Category Archives: News and Events
PRESS RELEASE: Bridgewater Township Council Passes Resolution Expressing Disappointment in Lack of Federal Stimulus Funds
Bridgewater Township Council Passes Resolution Expressing Disappointment in Lack of Federal Stimulus Funds
Bridgewater, NJ – The Bridgewater Township Council unanimously passed a Resolution expressing disappointment in the lack of federal stimulus funds coming to Bridgewater Township and called on the Township’s federal representatives to advocate for any future stimulus or aid for Bridgewater Township to help minimize the impacts of this crisis on its residents and property taxpayers.
$82.2 million of the $2.2 Trillion stimulus bill has been allocated to the State of New Jersey along with various counties and to municipalities with populations of at least 50,000, but Bridgewater received no funding because it misses the threshold at 45,000 residents.
“In addition to the devastating loss of life in Bridgewater from the COVID-19 pandemic, 28 souls as of today, we are also taking it on the chin financially through a tax revenue reduction of as much as $1.8 million and at least $250,000 in increased expenses,” said Councilman Michael Kirsh. “Governments and agencies throughout this region are raising their hands asking for help. We don’t have a daily televised press conference to make our plea. So instead, this resolution asks our Federal representatives, Senators Menendez and Booker and Congressman Malinowski, to fight for the needs of Bridgewater and hundreds of municipalities like us that have been bypassed to date, despite allocation of a whopping $2.2 Trillion in aid.”
Mayor Matthew Moench added,”I am in lockstep with the Council on this Resolution and I thank Councilman Kirsh for his leadership on it. Bridgewater has a population of 45,000; 5,000 short of the requirement to receive funding in this tranche of money. As the largest municipality in our Congressional District, I would have expected a better result. I implore our federal representatives to fight harder for Bridgewater as additional funding becomes available.”
Please see below for the full text of the Resolution:
A RESOLUTION EXPRESSING DISAPPOINTMENT IN THE LACK OF FEDERAL STIMULUS MONEY BEING AWARDED TO BRIDGEWATER TOWNSHIP (TO DATE) AND REQUEST FOR CONSIDERATION FOR FEDERAL STIMULUS FUNDS THAT MAY BE AWARDED IN THE FUTURE
WHEREAS, In March 2020 the United States House of Representatives and United States Senate passed S. 3548, a $2.2 Trillion “Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act” also known as the “CARES
Act”; and
WHEREAS, a stated intention of the CARES Act was to provide relief to individuals, businesses, agencies, and governments to account for negative financial consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic; and
WHEREAS, Bridgewater Township, with a population of 45,000, has experienced and is projecting a combination of higher expenses (at least $250,000) and reduced revenue (as much as $1.8 Million) directly attributable to the COVID-19 crisis; and
WHEREAS, the aforementioned impacts will require Bridgewater Township’s Mayor and Township Council to not only reduce expenses but to considerably increase the amount raised by taxation to develop a 2020 budget; and
WHEREAS, $82.2 million of the $2.2 Trillion stimulus bill has been allocated to the State of New Jersey along with various counties and to municipalities with populations of at least 50,000, but nothing for Bridgewater Township;
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Bridgewater Township Council expresses its profound disappointment that Bridgewater Township’s financial needs, and those of every other New Jersey municipality with fewer than 50,000 residents, have not been accommodated to date within the $2.2 Trillion CARES Act; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Bridgewater Township Council expresses to its elected Federal representatives (U.S. Senator Bob Menendez, U.S. Senator Cory Booker, and Congressman Tom Malinowski) its strong desire that any future stimulus or aid accounts for the needs of Bridgewater Township to help minimize the impact of this crisis on its residents and property taxpayers; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this resolution be transmitted electronically to the offices of U.S. Senator Bob Menendez, U.S. Senator Cory Booker, Congressman Tom Malinowski, State Senator Mike Doherty, Assemblyman John DiMaio, Assemblyman Erik Peterson, the Clerk of the Somerset County Board of Chosen Freeholders, and the Administrator of the Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District.
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Mayor Moench Holds Digital Small Business Forum with SBA
Last Friday, Mayor Matthew Moench and Bridgewater Township, in partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration, hosted a digital Small Business Forum. Bridgewater small business owners will had the opportunity to hear directly from and ask questions to SBA officials.
Call Participants included:
· Matthew Moench, Mayor
· Michael Pappas, Bridgewater Township Administrator
· Alfred Titone, SBA New Jersey District Director
· Michael Lampton, SBA Disaster Field Operations Center Acting Deputy Director
· Kathy Cook, SBA External Affairs Specialist
Please click below for a recording of the event:
Mayor Moench Holds First Telephone Town Hall for Residents
Mayor Matthew Moench, joined by Bridgewater’s Health and Emergency Management Officials, held a Telephone Town Hall for Bridgewater residents to discuss the municipal response the COVID-19 pandemic.
The community conversation ranged from information released on positive cases in Bridgewater to public health safety tips for families and included discussion on municipal taxes and revenues. Please click the link below to listen to the recording:
Mayor Moench Calls for Legislature to Pass Local Finance Reforms
Bridgewater Mayor Matthew Moench sent a letter to Governor Phil Murphy and Legislative Leadership calling for them to take on a series of municipal finance reforms that would help municipalities, like Bridgewater, in dealing with budgetary issues as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. Please click the link below to read the letter:
PRESS RELEASE: Heath Officer Confirms First COVID-19 Related Death in Bridgewater
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Mayor Moench Issues Emergency Declaration in Response to COVID-19
Please click below to see the full text
Bridgewater Municipal Court Cancelled for Three Weeks
Bridgewater Township Municipal Court is cancelled for the next three weeks. Court is scheduled to resume on April 7th.
Bridgewater-Sponsored Recreational Activities are Suspended
RECREATION EVENTS SUSPENDED:
Effective immediately, Bridgewater Township is suspending all township-sponsored Recreation events until March 30. Additionally, all permits for the use of Bridgewater Township fields and facilities are suspended until March 30. We will continue to provide updates with any changes, or if any of these events are rescheduled.
PRESS RELEASE: Presumptive Positive Case of COVID-19 (coronavirus) in Bridgewater Resident
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2020 OPERATION SECURE SHRED SCHEDULE
Operation Secure Shred is sponsored by The Somerset County Board of Chosen Freeholders, in cooperation with the County Department of Public Works. All events run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. or until the trucks are filled, rain or shine.
Proof of Somerset County residency is required. Residents can bring a combination of up to six bags, containers or boxes per trip. No businesses allowed. No commercial vehicles allowed. For more information, call 908-203-6018, email PublicWorks@co.somerset.nj.us, or go to www.co.somerset.nj.us/shredding
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