FAQs

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4-H Youth Development

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1. What is the 4-H emblem?: The 4-H emblem is a green four-leaf clover with a white "H" on each leaflet, symbolizing head, heart, hands, and health.

The 4-H emblem was patented in 1924.

2. What is the 4-H slogan?: The 4-H slogan is learn by doing.

3. What is the 4-H motto?: The 4-H motto is to make the best better.

4. What is the 4-H pledge?: The 4-H pledge is:
I pledge
My head to clearer thinking,
My heart to greater loyalty,
My hands to larger service, and
My health to better living,
For my club, my community, my country, and my world.

5. How does a 4-H club work?: A 4-H club is a group of 5 or more kids, guided by an adult 4-H leader.

Each club has a charter.

It is approved by the club members and contains the rules by which the club operates. The club meets once or more each month. Some members serve as officers. They are elected by the club members.

Dues are optional and decided by the club.

Cloverbud clubs are for youth in grades Kindergarten-3. They provide an introduction to 4-H and a way for younger members to explore several projects. The Cloverbud Program is designed to be non-competitive.

In a standard 4-H club, members choose to work on at least one project in-depth. A project may be a topic like geology, photography, small animals, food and nutrition, or bicycling. It can be almost any subject that the club agrees to learn. Often a club will concentrate on one or two projects. Completed projects may be exhibited at the county 4-H fair each summer.

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911

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1. What is 911?: 911 is the universal emergency number that you can use 24 hours a day for police, fire or emergency medical services.

2. When should I use 911?: 911 should be used whenever there is immediate danger to life or property. It should be called to report fires, crimes in progress and medical emergencies.

3. Can I dial 911 from any phone?: 911 can be dialed from any home, business, coin or cellular car phone. It is always a free call.

Some locations, such as business, require a 1 or 2 digit access number to get an outside line before you can dial 911. Be sure that you learn the access number if one is required at your work place.

4. Who will answer my 911 call?: Your 911 call will be answered by a professional telecommunications officer trained in handling 911 emergency calls.

5. What will they ask and how should I answer?

You will be asked what your emergency is and the location where you need assistance. You should remain calm, speak clearly and slowly. Below are some examples:

I need the emergency squad at 123 Main Street. (You should always include the name of the municipality you are in, not your post office.) There is a man outside having a heart attack.
I need the Fire Department at 123 Main Street. My house is on fire.
I need the police at 123 Main Street. Someone is breaking into my neighbor's house.

6. Will they keep me on the phone and ask other questions?

The 911 telecommunications officer will begin routing the call to the proper agency. During the next few seconds you may hear a dial tone and ringing. Do not be alarmed, this is normal and you are never out of contact with the telecommunications officer.

The 911 telecommunications officer will use this time to confirm the name, address, and ask any additional questions. Examples may include:

Suspect or vehicle information for crimes in progress.
Age of patient and are they conscious and breathing.
What is on fire and are there any other dangers?

Always stay on the line and await instructions. Never think that the exchange of information is delaying the actual dispatch of emergency services. Burlington County's 911 Communication Center utilizes a state of the art network of computers, telephones, and radios to communicate dispatch information to others even while they are on the phone with you.

7. What if the caller speaks a foreign language?: When it is determined that a 911 caller is speaking a foreign language, a specially trained interpreter is conferenced on the call to ask the questions and relay the responses.

8. What if the caller is speech or hearing impaired?: The 911 telecommunication officers are trained to detect data signals unique to telecommunication devices for the speech and hearing impaired. These calls are immediately connected to a special device that allows communications with the caller.

Text Telephone (TTY/TDD) Users: Wait until your call is answered. Then press the space bar or any touch tone key several times to send data signals to identify your call as a (TTY/TDD) call.

9. What if my call is not an emergency?

Non-emergency calls for police, fire and emergency medical assistance can be made by using any of the following numbers:

609-234-8300
609-267-8300
609-723-8300

You should use the number that is a local call for your area.

10. Can I call a police station directly?: Yes! There are many instances when you only need a question answered, provide information or return a call to a representative of the department. In most cases these calls are best made Monday through Friday during normal business hours. These numbers are frequently listed in the blue pages of your Bell Atlantic telephone directory.

It is important to remember never to use a business number to report an emergency. Many police, fire and emergency medical stations are not staffed at various times of the day and night.

11. Are there things I shouldn't call for?: Yes! Power outages, traffic conditions, weather reports, school closings, along with calls to request information about special events and municipal services schedules are some examples of calls that shouldn't be made to 9-1-1 and non-emergency emergency service telephone lines. Extreme weather conditions, holidays, and major events increase demands on all emergency service agencies. In times like these, you can do your part in safeguarding your communications lifeline by keeping telephone lines and emergency service's personnel clear and available to handle true emergencies from your community and the area.

HOW Radio stations that specialize in 24-hour news and information are your best source for up-to-date traffic, weather, and advisories during major events. Inexpensive weather monitors are also recommended, especially those that activate when the National Weather Service sends out special weather statements.

Local events, such as parades, fairs, shows, etc. are announced via press releases to newspapers, radio, and television stations well in advance of the event. Frequently, numbers are provided for additional information.

12. Is there anything I should do to make sure emergency personnel can find me?: View the Emergency Address Importance webpage for more information.

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All Hazards Mitigation Plan

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1. What is hazard mitigation?: Natural hazards have the potential to cause property loss, loss of life, economic hardship, and threats to public health and safety. While an important aspect of emergency management deals with disaster recovery – those actions that a community must take to repair damages and make itself whole in the wake of a natural disaster – an equally important aspect of emergency management involves hazard mitigation.

Hazard mitigation measures are efforts taken before a disaster happens to lessen the impact that future disasters of that type will have on people and property in the community. They are things you do today to be more protected in the future.

Hazard mitigation actions taken in advance of a hazard event are essential to breaking the typical disaster cycle of damage, reconstruction, and repeated damage. With careful selection, hazard mitigation actions can be long-term, cost-effective means of reducing the risk of loss and help create a more disaster-resistant and sustainable community.

2. What is a hazard mitigation plan?: A hazard mitigation plan is a well-organized and well-documented evaluation of the hazards that a jurisdiction is susceptible to, and the extent to which these events will occur.

Hazard mitigation plans identify an area’s vulnerability to the effects of the natural hazards typically present in a certain area, as well as the goals, objectives, and actions required for minimizing future loss of life and property damage as a result of hazard events.

The primary purpose of mitigation planning is to systematically identify policies, actions, and tools that can be used to implement those actions.

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Animal Shelter

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1. Are you a “no kill” Animal Shelter and do you alert the public of significant possibility euthanasia can occur on certain animals?

We are currently operating as a no kill shelter for dogs. Burlington County Animal Shelter (BCAS) classifies this definition from the No Kill Advocacy Center, which means BCAS has a euthanasia rate less than 10% for dogs. To become a no kill shelter for cats, we will need to continue our efforts in adoption initiatives as well as increasing foster / rescue participation and reclaims.

We are always trying to improve our ability to save animals.

Our efforts include:

Education
Community outreach
Volunteer assistance
Rescue group assistance
Support of well managed Trap Neuter and Return (TNR) programs
On-site spay / neuter of adopted animals

All of these are geared towards stemming the tide of pet overpopulation. Daily we are faced with the difficult task of evaluating animals for medical and temperament problems. When directed by our Veterinarian staff, we humanely euthanize these animals to prevent suffering. In addition, we humanely euthanize animals with severe behavioral problems or temperament problems that constitute a safety risk to people or other animals.

2. Can the animal shelter improve the look and content of the shelter's website?: We are always looking for ways to improve. Our volunteers do a wonderful job with pictures and video’s.

3. Does the animal shelter accept credit cards for payments?: Yes we accept all credit cards for payments, except American Express.

