[Adopted 11-20-2023 by Ord. No. 1684-23]
The Township of Middle shall permit the dedication of trees, bricks, benches, and installation of memorial plaques to remember deceased individuals and families on Township-owned property through a Memorial Lane Dedication Program.
A. 
Memorial Trees shall be dedicated and plaques installed in accordance with the following regulations:
(1) 
The fee for a dedicated tree and memorial, plaque shall be $500 for a larger tree species or $300 for a smaller tree species. The dedication of a tree will run for an indefinite period of time. The tree and memorial plaque will be purchased and engraved by the Township of Middle, if required, from the aforementioned fee, and said tree and plaque shall become the exclusive property and responsibility of the Township of Middle and as such, will be maintained, pruned and if necessary, removed by the Township of Middle. In case of the tree's demise, the Township of Middle is not responsible for its replacement or for notifying the donor and/or honoree.
(a) 
In the sole discretion of the Township Committee of the Township of Middle, this fee may be waived on a case-by-case basis by resolution, upon a showing of exceptional circumstances.
(2) 
Applications shall be obtained from and, after completion, returned to the Memory Lane Coordinator. Applications for specific locations shall be considered on a first-come, first-serve basis. The Middle Township Memory Lane Coordinator will inform the applicant of the plaque installation and dedication ceremony date.
(3) 
Memorial trees and memorial plaques shall be of a size, style, and material determined and approved by the Memory Lane Coordinator. Inscriptions set forth on said plaques shall be reviewed and approved at the sole discretion of the Township.
(4) 
Memorial tree locations are subject to the final approval of the Township.
(5) 
No individual or organization may make improvements or install a memorial plaque on any tree or public space without the express approval of the Township of Middle.
B. 
Memorial bricks shall be dedicated and engraved in accordance with the following regulations:
(1) 
The fee for a dedicated brick and engraving shall be $200 for a nine by 15 brick or $175 for a nine by nine brick. The dedication of a brick will run for an indefinite period of time. The brick will be purchased and engraved by the Township of Middle, if required, from the aforementioned fee, and said brick shall become the exclusive property of the Township of Middle.
(a) 
At the sole discretion of the Township Committee this fee may be waived on a case-by-case basis, by resolution, upon a showing of exceptional circumstances.
(2) 
Applications shall be obtained from and, after completion, returned to the Memory Lane Coordinator. Applications for specific locations shall be considered on a first-come, first-serve basis. The Memory Lane Coordinator will inform the applicant of the date of the installation.
(3) 
Bricks and memorial engraving shall be of a size, style, and material determined and approved by the Township. Inscriptions set forth on said plaques shall be reviewed and approved at the sole discretion of the Township.
(4) 
Memorial bricks locations are subject to the final approval of the Township.
(5) 
No individual or organization may make improvements or install a memorial brick without the express approval of the Township of Middle.
(6) 
The Township of Middle shall not be responsible for the replacement of bricks that have been damaged or destroyed due to vandalism or natural occurrences. Applicants shall be responsible for the replacement of damaged or destroyed bricks at their sole expense.
C. 
Memorial benches shall be dedicated and plaques installed on benches in accordance with the following regulations:
(1) 
The fee for a dedicated bench and memorial plaque shall be $1,000. No more than one memorial plaque will be permitted on any given bench. The dedication of a bench and installation of a memorial plaque will run for an indefinite period of time. The bench will be purchased by the Township of Middle, if required, from the aforementioned fee and said bench shall become the exclusive property of the Township of Middle.
(a) 
In the sole discretion of the Township Committee of the Township of Middle, this fee may be waived on a case-by-case basis, by resolution, upon a showing of exceptional circumstances.
(2) 
Applications shall be obtained from and, after completion, returned to the Memory Lane Coordinator. Applications for specific locations shall be considered on a first-come, first-serve basis. The Middle Township Memory Lane Coordinator will inform the applicant of the date of the installation.
(3) 
Benches and memorial plaques shall be of a size, style and material determined and approved by the Township. Inscriptions set forth on said plaques shall be reviewed and approved at the sole discretion of the Township.
(4) 
Memorial benches locations are subject to the final approval of the Memory Lane Coordinator.
(5) 
No individual or organization may make improvements or install a memorial plaque on any bench or public space without the express approval of the Township of Middle.
(6) 
The Township of Middle shall not be responsible for the replacement of benches or memorial plaques that have been damaged or destroyed due to vandalism or natural occurrences such as fire or hurricane. Applicants shall be responsible for the replacement of damaged or destroyed benches and memorial plaques at their sole expense.