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March 14, 2025

This newsletter is published twice a month by the Township of Cranford to provide residents with important information and updates.

Cranford Township Committee

Pictured, from left to right, are: Commissioner Kathleen Miller Prunty, Commissioner Brian Andrews, Deputy Mayor Paul A. Gallo, Mayor Terrence Curran and Commissioner Gina Black.

Mayor Terrence Curran

t-curran@cranfordnj.org

Deputy Mayor Paul A. Gallo

Recreation & Parks

p-gallo@cranfordnj.org

Commissioner Brian Andrews

Public Works & Engineering

b-andrews@cranfordnj.org

Commissioner Kathleen Miller Prunty

Public Safety

k-prunty@cranfordnj.org

Commissioner Gina Black

Finance

g-black@cranfordnj.org

Township Administrator & Chief Financial Officer

Lavona Patterson

l-patterson@cranfordnj.org

(908) 709-7250

Township Clerk

Patricia Donahue

clerk@cranfordnj.org

(908) 709-7210

Township Attorney

Thomas J. Slattery

UPCOMING DATES

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Monday North Recycling

Mar. 17

Tuesday North Recycling

Mar. 18

Monday South Recycling

Mar. 24

Tuesday South Recycling

Mar. 25

Planning Board

Mar. 19 at 8 pm

April 2 at 8 pm

Zoning Board

Mar. 24, 7:30 pm

April 7, 7:30 pm

Township Committee

March 25

Workshop 7pm

Official 8 pm

Township Committee

April 7

Workshop 7 pm

Township Committee

April 8

Conference 7 pm

Official 7:30 pm

Mayor's Message

Fiscal stewardship is something I take very seriously. It's important to spend within our means while ensuring we continue to get things done. This year, our capital budget does both. We are paying down our overall debt load by taking on nearly $1 million less in debt than we pay off while we continue to pave roads, invest in drainage projects, pedestrian improvement projects and stormwater projects.

The uncertainty around the future of FEMA and federal aid makes stormwater projects particularly important. A 5-year plan for river desilting will start this fall. Planning for a renovation of the Orchard Book culvert, which is made possible by collaboration with Union County, is underway. The South Avenue and Chestnut Street drainage project, which has been made possible by an investment from the State Government several years ago thanks to the backing of NJ Senate President Nick Scutari, will be started and completed this year.

We are also investing in the upkeep of our Community Center, equipment for our Police Dept. to address speeding, our Fire Dept. to provide lifesaving care, and our DPW to give them the equipment to remove tree stumps around town and replace them with vibrant, healthy trees. We are upgrading the facilities at Cranford West to transform it into an attractive recreational opportunity.

Approaching our capital projects and finances in this manner allows us to invest in Cranford while decreasing our debt load, which in turn improves our credit score and makes investment more affordable.

Finally, registration for the Cranford Pools is open and I encourage you to join and support these amazing assets. Please go to https://shorturl.at/tME3v to sign up today.

Terrence Curran

Mayor

Cranford, NJ

March 11 Township Committee Meeting Highlights

RESOLUTIONS

Authorizing:

A Person-to-Person transfer of Liquor License from WSFB, LLC, T/A NJ Wine Seller to SHREEJI CRANFORD INC. for premises located at 20 South Avenue West.
The rejection of the bids received for the Township's March 3, 2025 Bid Opening pertaining to the 2024 Road Program.
An amendment to the contract awarded to LAN Associates, Engineering, Planning, Architecture, Surveying, Inc. for Architectural Services for the Flood Mitigation Assistance Program (CFDA#97.029) FMA-PJ-02-NJ-2017-005.
The appointment of Matthew Sabene as a Probationary Laborer/Driver within the Public Works Department, effective March 12, 2025.
The appointment of Evan Hooper as a permanent part-time Office Assistant within the Building Department, effective March 3, 2025.
Support of a 2025 Sustainable Jersey Grant Program application (funded by PSEG Foundation).
The closure of a portion of North Union Avenue and Municipal Lot No. 1 from 12 noon to 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 16, 2025 in connection with Cranford's St. Patrick's Day Parade.
The renaming of Buchanan Park to Culbreath Park, at 23 Buchanan Street, in honor of the Culbreath families who have lived on Buchanan Street and McClellan Street for generations.

• Awarding a construction contract for the New Jersey Department of Transportation FY2024 Cummings Street, Thomas Street and Hillside Avenue Roadway Improvements Project to Cifelli & Son General Contracting, Inc.

• Expressing support for legislation which would allow for the publication of legal notices on official government websites.

• Approving contracts for Zoning Board professionals.

Click Here for Full Meeting Agenda

TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE OPENING REPORTS

Mayor Terrence Curran

• Cranford Pools opened registration on March 1.