4. How are animals euthanized?: Humanely, by compassionate, certified Euthanasia Technicians. Ending the life of any animal is never easy for us, yet it is a reality we are faced with every day.

5. How do you verify if the animals that are euthanized are dead?: The Euthanasia Technician feels for a heartbeat with fingers and if they feel no heartbeat, it is rechecked with a stethoscope. This is exactly the same as Veterinarians do when you have companion animals that are put down at the veterinarian’s office. Also, euthanized animals are not immediately disposed of but held out for a period of time and again re-examined.

6. How often are Veterinarians and Veterinarian Technicians on duty?: There are 1 - 3 Veterinarian Technicians are present at the shelter every day from morning until late afternoon. Generally, the Veterinarian is only physically present during spay / neuter and rabies clinics. However, they are always on call per phone and very responsive and diligent about returning Veterinarian Technician and senior staff inquiries.

7. Is there follow-up reporting indicating the day an animal was admitted to the sick room for treatment, the day the animal was released from the sick room, and the status of the animal?: Follow up indicating admission to sick room, release, etc., are indicated on medication sheets on animals’ flow charts each time they are medicated. From the flow chart it is easy to discern on what day medication commenced and what day it ended and a "move to floor" note was made.

8. What is the main purpose of the animal shelter?: The animal shelter’s main purpose is acting as the rabies control center for all forty municipalities of Burlington County. The shelter also provides the essential services of reuniting lost pets with their owners and providing unclaimed adoptable animals a chance for a new home.

9. What is the policy on holding animals for 7 days?: With rare exceptions, BCAS holds animals well past the required 7 day holding period, sometimes for months. The State of New Jersey mandates a minimum 7 day holding period for strays only. The only animals that get euthanized immediately are surrender requests, i.e. very aged and ill animals that are brought in by the owner to be humanely euthanized (for health reasons).

10. What techniques are used to determine if a cat is truly feral?: The initial assessment is done by the Animal Control Officer (ACO) and those who do the first handling at the shelter. Feral cats are held for the same 7 day holding time that any other stray animal is held. There is no fail proof feral test. Feral cats don’t usually meow and don’t blink when approached by humans. They hide or stay in the back of the cage, or at times will charge the cage. All animals are treated with respect and dignity whether feral or tame.

11. When is the best time to stop by the animal shelter?: We open at 12 p.m. and close at 4 p.m. every day, except when closed on county observed holidays. Thursday is our late night when we are open until 7 p.m.

12. Who attends the animals and administers their medications on Sundays / Holidays?: This shelter is not open to the public 365 days a year, but it is "open for business" 365 days a year, as are all shelters. Animal Attendants are assigned to clean and Veterinarian Technicians are assigned to observe and medicate the animals on holidays, just like every other day of the year.

13. Who can and can’t visit the sick room?

Only staff may visit the sick room. Predominantly, admittance is restricted to the Veterinarian Technicians and 1 Animal Attendant scheduled to clean on any given day, or possibly 2 Animal Attendants to move newly sick animals in and newly well animals out. Also, the manager and Animal Advocates visit the sick room when they need to check on specific animals or have some other pressing business, e.g., identification, etc.

Our Animal Advocates and Management staff is trained to keep a substantial distance from the cages and to do only what is necessary, exiting as quickly as possible, always following the shoe dip and hand washing protocols, etc. Any pressure to allow volunteers and rescues access must be dismissed by staff for the sake of the isolated, ill animals and other well animals in the shelter.

We know well-meaning citizens and rescue groups are interested and want to help with rescues and identification, however, doing so in “sickrooms" is not in the best interest of the animals and can be harmful, even lethal, to other animals that are not ill and awaiting adoption.

14. Why are Rescuers not allowed in the sick room?: It is extremely important to limit the number of people in any sick area - especially, cat sick areas where respiratory infections are highly contagious.

15. Why are sick cats not placed in the sick room?: They are with the exception of during outbreaks. There is always the chance that some cats in the adoptable room are incubating a disease and will start sneezing at any time. If you hear a cat sneezing, report it to staff so that they can move the animal and alert the Veterinarian Technicians who treat them.

16. Why do feral cats have small plastic boxes in their cages? This looks inhumane to live in.: These boxes best serve feral cats that would otherwise be pole captured and often traumatized. The cats are free to move in and out of the boxes to within the cage as they please. Feral cats like the solitude this provides. The boxes also serve the cat well in transporting out for daily cage cleaning, feeding and watering. The boxes eliminate injuries to the cats and staff. These boxes are far more humane than just the cage alone and are much less stressful on the cats

17. Why does the shelter not notify rescuers and applicants of animals on the last resort list or return their calls for a status update?: Rescues go down as last resorts and the shelter does not call them when their services are not needed, e.g., the cat / dog is adopted. Nor do we give rescues day by day updates as that is simply not possible with the number of rescues we work with. We call rescues when we are of the opinion that a cat / dog with a last resort needs to be pulled. Rescue groups are welcome to call in for status updates, but should be speaking with the Adoption Advocate(s) and not general office staff.

18. Why isn't there better directions and better signage for the animal shelter?: We are working to constantly improve this area. We can email specific directions for locating the animal shelter or provide directions over the phone. We have worked with the Boy Scouts on developing signage as well as with the County Engineering Department for sign preparation. Also, some volunteers have built creative signs to display. We will continue to do more in this area.

Our address is:
35 Academy Drive
Westampton, New Jersey 08060

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Animal Shelter - Getting Involved

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1. Can I donate to the animal shelter?: Yes! The Animal Shelter accepts donations from our donation list of needed physical items. More importantly, you can donate to the Animal Shelter with monetary funds at any time even as a remembrance for a loved one or through your will / estate. Any amount donated is appreciated. All funds directly benefit the animals and are not used in the shelter’s general fund. Your donations make a great difference in the lives of these animals and they are tax deductible.

Monetary donations can be mailed to:
Burlington County Animal Shelter
P.O. Box 6000
Westampton, NJ 08060

Monetary Donations can also be delivered in person to:
Burlington County Animal Shelter
35 Academy Drive
Westampton, NJ 08060

2. Can I foster an animal?: Rescue groups are always looking for new members to foster. You can contact them through the PetFinder website, or our staff can refer you to rescue groups. Your efforts in helping rescue groups help Burlington County Animal Shelter (BCAS), but even more importantly the animals that need care.

3. How can I help the shelter by volunteering?: The shelter has a very large volunteer base and we are very grateful of the public support and those who donate to the shelter on a regular basis. If you are interested in donating to the shelter or volunteering please see information below on how to do so.

Under 18 years of age - Unfortunately you have to be at least 18 years of age. For those under 18 wishing to help the shelter, donations are always accepted. Bake sales are also a great way to raise money for shelter animals.

18 years of age and older - to volunteer, visit Friends of the Burlington County Animal Shelter where you can find information on how to volunteer at the shelter. For other information on volunteering, you can contact the shelter manager, Jackie Dennis 609-265- 5501.

4. How can rescue organizations help?: The shelter needs positive, knowledgeable and cooperative rescue groups, most importantly for cats. We do a great job with dogs, but there is room for improvement with cats. For more information on how to become a successful rescue organization, please speak with an Adoption Advocate.

5. What about more volunteers, prisoners and community service staff?: We have always taken community service workers assigned by the courts and we also have people from the Community Work Experience Program (CWEP), but the areas where they can help are limited due to a number of reasons (rabies, security, pre immunization, animal handling, etc.) so we can only take so many.

