RecycleBank and Police Merger
Called Successful So Far

By Sam Fran Scavuzzo

SWEDESBORO—Positive status updates on recent initiatives were given at the Borough Council Meeting July 20. The projects: RecycleBank and a police merger.

RecycleBank representative Joe Figliola outlined the borough’s first year with the program and called it a success.

“There’s room for improvement, but it’s overall successful,” he said.

Recycling increased throughout Swedesboro last year. Charting recycling from April 2008 to March 2009, 375 tons were recycled – 102 tons more than the previous year. That’s a 36 percent increase and about two tons more a week, according to Figliola.

Conversely, 153 fewer tons of trash were collected, a 12 percent decrease and about three tons less a week.

“I’d like to see these numbers grow, and I have plans to increase recycling,” Figliola said.

Previously, about 12 pounds of recycling went out a week in individual households. Under RecycleBank, it increased to about 17 pounds.

“We’re based on the idea that if we motivate people to recycle more, they will,” Figliola said.

The RecycleBank program rewards households by giving them points for pounds recycled. The points can then be redeemed for discounts at participating stores.

Swedesboro residents earned about $200,000 in potential reward points. On the whole, each point is worth 10 cents. Of the residents that recycle, 88 to 90 percent participated in the program.

Acme, ShopRite, CVS, and the Swedes Inn, respectively, led local merchants in redeemed RecycleBank points.

Although recycling has increased, only 65 percent of residents put the cans out.

“There are a few more things we can do to get that 65 percent up to 75 percent,” Councilman George Weeks said.

Figliola plans to place stickers on people’s homes as a friendly reminder to recycle.

Compared to other first-year accounts Figliola manages, he says Swedesboro is doing well and is on track. Using an EPA formula, he calculated that Swedesboro conserved 4,000 trees and 200,000 gallons last year by increasing its recycling figures.

Police Chief Russell Marino of the newly-formed Swedesboro-Woolwich Police Department offered a report that detailed 530 calls in the borough during June, the joint department’s first month.

“Right now, we’re giving residents a little break as it’s only the first month,” he said, comparing the ticket rate in Woolwich, which was higher than the borough’s.

Marino said his officers stopped 194 cars, issuing 57 ticket and 137 warnings in Swedesboro.

Analyzing the information, Marino said he was surprised to discover Monday as the busiest day, followed by Tuesday and Friday. Councilwoman Joanna Gahrs asked if shore traffic had an effect, but Marino said it was too early to determine.

“I’m not sure. This is only the first time. We’re going to measure this again and see if it fluctuates. Now we’ll have something to compare it to.”

Similarly, Marino does not have a good feel on problematic areas for accidents yet, but hopes that will increase in the coming months.

Thus far, Marino says reaction is positive.

“Officers are meeting residents and shopkeepers, and they say they’re happy to see the stops on Kings Highway. I don’t expect it to be as smooth as our first month, but when we hit snags, or if the council sees a problem, I’ll work with my senior officers to get stuff done.”

Councilman Salvatore “Sam” Cassella stated he thought the issue of children wearing bike helmets needed to be addressed and Marino agreed. Weeks said he’s working on a program where police officers will reward children for good behavior by offering tokens, redeemable for free ice cream or snacks.

“I think we’ve come a long way,” Marino said. “The first month was very smooth.”
 

Assault & Burglary
Suspects Arrested In Logan

by Sam Fran Scavuzzo

LOGAN TWP. -- The Logan Township Police Department arrested two noteworthy offenders among its 30 arrests last month. In a July 22 report to council at its monthly meeting, Chief James R. Schmidt detailed an alleged illegal immigrant who is a suspect in a stabbing, and a serial burglar in Beckett.

Rigoberto Lobato-Faustino was arrested July 11 for allegedly stabbing his ex-girlfriend while she drove the two in a car on Route 44 near Floodgate Road. While riding as a passenger around with his ex-girlfriend, Lobato-Faustino, 35, allegedly stabbed her in the chest and forearm with a two-inch knife. After she stopped and jumped out of the car, Lobato-Faustino attempted to flee the scene in the vehicle, while she began screaming at passing motorists.

Lobato-Faustino collided with an oncoming pick-up truck. The truck’s driver successfully detained Lobato-Faustino until police arrived. The motorist did not sustain any injuries.

The 29-year-old ex-girlfriend was taken to Crozer Chester Hospital by County EMS and was treated for the stab wounds and blunt trauma injuries to her head.  She was later released.

Lobato-Faustino refused treatment on his minor injuries sustained from the crash.

An illegal Mexican immigrant, Lobato-Faustino was charged with aggravated assault, unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose. Lobato-Faustino is being held at the Gloucester County Jail on $212,500 bail. Although he resided in Penn Grove Lobato-Faustino will be deported, Schmidt said.

Swedesboro resident Ryan Cogossi was arrested July 15, suspected in a series of robberies in Old Orchard and the Vineyards.

Cogossi, 18, is accused of stealing $5,000 worth of jewelry from a home on Applewood Drive; items in a vehicle and a bicycle in front of a residence on Bordeaux Place; and $700 worth of jewelry and $100 cash from a relative’s home on Shadybrook Lane. Most of the stolen items have been returned, police said.

