[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township
of East Amwell 4-14-2016 by Ord. No. 16-02. Amendments noted where
applicable.]
A. Pursuant to the provisions of N.J.S.A. 48:17-10, N.J.S.A. 48:17-11,
and N.J.S.A. 48:17-12, permission and consent is hereby granted to
Verizon New Jersey Inc. (the "company"), its successors and assigns,
to install, operate, inspect, maintain, repair, replace and remove
its communications facilities and other transmission or process equipment,
including underground facilities, such as conduits, manholes, cables,
wires, and all other facilities appurtenant thereto, and aboveground
facilities, such as cables, wires, antennas, poles, posts, supports,
guys, pedestals, cable termination and distribution cabinets and all
other facilities appurtenant thereto, in, through, upon, along, over,
under, and across all of the various public streets and ways, which
include the roads, avenues, right-of-way, sidewalks, highways, bridges,
waterways, and other similar public places, and parts thereof, throughout
their entire length, and to effect the necessary street openings and
lateral connections to curb poles, property lines and other facilities
in the Township of East Amwell (the "Township") for said company's
local and through lines and other communications facilities in connection
with the transaction of its business. In the event that any public
street or way where the company has facilities is vacated by the Township,
the Township agrees to reserve unto said company the rights granted
the company by the present ordinance.
B. The term "communications facilities" and references thereto shall
not be construed to include any cellular wireless or other antenna
towers or similar structures; and nothing herein shall preempt or
in any way preclude or constitute a waiver of the Township's
exercise of its planning or zoning powers under the New Jersey Municipal
Land Use Law or other applicable law relative to the placement, regulation,
zoning or suitability of such structures within the Township.
All poles, posts, pedestals, cabinets, or other facilities shall
be located and placed back of the curblines where shown on the official
map(s) of the Township; the poles and posts, however, shall be located
within 18 inches of the face of such curbline or as may otherwise
be mutually agreed by both parties or otherwise required by law, or
at the points or places now occupied by the poles, posts, pedestals,
cabinets, or other facilities of the company, its successors and assigns,
and where there are no curblines, at other convenient points or places
in, upon, along, adjacent, or across the public streets and ways as
may be mutually agreed upon between the parties and subject to approval
by the Township Engineer, which approval shall not be unreasonably
withheld or delayed.
The company may bury its local and through communications facilities
such as cables, conduit, manholes and associated equipment, fixtures,
process equipment and appurtenances within the right-of-way of the
various public streets and ways and at such locations as shall be
mutually agreed upon by the parties for said company's local
and through lines and communications facilities. Underground conduits
and associated facilities, as aforementioned, shall be placed at least
18 inches below the surface of said public streets and ways and with
the exception of lateral branches to curb poles and property lines
and other facilities, the same shall generally not be constructed
more than 10 feet from the curbline, unless obstructions make it necessary
to deviate from such course or unless the parties mutually agree to
another location. Manholes shall be located at such points along the
line of underground conduits as may be necessary or convenient for
placing, maintaining, and operating the facilities, as aforementioned,
which the company may from time to time use in connection with its
underground conduit system and shall be so constructed as to conform
to the cross-sectional and longitudinal grade of the surface so as
not to interfere with the safety or convenience of persons or vehicles.
Before proceeding with any new construction or relocation of
work in an area covered by this ordinance, the company shall give
48 hours' prior notice in writing thereof to the Township in
nonemergency situations, through its designated representative, of
its intention to perform such work. Notice of such work that needs
to be performed in an emergency situation shall be provided to the
Township in writing as soon as practicable. The company shall obtain
such street opening or excavation permits as may be lawfully required
by any applicable ordinances and other laws regulating such openings
or excavations. Any such area affected by the company in constructing
its facilities shall be restored to as good condition as it was before
the commencement of work thereon. No public streets or ways shall
be encumbered for a period longer than shall be reasonable to execute
the work.
The company agrees to indemnify and save harmless the Township
from and against all claims and liabilities resulting from any injury
or damage to the person or property of any person, firm or corporation
caused by or arising out of road conditions resulting from any negligent
or faulty excavations, installation or maintenance connected with
the work or equipment of said company, and not attributable to the
fault or negligence of the Township, except that if such injury or
damage shall be caused by the joint or concurring negligence or fault
of the company and the Township, the same shall be borne by them to
the extent of their respective fault or negligence.
Whenever a curbline shall be established on streets where one
does not now exist or where an established curbline shall be relocated
in order to widen an existing street in conjunction with road construction
being performed by the Township, the company shall change the location
of its aboveground facilities covered by this ordinance in accordance
with applicable law, so that the same shall be back of, and adjacent
to, the new curbline so long as the Township has acted in accordance
with applicable law and with reasonable care in establishing the new
curbline and providing notice thereof.
