response Team (DVRT). In affiliation with 180 Turning Lives Around (180), and with the assistance of the response team volunteers, Middletown Township Police Department continues to make available this service to victims of domestic violence. Applications are available now and interviews will begin shortly.

The volunteer advocates with 180's DVRT program are civilian memberof the community who work in collaboration with the police to provide crisis intervention and safety planning to victims of domestic violence at police headquarters. The specially-trained advocates also discuss with the victim their legal rights in regard to obtaining a Temporary Restraining Order. The volunteer advocates help to empower victims to make decisions about their own lives. The identities of the DVRT volunteers are kept anonymous.

The 40-hour intensive, mandatory training course will be provided to successful applicants at no cost. 180 will be conducting the next four-week training October 24th – November 16th, Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays, 6:00p-9:30p, in the courtroom at Tinton Falls Borough Hall, 556 Tinton Avenue. Prior knowledge of domestic violence is not required. The services of the Middletown Domestic Violence Response Team are available to victims, 24-hours a day, 7-days a week at Middletown Township Police Department headquarters, 1 Kings Highway, Middletown NJ 07748

Basic requirements for volunteers to apply include that applicants must be 18 years of age or older, have access to transportation, possess a valid driver's license, be willing to serve on an on-call shift basis, participate in an interview process, submit to background investigations and fingerprinting, and successfully complete the mandatory training. Middletown Township Police Department and 180 Turning Lives Around are committed to culturally diverse teams to better serve the community. Bi-lingual capability is helpful. Please contact Sgt. Bill Colangelo, Middletown Police DVRT DVLO, at 732 615-2041 or email wcolange@middletownnj.org to obtain an application or for additional information. In an emergency, dial 911.