Maplewood updates fire staffing and flood planning
The Township Committee heard plans for four new firefighters, a December 1 retirement, and an Orchard Road flood-mitigation grant tied to emergency preparedness.
Two hosts walk through the week’s edition in conversation — oem and fire department updates, june motor vehicle accident call summary, and what’s coming next. Generated by Aware, from this week’s verified summaries.
Maplewood public safety update stretched from a recent Van Ness Court fire response to the next hiring class, a leadership transition, and flood planning.
Public safety planning touched nearly every season ahead. At the Township Committee Public Safety Committee meeting, officials reviewed emergency management work with the county, hazard-mitigation training, and the appointment of a deputy OEM coordinator. They paired that with a Fire Department update that moved from recent response work to staffing and long-range planning.
The discussion included the response to the Van Ness Court fire and a coming change at the top of the department. Officials said the Fire Chief plans to retire on December 1. They said Maplewood is hiring four firefighters for the October academy, a step that would add to the department as that retirement approaches. The committee also discussed planning for the 9/11 memorial.
The update widened again at the end, from staffing to infrastructure. Officials said Maplewood is applying for a grant for flood mitigation on Orchard Road, tying that project to the township’s broader emergency-management work. The meeting did not center on a single vote or one immediate decision. Instead, it laid out the next set of public-safety tasks: fill positions, manage the leadership transition at Fire Headquarters, continue county coordination, and see whether the Orchard Road application brings in outside funding.
June motor vehicle accident call summary; pedestrian safety on Springfield Avenue; distracted driving campaign
June’s crash report pointed to a familiar problem on Springfield Avenue. The Police Department said the month’s motor vehicle calls included hit-and-run incidents, a car striking a fixed object, and two pedestrian incidents. The report also logged an e-bike entry for the first time in that category.
Officials focused on what makes Springfield Avenue difficult in practice. They said morning sun glare can limit visibility, especially when drivers are turning, and they stressed that drivers still need to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks. The discussion touched on people stepping off the curb unexpectedly, summer weaving, and the reduced speed limit, which dropped from 35 to 30.
Police said they have not received many speeding complaints on Springfield Avenue and noted that signals and congestion often keep speeds down. Still, the department said a distracted driving campaign is coming with added funding for specialized enforcement. That gives Maplewood another traffic-safety push as summer conditions and school-year travel overlap.
Residents press police on street safety
Closing public comment brought complaints about blocked bike lanes near Columbia High School and Parker, overnight parking enforcement, and ATV and dirt bike activity on Springfield Avenue and Wyoming Avenue. Police said they would increase enforcement around school drop-off and bike lane obstructions, and said mailed summonses are possible when illegal vehicles can be identified.
Residents raised concrete safety concerns about bike lanes, overnight parking equity, and ATV activity on major streets.
Police monitor Hilton and Maplecrest concerns
Officials said police are monitoring reports about unhoused individuals near Hilton and Maplecrest Park while working with health and outreach resources. They said the known individuals have declined relocation, and a separate incident in Memorial Park was investigated as a juvenile matter unrelated to them.
memorial
Committee adopts Maple Terrace easement ordinance
The Township Committee adopted Ordinance 4016-26, allowing Maplewood to obtain easements and install and maintain storm water facilities on certain Maple Terrace properties. No one spoke at the public hearing, and the ordinance passed with one abstention.
Adopted Maple Terrace stormwater easements and facilities ordinance directly advances flood-control work on private properties.
Traffic complaints draw targeted enforcement plans
Officials reviewed resident complaints about school drop-off behavior, red-light running, speeding, village parking, and recurring trouble spots near Cherry Place. Police said enforcement is being directed by location, while township officials discussed engineering coordination and possible permit or resident-only parking restrictions in some areas.
These street-level problems affect daily travel, parking access, and safety for nearby residents and businesses.
