[Adopted 7-27-1987 by Ord. No. 1987-7 (Ch. 228, Art. IV, of the 1995 Code)]
A. 
No person, persons or corporation, municipal or private, nor any utility company, public or private, shall for any purpose open, tear up, excavate, bore, tunnel or drive under or in any way impair the surface or subsurface, within the limits of the right-of-way, of any Township road or street in Riverside Township without first obtaining a road opening permit from the Riverside Township Clerk. For purposes of this article, a "public utility" shall mean New Jersey Bell Telephone or Public Service Electric and Gas Company.
B. 
Nothing contained in this article shall be construed as requiring the issuance of a permit for the performance of any work done by the Township or under a contract with the Township for the construction of water lines, sewer lines or street improvements.
C. 
No person or corporation shall be issued a road opening permit until he presents satisfactory proof in the form of a written statement from the person or corporation engaged in the distribution or submission of manufactured, mixed or natural gas or synthetic natural gas, liquefied natural gas or propane gas in the area of the proposed road opening that said applicant has complied with the requirements of N.J.S.A. 2A:170-69.4 through 2A:170-69.6 which provide, among other things, that said applicant give to any person or corporation in the distribution or transmission of the aforesaid gases in the area of the proposed excavation written notice of the proposed excavation and ascertain from such person or corporation the location of all such gaslines or pipelines within 200 feet of the proposed excavation.
A. 
Form. Application for a permit shall be made in writing on forms to be prescribed by the Township Clerk and filed at least one week prior to the proposed commencement of any work. No work may commence until the date set forth in the issued permit. Plans, profiles and other details necessary to accurately depict the work to be performed shall be submitted before the permit is granted. The public utility applicant shall submit a copy of the application for an excavation permit to the Township Engineer, who shall calculate the fee(s) to be deposited pursuant to §§ 384-18 and 384-25 of this Code. The Township Engineer shall inform the Township Clerk and the applicant, in writing, of the amount of the fee to be deposited for the required fee as calculated by the Township Engineer.
B. 
Emergency conditions. In the event that an emergency condition exists requiring immediate action by any person requested to obtain a permit pursuant to this section, the person may immediately cause the roadway to be entered and emergency measures taken without first obtaining a permit, provided that:
(1) 
A true emergency exists and the person calls the police who shall log the call. The Township has the right to issue a stop-work order.
(2) 
A permit is applied for and received within 24 hours of the road opening or on the next business day, whichever is more practical.
(3) 
All work is performed in accordance with the provisions of this article.
(4) 
No road opening shall be permanently paved until authorized by the Township or its representative.
C. 
Waiver. When the opening is less than 50 feet long or 75 square yards, the Township Clerk may waive the requirements of the submission of plans.
D. 
Reference. Prior to the issuance of a permit, copies of the application therefor may be referred to the Township Engineer who shall note any objections to the issuance of a permit or any conditions to be imposed on the application within five working days. All objections and all conditions shall be satisfied or shall be imposed as conditions upon the issuance of the permit as appropriate.
E. 
Applicant. The applicant must be a contractor, either corporate, individual or partnership, who will be actually engaged in the performance of the road opening work under the permit or who will be directly responsible for the protection of the work, for the adherence of the work to the specifications and for the safety of the public. The application shall be made for and on the behalf of the owner for whom the work is being done and shall be countersigned by such owner. Permits will not be issued directly to private owners or developers without specific written approval of the Township Committee or its authorized representatives.
F. 
Agreement. The owner shall agree, as a condition of the issuance of a permit, that any facilities, pipes or poles or other object to be installed within the Township right-of-way pursuant to the permit shall be promptly relocated at the owner's expense, except when otherwise provided by law, as required by the Township of Riverside, to accommodate the installation of Township facilities. Such agreement shall be in writing and contained on the face of the application form and permit.
A. 
