FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

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Community Services Department Vital Statistics How do I get a birth certificate, marriage certificate, or death certificate? You can either come in to the office or request a certified copy. If you visit the office, you will need a photo id with your address or two alternate forms of ID such as Non-photo Drivers license, vehicle registration, insurance card, voter registration, passport, green card, county ID, School ID, or Utilities bill(s). If you request the certificate via mail you must be the: Applicant, the applicant's parent, current spouse, child or grandchild of the applicant, siblings, legal guardian, legal representation, bride or groom. Health Services Can the health department come out to my residence and check for lead? No, you have to have venus blood drawn by your pediatrician or visit our baby clinic and the readings has to be 20 and over. Can my child get immunization shots from the City Clinic? Yes, if you are an Orange resident and your child is between 2 months and 18 years of age. Marriage Licenses How Do I Apply For A Marriage License? Marriage licenses can be obtained at either the bride or groom's place of residence.  If neither bride nor groom is a New Jersey resident, the application must be completed in the municipality where the marriage ceremony will be performed and the license is only valid in the issuing Municipality. You can only get married with a vaild New Jersey certificate. A license issued in New Jersey may not be used outside of New Jersey. When Should You Apply For Your Marriage License? State law prohibits the issuance of a marriage license sooner than 72 hours after application for a marriage license has been made (unless a court order has been obtained which waives the 72-hour waiting period). It is important to know the intended date of marriage at the time the bride and groom apply for the marriage license to insure compliance of the 72-hour waiting period. If the wedding is scheduled for a Saturday or Sunday, the application should be made no later than the preceding Tuesday.  If the bride and groom are unable to complete the application at the same time, either applicant may complete his/her part of the application and start the 72-hour waiting period.  The other applicant must return with the same witness to complete the remaining part of the application.  The application must be completed by both parties before the license can be issued. Once the marriage license is issued, the marriage must take place within 30 days.  If, for whatever reason, a bride and groom can only apply for their license several months prior to the intended date of marriage, the license simply remains in the files of the Registrar (no matter how long) until the license is issued within the 30 days of the wedding. What Should You Bring When Applying For Your Marriage License? a. Proof of residency; b. A witness who is at least 18 years of age who knows the bride and the groom; c. If one or both of the applicants are divorced, a copy of the final decree(s) is required; d. License fee of $28.00 payable in cash, check or money order. e. The name and address of the officiate for the wedding ceremony. Pet Licenses Do I have to have a license for my dog or cat? You do need a license for your cat.  The rabies vaccination must be good for 10 completed months of the licensing year. The fees are: $8.00 for spayed or neutered dogs $11.00 for non-spayed or non-neutered dogs There is a $10.00 late fee for any license obtained after March 1st. Senior Services Can I have the phone number for a particular senior building? Oakwood Tower:  (973) 678-4095 Orange Park Apartments: (973) 672-0171 Mount Carmel Towers: (973) 678-1966 New Community Orange Senior Residence:  (973) 674-2541 Salem Towers:  (973) 678-8651 355 Thomas Blvd.: (973) 678-0281 Washington Manor: (973) 677-4570 What is the Senior Bus Schedule for the City? A.M.               P.M.     (Daily) 9:25               1:35 10:35             2:35 11:35              3:35 Every 2nd Wednesday of each month, the bus will go to the Essex Green Shopping Mall to Pathmark Food Store, etc. Recreation Services What time does the Recreation Department close? Monday – 8:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Tuesday – Friday – 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. What programs does Recreation have to offer? A. Sporting Activities Football, Basketball, Baseball, Cheerleading, Track & Field, Swimming, Aquatics and Tennis B.  Holiday Events Easter Egg Hunt, Game Day, Youth Games, Fishing Derby, Hallo-Fest, Tree Lighting Ceremony and Toys for Tots (Christmas) C. After School Programs 6 to 9 Program – Middle & High School age (ages 12-18) Arts & Crafts, Mentoring program, basketball, S.A.T. prep classes, drama, chess, bowling, lifeguard training, dance, volleyball, double dutch, video competition & trips Friendship House – 3rd & 4th grade arts & crafts, dance, drama, recreation, homework and various trips TOP OF PAGE Finance Department What is the City's Tax Identification Number?  Vendors or government agencies may contact the Finance Department at 973-266-4024 to obtain this information. When can I expect to receive payment for services rendered to the City?  