Shelters run best when staffed by trained and accountable staff. Volunteers by the nature of volunteering often want to do what they think is best. It does not work as well as one may expect unless there is an extraordinarily tight volunteer system with extensive training and clear limits set on what people can get involved in, or areas they can enter, and they readily accept policy and protocol. We typically direct individual persons who call about volunteering to an already existing rescue or animal advocacy group. Such groups already know the operations of the animal shelter and working with an existing and dedicated group is much more productive than trying to go it alone. It's similar to the effectiveness of a volunteer handing out band aids at a disaster site or joining the American Red Cross as a team.

Lastly, working with animals of unknown vaccine status for rabies would be a liability issue BCAS could not accept. It's not the fact that volunteers are not needed because they are, but they need to be working and managed in areas most useful to the shelter and it's limitations on being able to work with animals.

6. Where and when can shelter supplies donations be dropped off?

Shelter supplies can be dropped off at:
35 Academy Drive
Westampton, NJ 08060

Supplies can be dropped off during our hours of operation:

Monday - Wednesday
12-4 p.m.
Thursday
12-7 p.m.
Friday - Sunday
12-4 p.m.

We are closed on holidays.

If you miss our hours of operation, you are still able to drop off shelter supplies! Supplies can be dropped off by the front entrance doors under the overhang. Thank you for your generosity!

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Animal Shelter Adoption Information

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1. Can the shelter have animals available for adoption at Farm Fairs, Pet Expos and other events?: At the Farm Fair(s), Burlington County Animal Shelter (BCAS) has tables staffed each day, and we showcase dogs and cats except in cases of inclement weather. Many staff members participate (2 at a time) and these events are successful by spreading public awareness of BCAS. We do not adopt out animals directly from an event, but take applications that can be screened by our Adoption Advocates the next day.

2. Can the shelter promote its adoption services more?: We are always working to promote our adoption services and we are interested in doing more at pet stores and high traffic areas in this regard. We are open to new ideas, please contact us with new ways to find our furry friends new homes!

3. How do I adopt an animal?: After you have found an animal you’re interested in, either by visiting the shelter or through the website, you should then come into the shelter and meet them. You can bring family members at that time or they can come back at a later date to meet the animal. When you come to the shelter, one of our animal attendants will take the animal out for you. After spending time with and deciding you like the animal, you would go to the office and fill out an application.

4. How long does it take to adopt an animal?: This varies and depends on if the animals came in as a stray or surrender and if it came in already spayed / neutered.

Strays have to be held 7 days by law, giving the owner time to find and reclaim their pet. During those 7 days we take applications on the animals and begin processing them by calling landlords and doing veterinarian checks. That way, after the required holding time is up the animal can go into our next available clinic to be spayed / neutered and adopted the following day. This could take 10 days or sometimes more depending on when the next clinic is scheduled.

If the animal is surrendered and is already spayed / neutered, it could be ready as soon as the following day. This is the case as long as our Adoption Advocates are able to make all the appropriate calls and the animal has been checked out by the Veterinarian Technician and given vaccinations.

5. What is being done to increase adoptions for cats and dogs?: BCAS works with 70+ rescue and foster groups. Several animals, both cats and dogs, are featured as pets of the week on the Burlington County Facebook page. We continue to promote already low adoption fees and will be offering discounted adoption fee promotions throughout the year. We continue to promote our shelter and work on a model of repeat customers, referrals, rescues and fostering. BCAS also has a cat or dog on display the last Friday of every month at the County Corner Store in the Moorestown Mall!

6. Why do you spay / neuter all the adopted animals?: With the expansion and modernization of our animal shelter, the county was committed to doing its part in the issue of pet overpopulation. With our spay / neuter program for adoptable pets, we are now part of the solution versus a contributor to the problem. Pet overpopulation is a problem that stems from the failure of owners to have their pets spayed or neutered

7. Why doesn't the shelter approve or disapprove of an applicant "one time" for current and future adoptions?: People’s situations change with regards to living arrangements, other animals that are in the house and most importantly it depends on the animal they are applying for.

8. Is there a 3 application policy and why does the shelter take 3 applications?: The shelter takes as many as 3 applications on an animal. For an animal to be adopted, it does not require 3 applications

9. What happens when my application is not picked?: We keep all applications attached to the animal’s paperwork that you applied for. If you are interested in another animal you can reapply or have the office staff copy your application and place it on your new choice.

10. Why not take the first qualified applicant as soon as possible?: We do if the animal is ready to go, as many often are. However, if an animal is still on required holding time or awaiting its turn in the spay / neuter clinic, we will take as many as 3 applications and place the animal with the BEST qualified applicant (the applicant that best meets the needs of that particular animal), which significantly lowers the return rate.

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Board Workers for Elections

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1. Who is eligible?

Any voter who is registered to vote is eligible to be a board worker. A minimum of 4 board workers are assigned to each district:

2 Democrats
2 Republicans

2. Where will you work?: In a district that may need additional help or where a vacancy exists. Consideration is given to the place the board workers are in, or close to the town where they live.

3. What will you have to do?

You will have to:

Report at 5:15 a.m. election day
Prepare the area for voting
Set up voting machines and supplies
Open the polls
Process voters who come to vote
Close the polls
Return election material to the Municipal Clerk's Office

4. What is the compensation?: The compensation is $200 for the day.

5. What training is needed?: By law, board workers must attend a training class every 2 years, which are held 2 times a year and last about 2 hours. Board workers are instructed on their duties regarding voting machines and the registration book.

6. When will you be needed?

Board workers are needed during the year for the:

April Municipal Cap
Referendum Election
May Municipal Election
Any Special School Election
June Primary Election
November General Election

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Easement Purchase Program

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1. Why are you contacting me?: The Burlington County Board of Chosen Freeholders has directed the Department of Resource Conservation to identify areas of the county, called Agricultural Development Areas (ADAs), most appropriate for the long-term preservation of productive agricultural lands.

Your farm is located in one of several areas that the Burlington County Agriculture Development Board (CADB) has selected for inclusion in an ADA. The criteria for inclusion in an ADA are that the land contains a predominance of high quality soils, is relatively free from conflicting residential development, and is not located in a planned growth area.

The CADB annually identifies the highest quality and most threatened farmland within the ADA and invites the owners of these properties to participate in the Easement Purchase Program

2. What is a preservation easement?: An easement is a right. A “preservation easement” is a recorded document that limits the type and amount of development that may occur on a property.

You may own a particular farm property “fee simple,” meaning that you have all rights to occupy, use, and enjoy the land. One right that you have is the right to develop that property for commercial, residential, or other use as prescribed in your township’s zoning ordinance.

When we say that we would like to “purchase an easement,” we mean that we would like to purchase only the development rights associated with property so that it is preserved as farmland for the future.

3. If I sell the county a preservation easement, do I still own the land?: Yes. You are simply ensuring that your farmland will be preserved for future generations. You still own the farm and may continue to enjoy its use.

4. Will sale of the development rights to my land reduce its value?: Yes. If you ever sell your land after having sold the county an easement, you will likely receive a lower price because you have already sold part of your interest in the land through the easement sale.

5. Is there a market for deed restricted farmland?: Yes. Due to its relatively low cost, there is a high demand for deed-restricted farmland among established farmers looking to increase their land holdings and new farmers who want to purchase affordable farmland. Some participants in the program have sold their development rights as a first step to selling the farm.

Farmland Preservation Program staff are available to discuss recent sales of deed restricted land.

6. How do you determine the value of my development rights?: The easement value of your farm is affected by a number of variables; including location, zoning, road frontage, soil types, and wetland characteristics. To determine the easement value, two state-certified appraisers will be hired by the county to appraise your property. Each appraiser values the fee simple or “before easement” value of your land and its restricted or “after easement” value. The difference between the two values is the appraised value of your “development rights,” or what the county will pay you for your development easement.