Generally. The New Jersey State Department of Transportation 1961 Standard Specifications for Road and Bridge Construction, with all amendments and supplements, shall govern all of the work performed under Riverside Township road opening permits, except as supplemented below:
(1) 
No Township road shall be closed to traffic without the prior written consent of the Township Committee. In the event that a road is closed, uniformed police may be required to act as traffic directors, and the proper traffic control devices shall be erected and maintained in accordance with standards described in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, 1971 Edition. All costs of providing uniformed police shall be the responsibility of the applicant/contractor. Any work under an issued permit must be commenced within three months from the date of issue and completed within three months from commencement, or said permit shall be deemed void and reapplication shall be required.
(2) 
Work commenced under a permit shall be continued without interruptions during normal working hours until completed.
(3) 
The applicant shall notify the Township Clerk and Township Engineer 24 hours in advance of the actual commencement of any work under a permit.
B. 
Guard. The applicant shall keep the excavation properly guarded both day and night and shall have lights, barriers and adequate safety devices as described in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices placed thereat and maintained throughout the performance of the work and shall interfere as little as possible with traffic along the Township street or road, and no greater part of any such street or road shall be opened than shall be set forth in the permit.
C. 
Minimum cover. All utilities shall be constructed with a minimum of four feet of cover to provide protection for the utilities in the event that future Township road construction, repair or modifications necessitate excavation, undercutting or installation of facilities in the area where the utility is located. This location will in no way relieve the utility owner of the responsibility of relocating said utility at said owner's expense in case of conflict with future construction, reconstruction or modification of related facilities, except as otherwise specified herein. The aforementioned four-foot minimum cover may be waived by the Township Engineer if the applicant prepares and files certified plans indicating the location, extent and depth of the facilities and said plans are approved by the Township Engineer. This subsection shall apply only to new construction.
A. 
Insurance. The applicant shall present evidence satisfactory to the Riverside Township Committee or its designated representatives of insurance sufficient to indemnify and save harmless the Township, its agents and servants against and from all suits and costs of every kind and from all damages resulting from negligence or from any phase of operations performed under the permit. Said insurance shall provide limits of not less than $300,000 of liability coverage per individual and $500,000 per accident.
B. 
Security.
(1) 
The Riverside Township Clerk shall not issue a permit unless the applicant has deposited, as security for faithful performance, a certified check made payable to the Treasurer of Riverside Township or filed a bond with surety satisfactory to the Township Attorney, the amount thereof to be based upon the security deposit fee schedule as contained in the schedule of charges and fees as hereinafter provided. A public utility applicant may, in lieu of the security required by the first sentence of this subsection, deposit a surety bond or self-insurance certificate in the amount of $10,000, said certificate or bond to be annually renewed. In the event that the public utility applicant applies for a permit for a road opening and the security deposit fee set forth in the first sentence of this subsection exceeds said $10,000, the public utility applicant shall file a surety bond or self-insurance certificate in an amount equal to the difference between the $10,000 and the first sentence security deposit fee. For all nonpublic utility applicants, the surety bond shall not be less than $500, but the amount of a certified check may be less.
(2) 
The applicant shall also pay, by separate money order, certified check or, if the applicant is a public utility as herein defined, by a corporate check a nonrefundable application fee as stipulated in the fee schedule. Applicants other than a public utility shall pay, by separate money order or certified check, a refundable escrow deposit fee for inspection and professional services as set forth in said schedule. The unused portion of the escrow deposit shall be returned, plus any earned interest. Should the escrow deposit fee account at any time become insufficient to cover the actual or anticipated inspection and professional expense, said fund shall be subject to increase on demand.
(3) 
Upon satisfactory completion of all work permitted or required under the permit for extensive openings, the Township of Riverside will retain 100% of the security deposit as security for maintenance of said work for a period not to exceed one year from the date of completion, if said security deposit is $2,000 or less. If the security deposit is less than $2,000 and is a certified check, the applicant may deposit a two-thousand-dollar surety bond, satisfactory to the Township Attorney, in lieu of said certified check. If the security deposit is greater than $2,000, then the Township will release or refund 60% or more, with the approval of the Township Engineer, of the security deposit, and a surety bond may be deposited for the maintenance. All bonds and certificates of insurance shall contain a provision that the same shall remain in full force and effect for a period not to exceed one year after the last work under any permit has been completed and accepted by the Township. Within six months after satisfactory completion of all work permitted or required under the permit for small openings, the Township will release the full amount of the security deposit.