Bills are approved for payment by the City Council on the first and third Tuesdays of each month, with the exception of July and August when Council meets only once.  Please contact the specific City department to which you provided the goods or services for additional information.  The bill payment process is initiated by the receiving department. Tax Assessor's Office How is the assessed value of a property determined?  The Tax Assessor determines an assessed valuation of a property by one of three ways:  Cost Approach, Income Approach, or, Market Value Approach. For further explanation, you may contact the Tax Assessor's Office at 973-266-4014. What is the block and lot number of ______________?  (Specific in nature, please call 973-266-4013) Who is the owner of ____________________?  ( Specific in nature, please call 973-266-4013) What is the assessed value of ________________?  ( Specific in nature, please call 973-266-4013) What are the property dimensions of ________________?  ( Specific in nature, please call 973-266-4013) Tax Collector's Office Where Do I Pay My Property Taxes? Taxes can be paid in the Tax Office in City Hall. Why are my taxes so high? Property taxes are based on a property's assessed valuation, if you believe your property assessment is not correct, you may file a tax appeal (See the next question). How can I get my property taxes reduced?  You may appeal the assessed value by filing an application with the County Tax Board.  Applications are available in the Tax Assessor's Office section of our FORMS PAGE. Why is my water bill so high?  Check for leaks or see if bill is estimated.  If not, please check your property for water leaks.  If none are found, contact the Orange Water Services office, toll free, at 866-893-0546, Monday – Friday between the hours of 8:00 am and 4:30 pm. When can I expect to receive my property tax bill? Tax bills are usually mailed out twice per year, in June (for the August and November installments) and December (for the February and May installments). NOTE: Public announcements are made when there is a change in anticipated mailing and/or payment dates. How do I get a resident senior citizen, disabled person or surviving spouse of a senior or disabled person tax deduction? To qualify for a Resident Senior Citizen Deduction, a taxpayer must, as of October 1 of the pre-tax year, meet the following requirements: A legal owner of the property on which the deduction is claimed Be a citizen and resident of New Jersey for 12 months prior to October 1 of the pre-tax year. Reside at the property Receive an annual income (joint with spouse) of $10,000 or less Must be 65 years of age on or before December 31 of the pre-tax year. To qualify for a Disabled Person Deduction, a taxpayer must, as of October 1 of the pre-tax year meet the following requirements: A legal owner of the property on which the deduction is claimed Be a citizen and resident of New Jersey for 12 months prior to October 1 of the pre-tax year. Reside at the property Receive an annual income (joint with spouse) of $10,000 or less Must be permanently and totally disabled as of December 31 of the pre-tax year. To qualify for a Surviving Spouse of a Senior Citizen or Disabled Person Deduction, a taxpayer must, as of October 1 of the pre-tax year, meet the following requirements: A legal owner of the property on which the deduction is claimed Be a citizen and resident of New Jersey for 12 months prior to October 1 of the pre-tax year. Reside at the property Receive an annual income (joint with spouse) of $10,000 or less Not have remarried Have reached age 55  by December 31 of the pre-tax year and have been at least 55 years of age at the time of the death of the deceased spouse. How does a Veteran qualify for a deduction? You may qualify for a Veteran Deduction if you served during an active time of war in any branch of the Armed Forces of the United States.  Applications for deductions may be obtained from the Offices of the Tax Collector or Tax Assessor.  To qualify for this deduction, a taxpayer must, as of October 1 of the pre-tax year meet the following requirements: A legal owner of the property or have a fractional interest in the property on which the deduction is claimed Have an honorable discharge Be a citizen and legal resident of New Jersey To qualify for a Surviving Spouse of a Veteran of Service Person, a taxpayer must, as of October 1 of the pre-tax year, meet the following requirements: A legal owner of the property or have a fractional interest in the property on which the deduction is claimed Not have remarried. Be a legal resident of New Jersey. Be a surviving spouse of a veteran who was honorably discharged, or a surviving spouse of citizen and resident who met death while on active duty in a branch of the Armed Forces of the United States having had active service during time of war. Proof that the deceased was a domiciled citizen and resident of New Jersey at the time of his/her death Additional information regarding these deductions my be obtained from either the Tax Collector's Office at 973-266-4019, or the Tax Assessor's Office at 973-266-4014. Forms may be found on our FORMS PAGE.     Municipal Budget When does the fiscal year start and when does it end?  