Outdoor Living Show A Blooming Success

THE MASTER GARDENERS from Rutgers University manned a colorful booth at last month’s inaugural Outdoor Living Show held at the Swedesboro Auction. The day featured over 40 vendors offering everything from vegetable and flower plants to planters, birdhouses, landscaping and patio furniture.

• Swedesboro/Woolwich Elementary School Ground Breaking!
• Dryden Urges Council to Adopt Environmental Friendly Options

• East Greenwich Budget Approved by Narrow Vote

• 4th Annual Locke Fun Day!

• Woolwich Recycle Bank

• Residents to Pay More than a 7 Cent Tax Increase

Wish You Were Here Photo Contest Deadline EXTENDED!

• Kingsway Teachers Arrested
• Kingsway Budget

SWEDESBORO

Groundbreaking Ceremonies Held For
New S/W Elementary School

GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONIES were held on May 8 to officially begin the construction of the Swedesboro/Woolwich School District’s fourth elementary school. The building will be located on Oldmans Creek Road in the township.

- Photo by Brett Boone

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SWEDESBORO

Dryden Urges Council To Adopt
Environmentally Friendly Options

By Sam Scavuzzo

Don Dryden forcefully marched down the borough council aisle chambers with two plastic trash cans, one containing paper products which could easily be recycled. His goal: to tangibly display the ease and feasibility for the borough of Swedesboro to increase the size of recycle cans in order to get greener and save some green as well.

The Republican councilman continued his push for larger waste receptacles at the May 21 Borough council meeting. Heading up the Garbage & Recycling Committee Dryden looks to give Swedesboro residents incentive to recycle.

“We are paying $77 per ton on garbage,” Dryden said. “If we get people to recycle paper products, we’d be making money of it. We are literally throwing away money.”

With his visual demonstration, Dryden pulled cardboard taco, spaghetti and toilet paper boxes out of the trash to illustrate the amount of recyclable paper that is being thrown away.

Dryden said that it just made sense to start recycling these materials and that the borough had to “psychologically get people to think” along those lines. Dryden feels larger containers would allow people to recycle more.

Democratic Swedesboro Mayor Thomas W. Fromm worried that the containers, proposed to be 32 gallons, would be too large and heavy for elderly citizens to carry to the curb.

Dryden countered by saying that these same papers would eventually get to the curb as trash anyway. However, Dryden did say the entire Swedesboro Borough Council was looking to become environmentally efficient as possible.

As a long term goal, Dryden has proposed two options to handle the Swedesboro trash situation: RecycleBank and Pay As You Throw. The former was introduced in February and slated to begin in May by surrounding Woolwich Township and rewards residents for the amount of recyclable materials collected.

Pay As You Throw, which Dryden supports, works like the electric company, the councilman said. Households pay a variable rate depending on the amount of service they use, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The more bags of trash a household throws away then the more they will pay.

It would naturally benefit residents to recycle. Currently, 55 communities or just over 10 percent of New Jersey uses Pay As You Throw, according to a 2006 survey by the EPA and Skumatz Economic Research Associates, Inc.

In addition to the discussion on recycling, Dryden brought up the idea of having a hybrid police car. Swedesboro Police Chief William Dupper said that he never heard of it before but wouldn’t be adverse to it as long as the vehicle would be able to efficiently accelerate. Fromm agreed with Dupper and added a concern about the costs of a hybrid vehicle.

In the future, however, Fromm would like to see this happen.

Dupper also thanked the council for authorizing the hiring of two additional police officers. He noted that they would be riding along to get a feel for the area and should be on duty after at least a couple of weeks.

These hirings go along with Fromm’s “Take Back our Neighborhoods” initiative introduced May 7. In that plan, Fromm highlighted five bulleted items which included the creation of a Police Advisory Committee to be chaired by Republican Councilman Sam Casella, a new contract that would “demonstrate how valuable we think” police officers are as well as the confirmation of the two new officers.

