Politics & Government

Twp. Committee to Introduce New Liquor License

With a rising population, the township is eligible for a third consumption license.

The Committee will introduce an ordinance to amend the number of liquor licenses in town at their meeting Thursday.

The township can create and bid off one consumption (C) liquor license per 3,000 residents. They currently have two C licenses and a population of about 10,000 people.

"Currently, our ordinance only allows for two," Mayor Nicole Hagner said. Those two licenses are currently held by and the .

Find out what's happening in Chathamwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The ordinance is listed on the agenda for first introduction. If it passes, a second reading and public hearing will be scheduled.

Besides the auction price, the license has an additional fee of $1,595. The winning bid must prove the establishment where the license will be used can meet certain qualifications, including minimum distances from schools and religious establishments.

Find out what's happening in Chathamwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

When the committee first discussed creating the third license, all members agreed it would draw businesses to Chatham Township.

Open Space Tax

The agenda for Thursday's meeting also includes a final reading of an ordinance lowering the Open Space Tax to half a cent for 2012.

If the ordinance passes, the tax levy for 2012 will .

Phone System

A resolution to award a contract for the purchase and installation of a new telephone system also appears on the agenda.

Details of the contract were not immediately available since the township, as a practice, does not release resolutions in advance of the meetings.

Township Administrator Thomas E. Ciccarone previously awarded a purchase order for a new phone system. .

The current phone system is provided by Data Network Solutions (DNS). The system now runs on an underground copper wire with no plastic conduit or waterproofing, which has been in place for more than 20 years.

Isaac Fajerman, the president of DNS, described the system as "residential" and not suited for business use, as well as ancient and outdated. In an email to Chatham Patch Wednesday, he claimed, "Ciccarone never called with any service complaints."

 

 

Ciccarone said DNS provided IT support for 15 years to the township, but the services "were terminated in June [2011]." 

The Chatham Township Committee meets at 7:30 p.m. at the . The agenda for the meeting is attached to this article.

 


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