North Brunswick Train Station Achieves Key Design Milestone
Video – North Brunswick Train Station Update
North Brunswick Township Police Department Press Release
As we wake up this morning, many of us are still in disbelief having seen the video released last night that captured the brutal events that took place on January 7th in Memphis, Tennessee where the reckless acts of five police officers cost a young 29-year-old man his life.
We at the North Brunswick Township Police Department are appalled and embarrassed by this event. When incidents such as this take place anywhere in the country it affects every man and woman that wears the badge. These tragedies not only take an emotional toll on the officers who know right from wrong, but they erode the trust the community has in them.
New Jersey has the strictest use-of-force policies and de-escalation training in the country. The North Brunswick Township Police Department embraces this standard. Our officers train on use-of-force and de-escalation tactics throughout the year and are devoted to protecting and serving our community in a professional, compassionate, and humane manner in every interaction.
We promise you that the North Brunswick Township Police Department will continue to work hard on ways to secure the trust of the community we serve, build bridges for more inclusive relationships, and assure residents and visitors that the events in Memphis, Tennessee, or Minneapolis, Minnesota, or elsewhere will never happen here.
Chief Joseph Battaglia
37-Year Officer of the NBTPD
Township Council Members in attendance with First Lady Tammy Murphy at Grant Award Ceremony
North Brunswick Township Council President Rajesh Mehta and Councilwomen Amanda Guadagnino and Mary Hutchinson were in attendance with New Jersey First Lady Tammy Murphy today for a grant award ceremony at the NJ Economic Development Authority’s New Jersey Bioscience Center (NJBC) – Step-Out Labs off Route 1.
The Commission on Science, Innovation and Technology (CSIT) Board awarded a combined $1.275 million in grants to 17 startups to accelerate the development of technologies, products, and services that support maternal and child wellbeing.
North Brunswick based Lactiga Inc. was one of the grant award recipients.
“New Jersey is home to some of the most innovative startups across a myriad of industries, and it is my honor to be here today to recognize some of the top startups in maternal and infant health,” said First Lady Tammy Murphy. “As we celebrate our sixth annual Maternal Health Awareness Day here in New Jersey, I reflect on the significant work we have accomplished and what has yet to come. In the next three years, a top priority is to build a thriving Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Center in Trenton that will continue this groundbreaking work long past the Murphy administration. I am certain that today’s grant recipients will be essential partners to the Center and to Nurture NJ.”
North Brunswick native sworn in as township police officer
A section of North Brunswick Municipal Complex is expected to open in the fall
Susan Loyer
MyCentralJersey.com
NORTH BRUNSWICK – Township officials are hoping a section of the township’s municipal complex, which remains closed because of flooding from the remnants of Hurricane Ida more than 18 months ago, will reopen this fall.
The rest of the building could reopen in early 2024, said Mayor Francis “Mac” Womack.
The first floor of the police department, the main lobby and the courtroom at the complex on Hermann Road sustained extensive flood damage in the record-setting rainstorm, forcing the relocation of offices and the police department.
Some township offices are operating out of trailers at the site, while others have been moved to other locations.
Womack said the township does not have an exact cost for repairs, but he estimated damage to be in the multi-millions dollar range.
Womack said he is hoping most, if not all of the cost will be paid for by insurance and FEMA.
On Jan. 24, township officials are scheduled to meet with the project managers, said Township Business Administrator Justine Progebin, who is overseeing the work.
“The township will receive a recommendation and direction for the next stage of active restoration efforts at the end of the month,” Progebin said.
Managing the restoration are CME Associates, concentrating on the structural integrity of the building; T&M Associates, responsible for the mechanical, electrical and plumbing aspects of the boiler room; Hillmann Consulting, focusing on the environmental integrity of the building; and USA Architects, which is responsible for restoration and possible improvements to the building.
In addition, BDO USA is assisting the township in reviewing all insurance claims and navigating the FEMA claim, Progebin said.
“FEMA has been very, very helpful, but that’s a slow process and when you have to navigate with your insurance company and with FEMA you try to make sure everybody is on the same page so we don’t use a single taxpayer dollar that we don’t have to use,” Womack said. “That’s taking a long time. We’ve been very careful. We don’t want to spend one dollar of taxpayer money if we don’t have to.”
Parts for the mechanical room have all been ordered, Progebin said. The elevators are being brought to the site and the contract for roof repairs has been awarded, she added.
“They are looking at putting the elevators in sometime in March,” she said. “In May, they will be working on the roof, which should be completed in July.”
After the mechanical room, elevators and roof are done, workers can move forward with the rest of the restoration, Progebin said.
In addition, while the building is closed, the township is considering making enhancements to the complex, which may include relocating the nearby senior center to the municipal complex.
“We’re hoping to make a greatly enhanced spot in the complex for our senior citizens,” Womack said.
The municipal building would serve as a community center offering senior activities on a daily basis, Progebin said. In addition, she said, the space could be used as an emergency center, if necessary.
“It would be able to transition on a moment’s notice to an emergency facility that can be used as a shelter,” Progebin said. “While the building is closed, the township is hoping to take the opportunity to do this and deliver the best possible outcome with no financial impact to the taxpayers.”
The township solicited bids for grant writers to help secure funding for the enhancements.
Progebin said the township does have capital funding for the seniors, as well as about $400,000 in a trust fund that is earmarked for the senior center.
“Instead of using that money to update the existing building, we’re hoping to redirect the money to give them the best possible space, rather than trying to fix their current spot,” she said.
After Sandy, the township received a $500,000 grant to install a full generator to run the municipal complex.
“The municipal complex already has the infrastructure in place,” Progebin said. “The generator is there, the space is there and we’ve already addressed the storm water issues. Building a stand-alone resiliency facility that doesn’t get used regularly seems wasteful. This seems like a much more cost-efficient plan.”
She said the plan would then free up the senior center, which could possibly be used as a neighborhood youth civic center, but the proposed plans are still under discussion.
Finance, Tax and Water Services offices move to temporary location
The Finance, Tax and Water Services offices have moved to their temporary location at 98 Renaissance Boulevard North (in front of the North Brunswick Township Middle School). Hours of operation are from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Office will be open for in-person transactions. A drop box will be installed at this location in addition to the drop box at the Municipal Complex. Drop boxes are checked daily during business hours.
Tax and water/sewer payments may be made in-person, online via the Township’s website or by one of the drop box locations (710 Hermann Road and 98 Renaissance Blvd).
The Finance Office may reached by phone at (732) 247-0922, extension 455, the Tax Collector’s Office at extension 460 or Tax Assessor’s Office at extension 465. For water/sewer billing inquiries and issues, please dial extension 458.