Example
Before = $7,000 per acre = Value of land unrestricted
After = $3,000 per acre = Value of land if restricted
Payment = $4,000 per acre = Value of development rights (the price paid by the county to preserve the land)

7. Why should I sell my development rights to the county?: Landowners have chosen to participate in the program for many reasons. Some farmers do not plan to develop their property, and appreciate the ability to access some of the land’s equity while continuing to farm. Proceeds from easement sales have been used, for example, for the payment of debts or to finance needed capital investments. If you intend to pass the farm on to heirs, selling your development rights may offer special tax advantages. Finally, easement sale provides compensation for farmland preservation – a particular benefit for landowners confronted with the possibility of being zoned into preservation.

Only you can determine if the benefits of the program will work for you and your family.

8. If developers can offer me a higher price, why should I sell to the county?: One advantage of selling your development easement to the county is that the county offer is not subject to the multitude of conditions that developers frequently include in their agreements.

Developer purchase offers are almost always based on numerous contingencies, such as approval of their development plan at certain densities and receipt of necessary state, regional, or local permits. The municipal review and approval process takes two or three years and the plan may ultimately be rejected. You may see very little, if any, money up front while you carry a substantial portion of the investment risk.

It is important to understand that the county is purchasing only the development value of your farmland and that you retain the value of the land as a farm and, if applicable, a residence. Based on the resale of restricted farmland throughout the state, that value can be substantial.

9. If I sell to the county will the public have the right to come on my property?: No. The public is not granted any right to use your land. Burlington County elected officials remain strong proponents for the strengthening of right-to-farm laws and ordinances to protect farm properties that are preserved under the program.

10. Is this program open to every farm owner?: No. The Burlington County Agriculture Development Board has developed and is continuing to refine criteria for inclusion in the program. The county’s funding, though substantial, is limited. At the present time, the county is maximizing the use of dedicated funding by focusing on the preservation of larger, “reasonably contiguous” agricultural areas.

11. What do I need to do to be considered for the program?: Only those farms on the county’s acquisition targeting list (ATL) are eligible to apply each program year. If your farm is on the list, you need only to submit the application prior to the application deadline. If your farm is not on the ATL, you must complete and return a Petition for Consideration to be included on the ATL.

12. When will I know if I have been placed on the acquisition targeting list?: The County's Agriculture Development Board (CADB) updates the acquisition targeting list periodically. You will know that your farm is on the list if you have been invited to submit an application.

13. Does the county's focus on large farms mean that the county is not interested in smaller farm properties?: Not necessarily. Although program emphasis is placed on large farms of high soil quality, participation in the program may depend on the configuration of the applications submitted. The size threshold for program participation is 20 acres. It is possible, however, that certain smaller farms that support or build on a developing project area would be accepted.

14. After I sell my development rights to the county, can I build a house for a child or other family member?: Not necessarily. You may be eligible for one or more Residual Dwelling Site Opportunities (RDSOs) or an "exception" for a housing opportunity. For a further description please refer to the information sheet entitled, Housing Opportunities and Exceptions from Deed of Easement Restrictions.

15. I have a non-agricultural use on my property or may want to establish one in the future, is this allowed?: Non-agricultural uses that have existed on the property prior to the time an application is submitted are allowed to continue. New uses would only be permitted if an area of the property is “excepted” from the easement. Current policy allows for the main house and associated structures to be excepted from the standard restrictions that are imposed when the development rights are sold. Excepted land, however, cannot be sold separately from the farm.

16. How many farms are currently enrolled in this program?: Burlington County leads the rest of the counties in New Jersey in the acquisition of development easements through the Farmland Preservation Program. Since the inception of the program in 1985, Burlington County has permanently preserved over 18,000 acres on over 140 farms. There have been 5 townships achieve the preservation of closely-knit 1,000-acre or more blocks of viable farmland.

17. When would the county buy my development rights?: The process begins now. The county reviews all of the applications submitted by the application deadline. Following preliminary approval, it is anticipated that landowners will be made an offer within 6 months. Once a contract of sale is executed, the easement sale will close within approximately 6 months. In the event that a large number of applications are received, the appraisals and, consequently, offers would be done in batches so the timeline might be slightly longer.

18. Is there a deadline for submitting an application to the county for participation in the program?: Yes. The date is stated in the information packet mailed to owners of farms on the current acquisition targeting list.

19. What happens after I submit my application?: All applications are reviewed by the Burlington County's Agriculture Development Board (CADB) to determine their relative ranking according to the CADB’s adopted criteria.

The criteria include soil quality, tillable acres, septic limitations, farm size, location to other applications, proximity to existing non-agricultural development, and municipal commitment. Based on the results of the ranking, the county will determine which applications will receive preliminary approval.

Approved farms are then appraised in order to determine their easement value.

Note: Based on the farm soil mapping, "field studies", possibly including soil sampling and water table studies, may be conducted on some farms before they are appraised. No work will be performed without landowner consent.

20. Am I required to submit a binding offer with the application to sell the development rights on my property for a certain price?: No. The landowner is not required to specify a price for which he or she promises to sell to the county. The county will have two appraisals conducted on the farms that receive preliminary approval. The county’s offer to purchase will be based on the fair market value of the development easement as reflected in the appraisals.

21. Am I required to accept the county's offer?: No, the Easement Purchase Program is entirely voluntary. After you are informed of the offer you can either accept the value or reject it and “walk away.”

22. How do I get more information about the program?: Contact Farmland Preservation Program staff at the Department of Resource Conservation by calling 856-642-3850, faxing 856-642-3860, mailing:
P.O. Box 6000
Mount Holly, NJ 08060

Or visiting:
1900 Briggs Road
Mount Laurel, NJ 08054

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Example FAQs

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1. Who should recycle?

Residents

All Burlington County residents, including residents of apartments and condominiums, are required to recycle cardboard, paper, food and beverage cans, glass bottles and jars, and plastic bottles # 1 and # 2 type only.

Apartment Landlords/Condominium Associations

Apartment Landlords and Condominium Complex Associations are required by municipal ordinance, to provide recycling containers in convenient areas for their residents. Recycling areas and containers must be clearly labeled and residents routinely advised of recycling requirements. The County Recycling Office does provide recycling literature to those Complexes that are serviced by the Occupational Training Center, via the Burlington County Regional Recycling Program. If a Complex contracts privately for recycling services, their recycling service company should provide them guidance on what materials are accepted and how they should be prepared for recycling.

Businesses

All owners, lessees, or occupants of public and private businesses, commercial and/or industrial establishments are required by local municipal ordinance to recycle paper, corrugated cardboard, bottles and cans. Businesses are required to contract privately for recycling services.

Institutions

Owners, lessees, and occupants of all municipal and state government facilities, all religious, education, and health care facilities, all public and/or private civic organizations, and all non-profit and/or profit organizations are required by local municipal law to recycle corrugated cardboard, paper, and bottles and cans. Institutions are required to contract privately for recycling services.

2. Why should I recycle?

Recycling is the law, enforced through the local municipal ordinances.
Recycling saves money. When municipalities send less to the landfill, they spend less of your tax dollars on disposal fees.
Recycling reduces trash. It will extend the life of the landfill.
Recycling conserves natural and nonrenewable resources.
Recycling saves energy. Making products from recycled materials use less energy than from raw materials.

3. Why can't I recycle frozen food containers?

We can recycle 2 types of paper cartons: •Shelf stable cartons such as broth and juice boxes •Refrigerated cartons such as milk and orange juice cartons These are coated with a single layer of polyethylene

. The main reason we can’t accept frozen food containers in our program is they are have more types of plastic coatings than the shelf stable and refrigerated cartons. Cartons are coated with a layer of Polyethylene. Frozen food containers can have various types of coatings and because of the variation they can cause problems when trying to separate the fiber (paper) layer from the coating layers. Paper mills can’t separate out these embedded plastic layers from the paper fiber, resulting in problems when they try to pulp the fiber into new paper.