The City of Orange Township fiscal year begins July 1st and ends June 30th. How much is the annual budget? The City's annual budget is approximately $50 million.  The current fiscal year 2007 budget is $49,080,328.  The prior year was $50,576,270. Who is involved in the budget preparation? The Mayor, Business Administrator, Chief Financial Officer, Department Heads, City Council, City Council's Budget Consultant, a Citizen's Advisory Committee, and interested Citizens who attend public budget hearings. Budget preparation and administration are just one part of our overall set of job duties and responsibilities. How Many Departments do you have and what are they? – Orange has seven (7) operating departments: Administration, Community Services, Finance, Fire, Law, Planning & Development, Police, and Public Works. How do the Departments request their budgets? All departments must make their initial budget request through a computerized budget preparation process that includes information on all staff costs and line item budgets for other expenses, including an explanation/justification for each item. What efforts does the town make to encourage public participation and knowledge about the annual budget? The town conducts meetings regarding the budget in open public meetings which are publicized in the local newspaper.  We also post explanatory budget information on the City's website for citizens to become better informed.  The City Council also appoints a Citizens Budget Advisory Committee of approximately twenty people to jointly review and recommend revisions in conjunction with the Council members. Once the budget is done, who do you submit it to?  The Division of Local Government Services within the NJ Department of Community Affairs. What is the auditing process and how frequently do have external audits?  It is an annual process.  The firm assigns a group of accountants to work with the City's CFO for a period of several months.  During this time period they systematically perform analyses of all municipal accounts and random samplings every type of financial transaction to determine if they meet all of the accounting guidelines.  A report of their findings is prepared which includes a list of any issues, or findings, that they believe require attention and/or correction in the financial accounting system.  The City acknowledges receipt of the report and the list of findings by preparing a "Corrective Action Plan", which is submitted to the City Council for approval.  The State also receives copies of all audit reports for all municipalities. Who approves the budget? The City Council acting as the Governing Body for the City, and the Division of Local Government Services on behalf of the state. What budget format does the municipality use? Orange uses a line-item budget based on standardized state budget forms that are prepared in a Microsoft Excel format. What is the budget approach? Our budget approach is Incremental.  It is based on the inclusion of all mandated and discretionary obligations included in the state budget forms. What standards are used in determining how much funds are allocated to each department? We use the prior year's budget as a benchmark while taking into account other budget control factors such as: Analyzing itemized budgets for all departments to identify new savings opportunities; in discretionary spending, salaries, benefits, and professional services; Managing  attrition to control salary and wage costs; Examining new service delivery options for all departments; Exploring  additional opportunities for shared services with neighboring communities; Negotiating with municipal unions for greater employee cost sharing provisions; Petitioning the state for continued extraordinary aid; Expanding  the use of grant funds to off-set municipal costs; and Examining and planning for budget impacts beyond the 2007 fiscal year. Is there ever a surplus in the budget?  Yes, there is sometimes a surplus.  A surplus may arise because many of the figures contained in the adopted budget are estimates.  If a municipality spends less and/or realizes more revenue than anticipated, the result will be a  budget surplus.  If a surplus does occur, it is carried over into the next budget and hopefully reduces the amount of money to be raised by municipal property taxes. What happens if there is a decrease in the budget? Whenever the Mayor introduces the annual budget, there is always the potential for a reduction by the Governing Body.  Orange's Fiscal Year 2007 budget was introduced in September 2006 with a proposed tax levy of $31.5 million, but adopted with a tax levy of $29.4 million.  The decrease of $2.1 million was achieved through the receipt of additional state revenue that was applied to the budget after introduction, negotiated budget cuts, and other revisions based on the confirmed tax collection rate.  Under state law, the adopted budget must be balanced. What happens if a department goes over the allocated budget? Municipalities are required by state law to operate within a balanced budget. This does not mean that unanticipated expenses cannot occur.  However, the budgets are closely monitored on a daily basis through the City's Purchase Order System.  This system is used exclusively to enter and approve all expenditures of municipal funds.  