Special Council Budget Meeting, Park Street Road Closure, Plant Sale and More

[Update: Due to the weather, construction on South Park Street has been delayed until Wednesday. The orginal post indicated construction would start Monday.] 

The Montclair Township Council will convene for a special budget meeting on Tuesday, April 30 at 6:30 p.m. in the municipal building, at 205 Claremont Ave. An agenda is attached as a pdf.

The council's $77.8 million proposed 2013 budget would increase the tax levy 2.4 percent this year, or $1.25 million. The overall budget is up $2.25 million or 3 percent from 2012. 

This means the average home assessed at approximately $505,600 can expect to pay about $5,315 in municipal taxes, which is an increase of $94 from last year. 

Since the council approved its preliminary budget, each township department has gone before the council and laid out its 2013 budget requests.  

In April, the Montclair Police Department presented a $13.6 million budget — a 6.6 percent increase from last year — as it looks bolster its ranks in the coming year. 

The Montclair Public Library  to its 2013 budget in early April as administrators and volunteers take on growing circulation and attendance. 

The Montclair Parking Utility, departments of public works and finance, the offices of the township attorney, and municipal clerk and township manager gave their requests in April. The same night, the Montclair Health Department requested a $1.18 million budget.  

South Park Street will be closed on Wednesday while construction crews work on a portion of the concrete midblock crosswalk. While the northbound roadway will be closed for construction only, the southbound roadway will remain closed until May 12. 

It's Free First Thursdays at the Montclair Art Museum on Thursday, May 2. The museum will be open late from 5 to 9 p.m. with free admission, activities, live music, tours and a full-service bar.

The 2013 Garden Club of Montclair Plant Sale will be held on Thursday, May 2 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Montclair Historical Society, at 108 Orange Road. The plant sale will be open on Friday, May 3 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday, May 4 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., rain or shine.

This year, the proceeds from the Garden Club Plant Sale will go toward the beautification of Hillside Elementary School. The sale will feature a huge selection of deer resistant plants, annuals, perennials and container gardens. 

The Montclair Historical Society will also be holding its Annual Herb Sale at the same time next door at The Israel Crane House, at 110 Orange Road. 

Garden Club members will also be on hand to share their gardening and plant expertise.