Health Department Requests $1.18M Budget

The Montclair Health Department requested a $1.18 million budget in 2013 from the Township Council on Tuesday. 

The Health Department, which includes nursing services and animal control, generates about $530,800 in revenues for the township, bringing its total cost to taxpayers to about $650,000.  

Health Department Director Sue Portuese said the township's new sidewalk cafe ordinance, which was passed last year 11 businesses are fully licensed so far, which has generated $3,500.  

Portuese said sidewalk cafe licenses will bring in more money to the township in the coming years as some fees were waived for the first year of the ordinance.   

“We should see some increase in revenues for this,” said Portuese. 

Animal Control requested an increase of about $31,000 as it looks to increase adoptions in 2013. The animal shelter brought in about $12,000 last year in fees as adoptions jumped 70 percent, said Animal Control Director Melissa Neiss. 

Environmental Affairs 

Environmental Affairs Coordinator Gray Russell said the department will seek to renew its Sustainable Jersey certification, which will make the township eligible for federal grants. In addition, a primary goal will be to reduce environmental waste which Russell said equates to “wasted money" for taxpayers. 

Russell said the department has been working with Montclair schools to increase their recycling, which he said has been falling short.  

“Most of the schools are doing an okay job from time to time, but they could still use some help,” said Russell. 

Because the township pays for recycling pickup, Mayor Robert Jackson suggested making schools pay for their own recycling disposal to encourage them to recycle more.  

“I laud what’s going on, but maybe at some point it should be ...,‘If you pay for it, you’ll pay attention to it,'" said Jackson. 

Also presenting budget requests Tuesday were the departments of public works and finance, the offices of the township attorney, municipal clerk and township manager, and the Montclair Parking Utility.