4. I want to recycle, but do I have to spend time removing all those staples?: No, staples do not have to be removed from papers before recycling. Just remove large metal clips and binders.

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Health

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1. Adopt an Animal: Petfinder.com

2. Burlington County Inspection Results: Inspection Results

3. Complaint form, Burlington County Health Department: Complete an online Health Department Complaint Form

4. Directory of Services: View the Directory of Services

5. Health Fair / Presentation Request: Complete an online form

6. Mosquito Complaint form: Complete an online Mosquito Complaint form

7. Rabies Clinic Dates: View Rabies Clinic Schedule

8. Register Ready / NJ Special Needs Registry Form: View Special Needs Registry form

9. Retail Food forms: Listing of Retail Food forms

10. Safe Syringe Disposal Guide: View Safe Syringe Disposal Guide

11. Well Application: View Well Application

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Human Resources

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1. I have questions about my medical / dental claim. Who do I call?: You should call the company directly for assistance. All customer service numbers are on your ID cards as well as the Explanation of Benefits (EOB) sent from the company. Please have your EOB available when making your call. You should note your conversation on this EOB for future reference. Always ask for the representative’s name when calling with questions.

2. I have lost my insurance identification cards. How do I get them replaced?: You should call the company directly. All company information as well as customer service numbers can be found in the Benefit Administrators area of the website.

3. I had a work related injury. Who do I call for questions or more information?: Please call the Risk Management Office at 609-702-7135.

4. When is open enrollment?: The County holds two Open Enrollment periods. The first one happens in June for a July 1 effective date and the second occurs in December for a January 1 effective date.

5. My dependent child is no longer eligible for County benefits. Can I buy insurance through the County?: You must notify the Benefits Office within 60 days of the date the child is no longer eligible. A COBRA letter will be sent along with the cost of continuing benefits. Please refer to your labor agreement for dependent eligibility for children 19 and older.

6. I’m separated from my spouse. Can I take him/her off of my insurance?: As long as you are not divorced and are still legally married your spouse is still an eligible dependent. You may want to check with your attorney before requesting their removal.

Upon your legal divorce, they are not your spouse and are not an eligible dependent. You must notify the Benefits Office as soon as your divorce is finalized to remove him/her from your policy.

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Influenza

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1. What is an influenza pandemic?

An influenza pandemic is a global outbreak of flu. There are 3 characteristics that distinguish a flu pandemic from the seasonal flu outbreaks that occur every year.

The pandemic is caused by a new strain of flu virus to which people have no immunity.
The virus is spread easily from person to person.
The virus is capable of causing severe illness and many deaths.

Flu pandemics tend to arrive with very little warning. This new virus may be a combination of viruses that have not circulated among people for a long time.

Most people will have no natural protection or immunity from the new virus. Because of this, the new virus is especially dangerous, and could lead to high rates of illness and death.

2. What’s the difference between pandemic influenza and seasonal influenza?: An influenza pandemic has little in common with the annual flu season that we are all familiar with. During an influenza pandemic, the chances of becoming sick are not only greater, but the disease is more likely to cause more complications and deaths.

Seasonal outbreaks of influenza are caused by viruses commonly known to make people sick. Pandemic influenza is caused by a new virus to which people have no immunity. Seasonal influenza outbreaks do not disrupt everyday life. But past influenza pandemics have caused high levels of sickness and death, major social disruptions and economic loss.

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Installment Purchase Agreements

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1. What is an installment purchase agreement (IPA)?: An IPA is a contract between the county and the property owner in which the county promises to pay the purchase price (or portion thereof) for a farmland easement on a future date. The IPA provides for the payment of interest semi-annually between the time that the easement is given to the county and the date that the purchase price is paid to the owner, which is no later than November 15, 2036.

2. How does the sale of my easement change with an installment purchase agreement?: As in a cash transaction, once the county and the owner are ready to conclude the sale, the owner signs and gives a deed of easement to the county. By this deed, the owner agrees to use or maintain the property for agricultural purposes. If the county has agreed to pay a portion of the purchase price at closing, a check is given to the owner or applied to claims against the property, such as mortgages. The balance of the purchase price, along with interest on the principal, is paid to the owner through the installment purchase agreement (IPA) issued at closing.

The IPA provides for the payment of interest on a semi-annual basis (2 times per year) until the date specified in the IPA for the payment of the balance of the purchase price. The interest and principal are paid by a “paying agent”, ordinarily a bank, on behalf of the county.

3. Why is the county using installment purchase agreements for easement purchases?: The county Freeholder Board believes that the development pressure that the county experienced in the last 20 years continues. It fears that unless it acts quickly to conserve a significant amount of the remaining farmland in the county, this land and the rural character of the county will be lost forever. Deferral of the county’s payment of the purchase price is expected to enable the county to make many more purchases than it could otherwise and at a faster rate.

4. How can structuring payment through an installment purchase agreement benefit me?: One benefit to you from the county’s use of installment purchase agreements (IPAs) is that the interest paid to you over the life of the IPA is not, under current law, subject to federal or New Jersey state income taxation.

The pretax nature of the IPA investment and the tax-free nature of the interest payments could ultimately yield a higher after-tax return to the seller than an investment with a higher interest rate without these tax advantages. If the sale qualifies for installment sale tax treatment, the interest payments you receive are based on pretax principal dollars.

Section 453 of the Internal Revenue Code provides that capital gain from an installment sale may, under the installment method, be deferred until receipt of the purchase price. If you are interested in investigating installment reporting of gain from your sale of the easement, you should consult with an attorney and an accountant who are experienced with installment real estate sales transactions and knowledgeable about the specific federal laws and regulations that apply to this payment method for the sale of your easement.

Since individual circumstances vary, the county is not in a position to guarantee that the IRS would approve this method of reporting gain from sale of any particular seller’s easement.

5. Why is payment being deferred as late as 2036?: The year 2036 is the last year of a special county tax that went into effect in 1997 and 1999, authorizing the county freeholders to annually levy four cents per $100 assessed equalized value. Money generated by these taxes is being used to purchase easements for farmland, historic, and open space preservation. By deferring the payment of principal, the county can maximize its leveraging of anticipated tax revenues.

6. What is the interest rate that I will earn under the installment purchase agreement?: The county’s current policy sets the interest rate under the installment purchase agreement (IPA) at 4.5% annually to be paid by the county for IPAs with a maturity of 20 years or greater.

Shorter term IPA rates are set at the time the easement offer is made and will be based on U.S. treasury obligations with a similar maturity. This practice is subject to periodic freeholder review as conditions warrant. A county offer to purchase a development easement will describe the policy in effect at that time.

7. If payment for my easement is deferred, does this mean that the easement will not be effective until 2036?: No. The easement and restrictions on use of your property will go into effect immediately. Instead of being paid cash for your easement, however, you are essentially being paid with the county’s promise to pay you in or prior to the year 2036, along with the county’s promise to pay you interest between closing and that time. The county will have the same right to enforce the restrictions on the property’s use as it would if it paid the full amount of the purchase price at the time the deed is signed.

8. What happens if I sell the property before 2036?: The installment purchase agreement (IPA) has no effect on ownership of your property. You are free to sell your property at any time, subject to the terms and conditions of the deed of easement. If you sell the property, you will continue to receive interest payments due under the IPA as well as the principal payment when due.

9. Can I sell or transfer the installment purchase agreement?: The agreement prohibits sale or transfer of the installment purchase agreement (IPA) for 1 year. After that time, you are allowed to sell it or give it away, but such a sale or gift may have tax ramifications.

