Pine Barrens Tribune February 8 - February 14, 2025

HAS WRIGHT

2/28/2025

2/28/2025

Richard “Richie” E. Wright, Jr., at the center of an ongoing saga between him and Pemberton Township Mayor Jack Tompkins, prepares in December for a closed session, with Tompkins appearing next to him. ‘Terminated’ Pemberton Twp. Provisional Business Administrator, After He Again Asserts He’s Still in Post and Tries Putting Official on Leave, Finds Himself Subject of ‘Involuntary’ Health Stay, But Is Law on His Side That He Was Unlawfully Fired? Richard E. Wright, Jr., Acknowledges Saga Has Led to ‘Hypertensive Crisis’ Requiring Help, But Alleges It’s the Result of His Having Been ‘Mentally, Physically and Financially Harmed’

By D ouglas D. M elegari

Staff Writer

PEMBERTON—Richard “Richie” E. Wright, Jr., at the center of an ongoing, weeks-long saga between him and GOP Pemberton Township Mayor Jack Tompkins about whether he is still legally

the township’s business administrator, has told this newspaper that he was “involuntarily committed” last Friday (Jan. 31) to the Hampton Behavioral Health Center in Westampton.

Wright, a longtime career public servant since 1996 who holds numerous

certifications, in repeated phone calls to this newspaper from a community phone at Hampton Behavioral Health, maintained he wanted his having been admitted there to be made public,

Staff Writer

By D ouglas D. M elegari

MEDFORD LAKES—The Medford Lakes Borough Council has dropped its efforts, at least for now, to restrict the parking of vehicles, including recreational vehicles, in the front yards of residences, following public backlash – though the governing body may, at a later date, try to address the parking of standard vehicles on front lawns, and have a “longer-term discussion” pertaining to recreational vehicles. The Pine Barrens Tribune previously reported that borough officials were poised to act on a purported pair of complaints involving the parking of vehicles on the front lawns of residences.

In one instance, a resident had complained that a carry-on trailer was being parked on his neighbor’s lawn (which faces his home’s front), where it is accessible by a side road, all while the neighbor has a driveway that comes out to a main street.

“Typically, you know, people park in their driveway, or they park parallel to the front of the street,” said Borough Solicitor Doug Heinold during a Jan. 8 meeting of Medford Lakes Borough Council. “You don’t think you have to necessarily make an ordinance to say don’t park on your front lawn. OK, so that is the genesis of

Photo By Alex Costa

New Gretna Fire Company’s New Chief Tries to Shed Light on ‘Little Bit of Dispute’ He’s Having with Town Over Funds

Local Residents, Informed of Volunteer Department’s Financial Plight, Plan Show of Support for Firefighters at Upcoming Bass River Meeting

By Bill B onvie Staff Writer

BASS RIVER—For an unpaid organization whose self-declared mission is to save and protect the lives and property of the residents of Bass River Township, the New Gretna Volunteer Fire Company currently finds itself in the somewhat distracting position of having to cut through the fog – or perhaps the smoke – of what its new chief, Patrick Monaghan, refers to as a “gray area” where its immediate finances are concerned.

That, in turn, has given rise to concerns expressed by “a lot of people” in the community that the fire company may be on the verge of closing its doors, which Monaghan, along with his wife, Melissa, and other leaders of the organization attempted to dispel, even while expounding on the economic enigmas and uncertainties involved in having to deal with new municipal leadership, at an informal gathering attended by 50 or so local residents, as well as the heads of nearby fire departments, on the evening of Feb. 3.

Topmost among those issues, as he indicated, is a substantial difference between the amount of money the firefighters had requested this year to meet their most basic needs as a department and what the threemember Bass River Township Board of Commissioners has apparently allocated for them.

According to his calculations, “the expenses that we know of right now,” without any unexpected ones, come to $45,492.13, which includes the cost of training one new emergency medical technician (EMT) student, who will be assigned to a fully-equipped engine used by the company to respond to EMS calls and stabilize patients until the arrival of an ambulance (which Bass River must depend on a neighboring municipality to provide).

“We were told our budget is going to be $30,000 this year, and with the estimate that I put together … we are $16,000 short to start off,” he contended. “And then any unexpected expenses that come in are just going to make that a bigger hole.”

However, in a seeming attempt to downplay whatever disagreement had arisen between the department and township officials, Monaghan began the session by emphasizing that, “We are still trying to learn ourselves,” being “only a month into

this” and characterizing the situation as “a little bit of a dispute going back and forth about paperwork and things like that.”

“We wrote up a budget, and the budget we have doesn’t match the budget they have,” he continued. “But they did tell us they are willing to work with us on that, and they are going to try to help get everything that we possibly can.