He is held at the county jail on a $10,000 bond.

Also at the meeting, Mayor Frank Minor discussed the final phase of measures to secure the levees in Logan Township.

“It looks like the remaining money has come in,” he said. “I’m extremely proud of the state and federal cooperation that put us into this position with the levee.”

Since coming into office, Minor has worked to secure the levees and troubleshoot breaches if they occur.

“Everyone has pitched in to make sure the levees stand secure. Thankfully, there have been no major breach of the levees, but we’re ready if there is. If we continue on this path, now that the money is there, we’re going to get this done.”

In addition to local officials, Minor praised state and federal legislators, the Delaware River Port Authority, and the Obama administration for their help.

“The president promised money from the stimulus package would go to small towns on top of cities, and the administration has been true on its word,” he said.

Additionally, after talks brokered by Deputy Mayor Lyman Barnes, the council decided to reject cell phone provider T-Mobile’s request to install a tower at the Township Line Road Park.

Barnes said the company wanted to install a 100 foot tower to increase service in Eagle Farms and the Vineyards. An adjacent 30 by 20 foot building would be built by the company and leased to them for approximately $15,000 to $20,000 a year.

Barnes recommended the council reject the move as it would clash with the park’s aesthetic. He said the tallest structure, lights on the football field, were at highest 50 feet. In addition, he said space at park was already at a premium.

Minor and the council collectively agreed with his opinion and rejected T-Mobile’s offer.

Committee Supports Redevelopment
of PMC and Nike Missile Sites

by Beth S. Biermann

WOOLWICH – The township committee voted on July 20 to designate two sites in Woolwich Township as redevelopment areas.

The two parcels are the PMC parcel, a 10 acre piece of land with a former tomato cannery building on site located on Locke Avenue and the Nike Missile Site parcels, totaling approximately 14 acres, located on Paulsboro Road just off Route 322.

According to Director of Community Development Anthony Zappasodi, these resolutions were intended to accept the Joint Land Use Board’s recommendation to designate the sites as areas of redevelopment. Mayor Joe Chila added that the resolutions did not contain any specific plans for what will be done with the properties.

Joe Musumeci, a Woolwich resident on Paulsboro Road whose property is adjacent to the Nike site, had requested that the committee not act on the resolution specific to the Nike Base. He was disputing the property lines in the survey conducted by the township and had been trying to get in touch with Township Engineer Stan Bitgood to have him compare his deed to the survey.

Committeeman Paul Lott asked Solicitor Timothy Scafidi if the committee can legally pass the resolution while Bitgood reviewed and compared Musumeci’s deed and the site survey. Scafidi said that would be acceptable, especially considering that in the process of Woolwich acquiring the property, the federal government was “relentless” in their review of the survey and deed description.

In other business, the committee passed an ordinance that appropriated $45,000 for the purchase of radios and for roof improvements to benefit the fire department. The radios will cost $20,000, while insulation for the roof will cost $25,000.

According to Committeeman Sam Maccarone, Jr., the insulation was not adequate when the roof was replaced last year, resulting in high heating costs for the fire house.

The funds will come from the Capital Improvement Fund. However, Administrator Jane DiBella stated that the township will be applying for a grant that, if awarded, would recoup the funds for the insulation portion.

Committee Recognizes Recycling Efforts
and Preserves Open Space

by Beth S. Biermann

EAST GREENWICH – To commemorate the one year anniversary of East Greenwich’s partnership with RecycleBank, 30 township residents received certificates of recognition at the township committee meeting on July 14 for their recycling efforts over the past year.

Signed by Mayor Fred Grant, Committeeman James Watson and Recycling Coordinator Fredrick Hills, the certificates commended the residents for their “outstanding efforts in environmental conservation through household recycling and participation in the RecycleBank Program within the Township of East Greenwich.”

According to Watson, these residents were recognized for their “consistency”. Each of these residences placed their recycling containers out for collection for all 52 weeks of the past year.

In East Greenwich, the RecycleBank program does not keep track of recycling tonnage, but only whether or not the homeowners place their bin out for collection each week. Residents receive credit for recycling in the form of coupons redeemable at local businesses.

According to data provided by RecycleBank, the recycling efforts of all East Greenwich residents over the past year have resulted in 1,452 tons of recyclables diverted from the incinerator. Watson added that since the RecycleBank program started, the percentage of recycling to trash tonnage has increased from 20 percent to 41 percent.

In addition to celebrating recycling efforts of residents, the township committee also voted to purchase a 60 acre property on West Tomlin Station Road to preserve for open space. The county will pay 75 percent of the purchase price and East Greenwich will pay 25 percent. The county will then deed the property to the township.

The township’s share, according to Grant, will total $250,000 and will be funded through the open space tax paid by the residents. Grant added that preserving this property will prevent a potential 20 to 25 homes from being built.

East Greenwich Twp.
Logan Township
South Harrison Twp.
Swedesboro
Woolwich Twp.

Friends School

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