TOWNSHIP OF CRANFORD
NEWS
SEPTEMBER 30, 2021
This newsletter is published twice a month by the Township of Cranford to provide residents with important information and updates.
CRANFORD TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE

Mayor Kathleen Miller Prunty      

Deputy Mayor Brian Andrews
Public Affairs

Commissioner Jason Gareis
Public Safety

Commissioner Tom Hannen
Public Works & Engineering

Commissioner Mary O’Connor
Finance
TOWNSHIP ADMINISTRATOR

Jamie Cryan  
Message from the Mayor

This can be a busy time of year, but I hope you will find time to participate in the public engagement process for development of the North Avenue East Gateway site. As has been mentioned previously, the Township always intended to get public input before a plan was finalized and we hired Topology, a planning firm with experience in resident outreach to do this work.

  Sessions with various Township Boards, Committees and civic organizations are already underway and the informal drop-in sessions will begin on October 10th followed by a Town Hall and an Open House where residents can again ask questions, share ideas and concerns. If you are unable to participate in any of these sessions you can send your thoughts to the dedicated email address: [email protected].

  During each of these sessions, the planners will seek input on building design, infrastructure improvements to reduce impervious coverage to prevent flooding and promote absorption of stormwater runoff through systems in planted areas, swales and other means, encourage use of sustainable building standards and materials, public and green spaces, housing options for young professionals to empty nesters, parking, street and pedestrian improvements.
  
Please plan to participate in one of the sessions. Share your ideas and be part of helping to develop a plan and vision for this important and highly visible Gateway into the Downtown Business District.

  Thank you.

Kathleen Miller Prunty
Mayor
North Avenue East Gateway Community Sessions
Redevelopment Preferences Survey:

Housing + Retail Preferences Survey:
Storm Information and Updates
FEMA Assistance
FEMA will have a trailer and advisors on site in the Orange Avenue Pool parking lot to assist residents. The Disaster Recovery Center will operate 8 am to 5 pm, at least through Friday.
We appreciate if you will share this information with those who may not have access to a computer or who are temporarily out of town.
DSA teams will be canvasing/walking through impacted neighborhoods, distributing informational flyers, and helping impacted residents in the following ways:
• Assisting residents to register for FEMA assistance.
• Checking the status of an application already in the system and can make minor changes to applications.
• Making calls to faith-based organizations, community-based organizations, private sector (businesses) and public libraries that may have the capability to distribute disaster-related information to survivors in the impacted counties.

Information provided by the teams are tailored to the individual survivor’s needs and may include information on making temporary repairs to a disaster-damaged house, pay for another short-term place to live while permanent repairs are made and/or help with serious, disaster-related needs not covered by other programs.
DSA teams can easily be identified by their federal photo identification and FEMA clothing. New Jersey residents are reminded to ask for official photo identification before sharing personal information.
The teams are following CDC safety guidelines for COVID-19 including social distancing and use of protective equipment.

Residents are reminded that a full-service FEMA Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) is open for all impacted residents at the O’Donnell Senior Center, 618 Salem Avenue in Elizabeth. Hours of operation are M-F 7:00a–7:00p; Sa-Su 8:00-5:00. A full list of DRCs is available on the Township’s website.
Centennial Avenue Bridge Replacement
Conrail (Consolidated Rail Corp) notified the Township and Police Department on September 28 of confirmation of bridge replacement, a infrastructure project deemed necessary by structural engineers, will take place on Centennial Avenue with project staging and preparation work beginning October 11.  During this time there will be traffic disruptions.
  There will be full road closure on Centennial between Myrtle and Winans Avenue Friday, Oct. 15 through Sunday, Oct. 17. 
  The Police Department is working on detour routes and there will be an increased Police presence in the area to ensure safety and that motorist obey speed limits.
  Hillside Avenue from HAS to Centennial Avenue will be the most significantly impacted. Motorists will be able to access HAS via Collins and Wall Streets but not from Centennial Avenue.  For more traffic and detour plans details please visit the Cranford Police Facebook page.
   Questions about the project may be directed to Conrail at 908-862-8666​.
Upcoming Meetings
10/6: Planning Board at 7:30pm
10/12: Township Committee Combined Workshop & Meeting at 6:30pm
Township Committee
Township Committee Meeting Updates
  • Authorized the Construction Office to waive building, electrical, plumbing and mechanical permit fees for residents affected by Storm Ida damage.
  • Awarded a two year contract with Giordano Company for collection of recycling materials.
  • Appointed Kathleen Nemeth as Zoning Officer
  • Appointed Jessica Meisch as Laborer/Driver in Public Works
  • Reorganization within the Recreation and Pool/Fitness Center
  • Aaryn Backiel as Program Specialist/Adm. Asst.
  • Carol Kaminski as Program Coordinator
  • Jenna Matousek as Aquatic Manager of Pools & Fitness Center. She had previously been the interim manager.
  • Lori-Ann Donnelly as Fitness Center Manager
  • Appointed Roberta Vanata to the Cranford Housing Board.
  • Approved suspension of parking meter enforcement in the downtown during the December holiday season.
Recreation and Parks
Fall & Winter Guide
Recreation and Park has released its catalog with Fall and Winter Programs. The catalog can be viewed online and will be landing in mailboxes shortly.
Fire Department
Fire Prevention Month
October is Fire Prevention Month. This year’s theme is “Learn the Sounds of Fire Safety.” Fire Prevention Education programs will be offered to our kindergartners in the schools however, will be outside due to COVID restrictions. Children and Fire Personnel will need to wear face coverings and remain socially distant. The focus this year will be smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, the sounds they make and how they help save lives. Parents will be given a homework assignment of testing their current smoke and carbon monoxide alarms!
Breast Cancer Awareness Fundraiser
In an effort to bring awareness to breast cancer, the Cranford Fire Department will be lighting up the Firehouse Pink during the month of October. “The Cranford Fire Department is determined to bring awareness to this deadly disease,” said Fire Chief Dan Czeh. “We all know someone who has been affected by breast cancer.”

Cranford Fire Department members will also be wearing “pink” shirts during the month. A limited supply of shirts will be available for purchase via Venmo (@Cranford-Local) or by visiting Fire Headquarters located at 7 Springfield Ave. Cost of the shirts are $25 and proceeds will go towards Cranford Relay for Life. If purchasing a shirt in person, please have exact change. Checks will also be accepted and must be made out to Cranford FMBA Local 37. All in person visitors are kindly requested to wear a face covering. 
Upcoming Cranford Community Connection Events
Cranford Community Connection is holding two events in the next few weeks: PorchFest and the Pooch Plunge! Pooch Plunge takes place this Sunday, October 3 at Orange Avenue Pool. Click here for more information and to register: Pooch Plunge 2021.

Cranford Porchfest will take place on October 9th and you can visit the event website for a map of where the performances will be taking place and learn about the bands who will be playing!
Special Thanks to the 150th Anniversary Committee!
The River Carnival was postponed because of Storm Ida but the Committee is already working on plans for a Spring event so stay tuned. Last Saturday, more than 30 Cranford civic organizations, committees, clubs and churches gathered downtown for Cranford Day and hundreds of residents visited their displays to learn more about their work. Thank you to the 150th Anniversary Committee:

  • Patricia Pavlak, chair
  • Pat Giblin
  • Loretta Smith
  • Jeff Pistol
  • Jean Pascarella
  • Joe Colangelo
  • Phyllis Howard
  • Lora Turon
  • Laurein Gareis
  • Diana Dollard
  • Debra Nicholls
  • Elizabeth Dalli
  • Jennifer VanDyk
  • Megan Scaniello
  • Nicole Caruso
  • Shay Caravella
  • Courtney Byrne