Hardyston honored at conference

HARDYSTON — The Hardyston Township Council, Department of Public Works Director Robert Schultz and Township Planning Board Attorney Thomas F. Collins were honored with various awards at the 2014 Annual New Jersey League of Municipalities Conference in Atlantic City.

The Hardyston Township Council was honored by the New Jersey Municipal Management Association at its league luncheon with the annual Elected Officials Award. The award recognizes an individual or group of elected officials who support professional government management in their duties and actions. The Hardyston Township Council, throughout its years of service and commitment to the township, have routinely demonstrated its shared philosophy and mission to set aside personal agendas and politics in order to do what is best for the people of Hardyston.

This council's philosophy has included supporting the form of government giving the Township Manager the ability to plan, develop relationships, and implement programs that are innovative and forward thinking. The result has been a township that promotes economic development, provides recreational and community orientated programs and delivers outstanding municipal services including police and public works, all while maintaining fiscal stability.

Hardyston Township Director of Public Works Robert Schultz was honored with the Richard Rorbach Public Works Leader of the Year Award by the New Jersey Chapter of the American Public Works Association. The award recognized a leader in the public works field who demonstrates initiative, implements innovative ideas, promotes efficiency and serves the best interests of the community. Schultz was recognized for his leadership in successfully implementing and managing more than ten shared service agreements, the construction of the DPW annex in Stockholm to more efficiently manage manpower and equipment and the creative and innovative techniques in fleet management and maintenance which have extended the life of equipment and saved money for the township over the course of his tenure as DPW director.

Thomas F. Collins, Jr. from the law firm Vogel, Chait, Collins and Schneider has represented the Hardyston Township Planning Board for nearly two decades. Collins was nominated by the township and received the William M. Cox Award from the New Jersey Institute of Local Government Attorneys. The William M. Cox Award recognizes an attorney or judge who has distinguished themselves in the field of land-use law. Tom Collins in his years as Township Planning Board Attorney has been invaluable in helping ensure that Hardyston’s growth and success have been in step with sound planning principles and within the scope of the Municipal Land Use Law. Collins helped the township achieve substantive certification from the N.J. Council on Affordable Housing, Highlands Plan Conformance and adopt a Village Center Form Based Code.