Stop Sign
Intersection Measure
Passes in Swedesboro
by Robert Holt
SWEDESBORO- At their meeting on Dec. 19, the Swedesboro
Council adopted an ordinance making the intersections of Guest and Helms,
Anderson and Helms, and Guest and Leahy Roads three way stop sign
intersections, and turning the intersections of Weatherby and Helms, Vanneman
and Helms, Third and Railroad, Leahy and Vanneman, Leahy and Weatherby, Leahy
and Anderson, and Leahy and Fow into four way stop sign intersections.
Numerous town complaints about speeding and concerns over
children’s safety led to residents petitioning Council to take action against
violators. A public hearing also took place at the meeting about the matter.
Barbara Miller of Swedesboro said that trucks were still
coming down Helms Avenue despite the road being designated as a no-truck
route. Swedesboro Mayor Tom Fromm said he was unaware there had been a
no-truck rule on Helms, but Miller claimed that signs had been up previously.
“If such an ordinance is in place, we’ll see if it is
enforceable, and enforce it,” Fromm stated. “If an ordinance was rescinded,
we’ll revisit the situation.”
Laurie Burns from Helms Avenue wondered if all of the
stop signs were really necessary. “The ones we have are not being enforced,”
Burns argued. “Stop signs are getting abused. I see it all the time.”
Councilmember Joanna Gahrs said a lot of residents have asked her the same
question.
“My idea when I proposed the stop signs were to go all
in,” declared Fromm. “I think it is a proven fact that stop signs slow down a
lot of people.”
Councilmember George Weeks explained, “If you put stop
signs at one spot, you have to put them on the other streets or else you’ll
just move traffic in an up or down direction.” Fromm added, “I don’t think
it’s always a lack of police enforcement, but we have to use all of the tools
at our disposal.”
Elsewhere in the public portion, Robert Botto of Botto’s
Italian Line Restaurant requested a lowering of the 18 percent in interest he
just paid on his last property tax bill. Botto claimed his taxes had risen by
35 percent in 2011.
Clerk Tanya Goodwin told him that 18 percent is the
maximum interest fee that Council can charge, and the number cannot be waived
by Council. Fromm added, “Unless there are extraordinary circumstances or a
mistake on our end, I will not be waiving any tax payments in this town.”
At the beginning of the meeting, Councilmember Russell
Zappala presented longtime resident Michael Homan an award for service to
Swedesboro and the surrounding community. Homan served on the community’s
Planning Board for 31 years, spent years with the Kingsway Board of Education,
and was chairman of the Environmental Commission. He was also one of the
founding trustees for Gloucester County College.
“Mr. Homan helped me along and gave me a lot of good
advice during the eight years that I’ve been mayor,” commented Fromm. “I’m
grateful for his service to our community.”
In other departments, Weeks mentioned that this year’s
expenses for finances would be coming in under budget figures. And the results
of the bill that would provide funding to the school district by designating
Swedesboro and Woolwich as high growth areas were expected by the second
Council meeting in January.
Councilmember Diane Hale reminded the Council of Take
10!, a survey from Swedesboro’s Economic and Development Committee about the
town’s shopping, dining, and service options, and the preferences of
residents. Winners are eligible to receive $100 gift certificates in town.
