[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township of Little Egg Harbor 12-12-2024 by Ord. No. 2024-21. Amendments noted where applicable.]
The Township of Little Egg Harbor shall permit the dedication of benches and installation of memorial plaques to remember deceased individuals on select Township-owned benches through a Memorial Bench Dedication Program.
A. 
Memorial plaques shall be installed on benches in accordance with the following regulations:
(1) 
The fee for a dedicated bench and memorial plaque shall be $1,500.
(2) 
Only one memorial plaque will be permitted on a bench.
(3) 
The dedication of a bench and installation of a memorial plaque shall terminate after 10 years. Upon the passage of 10 years after installation, the Township shall remove the memorial plaque.
(4) 
The bench will be purchased by the Township of Little Egg Harbor, if required, and said bench shall become the exclusive property of the Township of Little Egg Harbor.
(5) 
Benches and memorial plaques shall be of a size, style and material determined and approved by the Township Administrator, Recreation Director and Superintendent of Public Works.
(6) 
Inscriptions proposed for plaques shall be reviewed and approved at the sole discretion of the Township Administrator.
B. 
Memorial benches shall be permitted at various approved locations at Mystic Beach, Parkertown Beach, Little Treasures Park, Community Center, Senior Center and Recreation Complex. Applications shall be on a first-come-first-served basis.
C. 
No individual or organization may make improvements or install a memorial plaque on any bench or public space outside the provisions of this chapter. Applicant donors may not add to or alter the installed memorial bench. Any such additions or alterations shall be removed by the Township Public Works or the Recreation Director.
Any person or organization seeking to apply for a memorial bench shall submit a completed application to the Township Clerk together with the requisite fee. Application forms shall be available from the Township Clerk’s office.
All dedications become the property of the Township of Little Egg Harbor. The Township of Little Egg Harbor shall not be responsible for the replacement of benches or memorial plaques that have been damaged or destroyed due to vandalism or natural occurrences, including but not limited to fire, storms or floods.