Brownlee resigns from Maplewood TC

As family prepares to move out of town, committeeman to leave legacy of township service behind

Brownlee resigns from Maplewood TC

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — Marlon K. Brownlee resigned from the Maplewood Township Committee during its Aug. 2 meeting, announcing that his seat will be vacant effective Aug. 31. Brownlee said he and his wife have decided to move out of Maplewood, so he is leaving the committee to devote his energy toward readying for the relocation […]

First step taken in merging FDs

Two towns contract for study of fire departments for possible merger

First step taken in merging FDs

MAPLEWOOD / SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — The possible future of shared fire department services between Maplewood and South Orange is a credible option following the unanimous agreement by the governing bodies of both towns to award a contract to Manitou Inc. to conduct “an analysis of the operational efficiencies of and the feasibility of consolidation, […]

Summersgill holds campaign kickoff at Woodland

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — More than 50 people of all ages filled the Woodland for Mike Summersgill’s campaign kickoff rally, which included karaoke, face painting and an ice cream truck. Summersgill joined local children on stage and tried to keep up with Taylor Swift’s “Shake It Off” — a potential campaign mantra for a Republican running […]

Maplewood Fire Department revises emergency medical service protocols

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — Maplewood Fire Chief Michael Dingelstedt recently announced revised protocols for emergency medical services in response to concerns raised following the lengthy response time when an 8-year-old suffered a seizure on March 23. The Maplewood Fire Department completed a review of dispatching procedures and revised its operating procedures as described below. Dingelstedt consulted […]

Township Committee passes $41.88 million budget 5-0

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — At its April 19 meeting, the Maplewood Township Committee adopted a $41.88 million municipal budget for 2016. This budget includes $568,115 more than the 2015 budget, which has manifested in a 1.96-percent tax increase. The committee voted unanimously to pass the $41,881,775 budget, which will result in a tax increase of $81.98 […]

MONOC to be Maplewood’s first backup during weekdays

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — Following a “glitch,” Maplewood Township has clarified with dispatch who should be contacted when during an emergency. Going forward, should the Maplewood ambulance service be unavailable, REMCS, the Regional Emergency Medical Communications System, will contact MONOC as the first backup during times when the South Orange Rescue Squad is not working. This […]

Concerns stem from long ambulance wait

Maplewood officials to sit down and look at emergency response protocols following March incident

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — A child steps off a school bus and has a seizure. The many parents at the bus stop call 9-1-1. Nearly 20 minutes pass until an ambulance arrives. In that time, onlookers, parents and children become more and more frantic. This is not a cautionary tale; this happened last month in Maplewood […]

Maplewood poised to up smoking age to 21 in town

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — The Maplewood Township Committee is currently considering a proposal for an ordinance that would raise the age to which local retailers can sell tobacco products to 21; the state-mandated cutoff is currently 19. According to Mayor Vic DeLuca, such an ordinance would cover the sales of both cigarettes and e-cigarettes in addition […]

Maplewood to see 1.96-percent tax increase

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — Maplewood residents can expect to see a tax increase, according to the preliminary 2016 municipal budget, which was introduced at the March 15 Township Committee meeting. According to budget documents, the township’s Finance Committee is proposing a $41.5 million operating budget for 2016. The first reading of the preliminary budget was approved […]

TNR successes, failings topic of meeting

Committeewoman Larrier gets tough with nonprofit Furry Hearts, demands hard numbers in report

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — Although the Maplewood Board of Health seemed pleased to hear a report that 145 feral cats had been trapped, neutered or spayed, vaccinated and released, board President India Larrier had some tough documentation questions. During the Board of Health meeting, which took place Jan. 5, during the Maplewood Township Committee meeting and is […]