|
Municipal Links:
East
Greenwich Twp.
Logan Township
South Harrison Twp.
Swedesboro
Woolwich Twp.
Updated:
08/01/2008
| |
|
East Greenwich
E. Greenwich To Hold
Special Meeting With County
To Discuss Mt. Royal Intersection Issues
by Beth S. Biermann
EAST GREENWICH – East Greenwich Mayor John DeGeorge
announced at the Jan. 10 committee meeting that the township and the
Gloucester County Department of Public Works will hold a special public
meeting in the East Greenwich municipal building on Feb. 22 to discuss the
county’s proposal to redesign a busy Mt. Royal intersection. Problems at the
Berkley Road and Kings Highway intersection include significant delays during
rush hour. Other roads that enter this six-leg intersection include County
House Road and North Street.
The county’s proposed solution includes removing County
House Road from the intersection and diverting it to Kings Highway. This would
result in a loss of access to the intersection for residents of Bryson’s
Court, a new development being built off County House Road.
Residents will be notified by mailed post cards of the
time of the meeting.
After a public hearing held in August, the county
reported that none of the residents of Brysons Court opposed having County
House Road diverted, causing them to take a permanent detour and go out of
their way to exit their development. East Greenwich Mayor John DeGeorge stated
at the Dec. 12 township committee meeting that he preferred to have another
meeting before plans are finalized to be confident that every resident has
ample opportunity to be heard on this issue.
In other business, Deputy Mayor Pete Miskofsky detailed
the 2006 annual report from the police department. The department received 85
requests for their canine unit, 63 of which were for motor vehicle sniffs. The
resulting seizes included 7,100 grams of marijuana, 100 grams of crack, 341
grams of cocaine, 30 vials of PCP, 3 semi-automatic weapons and $6,000 in
currency.
The police department’s 18 officers responded to 17,000
computer-aided dispatches, wrote 5,192 summonses, and made over 600 arrests.
Miskofsky wrapped up the report by stating ,“Our guys have been pretty busy
and we certainly want to give them their due.” He went on to praise the police
department for having “a great year looking out for our residents and giving
us a safe place to live”.
Miskofsky also presented the public works department’s
2006 annual report to the committee. The department conducted 52 metal pick up
days for the township, collecting 1,350 items in total. Miskofsky stated that
the township is able to sell much of this as scrap steel.
Yard waste collections were also included in the report,
including 2,325 cubic yards of leaves, 269 loads (1,345 cubic yards) of
stumps, and 324 loads of wood run through the chipper, resulting in 4,800
cubic yards of wood chips.
Miskofsky pointed out that this is a lot of work
successfully done by the public works department, and results in a decrease in
trash tonnage and, consequently, cost of trash collection for the township.
In the same vein, Committeeman Fred Grant reported on the
township’s year-end waste management results. Trash tonnage in 2006 totaled
approximately 3,400 tons, a decrease of 200 tons compared to 2005 amounts,
despite an increase in the number of homes from which trash is collected.
According to Grant, this decrease resulted in a $45,000
savings to the township in terms of tipping fees at the landfill. In addition,
the township averages 700 tons per year in recyclables collected, which earned
the township approximately $17,000 in 2006.
Grant reported that the township has renewed their
contract with Omni Recycling, a company that buys recyclables from East
Greenwich. The contract has been renewed for two years and will result in
payments to the township of $5.00 per ton for commingled recyclables and
$27.00 per ton for recycled paper.
The township committee accepted a letter of resignation
for a public works laborer. Fred Ballinger will be retiring effective April 1
after 32 years of service to East Greenwich in the public works department.
A contract in the amount of $5,000 was awarded to The
Society to Protect Animals, based in Woodstown, for the 2007 East Greenwich
dog census. DeGeorge commended Sandy Pitts, township deputy clerk, for doing
the research required to undertake this census, required by the state and
performed every two years.
|
|
return to top |
|
|
|
Swedesboro
Party Lines Hold
Strong In Boro Council Voting
by Jesse Klein
SWEDESBORO -- The first gathering of the new 2007
Swedesboro Council on Jan. 2 gave a glimpse into what the coming months in
chambers could be like – the battle between the Democrats and the Republicans.
