[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.]
The Borough of South River Commemorative Bench and Tree Program
be and is hereby established.
The general purposes for the Commemorative Bench and Tree Program
include but are not limited to:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.