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Flaherty Given Praise For Years Of Service

by Michael Williams

SWEDESBORO – Members of the community and David Flaherty’s family attended Swedesboro’s town council meeting on Dec. 21 to thank the councilperson for his years of service.

Flaherty was first elected to Swedesboro’s Council six years ago, but was not reelected for another term.

He lounged back in a chair with a grin on his face as family and friends stood before the council to thank him for all the years of hard work he dedicated to Swedesboro. Among them was Marge Dombrosky, the branch manager for the Swedesboro Public Library, who thanked Flaherty for his work in approving an addition for the library.

“I would like to personally thank Councilperson Flaherty for accomplishing this great deed along with the mayor and council. The library addition is just going to be wonderful for the children who really need it. I think that’s a great send off.”

“Dave Flaherty is one the most decent and good human beings that I have ever come in contact with,” said Mayor Thomas Fromm. “It has been a complete honor to serve with [him].”

In other business, Fromm noted that the New Jersey State Aid money for December had been withheld from the borough because of the state’s budget crisis. Though the withholding came as something of a surprise, Fromm was optimistic in looking toward next year’s budget.

“There are a lot of good things that are going to happen in 2010 with the budget,” said Fromm. “Foreclosures will actually finally hit, so [Swedesboro] will make that money. And there are some other things coming in that are really going to be a benefit to the budget. So I think the budget is going to be…as good as any town’s in Gloucester County.”

Also, Councilperson Joanna Gahrs made mention of King’s Things Thrift Store’s charitable efforts in delivering toys, food and other goods to needy families in Swedesboro, Woolwich and Logan. Volunteers worked through the storm to deliver goods to the families in time to brighten their holidays.

“It was an amazing thing to see,” said Gahrs. “This was just an amazing and outstanding feat of cooperation and organization, and I think this community should be very proud of it.”

Township Enters Into
Financial Agreement with Developer

by Beth S. Biermann

EAST GREENWICH – The Township Committee voted to enter into a financial agreement with Porchtown Road, LLC at their Dec. 8 meeting. Porchtown Road, LLC is the potential master redeveloper of a portion of the designated redevelopment area located on Democrat Road.

The Committee passed a resolution to provide “tax exemption and/or abatement” to the developer of what is known as the Porchtown Project.

The Porchtown Project is the first PILOT (Payment in Lieu of Taxes) agreement related to the township’s redevelopment area. According to Mayor Fred Grant, this agreement will give the developer “a tax break up front and after five years they will be back in the regular tax structure.”

Representatives of the developer presented the committee with their conceptual plan for this section of the redevelopment area. The preliminary plan includes a section of senior housing comprised of 88 single family homes and a 180,000 square foot self-storage facility.

The next step, according to Grant, is for the developer to come before the Planning Board to get the conceptual plan approved.

In other business, the committee voted to cancel an unexpended budget appropriation in the amount of $60,000. Grant explained that when the portion of township residents who were NJ American Water customers were switched over to become customers of East Greenwich, the township overestimated the cost of purchasing water from NJ American to provide for these customers. The excess funds will go into the budget surplus to be used towards the 2010 water utility operations.

Shade Tree Commission Created

by Beth S. Biermann

WOOLWICH TWP. -- The Township Committee adopted an ordinance that created a Shade Tree Commission at their regular meeting on Dec. 21.

The Commission is tasked with “the regulation, planting, care and control of shade and ornamental trees and woody shrubs” located along streets and highways and in public spaces owned by the Township.

It will also be responsible for oversight of all tree removals in accordance with issued tree removal permits that comply with the Township’s tree removal ordinance.

The Mayor will initially appoint five volunteer members to the Shade Tree Commission for staggered terms of one, two, three, four and five years. As the terms run out, any newly appointed members will serve a full term of five years, except those that are intended to fill vacancies of unexpired terms.

The Committee also presented a proclamation honoring Theodore Lovell for his service to the township in many capacities. Lovell has been a resident volunteer, zoning officer, member and chairperson of the Business Development Advisory Committee, and member of the PH-58 Nike Base Advisory Committee.

Lovell was commended for having “successfully assisted in moving the Township of Woolwich forward during its period of unprecedented growth, supporting and serving the Township tirelessly.”

Lovell thanked the Committee and stated, “When everybody that you work with is good, it gets to be easy to get these things done. What little I’ve done is just payback for what Woolwich has done for me.”

Finally, Mayor Joe Chila publicly thanked and commended Committeeman Paul Lott for his years of service on the Township Committee. Lott was elected as a Committeeman in 2003 and, among other duties, served as member, spokesperson and liaison of the PH-58 Nike Base Advisory Committee.

Lott’s term as Committeeman ended on Dec. 31. He and his Democratic running mate Michael Salvaggio lost the November election to incumbent Samuel Maccarone, Jr. and his Republican running mate Jonathan Fein.

Logan Hit Hard By Scrap Metal Thefts

by Michael Williams

LOGAN – The Township has been hit hard this year by a rash of scrap metal thefts. Valuable metal, especially copper, has been targeted by thieves searching for ways to make quick money.

Chief of Police James Schmidt described the thefts at Logan’s regular town meeting on Dec. 15.

Over $240,000 worth of copper has been stolen from local businesses and industrial parks this year, said Schmidt. He declined to release the names of any of the businesses in fear of putting them at further risk.

“We were successful in getting arrests of two subjects trying to enter [one of the properties] at 1:30 in the morning through the fence…We’re working actively to interview those people to see if they’re responsible for some of the other thefts, or know who’s responsible for the other thefts,” said Schmidt.

A few days after the arrests, police stopped a suspicious vehicle containing more stolen copper. The drivers of the vehicle are believed to be linked to the individuals in the other arrests, said Schmidt.

Schmidt cited the tough economic times as a possible reason for the rash of thefts.

In other business, the police department obtained two new ATVs to aid in the patrolling of Logan’s more remote areas. The vehicles were obtained with a Homeland Security grant and funded by the county.

Police hope to have the ATVs on active patrol by spring, following safety and training courses for the officers.

The town council also approved payment for renovations on Logan’s “old school house building” located on Main Street in Bridgeport. The small gray and pink building received roof repairs and new windows, and a wheelchair access ramp is currently under construction.

The old school house will be undergoing further renovations to preserve its historical value with funding through a Community Development Block Grant.

Once all of the construction is complete, the building will reopen to the public as a Historical Society Building where residents will be able to enjoy photographs and memorabilia from the area’s history.

Also, Mayor Frank Minor thanked the Dermody Properties Foundation for donating $3,800 to fund the township’s Christmas turkey give-away, and all those who made the give-away possible. The turkeys were distributed to needy families throughout Logan in time for the holidays.

In concluding the town meeting, Minor cautioned that the township faces some tough budgeting decisions in the coming year. He warned of the difficult economic times ahead and stressed the importance of responsible government spending.

“This coming year, fiscally, it’s going to be a very, very tough year,” said Minor. “Everything is being looked at, and everything is on the table. Where cuts need to be made, as painful as those cuts may be, they will be made.”