The main focus of the Township Committee in March was downtown redevelopment. In early March we held a town hall style meeting (later repeated for the Seniors) to unveil preliminary plans which include road, lighting, traffic flow and building facade improvements along Morris Avenue. Later in the month, with the involvement of the Springfield Business Improvement District (BID) and our redevelopment attorney Joseph Bauman, the Township Committee added three lots in need of redevelopment to the project. These properties are on Caldwell Place, Church Mall and Black’s Lane. In addition, the township signed a “cooperation agreement” with a property owner on Church Mall, signifying the beginning of redevelopment in that area.

The Committee heard progress reports on initial planning for renovations to the Teen Center at Chisholm and grant applications for the creation of rain gardens in the township to help with drainage issues. Reports were heard from all Department Heads. Included were progress reports on initial planning for renovations to the Teen Center at Chisholm and grant applications for creation of rain gardens in the township to help with drainage issues. The work on the Mount View clean up is in progress, including a new “parklet” at the top which will provide a rest area for walkers and cyclists as well as improving drainage in that area. There were positive reports from all other departments including Police, Fire and Engineering.

In other business, various routine resolutions were passed, including promotions for two policemen and a firefighter, and resolutions regarding the redevelopment properties mentioned above. Also passed was Resolution 2014-69 adopting the 2014 budget of the Springfield Community Partnership (BID) which this year will focus on visual improvement issues including signage and landscaping along Mountain Avenue. This emphasis will provide the public with the first visible manifestations of the redevelopment in progress. Also adopted was Ordinance 2014-01, authorizing various additions and improvements to the Municipal Pool to be done this year. For several years the Township has been reinvesting surplus revenue from the pool into improvements.

These meetings are open to the public and participation is welcome! The Workshop meeting at the Firehouse is at 7:30 on the Monday preceding the first Executive Session of the month. Executive Sessions are held on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month at 7:30 in the Municipal Courtroom, Town Hall.