With the swearing in of Republican Sam Casella, a 3-3
split in council now exists with a Democratic mayor being the tiebreaker.
Reorganization voting reflected this all meeting long.
The reorganization business began with the vote to elect
a president for council and appoint other borough officials. Mayor Tom Fromm
nominated Democrat Dave Flaherty for the position, seconded by Evelyn
Churchville.
A roll call vote for the nomination ended in a split
decision with Democratic council members Churchville, Flaherty, and Michael
Murray voting in favor of Flaherty, and all Republicans, Darlene Gage, Don
Dryden, and Sam Casella voting against his nomination. Fromm then cast the
deciding vote in favor of the nomination of Flaherty to break the tie.
Dryden then asked that Gage be nominated for President of
Council, seconded by Casella. A roll call vote ended again with a 3-3 split
with Democrats voting against and Republicans in favor of Gage. Fromm again
cast the deciding vote against Gage allowing Flaherty to continue in his role
as council president.
Fromm announced Mike DeMarcantonio as the newly elected
Licensed Water Operator for the Borough, stating this appointment which
combines sewer and water operations, will save the borough $16,000 a year.
Fromm reminded council that Chuck Simmerman will attend
classes on a scholarship to become a Public Works Manager, that Carl Bagby
will attend classes to become a sewer treatment plant operator, and Bill
Goodwin will attend classes to become a water treatment plant officer.
Gage requested that Police Clerk Alfred Worrell be added
as a special officer to serve on occasions when an additional officer was
needed as a crossing guard or to direct traffic. Fromm said that Worrell could
be a substitute crossing guard only, but that Woolwich police would fill in at
other times. Fromm told council that the expectation was to hire an additional
Class II officer for the borough.
Gage asked that Worrell be assigned the position until
the vacancy could be filled with Dryden adding that it would cost the borough
nothing and maximize the utilization of Worrell who currently works 30 hours a
week.
Fromm stated that this issue had already been discussed
by the Police Committee.Murray added that all positions in the police
department were being reviewed.
Gage told council that Chief William Dupper had
recommended Worrell be given the special officer status. Murray reiterated
that a subcommittee was reviewing the post for appropriate candidates.
Dryden asked council if there was a cap on the number of
special officers allowed the borough. Fromm stated that Worrell would not be
appointed at this time and that the borough needs a full-time police
department clerk.
Gage added that if an emergency arises Worrell could
provide back up for Dupper. Fromm told Gage to take it up with the police
subcommittee.
Borough Clerk Dolores Conner asked for a motion to accept
the Mayor’s appointments for Boards and Commissions. All council members voted
in favor with the exception of Sam Casella who abstained.
The Council then moved to adopt a resolution allowing the
borough to hire officials to fill the vacancies of posecutor, public defender,
auditor, and planning/zoning engineer.
Gage asked that via fair and open process the committee
be able to review the submitted resumes for the public official posts and
offer their opinion.
Fromm replied that the resumes had been at borough hall
for the previous two weeks and that council members should be prepared to vote
in order to fill the posts. Gage responded that she was unaware that the
resumes were in the office.
This same issue arose with the appointing of the
solicitor, prosecutor, auditor and judge. Fromm again stated that the resumes
had been at Borough Hall since Dec. 15 and that he had picked up copies just
before Christmas. He added that experienced council members should be familiar
with the need to fill vacant positions at the annual reorganization meeting,
and that according to fair and open process, resumes were received well in
advance for council members review.
Dryden stated that he hoped that all council members will
be recognized for their talents and not be expected “to rubber-stamped” all
the documents that are put before them.
Gage added, “I do not come in and ruffle through papers
that aren’t earmarked for council.”
She complained that she had not received an email that
the resumes were available for review. “It’s not that I don’t trust your
vote,” Gage added. “I would just like to have some input.”
