[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Council
of the Township of East Hanover 3-5-1992 by Ord. No. 3-1992. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Streets and sidewalks — See Ch. 132.
A.
Pursuant to the provisions of N.J.S.A. 48:17-10, N.J.S.A. 48:17-11 and N.J.S.A. 48:17-12 and subject to the provisions of § A218-4 hereof, permission and consent is hereby granted to New Jersey Bell Telephone Company (hereinafter referred to as the "company"), its successors and assigns to erect, construct, reconstruct, remove, locate, relocate, replace, inspect, maintain, repair and operate its communications facilities and other transmission or process equipment, including underground facilities such as conduits, manholes, cables, wires and all other facilities appurtenant thereto, and aerial and aboveground facilities, such as cables, wires, antennas, poles, posts, supports, guys, pedestals, cable termination and distribution cabinets and all other facilities appurtenant therein, in, through, upon, along, over, under and across all of the various public ways, sidewalks, streets, roads, avenues, highways, bridges, waterways and other public places and parts thereof, throughout their entire length, and to effect the necessary street openings and lateral connections to curb poles, property lines and other facilities in the Township of East Hanover (hereinafter referred to as the "township") for said company's local and through lines and other communications facilities in connection with the transaction of its business.
B.
All of the public ways, including, by way of illustration
and not of limitation, the various sidewalks, streets, roads, avenues,
highways, bridges and waterways, and other public places and parts
thereof, throughout their entire length, located in this municipality
are hereby designated and prescribed for the uses and purposes of
said company as aforementioned.
C.
In the event that any public street or way where the
company has facilities is vacated by the township, the municipality
agrees to reserve unto said company the rights granted to the company
by this ordinance (hereinafter referred to as "ordinance").
A.
All poles, posts, pedestals, cabinets or other facilities
hereafter to be erected, constructed, reconstructed, located, relocated,
maintained, repaired or operated shall be located and placed back
of the curblines where shown on the official map(s) of the township;
the poles and posts, however, shall be located within 18 inches of
the face of such curbline or as may otherwise be mutually agreed by
both parties, or at the points or places now occupied by the poles,
posts, pedestals, cabinets or other facilities of the company, its
successors and assigns, and where there are no curblines, at other
convenient points or places in, upon, along, adjacent to or across
the public ways, streets, roads, avenues, highways or other public
places as may be mutually agreed upon between the parties.
B.
The location of all such poles, posts, pedestals,
cabinets or other facilities of the company, its successors and assign,
as set forth hereinabove shall be subject to the review of the Township
Engineer, the Superintendent of Public Works or other appropriate
township officials prior to such installation. If the location set
forth is not reasonable for said facility, the company shall place
its facilities at such other reasonable locations as set forth by
the appropriate township official; provided, however, that no aboveground
facility shall be placed in the public street, highway or road.
A.
The company may bury its cables and associated equipment,
fixtures, process equipment and appurtenances within the right-of-way
of the various public ways, sidewalks, streets, roads, avenues, highways
and other public places and parts thereof and at such locations as
shall be mutually agreed upon by the parties for said company's
local and through lines and communications facilities.
B.
Underground conduits and associated equipment, facilities,
cables, conductors and other appurtenances or process equipment shall
be placed below the surface of said public ways, sidewalks, streets,
roads, avenues, highways and other public places and parts thereof,
and with the exception of lateral branches to curb poles and property
lines and other facilities, the same shall generally not be constructed
more than 10 feet from the curbline, unless obstructions make it necessary
to deviate from such course or unless the parties mutually agree to
another location. Underground conduits shall be placed at least 18
inches below the surface.
C.
Manholes shall be located at such points along the
line of underground conduits as may be necessary or convenient for
placing, maintaining and operating the facilities, cables, conductors
and other appurtenances or process equipment which the company may
from time to time use in connection with its underground conduit system
and shall be so constructed as to conform to the cross-sectional and
longitudinal grade of the surface so as not to interfere with the
safety or convenience of persons or vehicles.
D.
The location and manner of installation of such underground
wires, cables, conduits and equipment shall be subject to the review
of the Township Engineer, the Superintendent of Public Works or other
appropriate township officials prior to such installation. If the
location of such installation is not reasonable for said equipment,
the company shall place its equipment at such reasonable location
as set forth by the appropriate township official. The manner of the
installation of such facilities shall be in accordance with state
and local codes and ordinances.
A.
Before proceeding with any new construction or relocation
work in an area covered by this ordinance, the company shall give
prior notice in writing thereof to the township, through its designated
representative, of its intention to perform such work, including therewith
a map or plan showing the location and size of such facilities. Such
maps or plans are for the information of the municipality only and
shall not be considered as construction specifications upon which
the municipality or any third party may rely for subsequent excavation
or other work.
B.
Prior to the opening or excavating of any public ways,
sidewalks, streets, roads, avenues, highways or other public places,
or parts thereof, for the purposes of installing, maintaining or operating
its underground systems as aforementioned, the company shall be required
to obtain such street opening or excavating permits and pay such reasonable
fees therefor as may be lawfully required to cover the cost of administration,
inspection, police and traffic control as provided by this ordinance
or by any ordinance of the Township of East Hanover regulating such
openings or excavations. No building permits or zoning variances shall
be required for the facilities covered by this ordinance.
The surface of the public ways, sidewalks, streets,
roads, avenues, highways and other public places, and any pavement
or other surface and/or planting disturbed by the company in constructing
its facilities, shall be restored to as good a condition as it was
in before the commencement of work thereon. No highways or other public
ways shall be encumbered for a period longer than shall be necessary
to complete the required work. Immediately upon the completion of
any of said work, the company shall take steps to restore said highway,
road or public way to its prior condition. Such restoration shall
be subject to the approval of the township after an inspection by
its authorized representative upon completion of the work.
