The Maplewood Township Committee has a full agenda for its Tuesday night meeting, which will be held at 7:30 p.m. at Town Hall. On the docket:
- A presentation of proposed changes to the Post Office Redevelopment, and an introduction of a new ordinance regarding the changes.
- Authorization of an emergency contract for recycling pick up in January and February 2015.
- Adoption of the 2015 temporary budget.
- A Board of Health meeting, during which the issue of the township’s animal control will be discussed.
“The Animal Control discussion is on the Board of Health agenda for Tuesday night,” said Mayor Vic DeLuca in an email. “Anyone attending to speak will be asked to share their comments during the Board of Health portion of the meeting.”
With the closing of the Jersey Animal Coalition shelter, used by both Maplewood and South Orange, township officials have been discussing what to do about animal control and sheltering needs.
Each town currently employs an animal control officer, Debbie Hadu in Maplewood and Melanie Troncone in South Orange. Currently, South Orange contracts with Associated Humane Societies in Newark for animal sheltering needs.
“We will continue to use Associated Humane until everything is sorted out,” said South Orange Township Administrator Barry Lewis.
“We are talking with South Orange about a shared service,” said DeLuca. He declined to comment on whether that would potentially mean sharing an animal control officer, saying the township does not publicly comment on personnel issues. Lewis confirmed there has been “some discussion” about sharing an officer.
