Residents often ask: "How is the Town doing?" The answer is we are keeping up with our maintenance and we are moving forward in making improvements despite the limitations imposed by the State and by the economy.

This year we continued our street paving program with another mile of roadway, while rebuilding curbs and stone drains. We also replaced 2 dump trucks and purchased a new front-end loader for our public works department.

Over the summer we replaced all of the water meters in Town with new models that are more accurate and can be read remotely, increasing the accuracy of the billing and lowering the cost of monitoring.

We also began a program for the first time to reline many of the old sewer lines in Town. This year we rehabilitated 1700 feet of sewer lines and 15 sewer manholes. This multi-year program will increase the integrity of the system and prolong its useful life.

Very soon we will begin a program to replace 44 fire hydrants, as well as upgrading 8,000 feet of water mains along Ridgewood Avenue.

Financing for these projects was obtained through the State Environmental Infrastructure Trust Fund and we utilized that program's very low interest loans with a 20-year payback period.

Our efforts to improve our status as an environmentally aware and responsible community were recognized this year as we gained Sustainable New Jersey Status, a level of achievement attained by only 16% of the communities in the State.

This achievement results from the leadership of our Environmental Advisory Committee and our commitment as a town to reduce our community's environmental impact.

In its first year of operation, our new Shade Tree Commission has already made substantial progress toward reducing the loss of our Town's shade tree canopy.

By the end of the year we will have a complete inventory of all borough-owned trees, cataloguing them by species, size and condition. The inventory includes a GPS mapping component that will allow us to locate our problems and make plans for future improvements.

The Commission also started a "600 Tree Campaign" to seek donations from residents and other funding sources to increase the number of trees that we can plant each year. After two years without planting any new trees in the Borough, we will plant 41 new trees, 2/3 of which were paid for by private donations.

I am pleased to announce that we have entered into a new shared-service agreement with the Township of Bloomfield that will give our residents access to Bloomfield's Social Services department. This department has a professional staff of social workers and numerous programs that provide important benefits to all our residents.

Each new season brings new challenges to our Community. We will continue to meet those challenges with energy, careful thought, and a commitment to maintaining the quality of service that residents have come to expect from Glen Ridge.

To assist residents with their fall yard cleanups, the Borough of Glen Ridge provides leaf disposal services in compliance with New Jersey State Law.

State law prohibits the disposal of leaves with other garbage at the resource recovery facility, so the Borough provides pick-up and removal to an approved, designated compost area.

From November 1, 2011 through December 31, 2011 a truck specifically contracted to collect bagged leaves will make curbside pick-ups as follows:

• If your garbage is picked-up on Mondays and Thursdays, Monday will be your leaf collection day throughout November and December.
  
  
• If your garbage is picked-up on Tuesdays and Fridays, Tuesday will be your leaf collection day throughout November and December.
  
  
• If your garbage is picked-up on Wednesdays and Saturdays, Wednesday will be your leaf collection day throughout November and December.

Leaves may not be placed at curbside on your second collection day of the week (Thursday, Friday, or Saturday).

New Jersey laws and Borough of Glen Ridge ordinance provide for penalties for residents who do not follow these rules regarding leaf disposal:

• Bags must contain only leaves (no garden debris, grass clippings, sticks or branches).
  
  
• Bags containing anything other than leaves may be left at the curb on your second regular garbage pick-up day (Thursday, Friday or Saturday).
  
  
• Leaf bags will not be picked up if they exceed a 50-pound weight limit.
  
  
• Leaves may not be raked onto any streets or gutters in the Borough including county roads.

The use of biodegradable bags is encouraged but for the convenience of residents, sturdy 55-gallon plastic bags are available at the Municipal Building ($5.00 per bundle of 10, $50.00 per case of 100).

Regular rear yard collection of garbage will continue to be picked-up twice a week.

For additional information contact the Public Works Department at 973-748-8400 ext. 223