Any transfer or sale of the IPA must be of the whole document and all of your rights in it. The county will not divide either interest or principal payments among multiple recipients. One person only is entitled to payments from the county. If you sell or otherwise transfer the IPA, you must follow the procedures set out in the IPA for notifying the county and the paying agent so that they know who is entitled to receive payments.

You can continue to own the property even if someone else is entitled to payments under the IPA.

10. If my property increases in value between the time that I sign the easement and the year 2036, will the county pay me more for my easement?: No. The purchase price of your easement is established at the time that you sign an agreement to sell it to the county. Once you do so and you sign the deed of easement, no additional compensation will be paid by the county (other than the interest payments specified in the installment purchase agreement).

11. What happens if I am willing to sell but only want to sell for a cash payment?: The Freeholder Board is currently in the process of revising the farmland and open space preservation programs financial policies to account for recent policy changes. These revised financial policies will be available on the county’s Farmland Preservation website once they are approved.

12. Will structuring payment of the purchase price through the installment purchase agreement cost me money?: Yes. There are 2 costs to the seller associated with making the sale this way. First are the elective costs of hiring experts to assist you in making the sale and assessing how this method of payment affects your financial circumstances. The county strongly urges you to consult with an accountant or other expert financial adviser as well as a tax attorney to help you understand how this transaction will affect your taxes and your particular financial condition. Because this type of transaction necessitates the purchase of securities by the county, the county incurs costs that it does not incur in cash purchases.

Since all other costs of your sale (e.g., appraisal and survey) are borne by the county, the Freeholder Board has decided that a portion of the additional costs related to the installment purchase agreement (IPA) should be borne by the seller.

The seller is responsible for a payment structuring fee equal to 2% of the face value of the IPA capped at $20,000. This amount can be deducted either from the payment to be made at closing or from the principal amount of the IPA. Alternatively, this payment can be made in cash by the seller at closing. If a seller requests multiple IPAs, they will be charged $3,000 for each additional IPA in the excess of 2 in addition to the 2% fee.

13. Can I use the county's advisers to assist me in selling my easement to the county with an installment purchase agreement?: No. In its development of this program the county has been and will continue to use the services of its own attorneys and a financial adviser. Although they may be available to discuss the transaction with you or your advisers, the county’s advisers are prohibited from counseling or representing the interests of landowners to whom the county is making offers.

14. How do I know that the county will have enough money to pay me in the year 2036, and what happens if the county (or its paying agent) fails to make an interest payment to me?: The installment purchase agreement (IPA) is a contract between the seller and the county similar in nature to a county bond. The county would quickly lose all credibility in making farmland easement purchases if it failed to comply with its bargain with landowners. It has been the county’s practice to purchase securities just prior to closing that have a value at maturity equal to the amount of the payment that will be due.

These securities, however, are not pledged to the seller or to the IPA. Regardless of the method selected by the county to provide for payment of the IPA principal or interest, the county is responsible for honoring its obligations and taking the steps necessary to do so. As in its sale of bonds, the county’s promise to pay in the IPA rests upon a pledge of its full faith and credit, as well as its power to tax.

15. How can I find out more about installment purchase agreements?: You may contact a member of the county’s Farmland Preservation Program staff in the Department of Resource Conservation at 856-642-3850, or your attorney may call Jeffrey Rabin, the county’s Farmland Preservation Program attorney, at 609-265-5289.

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Medical Examiner

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1. How can I obtain copies of reports?

Autopsy and toxicology reports are available upon submission of a Records Request Form.

Once we receive your request, it is sent to the county Solicitor's Department who will forward a Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) form to you for your signature and return to the Solicitor's Office. Upon receipt of the completed HIPPA form and approval, the requested documents will be mailed to your location. Should the release of these reports jeopardize the integrity of an on-going criminal investigation, the Burlington County Medical Examiner's Office may withhold the reports until completion of that investigation.

2. How can I obtain a copy of the death certificate?: Our office completes only the certification portion of a death certificate, which is then completed by the funeral director who files it. Original copies for insurance and estate purposes are usually provided by the funeral director, but can also be obtained from the Vital Statistics Officer in the municipal jurisdiction of the death location, or by contacting the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services by calling 609-292-4087 or writing to: Vital Statistics P.O. Box 370 Trenton, NJ 08625-0370

3. How do we claim or recover the decedent’s body?: You should contact a funeral home of your choice. The funeral home representatives are knowledgeable on the established protocols for the release of the decedent and final arrangements.

4. Do all medical examiner cases get autopsied?: Not all cases on which the Medical Examiner takes jurisdiction result in an autopsy of the decedent’s body. Many of them are found through inquiry to have sufficient medical history to account for the death and many such cases are brought to the Medical Examiner Office for safe storage while next of kin are located.

5. What is an autopsy?: An autopsy involves examination of the exterior of the body and opening of the body and examination of organs and tissues to determine the cause and manner of death, and occasionally assist with the positive identification of the decedent. The cause of death is the medical condition that actually caused life to cease, while the manner of death is a classification (natural, accidental, homicide, suicide, or could not be determined) of the means by which death was caused to occur. This examination will not interfere with or prevent the body from being released to the family for funeral arrangements or viewing.

6. What if the family does not want an autopsy?: The Medical Examiner autopsy, unlike a hospital autopsy, does not require permission from the next of kin. It is done under statutory authority. If the family has a religious objection to the autopsy, the Medical Examiner will make every effort to limit the procedure as far as possible. If the Medical Examiner does determine that a full autopsy is necessary to fulfill legal responsibilities, the family may present their objection to a court of law for consideration before the autopsy is performed.

7. What does a person do on finding a family member deceased?: The police and emergency medical personnel should be called by dialing 911 and they will respond. If there is sufficient medical history, and nothing to suggest any other cause of death, the doctor who was treating the deceased will be contacted. The treating doctor may issue an appropriate death certificate and the family can have the body moved to the funeral home of their choice. If a Medical Examiner investigation is warranted, then the body will be taken by the Medical Examiner investigator. Upon conclusion of the investigation by the Medical Examiner, the body may be released to the funeral home of the family’s choice.

8. Can we visit and view the decedent at your facility?: Our facility does not permit visitation, but you may make arrangements to visit the decedent at the funeral home through your funeral home representative.

9. If I have questions about the autopsy or toxicology reports, can I get an explanation of the medical information?: Your family physician can explain the medical terminology listed on the reports, but you can also schedule an appointment to review the case with the Medical Examiner either by calling 609-702-7030 or stopping by our office located at:
Westampton Complex
4 Academy Drive
Westampton, NJ 08060

10. Must I do anything differently if a baby dies unexpectedly?: No. You will be provided with additional services following this tragic event. The major cause of death in babies up to 1 year of age is Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) or Sudden Unexplained Infant Death. There is no known cause of SIDS. A diagnosis of SIDS is made when the sudden death of an infant remains unexplained even after a thorough medicolegal investigation. State laws require the SIDS Center of New Jersey to be notified. The center provides counseling and bereavement services to the family. SIDS Center of NJ hotline number is 800-545-7437.

11. Does the family pay for any of the Medical Examiner services?: No. Families pay nothing for any of the Medical Examiner services. The family only pays the funeral home the cost of its services, to include transportation of the body from the Burlington County Examiner's Office (BCMEO) to the funeral home.

12. Who can we call for additional information, counseling, or assistance?

The following organizations may provide information, counseling, and other services to families and friends who have suffered the loss of a loved one:

AIDS Hotline: 800-624-2377
American Cancer Society: 800-227-2345
American Heart Association: 800-634-1242
Eye Bank of New Jersey: 800-653-9379
Gift of Life – Organ Procurement: 215-557-8090
New Jersey Funeral Directors Association: 732-974-9444
New Jersey Organ and Tissue Sharing Network: 800-742-7365
New Jersey Self-Help Clearinghouse: 800-367-6274
SIDS Center of New Jersey: 800-545-7437

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Medical Reserve Corps

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1. What is the Medical Reserve Corps?

The Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) program was founded in July 2002. It is part of a national initiative that provides a structure for volunteers to offer their expertise and serve as a team during times of emergency or need in their own community.

Each MRC is a local volunteer unit that brings together people who have medical, public health, behavioral health or other skills to supplement existing health and emergency response personnel. This team of volunteers is trained and available to respond locally in a public health emergency.

MRC units exist across the country, in urban, suburban, and rural areas. Each MRC unit conducts its role in the way that best suits the unique challenges for its area. Members may also choose to support communities in need in other areas of the state or country, as many did during hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

The Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) Program is the national office of the MRC and is housed within the Office of Emergency Management's (OEM) Partner Readiness and Emergency Programs (PREP) Division, Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The MRC Program supports the MRC network by providing technical assistance, coordination, communications, strategy and policy development, grants and contract oversight, training and other associated services. It functions as a clearinghouse for information and best practices to help communities establish, implement, and maintain MRC units in order to achieve their local visions for public health and emergency preparedness.

2. What is the Burlington County Medical Reserve Corps (BCMRC)?

The mission of the Burlington County Medical Reserve Corps (BCMRC) is to improve the health and safety of communities by organizing and utilizing public health, medical, and other volunteers.

One aspect of the BCMRC is to enhance the County’s emergency preparedness by ensuring that a trained group of healthcare professionals and community volunteers are ready to respond to public health emergencies. Another is to support the health department and community health promotion throughout the year.

Anyone can join the MRC! BCMRC now has about 700 members who are categorized as healthcare professionals or community health members. Our membership includes nurses, physicians, pharmacists, clerical, translators, social workers, mental health professionals, and many more!

BCHD ensures that our volunteers are trained, credentialed, and ready to respond when needed.

3. Who can volunteer?: Anyone with an interest in public health! We need licensed or certified health care professionals (practicing or retired). We also need community volunteers such as interpreters, chaplains, social workers and support staff.
You must live or work in Burlington County.

4. What are the benefits to my community?

Major health emergencies can overwhelm local resources during the first 12 to 72 hours. Citizens who are trained and prepared to take care of themselves, their family, and others will ensure that our community is safer, stronger and better prepared.

Additionally, you can help take part in public health efforts to improve the health of your community. Events such as clinics, screenings, health fairs, and community outreach are held throughout the year in many parts of Burlington County.

5. What does a BCMRC volunteer do?

MRC members may help in critical ways. They may:

- Conduct medical screening or evaluation
- Give vaccine or medicine
- Answer questions in a hotline call center
- Provide behavioral health support
- Help with mass patient care in shelters, clinics or hospitals
- Assist with disease control measures, such as case finding and monitoring
- Clerical support
- Translation services
- Other duties as assigned

Volunteers may be asked to respond during large and small-scale emergencies, such as an influenza pandemic, a bioterrorism event, a severe storm that requires the county to open mass shelters, or other event that overwhelms community resources.

The BCMRC makes every effort to match the emergency roles of volunteers with their professional skills and licensure. In addition, all volunteers are given specific training for response and, if necessary, are provided with medication, vaccine or equipment to protect themselves.

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On-the-Job Training

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1. As an employer, how do I access OJT training dollars?: The process is simple and there are no complicated forms. A business services representative from the One-Stop Career Center will meet with you at your place of business to discuss your needs, the position(s) for which you are seeking OJT training dollars and walk you through the process.

2. Are there any restrictions?: Yes there are. You can not use OJT funded trainees to replace employees laid off within six months prior to the date of your application. You must agree to hire any OJT trainees as regular, full time employees. The rate of pay and benefits must be commensurate with what you pay others for doing similar work.

3. Can companies re-hire one of their previously released (laid off) employees?: Yes, a business can re-hire a previous employee but it must be for a different position for which they would need training and the candidate must meet specific OJT requirements.

4. How do I benefit by participation in the OJT Program?: The OJT program enables you to be reimbursed for the new employee’s wages while they are in training.

5. How long will the process take to get the OJT approved?: This process will not take much longer than hiring a non-OJT employee. In order to ensure that your needs are met, the process of writing and negotiating the contract and establishing a training plan for the individual takes approximately 2 - 3 days.

6. What if an employer has already selected a candidate for OJT training?: If the employer has already selected a candidate AND the candidate is approved by the OJT staff as eligible, the One-Stop can set up an OJT with the employer’s candidate.

7. What kinds of positions are eligible for consideration for OJT?: There are many occupations with growth potential that result in continued employment.

8. Who can be an OJT Employer?: Any company of business which has an opening for a skilled worker and for which qualified individuals are not readily available; a company of business which has not relocated in the past 120 days; or, if it has relocated within this period, the relocation has not caused a loss of employment at the previous location.

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Paper Cart Recycling Program

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1. How can my town sign up for the cart program?: Most municipalities with curbside collection can participate in the program, provided that they agree to pay for their share of the carts.

Contact your municipal officials to find out your municipality’s cart status.

2. What do I put in the paper cart?

All recyclable paper and cardboard (flatten boxes to fit in cart), including:

Brown paper grocery bags
Catalogs
Junk mail (window envelopes are ok but remove product samples, plastic cards, etc.)
Magazines
Newspaper
No plastic bags or plastic wrap.
Paperback books
Paperboard such as cereal boxes and tissue boxes
Phone books
School and office paper
Shredded paper must be in a paper bag or small cardboard box

Plastic bags and wrap jam up our sorting equipment.

3. Does it matter how the cart is placed at the curb?: Yes, set your cart curbside by 6 a.m., with the metal bar facing the street. If you set the cart out backwards your lid may be broken when tipped by the automated arm.

The cart should be at least 3 feet from all obstacles. Do not set it under low hanging branches or basketball hoops. Do not set recyclables on top of cart lid.

4. Do I have to flatten cardboard boxes?: Please flatten boxes to make sure everything fits in your cart and remove styrofoam (egg cartons, peanuts or packing) and remove plastic wrap from cardboard cartons before recycling. It is ok if your flattened boxes stick out of the top of the cart.

Placing material on the ground defeats the efficiency of an automated system and drives up the cost of recycling. That said, if you do have to set excess cardboard on the ground that can’t fit in the cart, even after flattening boxes, we will collect it. You can also bring excess recyclables to your municipal recycling drop off.

5. What about bottles and cans and paper cartons?

Keep using your recycling bucket for bottles and cans and paper cartons. Only use the round buckets issued by your municipality.

We collect and process bottles and cans and paper cartons separately from paper and cardboard. This method is called “dual stream” recycling.

6. Will we ever be able to put all recyclables in our cart?: Collecting your recyclables all together in one cart is called “single stream” recycling. The county is planning to install a single stream sorting system by the end of 2013. Once this system is in place you will be able to place all your paper, cardboard, bottles and cans, and paper cartons into your blue paper cart. For now, the cart can only be used for paper and cardboard.

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Recycling

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1. How should I dispose of my used syringes?: Used syringes are a common contaminant at our recycling center and also a dangerous one that puts the safety of our workers at risk! Therefore, they do not belong in your recycling container. Never put them in recycling. To safely dispose of used syringes, check with your doctor about a prescription for containers for used sharps or you may buy them online. If you do not wish to pursue either of these options, place the clipped needle and syringe in a sturdy plastic container such as a detergent bottle. Put a warning label stating "WARNING: USED SYRINGES" on the container. Seal the bottle and tightly recap it as well as duct tape it. To correctly and safely dispose of the container, please bring it to a participating hospital or place it in your regular trash. DO NOT RECYCLE THIS CONTAINER. For more information, please visit our safe syringe disposal webpage at http://co.burlington.nj.us/DocumentCenter/View/3871/Safe-Syringe-Flyer-2020?bidId=

2. Who should recycle?: Residents
All Burlington County residents, including residents of apartments and condominiums, are required to recycle cardboard, paper, food and beverage cans, glass bottles and jars, and plastic bottles # 1 and # 2 type only.