(4) 
The Township shall pay from the escrow deposit fee any costs incurred by its designated representatives or professional consultants for inspection or other engineering services or legal fees required in connection with the proposed opening or excavation at the rates established.
C. 
Public utility corporations may, if so desired, file an annual bond in an amount to be determined by the Township Engineer and/or Township Attorney, but in no event less than $2,500, to cover the costs of replacing or repairing any street surface. The filing of such a bond shall in no way relieve any obligations as to obtaining a permit for each opening or excavation.
[Added 11-23-1987 by Ord. No. 1987-16]
The Township Engineer and/or Building Inspector shall periodically inspect all road openings and the repair and resurfacing thereof for the purpose of determining compliance with and conditions imposed on the issuance of the permit and the specifications. The Township may, upon the recommendation of its inspector:
A. 
Order a temporary stop to any road opening.
B. 
Order that the applicant perform or correct work in accordance with the directions of the Township.
C. 
Order a stop to any work and revoke the permit, in which event the Township of Riverside shall complete or cause to be completed the work and declare the applicant's cash deposit forfeit or notify the applicant's surety of an intent to file claim on the bond.
D. 
Correct any work after notification to the applicant and the neglect or the refusal of the applicant to make such corrections as indicated and, upon doing so, declare the applicant's cash deposit forfeit or notify the applicant's surety of an intent to file a claim on the bond.
E. 
Take any other action deemed reasonable under the circumstances.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
EXTENSIVE OPENING
An opening, tearing up or excavating, for any purpose, of a Township road of 100 feet or more of roadway length or where connecting lateral openings are made at average intervals of less than 100 feet along the roadway length or an opening which disturbs 20% or more of the pavement area.
SMALL OPENING
Any opening, tearing up or excavating, for any purpose, of a Township road which is not an extensive opening.
For all openings:
A. 
The paved roadway surfaces shall be cut vertically with a sharp tool on a straight line before excavating.
B. 
Suitable excavated material shall be used as backfill unless otherwise directed by the Township Engineer or his authorized agent.
C. 
Where directed by the Engineer, select granular material shall be used for backfill.
D. 
The uncompleted length of road opening allowed under a permit at any one time shall not exceed 50 linear feet, unless a special need can be established by the applicant and approval for exceeding this limitation is secured from the Township Engineer of Riverside.
E. 
In old asphalt pavements and newly constructed, reconstructed or overlaid asphalt pavements, before placing the base course, the opening shall be cut back six inches beyond the perimeter of the trench opening and a tack coat applied to all joints.
F. 
Where existing manholes are located in the shoulder areas, a minimum of two inches of asphalt FABC-1 Mix 5 shall be placed eight feet on both sides of the manhole casting on four inches of quarry processed stone. The width of the FABC-1 Mix 5 shall vary to the dimensions of the existing shoulder.
A. 
For all openings which disturb 20% or more of any portion of the paved roadway, the trench backfill shall be compacted to a level seven inches below the top of the adjacent paved surface. A base consisting of seven inches compacted depth of bituminous stabilized base, stone mix, Mix No. 1, shall be constructed level with the existing pavement.
B. 
After proper settlement, for any portion of the road that was disturbed by 20%, the entire width of paved roadway surface shall be overlaid with a 1 1/2 inch minimum thickness FABC-1 Mix No. 5 pavement applied to the entire length of the disturbed area and rolled in place to obtain a smooth pavement surface.
C. 
The determination of whether an opening disturbs 20% or more of the paved roadway will be made by the Township Engineer, Building Inspector or an entity designated by the Township Committee after the roadway has been disturbed.
For openings in old asphalt pavements and newly constructed, reconstructed or overlaid roads, clean granular backfill shall be furnished from outside sources. Backfill material shall be deposited in six-inch layers and thoroughly compacted to a level eight inches below the level of the adjacent paved surfaces. The openings shall be cut back six inches beyond the perimeter of the trench opening. The base course shall be bituminous stabilized base, stone mix, Mix No. 1, six inches thick. The surface course shall be two inches compacted depth of FABC-1 Mix No. 5. All joints between the new and existing pavements shall be sealed with a tack coat.
