March 25, 2008

Township Manager Joseph M. Hartnett issued a statement today to clarify the costs of installing curbing in the Township. “Unfortunately, a lot of misinformation is being spread on this issue,” the Manager explained. “I believe this stems from the fact that a hypothetical discussion occurred at a Township Council meeting where people were discussing hypothetical numbers,” Hartnett said. “In any case,” he pointed out, “the fact is that there is little or no price difference between installing Belgian block curbing and installing concrete curbing, and sometimes, depending on the market, concrete is even more expensive than block.” He noted that the most recent Township bids received from contractors indicated prices per foot for installing curbing as follows:

The Manager further explained that Township officials were reviewing the issue of whether to suspend the Township’s program of installing new curbing for entire blocks and considering just repairing smaller sections in need. “No decisions have been made on this, but it is under review,” he said. Under current township ordinances, all property owners are responsible to maintain the curbs adjacent to their property. The Manager also added that the issue of curbing “is not a trivial matter.”

“Curbing is not first and foremost an aesthetics issue,” he said. “Curbing and the work related to it are essential for proper drainage. Poor drainage adversely effects the environment via erosion and pollution and worsens road and pothole conditions. Good curbing is good for the environment and the newest laws regarding stormwater drainage are environmental laws, enacted via and enforced by the State Department of Environmental Protection, not the road department.”

“Curbing is installed for drainage and environmental reasons,” Hartnett continued. “What kind of curbing is the only aesthetic issue. Since the cost is equal, the policy in Montclair is to do Belgian block to: 1, make the community more aesthetically attractive; 2, preserve and enhance the investment taxpayers have in their homes.”

The Manager stated further that “poor curbing is a safety and liability issue as well, because children and adults can break an ankle or otherwise be injured, not to mention expensive property damage to cars or other vehicles.”

“Finally,” the Manager concluded, “curbing is a long-term capital improvement paid for over many years through the capital budget, not the operating budget, so the effect of a typical project on the annual tax bill is minimal.”