• As of March 11, at 3 p.m. we had 493 members sign up and a total revenue of $72,600, compared to last year at that time when we had 134 members and a revenue of $21,175.

• Off to a promising start, but we still have a long way to go.

• Met with the mayors of Garwood and Kenilworth, who agreed to help market to their residents. In turn, we've agreed to lower the out-of-town rates for those towns to help make it more of an incentive to join the pools here. Sent out emails to the other towns that border Cranford, and waiting to hear back.

• Steve Robertazzi has reached out to Homewood Suites, whose pools is closed—to market memberships to the residents there.

• Meeting with residents who are interested in helping with marketing and programming at the pools to drive interest and build on existing efforts such as the float nights, music nights, foam parties, kayak races, and such.

• Encourage your friends and families and anybody else who wants to join the pools and come out and help keep the pools open.

Click Here to Watch on TV 35

Click Here for Video on TV 35

• Recreation & Parks Department is open registration for their spring programs. They're currently working on the summer offerings, including Cranford West and the playground camp.

• Pool registration is open currently for Cranford residents. If you haven't registered and you're looking to support the pool, do so quickly and register. You'll also lock in fun and relaxing times at our pool facilities this summer.

• Rec basketball program playoffs are currently underway, so good luck to those that are participating.

• Spring track program currently has 209 registered children and is shaping up to be a great spring season.

• Capital budget includes putting in some funds for Cranford West.

• Recreation in the town is one of the great reasons why Cranford is a great place to live and visit.

Click Here for Video on TV 35

Cranford Public Library:

--Broke ground on Children's Room expansion project last week.

--Noted some parking spaces are going to be blocked out for the foreseeable future. The construction is slated to take as long as a year.

--Work will begin with internal demolition first.

--Children’s Room Collection has been moved over to the Cranford Community Center. It will have the same hours

as the Cranford Library, so you'll be able to go over check out books with your kids, but it is more confined space.

--If the kids are looking for the fish tank—it is moved to the second floor. So if they want to go in and head up there, they can check in on the fish over the course of the renovation.

• Hanson House Foundation repairs are underway. Township also did a very substantial roof replacement project last year.

• Awarding a construction contract for the paving of three roads -- Cummings Street, Thomas Street and Hillside Avenue -- with support from the New Jersey Department of Transportation. Specifically for Hillside, it is the area outside of the school

leading up to the residential area, but not including the residential area. Will be timed over the summer, so it doesn't impact the schools. Noted that another portion of Hillside Avenue was on assessment list for future repaving.

Click Here for Video on TV 35

Police Department:

--Continued emphasis on pedestrian and traffic concerns. CPD utilizing data and information from traffic and speed studies to help direct their efforts at targeted enforcement.

--Will add more pedestrian flashing beacons at intersections in the spring.

--Traffic Bureau continuing pedestrian checkpoints to insure drivers and pedestrians are obeying laws.

--"Citizen’s Corner"—weekly announcement reporting investigations, police responses to concerns

--Detective Michael Dubitsky recognized by the U.S. Attorney General's for his role in an international ring targeting cell phone shipments and thefts.

--During a motor vehicle stop and investigation, Officer Liam Duffy had discovered a loaded firearm in the vehicle. We are grateful that Officer Duffy is safe, no one was injured, and very grateful of how well trained our police officers are.

Fire Department:

--Collaborating with the College Woman's Club of Cranford to present a "Fire Safety In Your Home" program. March 12, at Thompson Hall at the First Presbyterian Church at 7:30 p.m. Fire officials will be there to go over steps that you should follow if there is a fire in your home, helping you create a family action plan for getting out safely, and carbon monoxide safety tips. It is open to the public

• Downtown parking time limits at the pay stations and meters on the street have been extended from an hour and a half to three hours.

• Resolution to rename Buchanan Park to Culbreath Park to honor a family that has been in town for generations, Mamie and John Culbreath, they built their first home in 1929.

Click Here for Video on TV 35

• Capital budget: healthy capital budget focusing on road projects, stormwater and drainage projects. We also have some good investments in equipment to support DPW, police, fire, rec department.

• Efficient use of grant opportunities is bringing down an overall capital budget of over $5 million of improvements to $2.1 million.

• Debt service will be going down -- that's a goal of finance committee and the finance department.

• General operating budget -- finance department is working very hard to make it as lean as possible.

• Looking to introduce budgets at next meeting or the meeting after. Will share details as we get them.