A.
The company agrees to indemnify and save harmless
the township from and against all costs or expenses resulting from
any loss of life or property, or injury or damage to the person or
property, of any person, firm or corporation caused by or arising
out of road conditions resulting from any negligent or faulty excavations,
installation or maintenance connected with the work or equipment of
said company, or both, to the extent that the same was caused by such.
B.
The company shall provide the township with proof
of insurance against all costs or expenses resulting from loss of
life, property, injury or damage caused or arising out of any and
all conditions resulting from any negligence, fault, omission, commission,
misconduct or incorrect installation or maintenance connected with
the work and equipment of New Jersey Bell.
Whenever a curbline shall be established on
streets where one does not now exist or where an established curbline
shall be relocated in order to widen an existing street or highway
in conjunction with road construction by the township, the company
shall change the location of its aboveground facilities covered by
this ordinance, at no charge to the township except as otherwise provided
by applicable law, agreement or otherwise, so that the same would
be in back of and adjacent to the new curbline so established, upon
receipt of notice that the curbline has been so established, so long
as the municipality has acted with reasonable care in establishing
the new curbline and providing notice thereof.
A.
Any company or corporation having legal authority
to erect and maintain poles, posts or pedestals upon any of the public
ways, sidewalks, streets, roads, avenues, highways or other public
places in the township may jointly use the company's poles, posts,
pedestals or other structures for all lawful purposes, provided that
the company consents to such use, on terms and conditions acceptable
to the company and not inconsistent with the provisions of the present
ordinance.
B.
The company shall provide space, to the extent available,
on its poles so long as said poles are occupied by the company and
space, to the extent available, in its main conduits existing on the
date of passage of this ordinance, but not exceeding one duct of standard
size, for the sole benefit of the township during the pendancy of
this ordinance. Such space shall be provided for the exclusive use
of the township, which use shall be limited to accommodating the wires
or electrical conductors required for one-way signal control in connection
with municipal police patrol, fire alarm signal control and traffic
signal control systems only; but for no other uses or purposes, either
alone or in conjunction therewith; nor for circuits for the supply
of electrical energy for traffic or other signals; nor for wires,
conductors, cable or the equivalent which provide a means of transmitting
any signal to a private, commercial or residential location, and which
is normally provided by a nongovernmental supplier; provided, further,
that no such use or attachment by the township shall interfere with
the plant or facilities of or the use thereof by the company. All
costs or expenses incurred by the company in connection therewith
shall be paid by the township. It shall be the obligation of the township
to attach its wires to the poles or place its electric conductors
in the conduits or manholes of the company, provided that before proceeding
with said work, either by itself or by a person, firm or corporation
engaged to perform such work, the township shall give the company
30 days' prior notice in writing. All such work shall be performed
under the supervision of said company.
C.
If any or all of said streets or highways are later
taken over by the Board of Chosen Freeholders of the County of Morris
or the State of New Jersey, Department of Transportation, such Board
of Chosen Freeholders or Department of Transportation shall have such
rights and privileges and be subject to the same terms, conditions
and limitations of use as herein granted by this ordinance to the
township; provided, however, that satisfactory prior arrangements
as may be necessary are made with the township and the company for
the full protection of the respective interests of each.
The township agrees to indemnify, save harmless and in the event of suit to defend the company from and against all losses, costs, damages, expense, claims or demands arising out of or causes or alleged to have been caused in any manner by the township's use or engagement of the company's plant or facilities provided under § A218-8B and C above, including all suits of every kind or description brought against the company, either individually or jointly with the township, or another. The township shall not be held liable for any loss, cost, damage, expense, claim or demands to the extent caused by the negligent or intentional wrongful acts or omissions of the company, its agents, employees and/or representatives. The liability of the township is further expressly limited by the provisions of N.J.S.A. 59:1-3 et seq., and the company is herein required in any claim of the company for indemnification or defense to be in strict compliance therewith to the extent required by law.
Nothing herein contained shall be construed
to grant unto said company, its successors and assigns an exclusive
right or to prevent the granting of permission and consent to other
companies for like purposes on any of the streets, roads, avenues
or highways of the township.
As used in this ordinance, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
Is held to apply to and include any form of municipality
or government into which the township or any part thereof may at any
time hereafter be changed, annexed or merged.
Is held to apply to and include the governing body of such
other form of municipality.
The permission and consent hereby granted shall
apply to and cover all communications facilities of the company existing
at any time and related structures, process equipment and appurtenances
heretofore or hereafter erected, constructed, reconstruction, removed,
located, relocated, replaced, maintained, repaired or operated by
the company, its predecessors, successors or assigns within the township.
The company shall pay the expenses incurred
for advertising required in connection with the passage of this ordinance,
after the date of its first reading, within 30 days after the company
has received a bill for said advertising from the publisher.
A.
This ordinance shall continue in full force and effect
for a period of 10 years from the date it becomes effective subject
to the right of the company or the township to seek such changes herein
as it may deem necessary and reasonable prior to the expiration of
this ordinance.
B.
Throughout the full term of this ordinance, the company
for itself, its successors and assigns agrees to maintain its property
within the township in good order and shall furnish safe, adequate
and proper service within the township at just and reasonable rates.
At and after expiration of the term of this ordinance, the company
shall safeguard the public interest in continuous and uninterrupted
service within the township.
C.
Following final passage of this ordinance, the Township
Clerk shall provide the company with written notice thereof by certified
mail. As provided by applicable law, this ordinance shall not become
effective until acceptance thereof by the company and approval thereof
by the Board of Regulatory Commissioners.
