Politics & Government

Township Officials Waive Building Permit Fees For Another Four Months

Many residents still in process of rebuilding or haven't begun yet

Berkeley residents battered by Superstorm Sandy won't have to worry about paying township permits fees for another four months.

The Township Council and Mayor Carmen F. Amato Jr. decided to extend waiving all fees connected with rebuilding after the Oct. 29 storm that decimated some of Berkeley's waterfront areas.

"There is still a lot of uncertainty out there," Amato said at the Feb. 28 Township Council meeting. "I think four months is sufficient at this time."

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After the storm hit, Berkeley was the only municipality to waive construction fees for Superstorm Sandy victims, the mayor said.

"A lot of people lost everything," he said. "People need help. This is something we can do. We are not in it to make money off the backs of people who have suffered a great deal."

Find out what's happening in Berkeleywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Township Council President James J. Byrnes said there are some areas of town that "haven't been touched yet."

"It's the least we can do," he said, referring to the fee waivers.

The township hired additional staff in the construction department and added more help in the engineering department shortly after Superstorm Sandy struck.


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