Car Thefts, Broad St. West + More Discussed In Summit Facebook Live

SUMMIT, NJ — The two newest Council members to Summit Common Council, Delia Hamlet and Dr. Jaime Levine, discussed a variety of issues happening in the city during a Facebook Live on Tuesday.

From the proposed Maple Street closure to Broad Street West and crime in Summit, the council members addressed several commonly asked questions and concerns from residents.

Crime In Summit

Hamlet said her biggest concern right now is safety and crime in Summit.

"Instead of always talking about Maple Street, Broad Street West, let's get a handle on what's going on within our boundaries here," Hamlet said.

The Councilwoman referred to several car thefts and home burglaries that have occurred in Summit throughout the past two months.

Police Chief Steven Zagorski recently warned residents about the uptick in residential burglaries in Summit.

Read more: Police Chief Warns Of Increased Residential Burglaries In Summit

Councilwoman Levine said she is in support of implementing a geofence, which she believes would help prevent crimes from happening before they occur.

These devices contain cameras that are automatic license plate readers. Levine said if someone with a stolen car enters the city, the police would be notified and could potentially apprehend the person before they commit a crime.

Levine said Summit Police has asked the council to implement this, and she said she hopes there is room in the capital budget for this technology.

Communications Officer Amy Cairns, who moderated the Facebook Live, added that the Police Department is applying for grants to offset the costs of this technology.

Hamlet added that front tinted windows are illegal in New Jersey, and she believes the city should crack down on this.

"I think we need to look into pulling anyone over with tinted windows," Hamlet said. "There's just not a need for vehicles to be roaming around our neighborhoods with four tinted windows. It doesn't make anybody feel safe."

Maple Street Closure

There has been much debate amongst residents and council members about the potential closure of Maple Street. Many were worried that a permanent closure would be put in place, but most council members voiced their support of a seasonal closure to allow for outdoor dining in the warmer months.

The question remains how long the seasonal closure would last for, and if a closure in general is feasible for the city.

Council member Levine said the city is actively speaking with residents, business owners and restaurant owners on Maple Street to determine what is best for the city from a safety standpoint, an enjoyment standpoint, as well as an economic standpoint for businesses.

Levine said it is not economically feasible for restaurants to have the Maple Street closure for just eight weeks in the summer, as they would have to hire and train more staff for a very limited amount of time.

Council President Greg Vartan previously announced that the Capital Projects and Community Service Committee has been tasked with investigating what would be required by the Department of Transportation to close Maple Street.

Read more: Council Reveals Next Steps For Broad Street West, Maple Street Closure

Repaving Summit Avenue

One resident asked the council members when Summit Avenue will be repaved. He said it is currently "a disaster" to drive on, and drivers heading toward Route 24 regularly drive in the opposite lane to avoid the hazardous conditions.

Levine agreed that Summit Ave. is treacherous and said she has a friend that has two vehicles in the shop from driving on the street.

Because it is a county road, Levine explained there has been some delays with getting the road repaved. She said the road is slated to be repaved as soon as spring begins as part of the county's paving project.

In the meantime, Levine — who is on the Infrastructure Committee — said she is hoping to find a way to patch up some of the problem areas on the street as a temporary fix.

Broad Street West

While the Broad Street West redevelopment project is currently on hold while the council waits for an updated proposal from developers, the two Council members talked about what they'd like to see in a new proposal.

Levine said she is not in favor of having a new massive building in the city, but she said a concept of a multi-building plan is appealing to her.

Hamlet, who ran much of her recent campaign on Broad Street West, said she'd like to see a mix of apartments and a recreational space for families to enjoy.

"It really depends on what is economically feasible for the city, for the developers," Hamlet said.

Resident Kevin McGoey asked the council members about their stance on using Topology as the city's planner. He argued that Topology has made many mistakes during the Broad Street West planning process and believes the city should seek a new planner.

Levine disagreed that Topology is at fault for the "debacle" that was Broad Street West. She further explained that Topology was chosen as the planner because the firm helped create the city's Master Plan.

She said there are not a lot of other qualified planners out there.

McGoey then commented, "There are absolutely other planners. Chatham fired Topology and hired a new one. RFS hired a very capable Planner. The idea that there aren't others capable is not at all accurate."

Hamlet agreed with McGoey that Topology made a lot of mistakes but said they are now trying to "reverse course."

"I said they should be fired, but I think we will lose some momentum if we don't have at least a few conversations with them," Hamlet said.

You can view the full Facebook Live event below: