Palagano explained that larger restaurants such as Stamna Greek Restaurant or Bar Cara on Broad Street have expansive sidewalk seating areas that accommodate a large number of customers, which makes it worth their while to pay the $200 licence fee to the township. However, she said, she has heard from the owners of Anthony?s Cheesecake on Washington Street and the Lunch Box on Broad Street, who would like to put out a table or two in front of their locations during the good weather, but feel the $200 fee is exorbitant for their purposes.
Township Attorney Brian Aloia suggested that Community Development Director Glenn Domenick be consulted to make sure the tables would not block the sidewalks. However, he was assured by Palagano that the rest of the ordinance, which requires that pedestrians have four feet of space to pass by the tables, would still apply, and that only the fee would change for these smaller businesses. Councilman Bernard Hamilton suggested that the Bloomfield Center Alliance be made aware of the amendment so that other businesses could benefit from the change.
The council also voted to approve the transfer of a liquor license from the former owners of Bohemia Restaurant on Broad Street to new owners Skyline Properties Group, LLC. Councilman Hamilton abstained.
In other business, the council agreed unanimously to ban cell phone use during council meetings by both members of the council and attendees. Initially, Mayor McCarthy proposed banning the use of cell phones only by council members, saying that it was rude for them to be texting or otherwise using cell phones when the official meetings were taking place. Councilwoman Peggy Dunigan then suggested that attendees at meetings should also be prohibited from using cell phones, and the rest of the council concurred.
There will be a meeting to discuss the township budget starting at 8 a.m. this Saturday, March 16, in the second floor conference room in the Law Enforcement Building. During the public comment period, Maria Probst asked whether the meeting would be televised. Mayor McCarthy responded that it would not. Pat Gilleran then urged the mayor to have the meeting videotaped in the interest of transparency. Mayor McCarthy explained that it is a workshop meeting that could go on ?5 or 6 hours,? and did not need to be televised since it is a public meeting and members of the public are welcome to attend. Gilleran also urged the mayor to post any documents presented at the meeting on the town website. McCarthy said the budget will be posted on the site.
On another subject, Gilleran questioned the mayor and council why a letter directed against a specific person and her mother was allowed to be read into the public record at a council meeting last October, citing a municipal ordinance governing appropriate decorum during the public comment period. McCarthy said he had done nothing inappropriate in allowing the letter to be read.
Also during public comment, the owner of a barbershop on Broad Street said he felt he was being targeted by someone who contacted the police about his shop being open after the legal hours. Mayor McCarthy, who said he disagreed with the ordinance limiting hours for barbershops, said he would meet with the township administrator and Police Chief Ghoul to discuss the issue.
The council also voted last night to appoint two new members, Doris Carroll and Rich Rockwell, to the Historic District Review Board to fill two vacancies on that board.
The next council meeting will be held on Monday, March 18, 2013, at 7 p.m. in the council chambers.
Related Posts:
celiac disease san francisco giants Medal of Honor Warfighter Richard Mourdock d t p
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.