Recreation Program Updates November 2020

mendhamtwprecreation@lists.cit-e.net

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2021 Mendham Township Volunteer Opportunities

by mendhamtwprecreation＠lists.cit-e.net

Over the past year, we have seen many new volunteers join our boards, committees and first-responder organizations. We are grateful to these dedicated volunteers and thank them for their service. Without their time, skills and resources, our community would be hard-pressed to keep critical town government functions running smoothly and maintain the quality of life that makes Mendham Township such a wonderful place to live. As we enter 2021, these organizations could use more helping hands! If you are interested in getting involved with our open committees and boards detailed below, please send a resume and cover letter to our Mendham Township Clerk (mtclerk(a)mendhamtownship.org) by Friday, December 4th. If you would like to volunteer for our Fire Department or First Aid Squad, please reach out to the organizations directly. Planning Board The Planning Board functions under the guidelines established by the New Jersey Municipal Land Use Law, N.J.S.A. 40:55D. The Planning Board adopts the Township’s Master Plan and Official Map and hears applications and makes decisions on subdivisions, site plans, and conditional uses. The Planning Board also advises the Township Committee on changes to the Township’s land use ordinances. (Zoning) Board of Adjustment The Zoning Board deals with the issuance of variances which are based on the municipality’s zoning ordinance. The zoning ordinance establishes specific requirements for a land area within a municipality and regulates not only the uses permitted, but the size of the parcels, setbacks required, parking, signs, conditional uses and numerous other such regulations. Parks and Recreation Committee The Recreation Advisory Committee works with the Mendham Township Director of Recreation to make recommendations to the Township Committee with respect to recreation programs and the planning, development, construction, and maintenance of the town’s recreational facilities. Tree Committee The goal of the Tree Protection Committee is to preserve trees. This committee views trees as a precious resource which protects the semi-rural character of the Township, thereby increasing groundwater recharge, reducing stormwater runoff, increasing soil fertility and allowing for increased wildlife habitat. The committee also encourages new plantings of native species of trees. Board of Health The focus of Mendham Township’s Board of Health is primarily septic and well-plan reviews, discussion and approvals. The Morris County Office of Health Management provides services to Mendham Township including septic and soil inspections, well inspections, food licensing and inspections, health clinics, health education and health code enforcement. The nurses provide various health programs for residents, including child health clinics, hypertension screenings as well as programs to assist the elderly. Each month, a health officer report is presented to the Board at their meeting; a flu clinic is scheduled for two dates in the fall. Historic Preservation Committee The Mendham Township Historic Preservation Committee's goal is to preserve and educate the community about its rich history and to encourage its protection. The committee catalogs and preserves historic documents and artifacts. Wildlife Management Committee The Mendham Township Wildlife Management Committee serves as the advisory board to the Township Committee on deer control programs and initiatives as well as provides general advice on wildlife management within the community. The Committee issues access permits to hunters to hunt on municipal lands and reports deer harvest totals to the Township Committee at the end of the season. It also maintains a list of licensed hunters who are permitted to hunt on private property. Finance Committee The Finance Committee assists the Township Committee in the municipal budget process. The Finance Committee conducts budget workshops to review department requests. After the workshops are concluded, the Finance Committee works with the CFO to present a budget to introduce at the Township Committee level. Fire Department The Fire Department is entirely a volunteer organization. The Department is comprised of two independent Fire Companies - Brookside Engine Company (www.bec1.org) on the east side of town and Ralston Engine Company (www.ralstonengine.org) on the west side of town. The Fire Department’s mission is to protect and serve our community from fire and other emergencies by providing fire suppression services, rescue services and to assist residents with problems beyond their control through code management, public education, and incident response. The firefighters complete training to maintain their skills and are on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Anyone over the age of 14 is eligible to join. First Aid Squad The Mendham Township First Aid Squad is an all-volunteer organization of caring, well trained professionals who provide emergency medical care. From minor cuts and scrapes, to rescuing injured hikers, to critical medical emergencies - the First Aid Squad helps neighbors year-round. The squad has opportunities for Emergency Medical Technicians, Drivers, and people who have other skills they would like to volunteer. For EMTs and Drivers, the squad will provide the training that you need to become certified, no prior experience required. If you're interested in the medical field, this is a great way to get involved. The squad also works closely with our local fire companies and assists with community events. If you're interested in learning more, please email membership(a)mtfas.org.

5 years

Celebrate Thanksgiving Safely

by mendhamtwprecreation＠lists.cit-e.net

It has been 262 days since the first reported positive case of COVID-19 in New Jersey - we have all had a long eight months. Although Mendham Township has one of the lowest reported case numbers in Morris County, we are still seeing new cases of COVID-19 reported every week. Since March, there have been 87 cases of COVID-19 in the Township. Over 20 of those cases have been reported in November. We are in the midst of the “second wave” of this virus and we need to do everything possible to slow the transmission. This past Monday, the Governor signed an Executive Order reducing the indoor gathering limits to no more than 10 people. As you finalize your Thanksgiving plans, I urge you to honor these limits. This is not the year for a big family gathering. For more information on how to celebrate Thanksgiving safely, please view the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s guidance on holiday celebrations<https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/holidays.html>. The New Jersey Department of Health also strongly recommends against families taking residents out of long-term care facilities for holiday celebrations or gatherings. I know many college students will be traveling home over the next couple of days. While it is exciting for us to have them back home in our community, we need everyone to work together to mitigate community spread. If a student hasn’t completed a 14-day quarantine before traveling home, the student can continue that quarantine period at home, but should remain separate from their family, especially high-risk family members. Additionally, college students are encouraged to get tested. For a list of Morris County testing sites, please go here: https://health.morriscountynj.gov/morris-county-covid-19-testing-sites/. As many things this year, this holiday season will not look like years past. Please do your part to protect your loved ones, neighbors, and the most vulnerable in our community by maintaining social distancing, wearing a mask, washing your hands, and keeping your Thanksgiving celebrations small and if possible, outdoors. Have a great weekend, and stay safe. Sarah Neibart Mayor, Mendham Township

5 years

Halloween Weekend

by mendhamtwprecreation＠lists.cit-e.net

It has been 240 days since the first reported case of COVID-19 in New Jersey. After eight months, I understand that we are all suffering from pandemic fatigue, but this virus has been waiting for us to get lax in our personal responsibilities. As we enter Halloween weekend, I want to remind everyone that our state is seeing an increase of new cases linked to small gatherings in private homes, where people are more likely to let their guard down. If you are celebrating Halloween this weekend, please do your best to keep your Halloween activities outside and maintain social distancing. The Mendham Township Recreation Department is hosting a Halloween Party tomorrow at Brookside Field from 1:00pm – 3:00pm. There will be games, music, a fire safety demonstration, and lots of fun for the entire family. We look forward to seeing you dressed up and ready for the festivities! Tomorrow night, trick-or-treating will take place in the Township from 4:00pm - 8:30pm. Please trick-or-treat in small groups and make sure that someone has a flashlight. For those putting out treats, please do your best to arrange your treats in such a way that they can be quickly and safely accessed without multiple pieces being touched. If you are trick-or-treating, do not approach a house that has their lights off, a sign posted that they are not participating or something taped across their door or walkway. Remember - no Halloween costume is complete without a face mask! On a different but related note, over the last few weeks there has been an uptick in burglaries and car thefts across Morris County. The 9pm Routine of locking your car, setting your alarms, and bringing all of your belongings in every night, needs to be a routine that you follow all day, every day. Just last week, Mendham Township Police responded to an attempted break-in during the morning hours. We live in a safe town, but crimes can still happen. I hope you have a fun and safe Halloween weekend. Looking forward to seeing your festive costumes and face coverings! Sarah Neibart Mayor, Mendham Township

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Recreation Program Updates November 2020