- Maplewood Township Committee Public Safety Committee. During the closing public comment period, three members of the public raised concerns: (1) bike lane safety and the need for enforcement and police modeling of safe behavior, including vehicles and landscapers blocking bike lanes near CHS/Parker; (2) ensuring any overnight parking enforcement study is applied across all Maplewood; and (3) ATV/dirt bike groups performing wheelies on Springfield Avenue and Wyoming Avenue and questions about enforcement given pursuit restrictions.
- Maplewood Township Committee Public Safety Committee. During the opening public comment period, one member of the public reported observing or hearing reports of people on Springfield Avenue “bent” and intoxicated, possibly involving fentanyl, and asked that the police department and social services be aware. Officials said they were not aware of a trend and thanked the speaker.
- Maplewood Township Committee. In the second public comment period, a resident reported results from a survey of households within the proposed Ridgewood Road Historic District and urged changes to Maplewood’s historic preservation process. The resident said most respondents opposed designation and requested fair, equitable policies and confirmation that HPC members complete required training.
What we didn’t fit in this Sundays edition
Maplewood had 49 more items this week. Here are sixfour — the rest are on Aware.
- GOVERNANCETown plans e-bike sidewalk enforcement and education. Officials continued discussing how to implement and explain Maplewood’s e-bike and e-scooter sidewalk rules, with emphasis on signage, education, and enforcement in busy pedestrian areas. They clarified the focus is on e-bikes and e-scooters rather than a blanket ban on regular bicycles, and also discussed safety messaging such as yielding, walking bikes across streets, and helmet encouragement.
- GOVERNANCETown debates stricter crosswalk enforcement. Officials discussed pedestrian and cyclist safety, including drivers failing to stop at flashing crosswalks, recent pedestrian-involved crashes, and whether police should issue more summonses instead of warnings for yielding violations. Committee members said stronger enforcement and education may be needed to reduce risk at crossings.
- GOVERNANCERidgewood Road historic district process debated. A resident presented survey results from households in the proposed Ridgewood Road Historic District and urged changes to the town’s preservation process, saying most respondents opposed designation. The Township Attorney then outlined the Historic Preservation Commission process, including the September 16 meeting, possible nomination report, further hearings, and eventual Township Committee action if designation is recommended.
- GOVERNANCEPolice fees review includes payment options. The committee began reviewing police-related fees and penalties, including false alarm charges, records requests, fingerprinting, and firearm-related services, with more discussion planned during budget work. Officials also raised the need to compare fees with neighboring towns and to accept credit cards instead of relying on cash or money orders.
- GOVERNANCETown pushes voter information and Hilton ballot drop box. Officials reviewed voter registration deadlines and election information on the township website, and discussed ways to reduce confusion after a court ruling affecting mail ballots. They also confirmed the ballot drop box at the Hilton Branch Library and considered using electronic signage on Springfield Avenue to publicize it.
- GOVERNANCEOpening Public Comment — Fentanyl/intoxication concerns on Springfield Avenue. During the opening public comment period, one member of the public reported observing or hearing reports of people on Springfield Avenue “bent” and intoxicated, possibly involving fentanyl, and asked that the police department and social services be aware. Officials said they were not aware of a trend and thanked the speaker.
- GOVERNANCECrossing guard request reviewed for Valley and Oakland. Officials discussed a resident request for a crossing guard near Valley Road and Oakland School. Police said guard placement is reviewed annually using school walking reports and hazardous-route considerations, and residents were encouraged to use posted guarded corners.
- GOVERNANCEResident experience with delayed police response to driveway-blocking complaint. A prior meeting testimony was referenced in which a resident reported waiting about an hour and a half for an officer and feeling dismissed by a dispatcher when calling about being unable to leave due to a blocked driveway. Staff said this was the first they were hearing of it and requested dates/times for follow-up.
- GOVERNANCEDiscussion: proposed changes to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act; letter support requested. The Township Committee discussed proposed federal rule changes to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act and the Historic Preservation Commission’s request that Maplewood support maintaining meaningful local and public participation in reviews of federally funded/approved projects affecting historic resources. The Mayor said a resolution would be prepared for the next meeting.
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