“Let me send a very clear message to anyone who thinks they can victimize our residents, sell drugs in our neighborhoods, or break the law in Swedesboro,” Fromm said. “You will not be doing business in our town anymore.”

The council also supported the “Click It or Ticket” Resolution instituted statewide by Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine to increase awareness for seatbelt safety. Police will “enforce a zero tolerance message about the seatbelt law,” according to the governor.

This comes after Corzine’s accident earlier this year when the governor was seriously injured after not wearing a seatbelt.

Additionally, the council unanimously renewed Swedesboro’s three liquor licenses and certified the reduction of Kingsway Regional School District budget. Fromm added that the formation of a volleyball and bowling program could be added with shifting of funds, not adding to the budget.

Borough Clerk Dolores M. Connors noted that the state recently passed a bill allowing for municipalities to increase the fee for dog licenses. Previously, the maximum a town could charge was $7; under the new legislation, it can now total $21.

A discussion ensued without decision. Dryden questioned the necessity of it and Republican Councilwoman Darlene Gage noted that it may deter people from obtaining a license.

Fromm was curious to see how surrounding towns were handling the new freedom. The board did agree that a more intensive dog census was needed.

Gage also reminded the council that Locke Avenue Fun Day is taking place June 9 at Locke Avenue Park from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

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East Greenwich

EAST GREENWICH BUDGET APPROVED
BY NARROW 3-2 VOTE

by Beth S. Biermann

The 2007 East Greenwich municipal budget was narrowly approved by the township committee at their May 8 regular meeting. Three committee members voted to approve the budget, while two voted against the budget after a public hearing and an extensive discussion with Charles Owens, the township’s Chief Financial Officer.

During a public hearing on the budget, extended from the township’s previous meeting, a resident brought a concern about the cost of the health insurance premiums for township employees. According to Owens, it costs the township approximately $13,000 per employee.

The resident believed that this amount was too high, and stated that in his experience individual coverage from Blue Cross/Blue Shield is in the range of $8,000 to $10,000 so there should be no reason for a group plan to cost more than that.

Mayor John DeGeorge explained that other insurance quotes are currently being explored as a function of bargaining negotiations.

The resident also asked if there would be a tax increase for East Greenwich residents and Owens replied that there would be none. Owens further explained that at the end of 2006, the township had a $1.4 million surplus. Of this surplus, the township will be using $1.2 million in 2007 in order to balance the budget and keep the residents from paying a tax increase.

After the public session, the committee held its own discussion and question and answer session with Owens. Committeeman Frank Aiello stated that he felt it was “fiscally irresponsible to be spending money all over the place” and proceeded to bring up the subject of township employee health insurance again.

Aiello wanted to know why there was such a seemingly large increase in the cost of employee group health insurance, up from a budgeted $500,000 in 2006 to an estimated $595,000 in 2007.

Owens explained that in addition to hiring another full time employee in 2006 needing insurance coverage, the insurance company gave the township an estimate of between a 12 percent and 15 percent increase over the 2006 cost.

The actual expenditure for the 2006 insurance premiums totaled $512,000, more than the budgeted $500,000. Owens added that the insurance company’s estimate for the increase from 2005 to 2006 was too low, therefore the township decided to budget for the high end of the range, a 15% increase for 2007.

Committeeman Fred Grant expressed his concern about the increase of $45,000 in the water and sewer budget, given the retirement of a long-time senior employee in this department. Grant stated that since the replacement hire for this position would be making considerably less than the employee who retired, there was no reason for such a large increase.

Owens replied that the new entry-level employee will be making $12,000 per year less than the former senior-level employee. The remaining increase is for raises for the current employees, as well as the salaries for two new hires, employed by the township part of the way through 2006.

After the pubic hearing and committee discussion, the budget was approved on second reading by a vote of three to two. Committeewoman Michelle Haenggi, Deputy Mayor Peter Miskofsky and DeGeorge voted in favor of the 2007 budget, while Aiello and Grant voiced their disapproval.

In other business, Haenggi announced that as of the evening of May 7, the organizers of East Greenwich Day made the difficult decision to cancel the morning parade. All other East Greenwich Day activities would be occurring as planned for Saturday May 12.

