Borough of South River, NJ Chapter 127 Commemorative Bench and Tree Program

[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Borough of South River 4-10-2017 by Ord. No. 2017-8. Amendments noted where applicable.]

§ 127-1 Establishment.

The Borough of South River Commemorative Bench and Tree Program be and is hereby established.

§ 127-2 Purpose.

The general purposes for the Commemorative Bench and Tree Program include but are not limited to:

A. To provide local citizens and businesses the opportunity to commemorate or honor individuals of the Borough of South River;

B. To solicit and evaluate environmental ideas and suggestions from the community; and

C. To promote the causes of sustainability within the Borough.

§ 127-3 Mission statement.

A. In the hope to promote sustainability, as well as to honor individuals or businesses that choose to join the Borough in its promotion, this program will allow for commemorative plaques to be placed on existing park benches, benches currently located in public places and on newly planted trees throughout the Borough ["hereinafter "designated site(s)"].

B. Any applicant wishing to participate in this program will be guided and restricted by the policies and procedures enumerated herein. All applications, inquiries and administrative decisions regarding the Commemorative Bench and Tree Program will be handled by designated Borough departments also enumerated herein.

C. The cost for participating in this program will be set at a fixed price and will include the creation of a commemorative plaque to be placed at a designated site. The applicant will be able to choose the type of designated site he or she wishes to commemorate. The applicant will also be able to apply for the insertion of the name of an individual honoree or business name to be transcribed on the plaques. These transcriptions will be reviewed during the application process and may be denied in accordance with the standards set forth herein while, at the same time, promoting free and unfettered speech in accordance with the United States Constitution.

D. As it is of the upmost importance, and a major concern for the Borough of South River, sustainability and aesthetic preservation will be promoted through this program. This program will also allow the Borough to honor its citizens that desire to join the Borough in its endeavor to promote community and environmental values on a collaborative scale.

§ 127-4 Administrative departments.

A. All applications, requests and administrative decisions regarding commemorative plaques on new benches and existing benches in public places throughout the Borough shall be submitted to and handled by the Recreation Department;

B. All applications, requests and administrative decisions regarding commemorative plaques on newly planted trees throughout the Borough shall be submitted to and handled by the South River Shade Tree Commission.

§ 127-5 Fees.

A. The fee for a commemorative bench will be $350 per application.

B. The fee for a commemorative tree will be $150 per application.

§ 127-6 Application procedure.

A. All citizens and business owners wishing to participate in this program will be required to complete and submit an application with the designated departments enumerated herein;

B. The application fee must be paid at the time of submission;

C. If the applicant chooses to provide a name of an individual to be transcribed on a commemorative plaque, same must be provided in the initial application;

D. Once an application is received, the review process will commence;

E. Upon approval, the applicant will be contacted and provided with prospective designated sites where the commemorative bench or tree will be located;

F. If an applicant chooses to dedicate a tree located in the Borough, it will be the choice of the applicant to provide a tree to be planted or to leave the selection and planting of the tree to the South River Shade Tree Commission;

G. If an applicant wishes to donate the tree, the species of tree must be specified and chosen from the list of approved tree species;

H. If an application is denied, the applicant will be contacted and will receive a full refund of the initial application fee;

I. Once a designated site is approved by the Borough and an applicant, the commemorative plaque will be placed at a designated site.

§ 127-7 Commemorative plaques and transcription of names.

The donor will be able to choose from a list of approved potential wording to be placed on a plaque on the initial application for departmental approval.

§ 127-8 Bench installation.

A. Once the plaque is received, the designated departments will contact the donor, and timing for installation of the bench will be determined by crew availability. Based on the time of year and weather permitting, this may be subject to some delay.

B. Installation will be coordinated with the donor's schedule whenever possible.

C. Once installed, any subsequent repair or replacement of the plaque will be the responsibility of the donor.