Township of Washington, NJ Chapter 5 Commemoration

[[1]HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township of Washington 7-20-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-11. Amendments noted where applicable.]

[1] Editor's Note: Former Ch. 5, Claims Approval, adopted 1-8-1975, as amended 3-9-1983, was repealed 12-11-1985 by Ord. No. 85-17. For current provisions on claims approval, see Ch. 4, Budget Control and Fiscal Management.

§ 5-1 Purpose.

It is the purpose of this chapter to implement a procedure establishing criteria and a process for selection of names for certain public buildings, properties, parks, park facilities and the placing of commemorative benches and the planting of commemorative trees on Township-owned properties.

§ 5-2 Selection of name — criteria.

The Township Committee of the Township of Washington will choose names for public buildings and property owned by the Township of Washington based on the building or property's relationship to any of the following criteria:

A. Neighborhood, geographic or common usage identification.

B. Building or property's purpose.

C. A natural or geological feature.

D. A historical figure or place.

E. An individual, living or deceased, who has made a significant land, building, or monetary contribution to the Township of Washington for the building or property being named.

F. An individual, living or deceased, who has contributed outstanding civic service to the Township of Washington and, if deceased, has been so for a period of at least one year.

§ 5-3 Naming of Township-owned public buildings and properties — procedure.

A. Whenever the Township Committee wishes to consider naming a Township-owned building or property or after receiving a written recommendation, which shall include how the proposed name(s) meet(s) the criteria in § 5-2 above, from an individual and/or any one of the Township's advisory boards, the issue shall be referred to the governing body to establish the specific process and to adopt a resolution for that purpose at a regular and/or special Township Committee meeting.

B. Before taking action, the Township Committee shall/may provide an opportunity for public comment on the recommendation(s) from the general public, Township professionals and/or Township employees.

§ 5-4 Naming of interior features.

The interior features of a Township-owned building may be named separately from the main building subject to the criteria and procedures set forth in this chapter.

§ 5-5 Name changes.

A. Designation of a name shall not prohibit the renaming of the building or property at a future date, or the designation of a sunset for the name at the time of approval.

B. Name changes shall be subject to the criteria and procedures set forth in this chapter.

§ 5-6 Naming of parks and park facilities — policy.

A. It is the policy of the Township to follow this procedure to establish names for parks and other park facilities.

B. A working name for the park or park facility will/may be assigned by the Township Committee to any one of the Township's advisory boards. Suggested names will be historical, geographical, or the name of a boundary street.

C. A permanent name for the park or park facility will be assigned at the time of the approval of the Interim Use and Management Plan or final park development, whichever occurs first.

D. In naming parks and other park facilities, consideration shall be given primarily to:

(1) Neighborhood, boundary roads, or common usage identification;

(2) A natural or geographic feature;

(3) Significant historical events or cultural attributes;

(4) A historical figure;

(5) A name chosen by an individual (living or deceased) who has made a significant land and/or monetary contribution to the park system;

(6) An individual living or dead who has contributed outstanding civic service to the Township of Washington or has been instrumental in acquiring or developing parks properties;

(7) Organizations having contributed to and influenced the betterment of the Township of Washington.

E. Parks and park facilities shall not ordinarily be named for living persons unless they have stipulated the name as a condition of a substantial donation for an entire project or unless it is in the best interest as deemed so by the Township Committee.

§ 5-7 Naming of parks and park facilities — procedure.

A. Suggestions for names for parks or park facilities shall be subject to the criteria and procedures set forth in this Chapter.

B. The Township Committee shall/may host a public hearing to provide an opportunity for public comment on name recommendations.

C. The Township Committee may appoint a subcommittee, advisory board, Township professional(s) and/or employees to review names and make recommendations to the Township Committee.

D. The official action taken for the naming of certain public facilities set forth in this chapter shall be done by an adopted resolution by the Township Committee of the Township of Washington.

E. Facilities shall be identified by the established name, and signs shall be maintained as a source of identity and civic pride.

§ 5-8 Placing of commemorative benches and planting of commemorative trees — procedure.

A. Whenever the Township Committee wishes to consider the placing of a Commemorative Bench (or artifact) and the planting of a Commemorative Tree (shrub or vegetative plant) on any Township owned property or after receiving a written recommendation for the same, which shall include how the proposed name(s) meet(s) the criteria in Section 2 above, from an individual and/or any one of the Township's advisory boards, the issue shall be referred to the governing body to establish the specific process and to adopt a resolution for that purpose at a regular and/or special Township Committee meeting.

B. Upon approval of any of the items mentioned above, the Township Committee shall determine which Township-owned property and/or area will be the placement of the commemorative bench (or artifact) and the planting of a commemorative tree (shrub or vegetative plant). Individuals and/or any one of the Township's advisory boards may request a specific park or area; however, the final placement will be at the discretion of the Washington Township Committee. The style of the bench (or artifact) selected and the type and planting of a commemorative tree (shrub or vegetative plant) will also be under the control of the Township Committee.

C. Once location is determined, the bench will be installed by Township staff according to its standards and specifications.

D. Once location and species are determined, the tree, shrub or vegetative plant will be planted by the designated landscaper and/or by Township staff to Township standards and specifications.

E. Before taking action, the Township Committee shall/may provide an opportunity for public comment on the recommendation(s) from the general public, Township professionals and/or Township employees.