The Republicans voted no against the resolutions for town
engineer, auditor and prosecutor and the Democrats voted yes with Fromm
needing to cast the deciding vote to adopt the resolutions.
Only the vote for public defender passed in a 4-2
decision, when Casella voted along with the Democratic council members to
appoint Carmen A. Malignaggi as Swedesboro prosecutor. A resolution to appoint
Nicolas Lacovara as municipal court judge for Swedesboro replacing J.R. Powell
was approved unanimously by council.
A resolution allowing the mayor to execute the agreement
of the lawsuit of Valley View related to affordable housing was presented for
vote before council. Gage asked to see a copy of the settlement.
Court Clerk Dolores Connor reminded Council that this
resolution had been approved by a motion at the last meeting in December 2006
and that this resolution was to memorialize action already taken authorizing
the mayor to sign the settlement.
Casella abstained from the vote and Gage and Dryden voted
against it. The resolution was memorialized by votes in favor cast by Murray,
Flaherty and Churchville.
return to top
|
|
Swedesboro
|
Commercial
Improvements, Traffic Concerns
and Boro Cost Savings Discussed By Boro
By Jessie Klein
SWEDESBORO – It was reported at the Jan. 16 Swedesboro
Council meeting that Swedesboro Economic Development Committee Chairperson
Diane Hale and Mayor Tom Fromm met with the new owners of the former Del Monte
site on Church Street. Fromm stated that after 25 years vacant, the new owners
are planning to use the site for an office furniture warehouse.
Fromm told council that he and Hale also met with one of
the new owners of the old ice house located at Guest and Locke Avenue.
According to Fromm the building has been almost totally rehabilitated and will
be used to house six professional offices.
Fromm also stated that he had met recently with county
officials to discuss approval for a 17-unit commercial center to begin
construction on the south end of town.
According to Fromm, Diane Hale is meeting this month with
the Swedesboro Historical Society, Historical Advisory Committee and others to
gain their support for Phase II of the Streetscape Project. Hale invited all
council members, as well as the public, to the meeting to review the plans
that are tentatively set to go from Franklin Street to Borough Hall.
Fromm also met recently with the county engineer about
addressing the traffic situation at the south end of town. As a result of that
meeting, Fromm said that the county has proposed a plan to improve the current
situation and that a plan is currently being reviewed by the Borough Engineer
Stan Bitwood. The county engineer also told Fromm that the traffic signal in
the center of town is slated to be completed in 2007.
During his recent visit to Swedesboro, the county
engineer was brought out to Lake Avenue by Public Works Manager Chuck
Simmerman to work out an agreement with the county to correct the storm water
issue at Lake and Franklin Streets.
The mayor informed council that he and Planning Board
Chairman Mike Homan signed the settlement that will bring the lawsuit brought
by a developer against the borough to a conclusion that is favorable for
Swedesboro.
Council also entered into a lengthy discussion on
installing sidewalks along Locke Avenue to give residents improved access to
the park. All council members agreed that the endeavor was worth pursuing.
Gage asked the mayor what grant monies were available,
such as Streetscape. Fromm explained that Streetscape grant money can only be
used in specific areas of the downtown, but that other grants may be
available. He requested that Gage research potential grants suitable to
perform the sidewalk installation.
Fromm also shared the details of the cost savings already
undertaken by new Water Plant Operator Mike DeMarcantonio. DeMarcantonio
determined that the borough was paying more than twice the price for a
commonly used water treatment chemical.
Fromm also reported that DeMarcantonio had gotten the
process underway to certify Chuck Simmerman as a Public Works Manager. As a
result of a grandfather clause Simmerman qualified back in 1995 to be
certified. This certification will save Swedesboro $3,000 a year formerly paid
to an outside person.
The Mayor summarized the actions taken by DeMarcantonio
as an example that the borough is not going to do things “the way we always
did it.”
Councilman Dave Flaherty reported that the exploration
has begun on options that will allow for needed repairs to the water tower as
well as maximizing the lease for its antennas that would incur no cost to
borough taxpayers.
