Page 10 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • October 10, 2012 Franklin Lakes Council adopts tree removal bond ordinance by Frank J. McMahon The Franklin Lakes Council has adopted an ordinance that is intended to expedite and ease the handling of surety bonds received by the borough to protect against the indiscriminate and improper removal of trees. The ordinance was adopted unanimously without discussion late last month. A surety bond is normally required in all cases where planning board approval is required for the removal of trees. Under this ordinance, the application to the planning board must be accompanied by a cash bond in the minimum amount of $5,000 for each acre of a site on which the improvement is to be located. The amount of the cash bond can be increased by the construction official where the official feels it is justified based on the potential threat to the trees on the property, and the cash bond must be held by the borough to ensure compliance with the requirements imposed by the borough code related to the preservation of trees. The bond must be returned to the applicant upon completion of the project, the issuance of a certificate of occupancy, and the inspection of the property by the construction official to ensure compliance with all municipal codes relating to tree preservation and tree removal. Where trees have been damaged, improperly removed, or destroyed in violation of the borough code, in addition to other enforcement options, some or all of the cash bond will be retained and used by the borough to replace trees on the property, if permitted by the property owner, or at the borough’s discretion, used for the planting of similar trees on municipal property within the borough. If an applicant fails to request an inspection within two years from the borough’s receipt of the cash bond to confirm that the improvements are completed and that no ordinances have been violated, or if an applicant fails to request a refund of the cash bond, the amount of the bond will be transferred to the borough’s tree replacement fund and used for the maintenance, repair, replacement, and planting of trees on public property throughout the borough. The Franklin Lakes School District observed a “Week of Respect” by providing age-appropriate instruction that focused on preventing harassment, intimidation, and/or bullying. The state’s Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act requires that the week beginning with the first Monday in October of each year be designated as a “Week of Respect” in New Jersey. School districts are required to observe the week by recognizing the importance of character education. “At the Franklin Lakes Public Schools we take matters such as bullying very seriously,” said Superintendent of Schools Frank Romano. “Our efforts to create the School district participates in Week of Respect safest and healthiest environments that promote learning go beyond complying with minimum state mandates and take more regular and systemic opportunities. Currently, we are in the process of implementing strong character education programs that deal very specifically with antibullying.” Romano advised that the district’s middle school has formally adopted the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program, which is based on more than 40 years of research. “OBPP has been proven to prevent or reduce bullying throughout a school system by up to 70 percent through its comprehensive approach to addressing the issue on four levels: the school, the classroom, the individual, and the community,” Romano stated. “The program addresses such common character education topics as respecting differences, empathy, courage, knowing yourself, and positive and negative peer pressure.” According to Romano, the district has also committed itself to extending the Olweus work to the elementary schools. “While we are currently engaged in work that will strengthen our delivery of character education among the three elementary schools through consistency in program,” Romano stated, “we plan to fully implement OBPP at the Colonial Road, High Mountain Road, and Woodside Avenue elementary schools in September 2013. “In addition to the benefits at the elementary level, this will pave the way for more favorable experiences in middle school.” During last week’s observance, the daily morning (continued on page 29) The Ladies Bible Study at the Franklin Lakes Baptist Church will hold a Jewelry Sale fundraiser to benefit Women at Risk International. The Nov. 8 sale will be held from 3:30 to 8 p.m. at the church located at 649 Franklin Avenue. The handmade jewelry and other handmade items are made by women who have been rescued from human trafficking. Ninety percent of the proceeds go directly to the Women Helping Women benefit set women and their programs; the remaining funds support WAR’s administrative costs. WAR International is a nonprofit organization established to help women at risk. WAR partners with programs in over 18 countries by giving hope, sharing God’s heart, and providing havens of healing to these victims of abuse. For details about the fundraiser, call June Linz at (201) 396-9711 or Julie Carpenter at (201) 891-3253. $89, was issued by Dover Township Court. The defendant was transported to headquarters, where the warrant was paid in full. Sergeant Powderley assisted. On Sept. 28, the Passaic County Sheriff’s Department reported they had in custody a male resident of Prospect Park on Midland Park’s warrant. The warrant, in the amount of $392, was issued on Sept. 25. Sergeant Powderley and Officer Burke retrieved the prisoner at the Prospect Park Police Department and transported him to Bergen County Jail after he failed to post bail. On Sept. 29, Officer Canonico arrested a 46-year-old Ridgewood on three outstanding warrants. Two warrants, in the amount of $89 each, were issued by the Ridgewood Municipal Court. The third warrant, in the amount of $50, was issued by the Glen Rock Municipal Court. The male was transported to headquarters where the warrants were satisfied. Sergeant Powderley assisted. Police report (continued from page 9) Spitfire Mob Ripped Grip Tape valued at $65. Officers Kenneth Junta and Van Dyk were dispatched to a local business on a burglary call on Sept. 27. The owner reported that someone broke into the business through a back door and removed two buckets of scrap metal with an approximate value of $350. The Bergen County Sheriff’s Department Bureau of Criminal Investigation responded to process the scene. The case is under investigation. As the result of a traffic stop on Sept. 27, Office Canonico arrested a 28-year-old male resident of Paterson on an outstanding warrant. The warrant, in the amount of