Dollard Joins Police Force

With family and his girlfriend nearby, Michael Dollard became the latest addition to the Warren Township Police Department when he was sworn in at the July 21 Township Committee meeting by Township Clerk Patricia DiRocco.

The department has been adding new officers this year after several retirements in 2010 depleted the staff.

DPW crews praised

Betty Grossweiler attended the meeting to compliment the Department of Public Works' crews who recently performed work at the cemetery at the Mt. Bethel Baptist Meeting House.

"I just want to commend Doug Biro and his department for the wonderful job they've done on our cemetery," she said. "It really looks great...the cemetery has never looked better."

She added the "upper portion" of the cemetery—closer to Mountainview Road, hasn't been used since the 1960s, and that many veterans—from the Revolutionary War to World War II—are buried there.

Donation received

Mayor Gary DiNardo accepted a $1,000 donation for the Sept. 11 Memorial project from Marion and Associates.

The donation was presented by brothers Michael and Andrew Marion.

The $20,000 memorial is slated to be unveiled on the tenth anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center towers that killed several Warren residents. It will include sections of steel from the fallen towers and is being crafted by loca artist Ralph Garafola.

ATV rules deemed unnecessary

Township Attorney Jeffrey Lehrer reported on his examination of the township's ordinances which could apply to complaints regarding all-terrain vehicles use, and said he doesn't believe additional regulations are necessary.

"In my opinion, I really think our ordinances are protective enough," he said. "I don't think we should do anything."

Lehrer reviewed the ordinances after the committee discussed a recently-adopted ordinance in Watchung Borough which set strict rules for ATV use, and several residents complained of excessive noise from neighbors' ATV riding.

But a number of people attended meetings to voice opposition to any regulations, and the committee sought guidance on current laws in place.

"I just want to let residents know that if they find something that is outside of the frameworks, you know, riding some type of ATV or motorcycle with its exhaust off...that they have the right to call the township police department," Mayor Gary DiNardo said. "They have that right and they should—that's what our police officers are here for."