Howell Public Works Open Space Program Scores State Award

HOWELL, NJ — The township Public Works Department has been recognized by a state organization for the scope of its passive outdoor recreation initiatives - ideas that have come to fruition thanks to the skill and hands-on work of the employees - and the vision of Director Paul Novello.

Novello is retiring this year from the role, but he leaves with an impressive legacy.

The New Jersey Chapter of the American Public Works Association has selected the department for the Public Works Project of the Year Award, in particular for the open space signage crafted by the department at various tracts in the township.

And not only that, one of the township DPW employees, Steven Rosenzweig, won statewide recognition as the recipient of the New Jersey Chapter Employee Award.

The awards were presented on Dec. 6 at a luncheon at The Bog Restaurant at the Cranbury Golf Course in West Windsor. And the Township Council recognized the recipients with proclamations at its meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 12.

The Howell Township Passive Outdoor Recreation Project encourages residents to "go out and enjoy its 2,000 acres of preserved open space," the township said. The initiative started in May 2022, and was completed in August 2023.

There were two aspects of this project: awareness and use, the township said.

While getting people outdoors was a main factor in this project, people will become more in tune with the environment - and the need to protect it, the township said.

A signage project was part of a plan by the township to make people aware of the open space available for their use, and the locations of all the larger tracts.

DPW’s sign shop designed, fabricated and installed 12 signs, identifying the property, the acreage of the particular tract, and a QR code that brings users to the Howell website to get additional information about the history of the site.

You can read more about the project in a story here.

The department also set out three trail cameras to take pictures of the wildlife in the area. These photos are downloaded to the website, accessible via the QR code for viewing.

Regarding the award to custodian Steven Rosenzweig, he was nominated and won for “going above and beyond" the scope of his duties, Novello said in his nomination for him.

"There have been countless times when an issue arises, and Steven has saved the day. When DPW leadership gets an after hours call and Steve is still working (he works until 11 p.m.), he is asked to provide an eyes on to better assist in DPW’s response. However, many times, with the help of the supervisor on the phone, he fixes the problem, or at least makes it safe to wait until the next workday."

The Howell Township Council read the proclamations this Tuesday to both Novello and Rosenzweig.

Rosenzweig was employed since 2002, the proclamation says, and it recognizes his state award - and "his hard work and dedication for Howell Township."

When he first started working for the township, he said to the audience Tuesday that he was told "Welcome to the family!"

"It's been an honor and privilege to serve Howell, and I consider it family," he added.

Novello, who has been DPW director since 2017, was unable to attend the meeting Tuesday, but the council noted the state Project of the Year award given to the department in another proclamation.

Apart from the award-winning project to identify the open space sites, the Council noted other projects that resulted from the hard work of the department: the archery range; the road division's hiking and biking trails (part of the Capitol to Coast Trail initiative); two ADA-compliant kayak launches, plus an outdoor expo held this summer.

And the benefits of the DPW work is far-reaching, the Council noted.

"We could not be prouder of our DPW. Everyone who lives in Howell has the benefit of all of the passive recreation," said Deputy Mayor Evelyn O'Donnell at the meeting.