The move follows major opposition to the new glass-enclosed, key-locked board that was installed near the main post office under the control of the Maplewood Village Alliance.
De Luca announced the decision as the culmination of discussions between the Maplewood Civic Association and the Maplewood Village Alliance.
De Luca stated in a release: "The current "public bulletin board" behind Auturo's Restaurant on the slope of the train tracks will be moved to Maplewood Avenue. It will be placed in a planted strip to the left of the entrance to the post office. This will remain as a public bulletin board for non-commercial, civic and community events."
glass-enclosed bulletin board would remain, is below:
In pursuit of a resolution to the controversy of the bulletin boards in Maplewood Village, I have been in discussions with the stakeholders.
The
actions the Township will implement the week of May 14th respect the interests
of the Maplewood Village Alliance (MVA) and Maplewood Civic Association (MCA).
The actions also address the desire of the public to have a "public
board" in a prominent place in Maplewood Village.
Background
Years
ago the Maplewood Township Committee (MTC) granted approval to the MCA to place
bulletin boards around town, including two in Maplewood Village. The boards
were for the promotion of non-commercial, civic and community events.
In
2010 the MCA entered into an agreement with the MCA to install a new message
board that would be used to promote the businesses and events in Maplewood
Village. The MVA is the MTC's designated manager for the Village Special
Improvement District and has the responsibility to promote the business
district and implement MTC approved design standards
in the Village.
One
third of the new board continues to be the responsibility of the MCA in order
to publicize community events. This agreement was mutually beneficial in that
the MVA got a dedicated board to publicize the Village and MCA got assistance
with the board's maintenance. In fact the MCA has found it increasingly
difficult to maintain the bulletin boards.
I
have secured the agreement of the MCA and MVA for the following:
The
current "public bulletin board" behind Auturo's Restaurant on the
slope of the train tracks will be moved to Maplewood Avenue. It will be placed
in a planted strip to the left of the entrance to the post office. This will
remain as a public bulletin board for non-commercial, civic and community
events.
2)
The new message board will remain the responsibility of the MVA for promotion
of Village businesses and events. The Township will install plants in the two
planting strips on each side of the entrance to the parking lot.
3)
There will continue to be 2 bulletin boards in Maplewood Village.
4)
Volunteers working through the MCA will maintain the public bulletin board. I
spoke to Paul Surovill, a leader of the board restoration group, about the maintenance
responsibilities.
5)
Both bulletin boards (MVA and public) will be affected by the post office redevelopment.
Prior to the demolition on the post office site, the MTC will relocate the two
boards within Maplewood Village.
I
am glad we could work out a resolution and thank the MCA and MVA for their cooperation.
I look forward to working with Paul Surovell and others to craft a board
maintenance plan.
Let's
now spend our energy on keeping Maplewood Village as a vibrant shopping and
entertainment district.
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