“ We know, as the fire company, we are going to have to step up, and we are going to have to spend some of the money we have in our account to cover the cost of some of the stuff because they can’t fully afford to cover everything for us. So, we are trying to work as best as we can, and we are trying everything we can to make sure it doesn’t come to anything like the fire company getting shut down. Nobody wants to see that happen here. So, we are trying to avoid that at all costs.”

Monaghan added that, “We don’t really know where it is going to go yet,” but “I don’t foresee it being a long-lasting problem. We are trying our best to work it out.”

While the new chief continued to emphasize that he hoped the discrepancy, which he was never directly informed of, was one that could be ironed out with the governing body, the attendees at the session made it clear that they would be more than willing to provide him with a show of support at the next Bass River Board of Commissioners meeting, scheduled on Feb. 10 at 7 p.m.

Should they make good on that

Trucks Reportedly Removed from Lebanon Lakes Property Following Township Initiating Litigation Against Lot’s Owner Escrow Fees Proposed for Reviews of Stormwater Management Plans; Action Pushed Off Another Month on Licensing Cannabis Enterprises

By D ouglas D. M elegari Staff Writer

WOODLAND—There has finally been some reported movement in addressing a purportedly vacant, disheveled property in the Lebanon Lakes section of Woodland Township.

Resident Lisa Sabatini, who has raised the condition of the property during Woodland Township Committee meetings over the last couple of years, reported during the latest Jan. 22 session that abandoned trucks at 115 Maple Drive have been taken away.

“Boy, that is great!” declared Township Administrator and Clerk Maryalice Brown in response. “We have been trying to get that done for years!”

Township Solicitor William Burns, who on a number of prior occasions suggested the township might pursue litigation to force a cleanup of the property, announced that “litigation is progressing” with respect to the property and believed that is why the trucks have now been reportedly removed.

“So, what is left?” asked Burns of Sabatini. “The cars? Or are the cars gone too?”

“giant trailer,” in addition to metal shelving. “Well, there is two different issues, which we continue to talk about,” Burns maintained. “So, the first one is the unsafe structure with respect to the property, because you and other citizens have complaints with respect to the actual structure. The other issue is the condition of the property, and I believe our construction official was going to go out there and see if there were any violations pursuant to the Property (Maintenance) Ordinance.”

Brown contended the local construction official “did go out and review the property” and submitted photographs.

A Notice of Unsafe Structure was subsequently sent to the property owner, according to Brown, but the township had yet to receive a response as of the Jan. 22 session, other than a request for the municipality’s Property Maintenance Ordinance.

But as far as cleaning up the property in question further, Burns suggested “the governing body direct the code enforcement official to take the ordinance with him, and go reinspect the property, and issue any violations if he believes that there are

Photo By Bill Bonvie

New Gretna Fire Chief Patrick Monaghan and his wife, Melissa (center), lead discussion of his volunteer department’s disagreement with Bass River Township officials over money matters.

Perfect Valentine Wine and Dessert Pairings Calling All Valentine’s Day Lovebirds

Love is in the air come February, when plenty of sweethearts enjoy romantic evenings together. When the Valentine’s Day meal is through, it is prime time for something sweet. Often individuals feel they have to put away the wine from dinner and switch over to coffee or tea at this point in the meal. However, with a little knowledge of how to pair wine with dessert, Valentine’s revelers can continue the celebration through this final course.

According to Wine Folly, when pairing wine with dessert or other foods, the secret is to think of wine as an ingredient that will add a new flavor profile. Generally speaking, when it comes to choosing the best wines for desserts, a sweet wine is preferable as the sweetness in the wine will match the sugar in the dessert, suggests the wine resource Vin Yang. Here are some additional pairing pointers.

• A darker dessert usually requires a darker wine, as the wine should have a similar intensity to the dessert.

• The wine should be sweeter than the food in most cases.

• The flavors in the wine should match the flavors in the food.

• Chocolate and caramel are best paired with a sweet or fruity red wine, as dry wines may taste too bitter against chocolate due to the tannins found in both the wine and chocolate.

Port, Sherry, Marsala, and Zinfandel are good options.

• Mild, buttery or sweet vanilla desserts work best with white wines, including sparkling wines. Muscat, off-dry Rieslings, and Prosecco are some ideas.

• Keep in mind that very sweet desserts or those with fruits, like cobblers or shortcakes, may benefit from a burst of acidity. A drier Riesling may work or a Vouvray Brut.

Those who may be unsure of how to pair their desserts with wine can always speak with a wine retailer or a trusted restaurant sommelier for suggestions on wines for an extra-special Valentine’s Day.

Calling All Valentine’s Day Lovebirds

Gifts to Match Your Partner’s Love Language

Have you and your partner ever talked about your love languages, the unique ways you each like to receive and express love? This Valentine’s Day, try giving a gift that resonates with your lover’s personal love language.

