Bill Text: NJ A2655 | 2010-2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Designates portion of New Jersey Route 27 in Princeton Township as "Patrolman Billie D. Ellis Memorial Highway."
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-05-13 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Transportation, Public Works and Independent Authorities Committee [A2655 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2010-A2655-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman REED GUSCIORA
District 15 (Mercer)
SYNOPSIS
Designates portion of New Jersey Route 27 in Princeton Township as "Patrolman Billie D. Ellis Memorial Highway."
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act designating that portion of New Jersey Route 27 in the township of Princeton, in the county of Mercer, as the "Patrolman Billie D. Ellis Memorial Highway."
Whereas, Billie D. Ellis was a patrolman serving in the Princeton Township Police Department; and
Whereas, On August 19, 1955, Patrick Maloney and Kenneth Werkman, Jr., both 15 years of age, embarked on a canoe trip near the dam separating the Millstone River from Lake Carnegie; and
Whereas, The effects of Hurricane Diane caused water to pour over the dam, resulting in swirling rapids which caused the boat to capsize and these young men to be lost in the turbulence; and
Whereas, Patrolman Ellis, although off duty, responded to a radio call about two young men in distress near the Millstone Dam, arrived on the scene and boarded a row boat, along with other officers, and set out for the dam; and
Whereas, The boat manned by Patrolman Ellis repeatedly slammed into the dam due to the extreme turbulence and Patrolman Ellis became separated from his boat, perishing in the surging water; and
Whereas, Patrolman Ellis was survived by his wife, Barbara, and sons Robert and Gary (a daughter Sally was born later); and
Whereas, Although the details of Patrolman Ellis's untimely death are sad to recount today, they do serve as an occasion to reflect upon the heroism and bravery of sworn officers like Patrolman Ellis who, at the peril of their own lives, aid those in distress, serving as a fitting example of those who heroically serve and protect the public; and
Whereas, It is most fitting and proper that Patrolman Billie D. Ellis be remembered by designating a portion of New Jersey Route 27 in Princeton Township in his memory; now, therefore,
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The Commissioner of Transportation shall designate that portion of New Jersey Route 27 in the township of Princeton, in the County of Mercer, as the "Patrolman Billie D. Ellis memorial Highway."
2. The Commissioner of Transportation is authorized to erect appropriate route and directional signs bearing this name.
3. No State or other public funds shall be used for producing, purchasing, or erecting signs bearing the designation established pursuant to section 1 of this act. The Commissioner of Transportation is authorized to receive gifts, grants or other financial assistance from private sources for the purpose of funding or reimbursing the Department of Transportation for the costs associated with producing, purchasing, and erecting signs bearing the designation established pursuant to section 1 of this act and entering into agreements related thereto, with such private sources, including but not limited to non-governmental non-profit, educational or charitable entities or institutions. No work shall proceed, and no funding shall be accepted by the Department of Transportation until an agreement has been reached with a responsible party for paying the costs associated with producing, purchasing, erecting and maintaining the signs.
4. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill designates that portion of New Jersey Route 27 in Princeton Township, Mercer County, as the "Patrolman Billie D. Ellis Memorial Highway" in honor of Billie D. Ellis, a member of the Police Department of Princeton Township, who died on August 19, 1955 while attempting to rescue two teenagers whose canoe capsized near the Millstone Dam.