Four people must approve every expenditure – the Department Director, the Purchasing Agent, the CFO, and the Business Administrator.  The system is automated so that an expenditure that exceeds the amount of the budgeted dollars available is flagged and will not process through the approval process.  If there is an emergency, or if additional dollars are required for any reason, there is a formal process for transferring funds from other budget accounts to cover the shortfall.  But in any event, the total approved budget cannot be exceeded. What are the major budget revenue sources and their percentages? Property Taxes:                62% Grants & Aid:                   25% Local Revenues:                9%                                         Delinquent Taxes:              4% What are the major budget expenditures and their percentages? Public Safety:                  35% Insurance & Benefits:       23% General Government:       21% Public Works:                  12% Debt Service:                    4% Recreation & Culture:       3% Health & Welfare:              2% Does the municipality receive adequate funds for its programs? This is a complex question.  Nearly ¼ of the City's revenue comes from Grants (state & federal).  One can always argue that more is needed, but in point of fact, it also takes a lot of time and effort to maintain what grants we currently have.  In some areas we do receive adequate support.  However, cities in general are constantly straining to meet the cost of state and federally mandated rules, regulations and programs that do not come with any financial support to conduct these activities.  We refer to these as "unfunded mandates".  In this case we do not receive adequate funding. What services does the City contract out? We contract out many activities, mostly in the service industries, e.g., Engineering, Legal, Grant Consulting, Planning Consulting, Uniforms, Prisoner Meals, Animal Shelter, Senior Transportation, etc.  How does the municipality finance capital projects? The City uses General Obligation Bonds as the main source of funding for capital projects. What is debt service and how does this impact the budget? Some of the transactions include principal and interest on General Obligation bonds, the NJ Environmental Infrastructure Loan Program, the NJ Economic Development Authority, and the NJ Demolition Loan Program. The City's debt service is approximately 4% of the current budget. How are unforeseen occurrences e.g., floods, snowstorms, etc., prepared for within the budget? Of the examples cited in the question, snowstorms are anticipated line item expenditure since they occur every year.  An estimated amount for salt, overtime, and equipment  is budgeted annually.  With regard to other events, these are considered emergencies in the budgeting process and there are specific guidelines for transferring funds in the current budget, or budgeting for deferred charges in the next budget. TOP OF PAGE Planning & Development Department Planning & Development Forms Building Division When is a Building Permit required?  Any alteration or renovation to a structure, building additions, and new construction. Is zoning approval required prior to applying for a construction permit?  Yes, it is required. Are general contractors required to be licensed by The City of Orange before applying for a construction permit?  No, they are not. What type of permit is required if I want to remove or sand fill an oil tank? Building permit, along with a copy of your DEP (Division of Environmental Protection) License, and a picture of where the tank is located. When can a homeowner act as the contractor in there own homes? If the home is a one family home and the owner resides there. How many sets of architectural drawings does the town require in order to obtain permits for new construction or additions?   Three (3) sets of drawings are required.  Do they have to be sealed?  Yes, they must be sealed by a licensed Architect. When is a survey required? Surveys are required when you are applying for a fence, swimming pool, retaining wall, HVAC units, garage, shed, oil tank removals or abandonment, driveways. Do you need a building permit for a shed?  Yes, but only if the shed is in excess of 100 square feet. How long does it take to get a permit? The law allows any municipality up to twenty (20) business days to approve or reject a permit application. How do I know if my neighbor has a permit?  All active construction permits must be displayed in the window or front door of the location under construction. When is a property owner or contractor subject to a fine or penalty? If any work in which a construction permit is required such as Building, Plumbing, Electrical, or Fire is found to be in violation, a penalty can be incurred.  Keep in mind the maximum amount of a penalty is $2,000 by law. Code Enforcement Division How does someone obtain a temporary certificate of habitability for the sale of residential property and what are the requirements? The applicant fills out a property form at the code enforcement office and pays the appropriate fee.  The applicant must present a copy of the contract that indicates the property is to be sold in an "as is'" condition.  An appointment will then be scheduled for a code enforcement officer to visit the property and inspect for property maintenance violations.  