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Township solicitor urges halt to recreation-site work pending engineering and DEP review
Summary
During public comment the township's solicitor recommended pausing volunteer-led site work on a proposed recreation area until engineering, wetlands approvals and insurance coverage (Township listed as additional insured) are confirmed; committee members agreed further review and possible Planning Board referral are needed.
Residents and officials at the April 7 Quinton Township meeting described ongoing site-preparation work for a proposed recreation area and raised concerns about wetlands, required approvals and liability.
L. Winkels, a resident volunteering on site preparation, described work underway on the donated parcel, noting trap rock and millings were being used to stabilize access and that only a portion of the approximately 15-acre site is developable because much of it is wetlands. He said materials and volunteer labor have been used while survey work and limited site clearing continue.
Solicitor Jacqueline Vigilante asked whether the Township Engineer had reviewed the site and said she would check with the insurance provider (JIF) and the Department of Environmental Protection because the DEP has new requirements for site coverage and soil/mud management. Solicitor Vigilante recommended halting all onsite work until the Township can ensure compliance with applicable regulations and confirm that insurance and required approvals are in place.
Committee member Marjorie L. Sperry said Fralinger Engineering completed a comprehensive study years earlier that estimated further analysis would cost about $100,000; she noted prior grant funding (an initial $3,000 and a subsequent $20,000) helped early phases but additional engineering and state-level wetlands delineation remain necessary. Mayor Joseph Hannagan agreed that the Township would consult the Township Attorney and follow the required approvals, and noted the donor conditions that the property be used for recreational purposes or potentially be returned to the estate if not developed.
The committee advised that improvements to Township property should follow the same review and approval process as other municipal capital projects, including Planning Board review and engineering input. The Clerk was asked to track insurance documentation (Township to be listed as additional insured) and to coordinate referrals as appropriate. No formal action to stop work appears in the minutes; the solicitor’s recommendation to pause activities was entered into the record and will be followed up by staff.
Ending: Committee members agreed additional review is needed; the township will consult the engineer, the Planning Board as appropriate, and the insurance provider before authorizing further site work.
