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After scheduling an in-person meeting for Monday, December 20, and canceling it that day due to COVID-19 concerns, the Livingston Township Council held a special meeting to pass some “housekeeping” resolutions before the end of the year. The Council also heard a presentation on a proposed redevelopment plan for the Bottle King-Walgreen’s shopping center site. The meeting was held on Zoom

The meeting was held on Zoom and livestreamed on the township’s Facebook page; it can be viewed at https://www.facebook.com/LivingstonTownshipNJ.

Proposed Redevelopment Plan Bottle King-Walgreen’s Site

Livingston Police Officers Joy Klapal and Donna Majuri were among the local law enforcement officers, first responders, educators and holiday helpers who took part in the recent “Shop with an Unstoppable Hero” event at Macy’s in the Livingston Mall. Macy’s hosted nearly 50 children from East Orange for the in-store shopping event.

“This is why I became a police officer to give back,” said Officer Klapal, a member of the LPD’s Community Policing Division. “What a great way to celebrate the holidays and connect with children so they get to see us in action.”

Officers Klapal and Majuri joined more than 25 law enforcement officers from Livingston and East Orange. Nearly 50 youngsters from the neighboring community were transported by the city and were paired with law enforcement heroes, including East Orange firefighters and ambassadors from the Unstoppable Girls Foundation anti-bullying organization.

It took three Livingston Philanthropies, Inc. (LPI) volunteers to pack the van with new merchandise for immediate delivery to LPI’s Newark distribution partners for a recent Christmas delivery. Items also went to the homeless finding refuge from the cold in Penn Station.
“Volunteers brought hundreds of thermal gloves, winter beanies, heavy socks, baby bottles, stuffed animals and childrens’ winter jackets just before the holiday festivities began for many of us here in town,” noted LPI founder and director Jeff Friedman. “The ‘Two Alans’ – Alan Wishengrad and Alan Levin – also helped me load school supplies donated by Livingston’s GreenBinz Organization, founded in 2015 by four Livingston Public Schools students who continue to run GreenBinz today. The goal of the organization is to decrease the amount of school supplies wasted by donating new and gently used school supplies to underprivileged families and communities.”

CHEERLEADERS OPEN SEASON: The Livingston High School cheerleaders opened their winter season at home, cheering during a basketball triple-header against North Star Academy. The junior varsity squad cheered the freshman and junior varsity games, while the varsity squad cheered for the varsity team. The JV cheerleaders include Sophie Kasson, Gabriela Quintero, Leah Rubin, Maddy Abelew, Ella Cocuzza, Angelina Giordano, Eden Kantor, Sydney Lewis, Emma O’Neill, Arissa Pol, Abigail Silverstein, Clare Luo, Simone Pardasani, and Amira Jenkins. On the varsity squad are Genevieve DeRosa, Nicole Rojas, Haleigh Harte, Vivian Turner, Sasha Lederman, Alex Simon, Emilie Malave, Cynthia Coppola, Alyssa Galasso, Gianna Miller, Jordana D’Andrea, Colette Kay, Julia Levitt, Kara Massoni, Gabby Rosa, and Devin Goldstein. Don Schwartz Photo

Following the cancellation of the final Township Council meeting of 2021 due to COVID concerns, the Council stated that all matters listed on the agenda would be deferred to one or more future meetings.

As such, the agenda for the cancelled meeting, described below, offers a glimpse of the actions and discussions that are expected to be on the docket at the start of 2022.

Ordinances Four final hearing ordinances were

Four final hearing ordinances were expected to be discussed during the cancelled meeting. They will need to be reintroduced as new ordinances in 2022, though some may not be, as three of the ordinances had already been carried for several meetings.

Earlier this month, the New Jersey Department of Health reported that community transmission of COVID-19 for Essex County – as it has for all counties in the state – went from moderate activity (yellow) to high activity (orange).

As a result, the district must follow new quarantine requirements, said superintendent of schools Matthew Block in a letter posted on the district website.

Any unvaccinated student or staff member who is exposed to COVID-19 must now quarantine for the full 14 days. “While in the high activity level, providing a negative COVID test result during quarantine will not allow the unvaccinated individual to return to school,” he said. No new information from the district was availble as of press time.

The district is continuing its weekly reports on the number of individuals who test positive for the disease, and the number who are required to quarantine.

Following a pursuit, Livingston Police officers recovered a stolen vehicle. Another vehicle, which was unlocked, was stolen in town later in the week, as well.

Stolen Van

At 7:50 p.m. on Wednesday, December 15, Livingston Police officers were notified of a stolen Sprinter van that was travelling west on Mt. Pleasant Avenue into Livingston. The owner of the van had followed it through West Orange into Livingston. The van had been stolen a few hours earlier in Newark, police said.

Officer Anthony Trajer was able to locate the van and began to follow it with his unmarked car. When they reached Livingston Center, Officer Trajer and Officer Kevin Kitchen attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver of the van refused to stop and turned south on South Livingston Avenue. The officers continued to follow the van, which was travelling at the speed limit.

The Livingston Zoning Board of Adjustment reviewed seven applications at its Tuesday, December 14 meeting. The meeting was held on Zoom and may be viewed on the Livingston Township, NJ Facebook page.

Pool Approved

The first application was submitted by Susan and Steven Scheichet. The applicants sought approval for a pool at 8 Rainbow Ridge Drive. The application included a request for a ten foot pool setback variance. Joe Tirrito, developer of Rainbow

Joe Tirrito, developer of Rainbow Ridge Homes, called in to voice his support for the application. The application was unanimously approved. Rear Yard Deck Approved

Rear Yard Deck Approved

Ricard D. Pecht sought approval for a 12 foot by 12 foot, four foot high deck on 42 Baker Road. An 8.98 foot rear yard setback variance was requested. There were no public comments,

There were no public comments, and the application was unanimously approved.

Livingston police are currently investigating four car burglaries and three residential burglaries reported during the past week.

Cars Entered

On Thursday, December 9, at 6:19 a.m., an unknown perpetrator attempted to enter a car on Sterling Drive. According to police, a dark colored car pulled up in front of the house. One person got out and was trying to open doors on cars in the driveway. The person ran back to the waiting car when the homeowner turned on the outside lights.

Also on Thursday, a Rockhill Drive resident reported that his BMW had been burglarized sometime during the overtime period between Monday, December 6, and Tuesday, December 7. The vehicle had been unlocked overnight, and an unknown person had rummaged through the interior. In addition the front license plate had been removed from the vehicle.

The Township Council has announced that its next meeting, scheduled for Monday, December 20, will take place in person.

For the first time since the pandemic began in March of 2020, Council members will meet in person in the Council Chambers at Town Hall, 357 South Livingston Avenue. The regular meeting will continue to be livestreamed, as Council meetings have been for the past 18 months.

Prior to the regular meeting, the Council will hold a conference meeting in person at 7 p.m. in the conference room at Town Hall. The conference meeting will not be livestreamed. In addition, residents must attend in person to participate.