Fromm also asked council why a new police vehicle had not
been ordered to replace the vehicle that was totaled by Chief William Dupper
more than two months ago. He asked that Council members Michael Murray and
Gage report back to council with the reason for the delay.
The council then turned to concerns about on-going
speeding in the borough and the fact that a number of borough officers are not
yet certified to use radar guns. It was also mentioned that only one officer
was certified to use the on-board computer systems.
Murray informed council that Dupper does not believe the
computers are worth going though the certification effort because the officers
can just call county dispatch.
Fromm replied that it was his belief that the computers
were installed to offer officers instantaneous access to the database and
improve officer safety.
Fromm told Murray that he wants all the officers
certified, otherwise the computers should be removed from the vehicles and
sold to a town that will use them, as they cost the borough over $16,000.
An ordinance was then introduced to adopt the Personnel
Practice Ordinance for the Borough of Swedesboro. The ordinance was approved
4-2 with Gage and Casella casting the votes against adoption.
The mayor told council that he had reviewed the current
ordinance manual that had been approved by council in June of 2000, and found
23 instances where the borough was not following procedure, particularly in
the areas of employee benefits and time-tracking.
Fromm stated that it is clear in the 2000 version of the
ordinance manual that salaried employees are not eligible for overtime, and
that individuals who were not full-time employees are not entitled to receive
benefits.
He said that the rules set forth in the manual had been
approved by a roll call vote in June of 2000, making them the current rules of
the town. Whether they are recognized by the Joint Insurance Fund or not, the
mayor continued that until the new version distributed last week is approved
by council, the current rules are in effect.
After debate, Council moved to approve the new ordinance
to replace the 2000 version by a vote of 3-2 with Gage and Casella voting
against.
Despite the disagreements occurring during the January
meetings, Fromm stated in an interview later in the month, that he remains
positive about all the improvements ongoing for the borough. He said his
greatest hope is that all members of council can put politics aside and work
for the good of the town of Swedesboro.
Gage, when contacted later by phone, said that new
methods for improving communication among the council were being implemented
and she hopes improved communication will enhance the working dynamic of the
council.
return to top
|
|
Woolwich
Groundbreaking Ceremonies
Held For
New Franklin Savings Branch
WOOLWICH TWP. — Mayor Joe Chila joined Franklin Savings
Bank President and Chief Executive Officer David W. Lindstrom and Franklin
Board and staff members on Friday, Jan. 12 to break ground for the bank’s new
office to be constructed at 99 Center Square Road here.
Located at the corner of
Center Square and Auburn Roads, the new, full-service office will be open
seven days a week when it becomes operational in the fall of this year. It
will be staffed by 12 people, including a full-time loan officer.
The 4,400-square-foot
facility will feature multiple drive-up banking bays with an automated teller
machine, and spacious parking.
|
Breaking ground for the new Franklin
Savings Bank Woolwich Office |
|
 |
(Shown Above, Left to right) Woolwich Township
Committeeman Paul Lott; Woolwich Township Deputy Mayor Jim Lavender;
Franklin President and Chief Executive Officer David W. Lindstrom;
Franklin Banking Officer and Woolwich Office Manager Shannon Brelsford;
Franklin Director David Rode; Franklin Branch Coordinator Kim Cruz;
Franklin Board Vice Chair Edward Coombs; Woolwich Township Mayor Joe
Chila; and Franklin Director Dr. Peter Contini.
|
In addition to Chila and
Lindstrom, also participating in the groundbreaking were Banking Officer and
Woolwich Office Manager Shannon Brelsford; Branch Coordinator Kim Cruz; Board
Vice Chair Edward Coombs; and Directors Dr. Peter Contini and David Rode.
Serving residents and
businesses in Salem, Atlantic, Gloucester, Cumberland and Cape May Counties,
this will be Franklin’s seventh office and first to adopt seven-day banking
hours.
