[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township of Mullica 7-27-2021 by Ord. No. 9-2021. Amendments noted where applicable.]
Permission and authority are hereby granted to Cross River and its successors a non-exclusive municipal consent to use existing utility poles and replacement poles which are of a size and type equal to the poles being replaced and erected by parties that have the lawful right through municipal consent and the approval of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities to maintain poles within the public right-of-way in the Township of Mullica for the construction, installation, operation, repair, maintenance and replacement of a fiber optic telecommunications system subject to the following conditions:
A. 
Cross River and its successors shall adhere to all applicable Federal, State, and Local laws regarding safety requirements related to the use of the public right-of-way.
B. 
Cross River and its successors shall:
(1) 
Comply with all applicable Federal, State, and Local laws requiring permits prior to beginning construction, and shall obtain any applicable permits that may be required by the Township of Mullica, by the Township of Mullica Development Ordinances, or by the New Jersey Pinelands Commission;
(2) 
Provide the Township of Mullica Construction Official/Code Enforcement Officer and Township of Mullica Township Engineer with the location of each pole and/or conduit upon or in which fiber optic facilities are proposed to be placed together with the pole identification number, the identity of the owner of pole and Geographic Information System (GIS) map;
(3) 
Not install on any pole or in any conduit any device other than a fiber optic attachment which is of the size and type described in Exhibit A;
C. 
Cross River shall not install any new poles of replacement wood poles that are taller than the existing utility pole being replaced, nor install replacement utility poles made of steel or other non-wood material to replace an existing pole.
D. 
This grant of municipal consent is not to be construed as authorizing the erection of any new pole within the right of way nor is it to be construed as authorizing Cross River to attach to any pole, structure, or other facility owned by or under the control of the Township of Mullica or ant third party other than a New Jersey public utility from which consent to attach to such pole has been granted in writing.
E. 
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, Cross River shall adhere to the terms and conditions of the underlying easement granted to the owner of the pole by the owner of the underlying soil, and Cross River shall not overburden any existing easement.
F. 
Nothing contained herein shall pre-empt 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.
G. 
This grant of municipal consent is limited exclusively to Cross River for its own equipment to provide services to customers using the Cross River network. The consent from the municipality shall not be used by Cross River to construct infrastructure to be leased to others nor assigned by Cross River to any third party.
H. 
This municipal consent is hereby given upon the further condition and provision that Cross River, and its successors, shall to the fullest extent permitted by law, defend, pay on behalf of, indemnify, and hold harmless the Township of Mullica, its elected and appointed officials, its agents, employees and volunteers, the Atlantic County Joint Insurance Fund, and others working on behalf of the Township of Mullica from and against any and all claims, demands, suits, or loss, including all legal and professional fees, costs and any other expenses connected therewith, and for any damages which may be asserted claimed or recovered against or from the Township of Mullica, its elected and appointed officials, its agents, employees, volunteers, the Atlantic County Joint Insurance Fund, or others working on behalf of the Township of Mullica by reason of personal injury, including bodily injury or death and/or property damage, including loss of use thereof, which arises out of or is in any way connected or associated with this consent, except to the extent resulting solely from the acts or omissions of the Township of Mullica. Cross River shall, at its own cost and expense, maintain commercial general liability insurance in the minimum amount of $5,000,000 combined single limit per occurrence, and automobile insurance with combined single limits of $2,000,000 for bodily injury (including death) and property damage each occurrence, and Workers Compensation insurance in compliance with the statutory requirements of the State of New Jersey. The Township of Mullica, its elected and appointed officials, its agents, employees, volunteers, the Atlantic County Joint Insurance Fund, and others working on behalf of the Township of Mullica shall be included as an "Additional Insured" as their interests may appear under this municipal consent resolution on all general liability policies; and Cross River shall provide the Township of Mullica Township Clerk with certificates of insurance (which shall be maintained and kept current at all times during the period of this municipal consent and which shall provide for not less than 30 days' notice in the event of cancellation or termination; and shall also provide a copy of the Additional Insured Endorsement to such policies. Nothing in this section shall limit Cross River's liability in any way.
I. 
Cross River shall be responsible for the repair of any damage to paving, existing utility lines, or any surface or subsurface installations, arising from its construction, installation, or maintenance of its facilities.
J. 
Cross River shall pay to the Township of Mullica the sum of $1,500 to cover the administrative expenses incurred by the Township for legal, engineering and risk management expenses and cost of publication.
K. 
Cross River and its successors shall file with the Clerk of the Township of Mullica true and complete copies of all agreements between Cross River and the owner(s) of the poles to which Cross River proposes to attach.
L. 
The permission and authority hereby granted shall continue for a term of 25 years and subject to continuation of a municipal consent by the Township of Mullica granted to those parties whose poles Cross River is using and, to the extent required, approval of such municipal consent by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (or its successor agency).
M. 
The Mayor and the Township Clerk are authorized to execute and deliver such documents as necessary to effectuate this grant of municipal consent.
N. 
Upon final passage the Township Clerk shall send certified copies of this Ordinance to Cross River, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, and the New Jersey Pinelands Commission.
O. 
Cross River shall submit this Ordinance to the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities and shall provide the Township Clerk and Township Attorney with a copy of all applications filed with the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities; and shall include the Township Clerk and Township Attorney on the Service List for all such filings.