Milltown gets moving on historic committee
Council unanimous in support of agency focused on preservation
BY JESSICA SMITH
Staff Writer

MILLTOWN - The borough is nearing its goal of forming a historic preservation advisory committee, which some residents consider an urgent undertaking.

On Monday, the Borough Council introduced an ordinance to create the committee, passing it unanimously. The final vote to adopt the ordinance is scheduled for Dec. 11, when the public will have a chance to speak on the issue.

"The residents seemed pleased at this point that the committee is moving along, and at the last meeting we did state that it can change to a commission as we go," Councilman Eric Steeber said. "We just want to see how the committee performs."

For the past several months, there has been debate over whether to form a historic preservation committee or commission. A commission was seen as favorable by those who wished to see an entity with greater authority, while Steeber had voiced fears that it would create more restrictions for homeowners while sapping the resources of the borough.

Steeber said he was grateful to the residents who have continued to push for any form of entity that will work toward historic preservation.

"My feeling is, without their pursuit and their input, the committee might not have been created," Steeber said.

With the Ford Avenue redevelopment project and Valley National Bank's application to demolish the Forney House and Clinic for a branch location both in the works, historic preservation has become a central issue at recent Milltown meetings.

Carol and Charlie Jegou, members of the citizens group Milltowners For a Sensible Ford Avenue Redevelopment, are among the residents who feel the ordinance has been a long time coming.

"They haven't really been historic-friendly, so to speak," Charlie Jegou said. "It's not what is best for the town, it's what is best for the builder."

The Jegous agreed that something had to be done in terms of moving toward historic preservation in Milltown, whether it is a committee or a commission.

Councilman John Collins, who said at previous meetings that he would prefer a commission, said this week he is just happy to see things moving forward to provide protection for historic sites.

"We got something accomplished," Collins said. "We're off to a good start."

Once the ordinance is adopted, the mayor and council will begin seeking volunteers for the committee, Steeber said. Those interested will be asked to submit a résumé for review. Charlie Jegou said he will wait to see how many volunteer for the new panel before considering getting involved.

"I think it would help the town so much more if there was a diversity in the people working on these different agencies," he said.