“We believe that Franklin
functions as a true community bank and that the residents and businesses will
appreciate having that option,” Lindstrom said. “We look forward to expanding
our presence in an area that we have served since 1861. We offer a full
complement of financial services for consumers and businesses alike and
provide the opportunity to bank with a partner who knows and appreciates the
needs of the communities we serve.”
|
|
return to top |
Woolwich
|
Woolwich Re-Appoints
Chila As Mayor;
Lavender New Deputy Mayor
WOOLWICH TWP. -- The Woolwich Township Committee held its
annual reorganization meeting on Jan. 2 with the swearing in of incumbent Paul
Lott along with newcomer Sam Maccarone.
Mayor Joe Chila was reappointed mayor and Dr. Jim
Lavender was appointed as new deputy mayor.
At the meeting, township committee members were
designated as liaisons to the following departments, committees and boards.
Chila: Economic Development, Plan Petitioning, Buildings
and Grounds, EMS and Personnel.
Lavender: Economic Development, Finance, Architectural
Advisory, and Personnel.
Committeeman Ted Otten: Schools, Parks and Recreation,
Trash/Recycling, Environmental, Plan Petitioning, and Finance.
Committeeman Paul Lott: Construction Code, Open Space,
Agricultural Advisory, Buildings and Grounds, and Planning.
Maccarone: Zoning, Police, Fire, Streets/Roads, and
Courts.
Residents and other officials were appointed to township
boards and committees.
Agricultural Advisory: reappointments of Bruno Putori and
Leslie A. Viereck III, and Anthony Maccarone, appointment to fill unexpired
term.
Architectural Design Advisory: Calvin Greene,
reappointment.
Economic Development: reappointments of Tom Narolewski
and Theodore Lovell, Anthony Amoroso, appointment; and Beth Bennett
appointment to fill unexpired term.
Environmental Commission: Frank Wagner, reappointment.
Plan Petitioning for the year 2007: Administrator Jack
Lipsett, Mayor Joe Chila, Joe Delmar, Jocelyn Phillips, Alex Elefante, Al
DiBella, Alan Schwager, Committeeman Ted Otten, Jane DiBella and Jackie Dopke.
Open Space: Mark Hasenauer, reappointment, and Charles
Fare, appointment as Alternate #2 to fill unexpired term.
Parks and Recreation for the year 2007: Kim Dupper,
Natalie Matthias, Wendy Snoberger, Rich Emmett, Jackie Williams and Leslie
Harris.
Zoning Board of Adjustments: David Beckett,
reappointment; Calvin Greene, reappointment; and Jackie Dopke, reappointment
as Alternate #1.
Planning Board: Alan Schwager, reappointment as Class IV
member; Committeeman Paul Lott, reappointment as Class III member;
Administrator Jack Lipsett, appointment as Class II member; Committeeman Dr.
James Lavender, appointment as Class I member as the mayor’s designee; Steven
Nieves, elevated from alternate #2 to fill unexpired term and Roy Bitterman,
appointment as Alternate #2.
Karen Casella and Shirley Herbert were both appointed
deputy court administrator and Carla Rios as special deputy court
administrator.
The following professional appointments were also made:
Auditors: Michael Welding of Bowman and Company; Conflict Engineers: Federici
and Akin; Engineers: Kernan Consulting Engineers; Planning Consultant: Bob
Melvin of Melvin/Kernan Planning Strategies; Prosecutor: Timothy W. Chell,
Esq.; Public Defender: Carmen Malignaggi, Esq.; Solicitor: Timothy D. Scaffidi,
Esq.; Special Counsel for COAH matters: Jeffrey R. Surenian, Esq.
return to top |
Woolwich
|
Valley Glen Homeowners
Request Funds
For Dam Restoration
by Beth S. Biermann
WOOLWICH TWP. – John Kenney, Treasurer of Valley Glen
Homeowners Association (HOA), requested financial help from the Woolwich
Township Committee at their meeting on Jan. 16. stating that more funds were
needed to augment a $50,000 state loan HOA has received for restoration of a
deteriorating dam on common property in the Valley Glen development.