Quality time. If your lover responds to quality time, they appreciate it when you give them your undivided attention. Consider planning a road trip to a destination your partner adores. You could also book a weekend at a hotel or cabin in the woods.

Acts of kindness. If your sweetheart responds to acts of kindness, focus on selfless gestures to make their life easier. For example, make a special meal or serve them breakfast in bed. Is there a job your partner’s been meaning to do around the house? Perhaps you can finish it discreetly and then surprise your lover with the big reveal.

Words of affirmation. Are words of affirmation your partner’s love language? If so, verbal expressions of your love and appreciation are essential. Write a love letter or create a playlist of meaningful songs. If writing long letters isn’t your strong suit, try short notes for each day in February.

Physical touch. If your other half is the touchy-feely type, chances are their love language is physical touch. For Valentine’s Day, book a couple’s massage or plan a

romantic bubble bath at home. For something more adventurous, take a dance class together.

Receiving gifts. Does your partner regard physical tokens of affection as the ultimate way to communicate your love for them? This expression of love may seem a no-brainer, but don’t shift into autopilot. Valentine’s Day is your opportunity to pull out the stops and make an extra effort to choose the perfect gift and present it meaningfully.

How will you express your love this Valentine’s Day? Book well in advance if you’re planning to visit a spa, restaurant or hotel.

Gifts Couples Can Enjoy Together

Valentine’s Day is a time to bring smiles to the faces of loved ones — particularly the special someone in a person’s life. Gifts that appeal directly to spouses or significant others may be the standard, but gifts couple can use together can bring them closer together. The following are some great Valentine’s Day gifts couples can enjoy together.

• Quirky mugs: Mug sets come in all shapes and sizes and express various sentiments. Some even feature interlocking designs designed to symbolize that couples are two pieces of one puzzle. Kissing mugs, which look like lips touching when they are brought together, are perfect for couples who enjoy their morning coffee together. Look for them at www. uncommongoods.com.

• Matching robes: Plush terry cloth robes need not be reserved for luxurious stays at premiere hotels. Coordinating robes can be monogrammed and worn on lazy days when gathering in front of a cozy fire.

• Charcuterie set: A romantic meal is the start of any Valentine’s Day celebration. Invest in a compact charcuterie board with two matching wine glasses and enjoy the set on date nights at home.

• MasterClass lesson: Purchase a MasterClass instructional (www. masterclass.com) and learn photography tricks or insider tips from established professionals together.

• Travel excursion: Jet set to an exotic locale with a planned adventure. Parents can arrange for a sitter, friend or relative to look after the children so the trip provides some one-on-one time. This trip can serve as the second honeymoon couples dream about.

• Custom cornhole set: Couples who love tailgating or opening up their homes (and yards) to guests can purchase monogrammed or custom-carved bean bag toss boards.

• Fancy coffee maker: Couples who spend more time in take-out coffee shops than they probably should can brush up on their barista skills at home. There are plenty of coffee makers on the market that can help couples whip up lattes, cappuccinos or

espressos with ease.

• Wine club membership: Couples who enjoy sampling the latest vintages and flavors may enjoy a wine subscription. Winc.com is just one of the delivery services available. Or couples who prefer to be a little more hands-on can experiment with winemaking kits.

• Hot tub: What can be more relaxing than soaking in a warm bath of bubbling water? A backyard hot tub turns up the heat on relaxation and time spent together.

• Tokens of love: Matching or coordinating bracelets, necklaces or even tattoos can serve as enduring symbols of a couple’s love.

Valentine’s Day gifting may be even more enjoyable when gift-giving focuses on presents couples can enjoy together.

Calling All Valentine’s Day Lovebirds

Millions of people are set to spend untold dollars on Valentine’s Day gifts or experiences this year. Data compiled by InfographicPlaza.com indicates that individuals traditionally spend the most on jewelry, a night out, flowers, apparel, and gift cards on Valentine’s Day. Fifty-two percent of people who buy Valentine’s gifts will spend money on candy, particularly chocolate.

Though tried and true gifts never fail, those looking for something a little different this Valentine’s day can consider these alternatives.

Alternatives to Common Valentine’s Gifts

Traditional: Candy/chocolate

Alternative: Baked goods

Bite-sized baked offerings can be a welcome change to boxed chocolates or chocolate-covered strawberries. Consider petit fours, which are tasty layered cakes about one to two inches in size. The popular franchise Nothing Bundt Cakes also offers Bundtinis™, which are slightly smaller than cupcakes and can be mixed and matched in a variety of cake flavors.

