Covid-19 Related Announcements |
Most recent week based on 8 days due to New Year’s holiday.
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There have been one hundred two (102) new cases of COVID-19 in Montgomery and Rocky Hill since our last report on Tuesday, January 4, and 283 cases over the last week, about four times the early pandemic peak of 66 in November 2020. However, there have been no new COVID hospitalizations reported for Montgomery or Rocky Hill.
“With the surging number of cases locally, I strongly recommend everyone wear masks when out and about, particularly in business establishments,” said Montgomery Health Officer Devangi Patel.
“Fortunately, because our community is highly vaccinated, our cases are relatively mild and often asymptomatic,” she said.
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MONTY PEDIATRIC VAX CLINIC TOMORROW
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Committeeperson Kent Huang at a pediatric vaccination clinic with his boys. |
The Montgomery Township Health Department is holding COVID-19 vaccination clinics tomorrow for children 5- to 11-years-old and will offer the Pfizer pediatric vaccine from 10 am to Noon.
“It is incredibly important that we get our children vaccinated,” said Montgomery Township Health Officer Devangi Patel. “This is how we avoid hospitalizations amid the surging Omicron variant.”
Pre-registration through the New Jersey vaccination scheduling system is recommended but not required.
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GET BOOSTED AT BRIDGEWATER
VACCINE MEGA-SITE
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The best place for most Montgomery residents to get booster shots over the next week will be the new regional COVID-19 vaccine mega-site in the former Lord & Taylor store at Bridgewater Commons mall, 400 Commons Way, Bridgewater.
The mega-site will be open Tuesdays 9 am to 3 pm; Wednesdays 11 am to 7 pm; and Saturdays 9 am to 3pm. It is being operated through a collaboration among the New Jersey Department of Health, Somerset County, and RWJBarnabas Health.
Somerset County today announced boosters will be offered to 12- to 15-year-olds starting Monday at the county’s Senior Wellness Center at 876 E. Main Street in Bridgewater. Following the latest CDC approval, the Pfizer booster is available to those teens who completed their initial Pfizer vaccination at least five months.
This clinic will operate every Monday, Wednesday and Friday and offers:
- Pfizer first, second, third and booster doses for all Somerset County residents 12 years and older
- Pfizer pediatric for children 5-11 years old with parental presence and consent
- Moderna first, second, third and booster doses for all Somerset County residents 18 years and older
Residents can find information on County vaccination and testing clinics, the State vaccination mega-site at the Bridgewater Commons Mall, and federal vaccination and testing recommendations at http://soconj.gov/vaxclinics.
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MONTY PCR TESTING CLINIC MOVES TO J&J CAMPUS NEXT WEEK
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Montgomery Township this week launched a PCR COVID-19 testing program. Today (Friday) testing is occuring at the Montgomery High School from Noon to 5pm, but will shift locations Monday. Today’s hours were delayed for snow plowing and road salting following this morning’s winter storm.
Next week the clinic will move to the Johnson & Johnson corporate campus at 199 Grandview Road in Skillman, Monday through Friday, from 8 am to 3pm.
The clinic is designed to handle over 1,000 tests per day, and approximately 900 tests were administered Wednesday and Thursday this week. Residents should arrive dressed for cold weather since you may need to line up outdoors.
“I want to thank our Emergency Manager, Police Officer Sean Devlin, the Health Department, and our Public Works Department for their enormous effort to make this testing facility possible,” said Mayor Devra Keenan.
Central Jersey Urgent care and Carbon Health, the companies administering the test, recommend online pre-registration here. The test is self- administered and takes about one minute.
Someone will assist you through the process, which includes a shallow nose swab, for about 10 seconds in each nostril. You will then place the swab in a test tube, hand the sample back to the staff member, and be on your way. Results will be delivered via a secure portal in 24 to 48 hours.
Pre-registration will get you through the testing more quickly. When registering, you will need to upload a picture of your photo ID and 2022 health insurance card. If you do not pre-register, bring the physical copies to the test location. Whether or not you have insurance, you will not be charged for your test.
The Montgomery Township website has information on what to do if you or a family member tests positive.
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TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE ELECTS MAYOR & DEPUTY MAYOR FOR 2022
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The Montgomery Township Committee last night reelected Devra Keenan to serve as Mayor for a second year, and elected Shelly L. Bell to serve as Deputy Mayor. Commiteepersons Marvin Schuldiner and Neena Singh were sworn in for new three-year terms. In addition, the five-member Township Committee appointed many residents and professionals to serve on boards and commissions in 2022.
The annual Reorganization Meeting was held virtually for the second year, due to the local surge in COVID-19 cases.
In her prepared remarks, Mayor Keenan made note of the first anniversary of the January 6 insurrection in Washington. “While tonight’s meeting does not bring a change in partisan control of this governing body, Montgomery’s Reorganization Meeting continues a time-honored process, grounded in our democratic ideals of self-government,” Mayor Keenan said.
While I am aware that we have strong differences of opinion about a host of issues in our community, I am extremely proud of one fact: That nearly every adult in Montgomery came together in 2021 to protect the health of our community by getting vaccinated against this terrible scourge—COVID-19,” she continued.
Deputy Mayor Bell spoke of the importance of connecting residents to their government and the police department. “The last two years have been marked by profound challenges related to public health, extreme weather, threats to our democracy, and a reckoning on race. I believe one of the most important ways we respond to these problems is by connecting members of our community to each other, and by connecting citizens to their government,” said Deputy Mayor Bell.
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UPDATE ON 2022 PET LICENSE RENEWALS |
Pet license renewals are proceeding in 2022, but there will be a delay in the annual rabies clinic due to staffing issues and a system upgrade.
All pet owners should have received a notice for renewing their licenses by email or will soon receive a notice by US Mail. We are encouraging all pet owners to renew through our online portal for dog licensing or cat licensing. You may also renew by printing out the online forms and mailing them, or by coming to the Municipal Building to get a form and make your payment.
If this is the year when your pet needs proof of a new rabies shot to get a license, you will need to wait for the scheduling of Montgomery’s annual free rabies vaccine clinic. Normally held in January, the clinic is postponed until February, date to be announced.
Because of the postponement of our clinic, no late fees will be charged until March 1 for pet license renewals that require a new vaccination. Additional information is available on the Dog/Cat Licensing page of the Township website’s Animal Control webpages.
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CHRISTMAS TREE PICKUP BEGINS JAN. 10 |
Montgomery Township will begin curbside Christmas tree pick up on Monday, January 10th. Please have trees to the curb by 7 AM that day.
- Please do not wait to put your tree(s) out. Your section of the township may be the first area for pick-up service. Trees must be free of tinsel and ornaments.
- We ask everyone to please be patient. Tree collection takes several weeks, the routes are random, and pick-up is dependent upon weather conditions.
- You have an alternative. You may drop off your tree at the Dept. of Public Works site at 12 Harlingen Road. Trees must be free of tinsel and ornaments.
In addition, Somerset County is offering Christmas Tree recycling at Colonial Park in Franklin where you can drop off a tinsel- and decoration-free tree for recycling as mulch.
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MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE
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Mayor Devra Keenan
Deputy Mayor Shelly L. Bell
Marvin Schuldiner
Kent Huang
Neena Singh
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The next meeting of the Montgomery Township Committee will be Thursday, January 20, 2022 at 7 PM.
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