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Tax Decrease for Borough
Sparks Pride and Heated Words

by Michael Williams

SWEDESBORO – Amidst cuts in state aid, failing school budgets, and a statewide trend of raising taxes, Mayor Tom Fromm was pleased to introduce a budget that would actually decrease taxes for borough residents.

At the April 19 regularly scheduled town meeting Mayor Fromm announced, “Your local taxes are going down, and they’re going down a lot. We promised you that our actions would reduce your taxes and we have delivered on this promise.”

The introduced budget would decrease the local tax by 15.1 cents per $100,000 assessed property value. This is a savings of about $150 for a home assessed at $100,000, and $300 for a home assessed at $200,000.

Despite the good news for borough residents, however, a few council members were upset with the mayor’s method of communication. Fromm broke the news through a Fox News broadcast on April 15, before some members of the council were made aware of the decrease. This lack of communication sparked some heated words and debate among the council.

“As a councilman, I’m really surprised that I had to find out about our taxes going down through Fox News,” said Councilmember Sam Casella, who was visibly angered by the mayor’s actions. “It makes it a little embarrassing…Everyone on the council should have known beforehand.”

He also added that he felt “lied to.”

“I’m thrilled that we were able to lower taxes, but I would have liked to have been involved and I wasn’t,” said Councilmember Russell Zappala. “All I ask is for some better communication.”

Though Fromm admitted that he could have communicated better, in reference to Councilman Casella’s remarks about lying, Fromm said the comments were “rude, unprofessional and false.”

Overall the council tried to stay focused on the positives – taxes are going down and the borough is in great financial shape. Thirty eight new businesses have opened in Swedesboro in the last five years, and the consolidation with Woolwich’s police force has seriously helped to lower taxes. The borough has even managed to build up surplus, which will be used as a cushion in case of further cuts in state aid.

Fromm stressed that the decrease in taxes will not decrease the quality of the borough, and there are several upcoming projects that will improve the area. These projects will include $150,000 worth of new sidewalks, restoration of the existing water tower, expansion of the Swedesboro Library, and the reconstruction of Mayhew Avenue and Turner Avenue.

As for leaking the news of the tax decrease through Fox, the Mayor said he made the right choice and he’d do it again given the chance.

“I’m not going to apologize for saying good news about Swedesboro,” said Fromm. “If we have the opportunity to get the word out about Swedesboro, I’m the Mayor and it’s my duty to make sure the word gets out to shine some light on the town.”

There will be a public hearing for the introduced budget on May 17.

Residents Petition
To Save Tennis Courts

by Beth S. Biermann

EAST GREENWICH – Residents concerned about losing the tennis courts at the intersection of Harmony and Democrat Roads, part of Mickleton Park, expressed their support for keeping those courts at the township’s regular committee meeting on April 13.

Donna Gabler, a Mickleton resident, started the public session by stating that residents had heard there was a danger of losing those tennis courts. She wanted the committee to know how much the residents value this park and pointed out that it is within walking distance of several nearby developments.

Deputy Mayor Samuel Giordano, Jr. assured the residents in attendance that the committee is currently taking care of the park and has no intention of losing it, but that they are in discussions with the Joint Insurance Fund (JIF) regarding coverage of the park.

Township Solicitor Timothy Chell explained that the township was sued which resulted in a lengthy litigation, with the township and county both accused of causing certain drainage problems on that property. A judgment was made in which the township and county did “quite a bit of work as part of the settlement.” This work was done in-house, at no cost to the taxpayers.

Chell further explained that as a result of this litigation, the JIF notified the township that there is now a risk related to this property. The JIF also stated that a representative would need to meet with the township’s risk manager to determine if the insurance covering the public park would be continued. The township needs to make sure proper insurance is in place before it can legally renew the long-term lease on the park property.

All committee members assured the residents that they are in favor of the township’s continued maintenance of the tennis courts and that it is not a budgetary issue, but strictly an insurance issue. Committeeman William Bumbernick also offered to keep all residents signed up for the email contact list informed of the progress of the discussion with JIF.

Resident John Kiger, a homeowner on Democrat Road affected by drainage problems in the area, suggested that the issue is not the tennis courts, but is instead a problem related to runoff from Harmony Road. He insisted that the county is to blame for this runoff and should be held accountable.

Committeeman Brenden Garozzo stated that the committee will contact the county engineer and request that the drainage issues be examined. He also pointed out that a representative from the county government was in attendance at all regular committee meetings. This representative assured Kiger that she will get someone from the county to respond to his concerns.

At the end of the public session a petition signed by 200 residents was presented to the committee, requesting that the township continue to maintain the tennis courts for public use.

Preliminary Budget Discussions
Reveal No Tax Increase

By Beth S. Biermann

WOOLWICH – Woolwich Township residents will not see a tax increase in 2010, if the budget discussions held by the township committee at a special meeting on April 17 are any indication.

According to Mayor Joe Chila, despite a loss of over $100,000 in state aid, the township committee and all department heads agreed to several major budget cuts in order to decrease an initial proposed four cent tax increase to zero.

One of the cost saving measures being proposed is a $200,000 cut from the capital improvement fund. Chila stated that there is a sufficient balance carried over from 2009 to continue to maintain roads and do capital projects.

The public works department requested three new hires for 2010, two part time summer helpers and one full time employee. The committee decided to only hire one part time summer employee, saving $10,500 in salaries for the other two positions. In order to compensate for fewer public works employees, youth sports organizations have agreed to help perform such tasks as lining playing fields.

In addition, there will be a wage freeze for all township employees, with the exception of those that are under contract such as the police department.

The township is also using $200,000 less surplus than last year and legal expenses have been cut by $60,000, thanks to settlement of some litigation matters.

Chila also cites the police department shared services agreement between Woolwich Township and the Borough of Swedesboro as both a cost saving measure and a source of income for Woolwich. There is expected to be $477,000 coming in to the township from Swedesboro, resulting in a net profit of $250,000.

By having the shared police services agreement in place, the township is also eligible for close to $200,000 in state grant money which will be used to purchase equipment for the police department, including three police cars.

According to Township Administrator and Clerk Jane DiBella, the intention is to introduce the budget on May 3. If that happens as planned, the public hearing will be held on June 7.

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