For all openings in concrete pavement surfaces, the trench backfill shall be compacted to a level two inches below the top of the adjacent paved surface. A two-inch compacted depth of temporary bituminous cold patch material shall then be placed, compacted level with the existing pavement and maintained by the permittee to pavement level by adding additional cold patch for a period of 30 days or more until final settlement has occurred. After final settlement, a pavement course of Class B concrete eight inches in depth shall be constructed level with the existing pavement surfaces.
A. 
Application fee, nonrefundable (other than public utilities).
(1) 
Road opening.
(a) 
First five linear feet: $15.
(b) 
All over five linear feet, said linear feet to be defined as the longest dimension: $10.
(2) 
Boring, tunneling or driving under road, lump sum: $25.
(3) 
Curb, gutter, sidewalk or driveway, lump sum: $15.
B. 
Application fee, nonrefundable (public utilities).
(1) 
Road opening.
(a) 
First five linear feet, said linear feet to be defined as the largest dimension: $50.
(b) 
All over five linear feet, an additional fee of $0.20 for each additional one linear foot.
(2) 
Boring, tunneling or driving under road or disturbance of curb, gutter, sidewalk or driveway.
(a) 
First 50 linear feet: $25.
(b) 
All over 50 linear feet, an additional fee of $0.20 per each one linear foot.
(3) 
The public utility application fee would be utilized to pay all expenses incurred by the Township or its professional consultants to administer, inspect and review and perform other services with respect to the application and construction. Application fees would be accumulated in one account for each public utility, and said funds can be utilized for payment of expenses incurred by the Township for any work performed by the respective utility company without restriction as to which application the funds were originally posted.
C. 
Security deposit fee.
(1) 
Opening paved areas, curb, gutter, sidewalk, driveway.
(a) 
Base charge: $25.
(b) 
Charge for each square yard of trench opened: $15.
(c) 
Charge for each square yard of paving: $5.50.
(d) 
Charge for each linear foot of curb: $7.
(2) 
Opening shoulders and roadside areas.
(a) 
Base charge: $25.
(b) 
Charge for each square yard of trench opened: $5.
(3) 
Boring, tunneling or driving under the road.
(a) 
Base charge: $25.
(b) 
Charge per linear foot of boring: $1.
D. 
Escrow deposit fee (nonapplicable to public utilities).
(1) 
All road openings, excavations, borings and other work as stated on the permit application.
(a) 
Base charge, including first five square yards of any trench, driveway or sidewalk opened, torn up or excavated and including the first 20 linear feet of any curb or gutter torn up or excavated: $1,000.
[Amended 8-24-1998 by Ord. No. 1998-8]
(b) 
For all work proposed on each application that exceeds the quantities delineated in Subsection D(1)(a) above, a work schedule shall be submitted to and approved by the Township and/or its designated representative, who shall estimate the total escrow deposit fee required based thereon. If, at any time during the course of the work, it appears evident to the Township and/or its designated representative that the escrow deposit fee is or will be insufficient to cover all costs of inspection and/or other professional services, additional escrow deposit fees shall be estimated by the Township and paid to the Township, based on a revised work schedule to be submitted by the applicant. This procedure shall be repeated as often as necessary to guarantee sufficient escrow deposit fees being available.
(2) 
Actual payments from the escrow deposit fee fund shall be based on the following rates:
(a) 
Professional engineering services: per contract.
(b) 
Attorney: per contract.
(c) 
Nonengineering inspection or services performed by the Township's own personnel or its consultants: $12 per hour.
[Amended 9-25-1995 by Ord. No. 1995-10; 8-23-2006 by Ord. No. 2006-18]
Any person, firm, corporation, association or legal party whatsoever who shall violate, or authorize or procure a violation, or cause to be violated, any provision of this article shall, upon conviction thereof, be punishable as provided under Chapter 1, Article II, General Penalty.