Any company or corporation having legal authority to place its
facilities in the public streets and ways of the Township may jointly
use the company's poles, posts, pedestals or other structures
for all lawful purposes, provided that the company consents to such
use, on terms and conditions acceptable to the company, which shall
not be unreasonable, and not inconsistent with the provisions of the
present ordinance.
The company shall provide space, to the extent available, on its poles so long as said poles are occupied by the company and space, to the extent available, in its main conduits existing on the date of passage of this ordinance, but not exceeding one duct of standard size, for the sole benefit of the Township during the pendency of this ordinance. Such space shall be provided for the exclusive use of the Township which use shall be limited to accommodating the wires or electrical conductors required for one-way signal control in connection with municipal police patrol, fire alarm signal control and traffic signal control systems only; but for no other uses or purposes, either alone or in conjunction therewith; nor for circuits for the supply of electrical energy for traffic or other signals; nor for wires, conductors, cable or the equivalent which provide a means of transmitting any signal to a private, commercial or residential location, and which is normally provided by a nongovernmental supplier; provided, further, that no such use or attachment by the Township shall interfere with the plant or facilities of or the use thereof by the company. All costs or expenses incurred by the company in connection therewith shall be paid by the Township. It shall be the obligation of the Township to attach its wires, to the poles or place its electric conductors in the conduits or manholes of the company, provided that before proceeding with said work, either by itself or by a person, firm or corporation engaged to perform such work, the Township shall give the company 30 days' prior notice in writing. All such work shall be performed under the supervision of said company. The Township will indemnify and save harmless the company from and against all claims, liabilities or demands arising in any manner in connection with the Township's wires or facilities or their installation, maintenance, operation or removal, or the Township's use or enjoyment of the company's plant or facilities provided under this §
A188-8.
If any or all of the said streets or ways are later taken over
by the County of Hunterdon or the State of New Jersey, such County
or State shall have such rights and privileges and be subject to the
same terms, conditions and limitations of use as apply herein to the
Township; provided, however, that satisfactory prior arrangements
as may be necessary are made with the Township and the company for
the full protection of the respective interest of each.
The term "Township" as used in this ordinance shall be held
to apply to and include any form of municipality or government into
which the Township or any part thereof may at any time hereafter be
changed, annexed or merged.
The permission and consent hereby granted shall apply to and
cover all communications facilities of the company existing at any
time, and related structures, process equipment, and appurtenances
heretofore or hereafter erected, constructed, reconstructed, removed,
located, relocated, replaced, maintained, repaired, or operated by
the company, its predecessors, successors, or assigns within the Township's
right of ways. This ordinance shall cancel and supersede all prior
consent ordinances between the Township and the company regarding
the subject matter hereof.
This ordinance shall continue in effect for a period of 25 years
from the time it becomes effective. The company shall maintain its
property within the Township, including all poles in good and working
condition, shall comply with applicable law for the provision of safe,
adequate and proper service at just and reasonable rates, and safeguard
the public interest in continuous and uninterrupted service within
the Township.
In the event that any provision herein shall for any reason
be illegal or unenforceable under applicable law, such illegality
or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions of this
ordinance and this ordinance shall be construed as if such illegal
or unenforceable provision(s) had never been contained herein.
The company shall pay the expenses incurred for advertising
required in connection with the passage of this ordinance, after the
date of its first reading, within 30 days after the company has received
a bill for said advertising from the publisher. Following final passage
of this ordinance, the Township Clerk shall provide the company with
written notice thereof by certified mail. As provided by applicable
law, this ordinance, and any subsequent amendments, shall not become
effective until acceptance thereof by the company and approval thereof
by the Board of Public Utility Commissioners.
In the event any state or federal law permits the Township to
impose or receive fees or remuneration from the company, nothing in
this ordinance shall preclude the Township from collecting or receiving
such fees or remuneration.
Nothing herein contained shall be construed to grant unto said
company, its successors and assigns, an exclusive right, or to prevent
the granting of permission and consent to other companies for like
purposes on any of the streets, roads, avenues, rights-of-way, sidewalks,
highways, bridges, waterways, and other public places, and parts thereof
of the Township for the term of this ordinance; or require the company
to pay such fees or remuneration in the absence of any requirement
by state or federal law.
Following final passage of this ordinance the Township Clerk
shall provide the company with written notice thereof by certified
mail. As provided by applicable law, this ordinance shall not become
effective until acceptance thereof by the company, and approval thereof
by the Board of Public Utilities.
This ordinance shall take effect after final passage and publication
as prescribed by law.