Township Drops School District Email Server

If you've been firing off emails to Mayor Vic Sordillo, you'll want to note that his township email address recently changed.

As part of a series of steps taken to improve communications, the township established its own email server, with the address "warrennnj.org," ending years of a shared service with the Warren Township Board of Education that provided the connection—through "warrentboe.org"—before.

But the split could provide better access in the event of another damaging hurricane—the middle school, which hosts the school board's server, is on a different circuit that the municipal complex. Power could be out at one and still available at the other—or, as happened last fall after Superstorm Sandy, power could be restored to one much faster than the other.

The township issued a notice Wednesday, updating residents on all of the communication available. The complete release is copied below:

The Township Committee is committed to keeping its residents informed to ensure that they possess the most current information during both emergencies and routine Township activities. The Township is currently utilizing a variety of alternatives to keep our residents informed.  These are: 

• 1)    A newsletter to all residents twice a year.
• 2)    The Warren Township website – warrennj.org – is filled with information regarding Township departments, programs, forms, financial information, and access to Township ordinances, as well as other subjects. 
• 3)    Residents can also tune into channels 15 and 44 which are the Warren Township Cable Channels, for information on events, weather, emergencies, employment, etc.
• 4)    The Reverse 9-1-1 system under the services of “Global Connect” or “Code Red” is a method utilized by the Police department and Office of Emergency Management (OEM) to inform our residents.  This system enables Warren to contact residents, businesses, staff members and emergency response volunteers within minutes utilizing a web-based telephone directory. Police can identify and contact specific areas of the Township and make notification to an area as small as a neighborhood regarding a road closure or just as easily notify every household and business town wide regarding a major emergency. Residents can register for this service on the police website at warrenpolice.com or the Township website at warrennj.org. Receiving this information through your cell phone, especially during emergency conditions, is beneficial to both residents and emergency services.
• 5) Nixle.com  -  The Police department is currently utilizing “Nixle Connect” to communicate with the public via text/SMS, e-mail, and Internet posts at no cost.  Communications can range from emergency alerts to routine day-to-day information including traffic and missing person’s reports, closed roads, safety tips, utility repairs, crime information, community outreach programs, and other public safety information.   The use of this service by Police and OEM will expand based upon emergent conditions. Citizens can register to receive messages from these departments and other local agencies free of charge by sending a text message with their zip code to “888777.”  Online registration is also available at:  www.nixle.com.
• 6)  The Township has changed its email address from the Warren Board of Education (warrentboe.org) to its own address – warrennj.org.  Individual addresses can be obtained by visiting the Township website directory at warrennj.org.  This change has given the Township email system its own identity.
• 7) The Recreation Commission issues weekly bulletins on Friday afternoons regarding their activities.  In order to register contact the recreation department by emailing lpalumbo@warrennj.org.

In addition to the current activities, the Township Committee, working with the Utility Advisory Committee and Township staff, are preparing to implement other methods of informing our residents.  These include:

• 1)    Improvements to the website.
• 2)    Establishing an email database in order to provide any type of information to residents and businesses.  The details of this program will be released by July 30, 2013.
• 3)    Utilizing NextDoor.com, Twitter, and/or other social media alternatives to provide information.

In addition to these methods, residents are reminded and encouraged to contact the Township Committee at any time via email, telephone, text, or on Facebook/Warren Community Forum.  Residents may also attend public Township Committee meetings in order to speak with the governing body.  They will be happy to hear your concerns or questions and provide you with an immediate response.   

Please utilize the above existing methods to obtain information regarding Township activities.  This will help the Township serve you better.