Council Passes Christmas Tree Ordinance

Was it really Christmas in August? Outside, the mercury may have been in the 90s, but on Monday the members of the town council found themselves eyeing the holiday season as they voted on an ordinance regarding the sale of Christmas trees within the township.

The council voted 4-1 in favor of approving the new Christmas Tree Sales ordinance. The new ordinance will lower the fee for tree vendors from $1,500 to $500 and will make service organizations interested in selling trees for charitable purposes exempt from paying the fee.

Councilwoman Deborah Shapiro was the lone member of the council to vote in opposition. "I don't want to be the Grinch that stole Christmas," she said, adding that she had no problem with lowering the fee for tree vendors. Rather, she maintained that she was not in favor of exempting charitable and service groups from the permit fee.

"The township is not in the charity business and people should from charitable organizations, who if they want to sell Christmas trees should include the cost of the permit in the cost of their sale price," Shapiro said.

Mayor Rudy Fernandez explained his decision to back the new ordinance. "Service organizations weren't subject to any type of fee in the past," he said.

Also on the agenda, was a "Contract Close-Out" agreement in which the council voted unanimously to pay a sum of $389,976 to the Chanree Construction Co. for additional work that arose as a result of change orders in the construction of the new Town Hall that opened nearly a year ago.

Members of the council praised both parties for their work in settling the issue as it would have resulted in costly litigation for the township had the matter went to court. "Construction-related litigation is the most painstaking and tedious litigation there is," said Deputy Mayor Stephen Santola.

Likewise, Fernandez said that the township made the right decision in settling with the construction company. "I always think that reaching resolution without litigation is always better," he said. "Getting into a battle with the experts ends up costing time, money and energy." The mayor also pointed out that even with the agreement in place, any warranties related to the work will still be available to the township, if needed.

The town council will meet next time on Monday, Aug. 15 for a conference meeting beginning at 7:30 p.m.

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