Those violations are recorded in a letter to the applicant.  The inspector can issue a temporary certificate of habitability after this inspection as long as smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors are in place, and there are no illegal occupancies.  The owners of record then have six months to abate the other violations to obtain a permanent certificate of habitability. A sales inspection is required for all transfers of title except in the instance where title is exchanged between family members. How does someone obtain a permanent certificate of habitability for the sale of residential property? The applicant follows the procedure described in question # 1 and corrects all the violations within the six-month period and the code enforcement officer signs off to this effect, or In the case of a conventional or regular sale where the contract does not state in an "as is" condition, any violations listed by the code enforcement inspector must be abated immediately.  The code enforcement officer will reinsert if any violations exist and will issue a permanent certificate of habitability if the violations are abated.  The smoke detector, carbon monoxide detector, and occupancy requirements are the same as for the issuance of a temporary certificate of habitability. How does a property owner obtain a certificate of habitability for the rental of an apartment? The property owner fills out a certificate of habitability request and pays the appropriate fee.  An appointment will then be scheduled for a code enforcement officer to visit the premises and inspect for code violations.  The apartment must be insubstantial compliance and smoke and carbon monoxide detectors must be in place for the inspector to issue the certificate of habitability.  A new certificate of habitability must be obtained every time a new tenant occupies the apartment. How and when does someone file a complaint against a landlord for not maintaining an apartment up to standard? If a tenant believes, a property owner is not maintaining an apartment to standard the tenant must first contact the super and/or landlord to file a request to correct the alleged condition.  If the situation is not resolved, the tenant should contact the code enforcement office to file an official complaint.  The case will be assigned to a code enforcement officer who will inspect the apartment for any violations of the Property Maintenance Code.  The property owner will receive written notice of existing violations e and will be given a certain period to abate the violations.  In an instance where the property owner does not comply within the stated time frame the code enforcement officer will issue a summons against the landlord returnable in Orange Municipal Court.  There is no charge for this service. Can I withhold my rent if my apartment has significant violations of the property maintenance code? The code enforcement office is not involved in the withholding or reduction or rent due to the existence of code violations.  When a tenant does not pay rent the landlord may decide to proceed with possible eviction for non-payment even if serious violations exist.  Further information may be obtained from the office of rent leveling at 973-266-4001 or through information provided by landlord/tenant court in Newark. Housing Division What is Housing Assistance? The Housing Division provides grants to 1-3 family units in Orange with grant funds to bring older homes up-to code standards. How do I qualify for Program? The program is based on income qualifications (see chart) and household size, and must have a minimum of $8,000 of code violations (electrical / plumbing).                                     View income chart at http://www.state.nj.us/dca/coah/incomelimits.pdf to meet income eligibility calculate your total income, i.e., gross salary, pension, social security, welfare, stocks, bonds, disability payments, all assets and income producing income, divide this total amount by the median income for household size, income must not be no more than 80% of median income. Do I have to live in the home to qualify for program? No, you can be an iInvestor owner, each unit must be occupied and income eligiblity to qualify. Does the City of Orange Township currently offer a First Time Homebuyers Program? No, interested applicants can contact the County of Essex, First Time Homebuyers Program Office at 973-655-0200 or Housing and Neighborhood Development Services, Inc. (HANDS) at 973-678-3110 or NJ Citizen Action at 973-643-8800 for more information. Can I apply for Section 8 at this office? No, Section 8 Vouchers are applied through the Orange Housing Authority Office located at 340 Thomas Blvd. How can I find and apply for affordable housing? Affordable housing units for sale or rental can be researched at www.njhousing.gov or by calling 1-877-428-8844. Rent Control Can my landlord raise my rent every year? Landlords are allowed to increase your rent 4 to 5% annually if you live in a multiple dwelling of four or more units. Is there a cap on how high my rent can be raised? There is an annual limit, but there is not an absolute cap, or ceiling, on rents over future years. Can a landlord put me out of my apartment? A landlord must file documents in Tenancy Court to be granted possession of your apartment.  