Administrator and CFO Lavona Patterson Discusses the New Property Tax Relief Application for Seniors

Watch on TV 35

MAYORAL ANNOUNCEMENTS / PROCLAMATIONS

• Women’s History Month

• Irish Heritage Month

• Girl Scouts Week

Mayoral Appointment to the Historic Preservation Advisory Board

• Riley Turnamian as a Class C Cranford High School student member, retroactive to March 1, 2025, for an unexpired three (3) year term ending December 31, 2025

Click Here for Video of Mar. 11 Meeting on TV 35

DEPARTMENT / BOARD HAPPENINGS

Age Friendly Cranford

Property Tax Relief Application Presentation provided by New Jersey Division of Taxation

For Seniors Homeowners and Renters Age 65 and Over

Cranford Community Center Friday, March 21, 2025

11:00 a.m. -12:30 p.m.

Learn more about the Single Combined Application that combines:

SENIOR FREEZE - NJ residents born before 1959 or permanently disabled residents receiving Social Security.
ANCHOR - Affordable NJ Community for Homeowners & Renters
STAY NJ - For Senior Homeowner

Please visit or call the office at the Community Center at (908) 709-7283 and put your name on the list.

Senior League Pickleball

(908) 709-7283

Spring 2025 Senior Services Cranford Recreation & Parks

See the brochure online

Outdoor Pools registration

Centennial Ave Pool

Mon-Thur 9a-1p, Fri 9a-1p

Online on Community Pass

Community Outreach Program Tips

Cranford Police Dept. website

Free Senior Movies Community Center A/V Rm. Red Joan

March 14 at 12:30 p.m.

Tech for Seniors

Library

March 18 at 1 p.m.

(908) 709-7272

Forrest Gump

April 2 · 4 to 7pm

Cranford Theater

Free to Seniors (55+)

Free Tickets on the Downtown Cranford Eventbrite.

CRANFORD POOLS

Registration Now Open

To Cranford Residents

INSTAGRAM

FACEBOOK

WEBSITE

Cranford residents can register in March before non-residents to join both the Centennial Avenue Pool and Orange Avenue Pool. Go Online to learn more about hours, registration, lifeguard opportunities, and more...

POLICE DEPARTMENT

Nixle Text Alerts

Keep up to date with any weather alerts and emergency notifications from the Township of Cranford and Office of Emergency Management by ensuring that you are signed up for NIXLE today!

The sign-up link is https://local.nixle.com/register/ or you can text 07016 to 888777.

Have a new neighbor or know someone who recently moved to Cranford? Spread the word about Cranford’s Emergency Alert System – NIXLE – today!

PUBLIC WORKS

2025 Conservation Center Stickers are on sale--buy at the Conservation Center or mail in the form. Permits are $85 and expire April 2026. Current stickers expire April 1. Click here for the printable Application.

RECREATION & PARKS DEPARTMENT

Recreation and Parks Website

Community Pass

Spring Break Camps

Slimergency
Fire's 1-Day Basketball Clinic
Mad Science Inventor
RoboThink
Kiddie's Kaleidoscope
Stem Camp

Brochure, Pages 8 & 9

Spring Recreation Registration is Now Open

Recreation and Parks is excited to announce the opening of registration on March 6, for its 2025 Spring Recreation Programs. Offering a variety of activities for all ages and skill levels, this season’s lineup includes youth and adult sports, fitness classes, arts and crafts, and engaging programs for all ages—preschool to seniors. Read more...

DOWNTOWN CRANFORD

We are excited to bring you Downtown Cranford’s newest event, Pasta La Vista, Baby! Visitors are invited to stroll through Downtown Cranford on Saturday, March 29, from 1 to 4 p.m. and enjoy pasta samples offered by our local restaurants. To participate in Pasta La Vista, Baby!, please purchase a ticket. The ticket does include a $5 Downtown Cranford gift card and your participation in the event. Please note that one ticket is needed for each pasta tasting participant.

We will be collecting boxed pasta to donate to Cranford Family Care. Any donation is welcome and can be brought to registration the day of the event.

Buy Tickets

LIBRARY

Cranford Library Breaks Ground On Children’s Room Expansion Project

State Reps, Township & Board Partner to Make Project a Reality

FIRST AID SQUAD

Medical Equipment Program

The First Aid Squad offers a free medical Equipment program to residents at no charge. Medical equipment such as wheelchairs, crutches, walkers and shower seats. The squad also accepts donations of new or well-preserved and clean equipment.

For more information call, (908) 789-0300 or email informationgfas@gmail.com.

SHADE TREE COMMISSION

Tree of the Month

Eastern Red Cedar

The Cranford Shade Tree Commission, established in 2024, has made a remarkable start in enhancing our town's tree canopy. In our first year, we planted 108 street trees throughout Cranford, bringing a welcome boost of greenery to our neighborhoods. These new trees offer a multitude of benefits, from cooling our streets and reducing energy costs to improving air quality and helping manage stormwater runoff. Explore the locations and species of these newly planted trees and the positive impact they'll have on our community by visiting our interactive map.

The commission is excited to work throughout the town to continue these efforts. Submit a response here if you would like to request a street tree.