Valley Glen is a 10- year-old development in Woolwich
with 28 homes surrounding a small spring-fed lake that feeds out to Raccoon
Creek. As part of the original construction, a dam was built to prevent
flooding of surrounding roadways and land.
The dam, which is supposed to have a 40-year life span,
is in danger of collapsing and causing resulting damage to the surrounding
area.
The Valley Glen HOA has done extensive research,
including getting estimates from contractors for the cost of repairing the
dam. After receiving just one “astronomical” estimate of $234,000, Kenney
explained that the HOA reached out again to other contractors. The most recent
estimate is in the amount of approximately $87,000.
The HOA has also been proactive in seeking out funds to
cover this construction. The homeowners themselves were able to qualify for a
loan from the state of New Jersey in the amount of $50,000, to be paid back
over 20 years at two percent interest. Woolwich Township has cosigned this
loan.
The HOA has currently used $27,000 of the loan amount to
cover the engineering costs of designing the dam restoration. That leaves only
$23,000 remaining to cover the $87,000 construction costs. Therefore, they are
asking the township to provide fiscal relief in the amount of a minimum of
$60,000.
According to every contractor that inspected the dam,
Kenney reports that the dam is in danger of “imminent failure”. None of the
contractors could understand why such a recently constructed dam would be in
such disrepair.
According to Kenney, the HOA has done all required
maintenance and upkeep on the dam, as suggested by the original contractor.
Kenney concluded by laying out the four options that the
HOA is facing now. First, they can “let nature take its course” and let the
dam collapse. This is not a viable option, he said, because the state has
informed the HOA that they would be financially responsible for any resulting
environmental cleanup that would need to occur.
Their second option is to receive financial help from the
township itself, which they are requesting now. Thirdly, they will seek media
attention for their issue.
Finally, Kenney stated that if the township fails to
respond, the HOA will consider filing a lawsuit against Woolwich for “allowing
a substandard dam to pass inspection” 10 years ago when the development was
built.
Township Solicitor Timothy Scaffidi informed the HOA that
the township would first need to review the HOA Bylaws. He also explained that
the township is currently in litigation against the engineering firm that was
working for Woolwich at the time of this development’s construction and
approval, and he will be sure to add this issue to the list of complaints.
Scaffidi concluded by stating that he will need to do
research to determine whether the township can legally fund the dam
restoration now that it is privately owned by the HOA. Mayor Joe Chila added
that he will reach out to the Third District legislator to find out if any
other government funds, in the form of grants or loans, may be available to
the HOA.
In other business, the committee introduced an ordinance
that would create a school zone at the Governor Charles Stratton School,
encompassing Fredrick Blvd. from its intersection with Center Square Road to
its intersection with Bunker Hill Drive. The public hearing and committee vote
for this ordinance will be held at the next township meeting on Feb. 5 at 7
p.m.
The New Jersey Department of Transportation (DOT) will
still have to study the area to approve location of crosswalks and a 15 miles
per hour speed limit. When their study is complete, the township will have to
pass another ordinance to designate these specific aspects of the school zone.
The committee also passed a resolution authorizing the
sale of a plenary retail consumption license. Haddonfield-based developer PRP
Woolwich, LLC purchased this liquor consumption license for $450,000.
The license is intended for use in a restaurant to be
located in the Woolwich Town Center, which will be built at the corner of
Center Square and Auburn Roads. The groundbreaking for this commercial center
occurred on Jan. 12.
The committee also passed a resolution authorizing a
credit card merchant agreement for the municipal court. In the terms of this
agreement, The Bank will provide credit card merchant services to allow court
fees and fines to be charged to personal credit cards.
The Bank will not charge the township any fees for this
service for the first 18 months, after which the township will revisit the
issue.
In other recent business, the committee appointed a new
township engineer at the Jan. 2 reorganization meeting. Michael Meyer of
Kernan Consulting Engineers will replace Frank Morris of Alaimo Engineering.
return to top
|
|
|