If this occurs, you will be notified by a Constable that a lock out will take place.  The landlord must have "just cause" to file for eviction.  The number one cause is non-payment of rent.  Other causes include, but are not limited to, disorderly conduct, violations of the landlord's rules and regulations, violation of the lease agreement, or not accepting changes in lease provisions or a rent increase. How do I find out what my rights are as a tenant? TRUTH IN RENTING BOOKLETS: The NJ Departments of Community Affairs prepares, distributes, and updates annually a statement of the established rights and responsibilities of residential tenants.  The "Truth in Renting Act," calls for distribution of the statement to all tenants of three or more units.  Landlords are required to give a copy of the current statement to each tenant when a lease is entered into.  If a booklet is not provided to you, you may purchase one from the Municipal Clerks office, Orange City Hall, Room #203.  Building Superintendents How often do I renew my Building Superintendent's License? Once per year. How much is the fee? $175.00 per building. Can I use my license for another City? No. Where do I go to obtain a Superintendent's License? City Hall, Planning Department, Room 205. How many units require a Superintendent? Four or more dwelling units, per Ordinance 20-2002 and Ordinance 19-2003. Housing Relocation What is Housing Relocation? The City of Orange Township provides relocation assistance when the Public Officer deems a property inhabitable due to code enforcement violations. Does the City relocate for Fire Displacement? This office does not relocate for Fire related displacement. Does the City relocate for Zoning Displacement? The City of Orange Township does not relocate for Zoning Displacement.  This office provides assistance to homeowners and tenants regarding their rights and obligations when being displaced by this action. Tony Galento Plaza Parking What information is needed to obtain a parking permit? The City of Orange Township requires proof of a valid Driver's License and Vehicle Registration. Can a non-resident purchase a parking permit? Yes. Are there spaces available? There is a waiting list and Orange residents receive first priority. Does the City of Orange Township issue refunds on parking permits? No. How often can I renew my permit? Monthly, Quarterly, Semi-Annually, and Annually What hours are permit parking allowed? 6:00 AM - 11:00 AM How much is the permit? Monthly Fee: Resident $25.00 Non-Resident $ 45.00 Quarterly Fee: Resident $60.00 Non-Resident $105.00 |Semi-Annual Fee: Resident $120.00 Non-Resident $205.00 Annual Fee: Resident $225.00 Non-Resident $395.00 Residential Parking What information is needed to obtain a parking permit? The City of Orange Township requires proof of a valid Driver's License and Vehicle Registration. How often do I renew my permit? Yearly. How much is the permit? Free. What hours are permit parking allowed? 2:00 am – 6:00 AM TOP OF PAGE   Public Works Public Works Forms Disposal of Items How do I get rid of tires? Essex County DPW provides a recycling day once a year to all residents    in order to discard old tires and rims. Residents must furnish proof of residency at the site. The flyer regarding that day and drop off location can be obtain in the Public Works office. After the recycling day has past the homeowner still can call Essex County D.P.W regarding disposal   information (973) 226-8500 ext. #222 or they can dispose of the tires at their nearest service station. How do I get rid of empty/old dry paint cans?  The Recycling Coordinator suggests that if the homeowner has only one or two empty or dried paint cans that it can be disposed with household garbage one at a time. The contractor will not pick up paint cans if they are not contained within a dark color trash bag. Since disposal of paint cans are no longer picked with bulk garbage, this is the only way to get rid of this item. Also during the month of May for one time only the Essex County Utilities Authority provides a Household Hazardous Waste Day to all residents to dispose other hazardous waste, but empty containers are not acceptable.  A flyer can be obtained in the Public Works office.        How can I get rid of shredded paper documents? We suggest to the homeowner to put the shredded documents into a dark color trash bag and dispose with regular household trash rather than dispose as a recyclable. How can I get rid of logs? The City does not pick up logs or stumps, because the Recycling Center does not accept it, but a suggestion would be to place logs on the foot of their lawn and put a sign "Free Wood," since some homeowners still use fireplaces.   How can I get rid of a cast iron tub or radiator? We suggest to the resident that they can call Trezza & Sons Scrap Yard on Hickory St. (973) 673-2255 because the Contractor does not pick up that type of garbage. How can we dispose appliances, air conditioners and/or other metal items? All types of appliances, air conditioners and other metal items are picked up on the first Friday of each month by appointment only.  