The parade was cancelled due to a lack of interest on the part of participant groups and/or businesses. A total of only 13 organizations applied to be a part of the parade, including the township committee, the fire department, Logan EMS, and three music groups. Miskofsky expressed his disappointment that none of the numerous local sports teams submitted applications for parade entry.

According to Miskofsky, it was a difficult decision, one that had to weigh the chance that residents would be disappointed in a seemingly small and insignificant parade against the disappointment of the few participants in not getting to be a part of the parade. In the end, it was determined that there were not enough entrants to justify closing down the streets for such a small parade.

                       

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Woolwich
 

Don’t Forget Locke Avenue Fun Day, June 9

It’s here! The 4^th annual Locke Avenue Fun Day is happening on June 9. This community day was started four years ago to provide residents an opportunity to interact with friends and neighbors while enjoying local delights.

At 9 a.m. the day will begin with a “Miracle Mile Charity Walk” for St. Jude’s Children Hospital. Walk-up registrations are welcome, visit www.freewebs.com/saintjudewalk/ for further information.

The free petting zoo, vendor’s walk and carnival rides will begin at 10 a.m. Local businesses and community groups will be displayed in the walk.

The carnival rides include a moon bounce, a 100-foot slide, “Tubs of Fun”, and rocket swings. At 11 a.m. the Swedesboro/ Woolwich Soccer Association will host a soccer shoot out challenge on the baseball field nearest the concession stand.

By noon, the food court will be in full swing with ribs, chicken, sausage and peppers sandwiches, burgers and dogs, pretzels, ice cream, and don’t forget the cotton candy!

Also, the Battle of the Bands begins on the stage. Organized by the Teen Advisory Board of Swedesboro, six bands will compete to win studio recording time and other great prizes.

4-H will have pony rides available, and bring your empty water bottles over to the pavilion between 1 and 3 p.m. to make birdfeeders with the Environmental Commission of Woolwich.

Kingsway Youth Football & Cheerleading will have registration available between 1 and 4 p.m. Meanwhile, local talent takes main stage with talent show participants, dance and karate studio performances.

By 6 p.m. when the Swedesboro/ Woolwich Little League begin their Home Run Derby, the band Slick Rhodes will be providing great music for enjoying the sights. The end of evening fireworks at 9 p.m. will be heralded by a performance by “Final Vinyl”, and are guaranteed to amaze!

Parking is available at the park, the former Del Monte building, Ron Son building, Swedesboro Auction, Clifford School, Hill School, and Stratton School. Please do not park in the Fish and Callatozo complex because you may be ticketed or towed.

Shuttle busses will be running throughout the entire event. Pick-up locations include Swedesboro Auction, Hill School, and Stratton Schools. Look for an event schedule at the shuttle stop.

Locke Avenue Fun Day is brought to you by the Swedesboro Woolwich Park & Recreation Committee. For other exciting events, please call (856) 467-2666, extension 300 or visit www.woolwichtwp.org/parksandrec.

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Woolwich Recycle Bank

Woolwich Deputy Mayor Jim Lavender, Mayor Joe Chila and Environmental Commission Chairman Frank Wagner demonstrate how RecycleBank will collect paper, cardboard, plastic and glass in one easy recycling container beginning June 12^th.

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Woolwich Residents To Pay More Than
A Seven Cent Tax Increase

by Beth S. Biermann

The Woolwich Township Committee adopted the 2007 municipal budget by a unanimous vote at their May 21 regularly scheduled meeting. A public hearing on the budget was held, but no residents came forward with comments, questions or concerns.

The local purpose tax will increase 7.6 cents per $100 of assessed home value, from 46.1 cents in 2006 to 53.7 cents in 2007. This translates to a local tax of $981 for a homeowner with an average assessed home value of $182,700. This represents a tax hike of $150 over the 2006 local tax of $831.

