Notice of Referendum Election- Garbage Utility

NOTICE TO VOTERS OF THE TOWNSHIP OF SPARTA

AN ELECTION WILL BE HELD IN THE TOWNSHIP OF SPARTA ON TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2008 FROM 6:00 A.M. TO 8:00 P.M. FOR A REFERENDUM ON THE MUNICIPAL GARBAGE UTILITY ISSUE. THE FOLLOWING SHOWS THE QUESTION AS IT WILL APPEAR ON THE BALLOT TOGETHER WITH THE INTERPRETIVE STATEMENT:

Shall the ordinance adopted by the Sparta Township Council on December 1, 2007 entitled, “AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF SPARTA, STATE OF NEW JERSEY, CREATING A SOLID WASTE UTILITY AND SETTING FORTH THE METHOD OF CALCULATION AND COLLECTION OF SERVICE FEES FOR SAME” be ratified?

YES

NO

A “YES” vote will authorize the Sparta Township Council to create a municipal solid waste utility that would provide for the collection and disposal of Sparta Township residents’ garbage by the Township, instead of by each individual resident, and would also establish the schedule of charges to residents for this service.

A “NO” vote will repeal the Ordinance and cancel the authorization to the Sparta Township Council to create a municipal solid waste utility under the Ordinance.

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VOTING REQUIREMENTS

THE DEADLINE TO REGISTER TO VOTE FOR THE REFERENDUM ELECTION IS FEBRUARY 19, 2008. In order to vote in Sparta Township, a resident must be a citizen of the United States, a resident of New Jersey and Sussex County for thirty days, and shall have attained the age of 18 years BY Election Day, March 11^th. Before being permitted to vote, the person must be a properly registered voter for at least 21 days prior to the election or by February 19^th.

REGISTRATION OF VOTERS

Registration of voters will be conducted at the office of the Sussex County Board of Elections, 83 Spring Street, Suite 305, Newton, New Jersey, weekdays between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., or at the office of the Municipal Clerk in Sparta Township weekdays between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Evening registration will be available at the office of the Sussex County Board of Elections, 18 Church Street, Newton, from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on February 19, 2008. Registration forms are also available at the Division of Social Service, Motor Vehicles Commission, and Division of Developmental Disabilities.

REGISTRATION BY MAIL

Anyone wanting to register by mail may do so by requesting forms from the Sussex County Board of Elections, telephone 973-579-0950, or from the Sparta Township Municipal Clerk, telephone 973-729-4493, or by downloading the form at www.sussex.nj.us. Click on “Departments”, then the “Board of Elections” page.

WHO MUST REGISTER

You must register to vote in Sparta Township if 1) You have never been registered before 2) You have moved into Sparta Township from another town or state 3) You have changed your name due to marriage, divorce, etc.

CHANGE OF ADDRESS

Any voter who is registered to vote in Sparta Township and moves to another address within Sparta Township should transfer his/her registration to the new address by February 19, 2008 to assure that he/she will be able to vote in the proper election district without being required to take additional steps. This is accomplished by notifying the Board of Elections in writing. Such notice must be signed by each voter and must include the voter’s prior address, the name of the road on which the voter now resides and correct mailing address (if different from the residence address). Change of residence forms are available by calling 973-579-0950 or from the Municipal Clerk in Sparta Township. FAILURE TO FILE A CHANGE OF ADDRESS MAY CAUSE DELAY AND INCONVENIENCE ON ELECTION DAY.

VOTER’S BILL OF RIGHTS

A Voter’s Bill of Rights, which includes the date and time of the election, instructions for the use of the voting machine and alternate ballots, and instructions on how to contact the appropriate officials if your right to vote has been challenged or violated will be posted at each polling location and may be obtained by calling the Board of Elections or may be viewed by logging on to www.state.nj.us/lps.elections.

ASSISTANCE FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

Persons unable to vote at the polling place due to permanent or temporary physical disability may request an absentee ballot application by telephoning the office of the County Clerk at 973-579-0900. The office of the Board of Elections may be contacted for information regarding polling place assignments and assistance to disabled voters who choose to vote at the polling place on Election Day. The telephone number is 973-579-0950.

The polling places to be provided for the conducting of the Referendum Election are as follows:

District #1 Municipal Building, 65 Main St

District #2 Fire Headquarters, 141 Woodport Rd

District #3 Sparta High School, 70 W. Mountain Rd

District #4 Sparta United Methodist Church, 71 Sparta Ave

District #5 Helen Morgan School, 100 Stanhope Rd.

District #6 Alpine Elementary School, 151 Andover Rd

District #7 VFW Memorial Post #7248, 66 Main St

District #8 Sparta United Methodist Church, 71 Sparta Ave

District #9 Fire Headquarters, 141 Woodport Rd

District #10 Mohawk Avenue School, 18 Mohawk Ave

District #11 Fire Headquarters, 141 Woodport Rd.

District #12 Sparta High School, 70 W. Mountain Rd

District #13 VFW Memorial Post #7248, 66 Main St

District #14 Mohawk Avenue School, 18 Mohawk Ave

THIS ADVERTISEMENT CONSTITUTES OFFICIAL NOTICE OF THE ELECTION TO THE VOTERS OF THE TOWNSHIP OF SPARTA.

MIRIAM TOWER, C.M.C., MUNICIPAL CLERK