Please call (973) 266-4030 to schedule for an appointment. REMEMBER TO REMOVE DOORS FOR SAFETY. What are my tax dollars being used for, if the city cannot pick up old soiled clothing? Items of this nature are typically collected by private organizations that have mechanisms for making the items available to those in need; this is not a traditional city function.  Please note that there are designated collection bins throughout the city. Household Garbage Collection When is my regular household garbage collected? Regular household garbage is collected twice per week (except holidays): In the North Section, garbage is collected on Mondays & Thursdays In the Central Section, garbage is collected on Tuesdays & Fridays In the South Section, garbage is collected on Wednesdays & Saturdays Main Street, garbage is collected Monday through Saturday Bulk Trash Pick-up What does bulk trash consists of? Bulk trash consists of mattresses, box springs, wooden furniture, wooden doors, rolled carpet, television and other similar items. NOTE:  Yard waste, tires, cardboard boxes, toys, clothes, construction material, sinks, tubs, toilets, large appliances or any type of metal items are NOT considered as bulk trash. When is bulk trash collected in my area? Bulk trash is collected once a week on your second collection day of every week (except holidays). If your household refuse is collected on Monday & Thursday, then the bulk collection will be on Thursday. If your household refuse is collected on Tuesday & Friday, then the bulk collection will be on Friday. If your household refuse is collected on Wednesday & Saturday, then the bulk collection will be on Saturday. NOTE:   Main Street Bulk Schedule is as follows: Odd number addresses will be collected on Thursday Even number addresses will be collected on Friday   Yard Waste Removal I cleaned my yard, why wasn't it collected by the Garbage Contractor? Yard waste is NOT considered regular household garbage nor bulky trash.  Leaves, twigs, grass clippings and brush must be bagged in paper biodegradable paper bags.  Branches must be tied in bundles and no longer than 4 ft of length.  NO PLASTIC BAGS WILL BE ACCEPTED. Items are collected once per week (usually on Tuesdays) by appointment only.  Please call (973) 266-4030 to schedule for an appointment. Snow Removal I am a senior citizen and I cannot get out the shovel or plow my sidewalk /walkway, can Public Works do it for me? Unfortunately, Public Works cannot clean your sidewalk/walkway because if there are any damages/or injuries incurred while removing the snow the City will be liable. Why does Public Works fill my driveway again with snow while plowing the street after I cleaned it?  Unfortunately, whenever the plow comes in your area to remove snow, the driver cannot lift the plow each time in order to avoid pushing snow back into your driveway. Street Paving When will my street be scheduled for paving? Residents are referred to the Office of the Municipal Engineer because they maintain a list of streets that are scheduled for repaving. Flood Zone Can you tell me if I live in a flood zone? Only the Engineer can make that determination and if you need a verbal or written determination, please contact Public Works so we can take down the address in question and give it to the Engineer for response. TOP OF PAGE  Municipal Court Tickets How much is the ticket? Payment information can be found on the back of the traffic ticket or by going on-line to www.NJMCdirect.com   You can also find out if the ticket requires a mandatory court appearance, or your ticket is scheduled or will be scheduled for court. How can I pay the ticket? You can mail in the payment to the Orange Municipal Court, Violations Bureau, 29 Park Street, Orange, NJ or pay the ticket in person.  Or you can pay through the Internet using www.NJMCdirect.com Court Appearances Can I waive my appearance in court? It depends.  We could send you a DBA (Suggested only for non-serious violations such as commercial vehicle parking). What is DBA? DBA is Defense-by Affidavit, which is a legally recognized explanation of response to the charge.  It is to be completed by you, notarized, and returned to the Court's attention. How do I know the outcome? Once the judge reviews the DBA, you will be notified by mail of the decision. Can I reschedule a case? A judge grants adjournments.  A request is to be made in writing 5 days prior to a scheduled court date. What can I do, I scheduled to appear (today or tomorrow) and can't make it to court? You can attach a note to the file stating your reason, but again it is up to the judge to grant an adjournment. Can you send me a disposition letter? Yes.  What is the ticket number or summons number.  Also to what address do you want the letter mailed to?  Verify this information in the ATS. Why am I receiving a Failure-to-Appear notice? The system is showing an outstanding ticket/complaint.  You failed to appear in court or pay the fine by the date indicated on the ticket.  If criminal….you either failed to appear in court, or make payment of your obligation. I never received a ticket, what should I do? You may submit a DBA (see above) or request a court date.  Once the judge reviews the DBA, you will be notified by mail with the decision. Why did I receive a warrant notice? You failed to appear in court. You have an outstanding ticket/criminal complaint. You have a delinquent To-Pay Order. TOP OF PAGE