Budget appropriations total $5.855 million, an increase of $165,000 over the 2006 appropriations. This 2.8 percent increase is a substantially less significant increase than last year. The 2006 budget rose 7 percent with a $400,000 increase over 2005.

During the general public session, a resident expressed that in light of the tax increase, he is concerned about the appearance of more housing developments and no apparent progress on the shopping centers proposed for the township, including those advertised as impending across from the CVS at the corner of Auburn and Center Square Roads. Mayor Joe Chila pointed out that the Franklin Savings Bank is currently under construction at that site.

Deputy Mayor James Lavender added that the builder is tentatively scheduled to make an application to the planning board committee sometime this summer for the shopping center at that same intersection, including several vendors and a public restaurant. Lavender stated, “We feel pretty optimistic that we’ll see a lot of progress this year, by the end of the calendar year 2007.”

Lavender also assured the resident that $450,000 from the sale of a plenary retail consumption liquor license approved by the committee on Jan. 16 was used to offset the 2007 tax increase for Woolwich residents. The developer who bought this license intends to use it for a restaurant to be located in the Woolwich Town Center, at the corner of Center Square and Auburn Roads.

John Kenney, Treasurer of Valley Glen Homeowners Association (HOA), approached the committee to find out the status of a request he made at a Jan. 16 committee meeting. The HOA had requested funds from the township to augment a $50,000 state loan they 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 lifespan, is in danger of collapsing and causing resulting damage to the surrounding area.

The Valley Glen HOA did 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 was also 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.

As of Jan.16, the HOA had used $23,000 of the loan amount to cover the engineering costs of designing the dam restoration. That left only $27,000 remaining to cover the $87,000 construction costs.

Because of this, they asked the township to provide fiscal relief in the amount of a minimum of $60,000, perhaps more to allow for any unforeseen costs.

Kenney’s presence at the May 21 meeting was to ask the township committee if these funds could be included as part of the 2007 municipal budget, in order to complete the dam reconstruction by September or October.

Chila reported to Kenney that $80,000 had been set aside in the 2007 capital budget in the form of a loan from the township to the HOA, “to avoid a natural disaster.” The terms of the loan are yet to be specified.

Several residents of the Westbrook at Weatherby single family home development voiced their ongoing concerns about maintenance of the subdivision entrance and the common open space at the intersection of Ardmore Lane and Township Line Road.

Homeowners in this development had previously approached the township committee in June 2006. The issues that needed attention at that time included the lack of a sign designating the name of the development, the lack of grass in the common area and the dying plants in the landscaped circle.

Residents stated that they had been assured by the builder that the development would be professionally landscaped in a comparable way to the Lexington Hill development, but in their opinion it was not even close to what was promised.

During the June meeting, Frank Morris of the Alaimo Group, the township engineer at the time, reported that there had been no provision in the construction plans for an irrigation system, therefore it would be hard to successfully maintain the grassy area and the landscaped circle.

Chila had said that he didn’t forsee a problem convincing the builder, Fieldstone Associates, to put up a development sign. He warned the residents, however, that the installation of an irrigation system would be less likely, given that there was no requirement for one in the building plans.

The residents were back at the May 21 committee meeting nearly a year later because other than installing a sign, the developer had not addressed any of their other concerns. They complained of dead trees and shrubs and grass growing as much as 20 inches tall. They also observed that the developer’s landscaping company mows the grass along Township Line Road in front of the townhome section and stops before getting to the single family home section.

The homeowners that back up to the open space are willing to help as far as planting flowers and similar small improvements, but they are concerned that without an irrigation system any efforts made to seed or plant anything will be useless.

According to Chila, Fieldstone is still under maintenance bond, which requires that they are responsible for maintenance of the development until 2010 and the committee would “do whatever we can do to stay on top of them.”

He promised to contact the developer the following morning to insist that the single family home section be added to their weekly landscaping schedule.

He added, however, that the township had tried last year to convince Fieldstone to install an irrigation system, but “they simply would not budge” because it was not included in the approved plans. “We have no pressure whatsoever to make them put in an irrigation system”, he concluded.  

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