Township to pursue fiber upgrade, tables sprinkler replacement; DOT bikeway grant advanced

Administrator Lisa told the committee the township’s copper phone lines and older broadband connections have been unreliable and described a Comcast proposal to provide a dedicated fiber line with VoIP phones, new handsets and a service-level agreement for priority repairs. She said the maximum monthly cost would be about $800, roughly offset by eliminating current phone and some internet charges, and that the upgrade would improve remote switching and emergency operations.

On parks maintenance, Lisa presented an AT&T sprinkler company estimate to replace Stony Creek’s wireless decoder system with a hardwired system at a materials, labor and equipment cost totaling about $26,000. Several committee members and a recreation stakeholder asked for additional quotes; a motion to table the sprinkler project for another month so staff can solicit more estimates passed.

Engineer Joe Hurst described a resolution supporting submission of a New Jersey Department of Transportation municipal grant for bikeway signage and striping along Grassy Lake Road and Indian Mills Road to improve safety for children walking and biking to school; the committee approved the application and will coordinate design and right-of-way issues with property owners if the grant is awarded.

What’s next: Staff will proceed with the Comcast fiber procurement process, solicit additional irrigation quotes and return the sprinkler estimate for consideration, and track DOT grant awards anticipated in October–November.