Apartment Landlords/Condominium Associations
Apartment Landlords and Condominium Complex Associations are required by municipal ordinance, to provide recycling containers in convenient areas for their residents. Recycling areas and containers must be clearly labeled and residents routinely advised of recycling requirements. The County Recycling Office does provide recycling literature to those Complexes that are serviced by the Occupational Training Center, via the Burlington County Regional Recycling Program. If a Complex contracts privately for recycling services, their recycling service company should provide them guidance on what materials are accepted and how they should be prepared for recycling.

Businesses
All owners, lessees, or occupants of public and private businesses, commercial and/or industrial establishments are required by local municipal ordinance to recycle paper, corrugated cardboard, bottles and cans. Businesses are required to contract privately for recycling services.

Institutions
Owners, lessees, and occupants of all municipal and state government facilities, all religious, education, and health care facilities, all public and/or private civic organizations, and all non-profit and/or profit organizations are required by local municipal law to recycle corrugated cardboard, paper, and bottles and cans. Institutions are required to contract privately for recycling services.

3. Can I put plastic packing material from cardboard boxes in my recycling?

NO! The recyclable labeling is misleading. Plastic air pillows, bubble wrap and Styrofoam, etc. cannot be recycled in municipal recycling programs, including ours.

Local grocery stores and large retailers that take back and recycle plastic bags may take the air pillows and bubble wrap. Check with store manager on what is acceptable at their plastic bag dropoff.

There are no local options to recycle most foam packaging which is coded #6 inside the "recycling" symbol.

4. Can I put metal and plastic hangers in curbside recycling?

NO, the metal hangers damage recycling sorting equipment and we have no market for the plastic hangers.

Most scrap yards will recycle metal hangers. You can visit Earth911 and search “metal hangers” to find the closest scrap yard location. You can also try to other options listed below:

Contact your town to see if they have a scrap metal dropoff or will take them on scrap metal collection days.
Bring them to the Convenience Center at the Burlington County Resource Recovery Complex, 22000 Burlington-Columbus Road, Florence, NJ 08518.

Unfortunately, at this time, we are unaware of any programs that recycle plastic hangers. Other than finding creative ways to reuse them, they should be put in your household trash.

5. Since I can no longer put my shredded paper in my recycling, what can I do with it?: New Shredded Paper Guidelines

6. Why can’t I recycle the boxes from frozen foods?: The boxes from frozen foods have various types of coatings which cause problems when paper mills try to separate the fiber (paper) layer. They are unlike the shelf stable cartons used for boxed juice and broth and the refrigerated cartons for milk and orange juice, which are coated with a single layer of polyethylene.

7. Why should I recycle?

Recycling is the law, enforced through the local municipal ordinances.
Recycling saves money. When municipalities send less to the landfill, they spend less of your tax dollars on disposal fees.
Recycling reduces trash. It will extend the life of the landfill.
Recycling conserves natural and nonrenewable resources.
Recycling saves energy. Making products from recycled materials use less energy than from raw materials.

8. I want to recycle, but do I have to spend time removing all those staples?: No, staples do not have to be removed from papers before recycling. Just remove large metal clips and binders.

9. Does it help to flatten my aluminum cans?: No. Our processing system works best with whole aluminum cans. Cans crushed completely flat may not get sorted properly and get mixed with the wrong recyclables.

10. Should I separate all my magazines, newspaper, junk mail, and cereal boxes into separate paper bags for recycling?: There is no need to separate. All paper types and cardboard are collected by the same truck.

11. Can I recycle wrapping paper from holidays and special occasions?: Yes, wrapping paper and tissue paper used for packing or wrapping gifts can be recycled with your regular mixed paper recycling. No foil or plastic wrapping paper, and remove ribbon and bows.

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Single Stream Recycling

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1. What if I do not currently have a cart?

If your neighbors have carts and you don't, contact your municipality. Areas without carts are noted below.

Bordentown City, the historic village of Roebling, historic section of Burlington City and uncarted townhome communities will continue to use their existing recycling buckets for single-stream collection
Bass River and Woodland - do not have curbside recycling and will continue to take their recyclables to their town drop-off.
Multifamily Complexes will be added to the program next year. If you reside in an apartment or condominium complex your management will be notified in advance of any changes, so continue to recycle as you are now.

2. If I have a cart now, can I still use my bottles and cans "round bucket"?: No; you should put all your recyclables into your cart.

3. What about Plastic Bags?: Keep plastic bags out of recycling buckets and carts. Plastic bags cause big trouble for single stream recycling systems. Recycle plastic bags at supermarkets or stores such as Lowes, Home Depot, Target, etc. Burlington County Park rangers will accept clean dry plastic bags for reuse at the park's pet waste stations.

4. What is the benefit of single stream?: Again, not having to separate recyclables adds convenience. Studies show single stream brings with it an increase of 10% or more in recycling. The more we recycle, the less we need to landfill. Last year, recycling saved the towns more than $3.2 million in landfill tipping fees. Those cost-savings are effectively tax savings, since they improve the bottom line of municipal budgets.

5. Anything else I should know?: Burlington County is proud of its recycling program. The cost of the program is included in tipping fees – with no additional costs to the towns. In addition, the program is operated through the Occupational Training Center of Burlington County and provides jobs to individuals with disabilities. No other county in New Jersey can make that claim.

6. Where else can I go for information?: Call 609-499-1001 or recycle@co.burlington.nj.us.

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West Nile Virus Symptoms

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1. Who gets West Nile virus?: Anyone can get infected with the West Nile virus. The virus can affect anyone bitten by an infected mosquito. People over the age of 50 and people with weak immune systems are at greater risk of developing severe illness.

2. What are the symptoms of West Nile Virus?: Many people infected with West Nile virus do not become ill and may not develop symptoms. About 20% of infected people will develop West Nile fever. When symptoms do occur, they may be mild or severe and show up 3 to 15 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito. • Mild symptoms inlcude flu-like illness with fever, headache, body aches, nausea and sometimes swollen lymph glands or a skin rash on the chest, stomach and back. • Severe symptoms include high fever, neck stiffness and swelling of the brain (encephalitis) which can lead to coma, convulsions and death. Less than 1% of infected people will develop severe symptoms.

3. Can people with West Nile Virus pass the illness to others?: The virus that causes West Nile Virus is spread only by mosquitoes. West Nile virus is not spread from person to person.
In rare cases, the virus has been spread through blood transfusions, organ transplants, breastfeeding and during pregnancy from mother to baby.

4. How can West Nile virus be prevented?: The best way to protect yourself from getting West Nile virus is to prevent mosquito bites. Follow these steps to reduce your risk of being bitten by mosquitoes:
• Wear shoes and socks, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt when outdoors at dusk or dawn when mosquitoes are most active.
• Use an EPA-registered insect repellent such as those with DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus. These products can be used on skin or clothing. Choose a product that provides protection for the amount of time spent outdoors. Permethrin is another type of insect repellent. It can only be used on clothing. ALWAYS follow the directions on the product label.
Mosquitoes begin to breed in any puddle or standing water that lasts for more than four days. Get rid of mosquito breeding sites around the home.
• Clean out gutters and drains
• Dispose of old tires
• Drain standing water from pool covers. Keep pools chlorinated. Flip over plastic children’s pools when not in use.
• Remove all containers that hold water
• Change birdbath water every several days
• Make sure all windows and doors have screens and that all screens are in good condition.

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