Traditional: Bouquet of a dozen red roses

Alternative: Flowering plant

Even well-maintained cut bouquets only last so long. A flowering plant can endure much longer. Beautiful interior flowering plants include African violets, Bromeliads, Orchids, Peace lilies, Amaryllis, Christmas cactuses, and Jasmines.

Traditional: Dinner out

Alternative: Feed the needy Civic-minded sweethearts may appreciate the thought of donating the time and money they might normally spend on a restaurant meal by helping to ensure needy children and adults have access to

hot meals.The Feeding America network is a nationwide network of food banks that secures and distributes meals. Individuals can learn more about volunteerism or how to make donations at feedingamerica.org/.

Traditional: Lingerie

Alternative: Time spent together

In a poll of more than 350 women, Business Insider discovered that lingerie was one of the gifts women did not want to receive on Valentine’s Day. In fact, 97 percent of respondents weren’t fans of receiving lingerie on Valentine’s Day. Spending time together doing something couples are passionate about may be more well-received.

5 Ideas for Valentine’s

one of these five activities to celebrate love and friendship with your adorable kiddos:

1. Write messages. Encourage your children to write kind words for their grandparents, classmates or cousins. Handdeliver the notes, if possible, and savor those smiles.

Traditional: Stuffed animal

Alternative: Adopted animal

There are only so many stuffed animals, particularly fuzzy teddy bears, an adult can collect. Instead, why not adopt a shelter animal or donate to an animal rights organization? Before gifting a pet, confirm the recipient is on board with the idea. A pet is a years-long emotional and financial commitment that requires forethought and planning.

Couples can look beyond the traditional when shopping for Valentine’s Day gifts this year.

Day Activities with the Kids

2. Decorate cookies. Bake heartshaped cookies, like shortbread or sugar cookies. Decorate them with your kids using icing, candy or edible glitter. It’s a tasty way to create beautiful memories.

3. Cook a colorful meal. Concoct a tasty Valentine’s Day meal together with dishes featuring pink and red. You could incorporate foods like radishes, shrimp, salmon, strawberries, raspberries or tomatoes. Bon appetit!

4. Make slime. Do your kids love slime? Find an easy slime recipe online and have fun making your own in classic V-Day colors. Add some glitter for a sparkly effect.

5. Read themed books. Visit your local library or bookstore and pick out a few books on friendship or love. Read them with your kids to spark meaningful conversations.

5. Go on a Valentine Adventure. First, choose a few meaningful locations, either in your home or around your neighborhood—if your kids don’t mind braving the cold. Hide clues that your children will be able to decode, either on their own or with a little help. Each hint will reveal

the next location to explore together. Or go all out for the adventure and take it to new heights. See the locations from high above, gliding along in a hot air balloon.

Happy Valentine’s Day to you and your little sweethearts!

This year, celebrate Valentine’s Day as a family. Try

Calling All Valentine’s Day Lovebirds

Pick the Perfect Valentine’s Day Flowers

Valentine’s Day is steeped in tradition. Giving flowers is a popular tradition each February 14, and the National Retail Federation estimates that people spend around $2.6 billion on flowers for Valentine’s Day, when an estimated 250 million stems of flowers are sold globally. Valentine’s Day is the most lucrative day for florists, with the red rose the most popular flower given on this day for lovebirds.

Just because millions of roses are prepared in advance of Valentine’s Day sales doesn’t mean this is the type of flower that one has to choose for a bouquet or arrangement. A surprise bouquet can feature unique blooms. Here are tips to give the perfect bouquet to the person who claims your heart.

• Identify your loved one’s favorite colors and flowers. Understanding your partner’s floral preferences is the first step in choosing a Valentine’s Day arrangement. Many have a favorite flower type or color, and everyone’s isn’t necessarily a red rose. Some people love bright daffodils, while

others like exotic lilies. Pay attention to these likes to select flowers that will delight your partner.

• Select fresh flowers. When buying flowers in person, make sure they are fresh by gently feeling the part of the petal that meets the stem. If this part is firm, then the flower is fresh.

• Opt for neutral tones. If you’re unsure of which flowers to buy, stick with varietals in white and soft, neutral tones. This will lend a more romantic vibe to the bouquet. Bright, high-contrast florals may come off as tacky unless you can guarantee that the person prefers them.

• Keep allergies in mind. Valentine’s Day should be about offering love, not a case of the sniffles. If the person in your life suffers from floral allergies, avoid certain blooms, like sunflowers, chrysanthemums and hyacinths, suggests Funny How Flowers Do That, a United Kingdom-based flower company. Tulips, irises and hydrangea are less likely to cause an allergic reaction.

• Order early. Time is of the essence when getting flowers for Valentine’s Day. Florists may rush or have fewer flowers to work with as Valentine’s Day draws closer. Ordering well in advance means you’ll get

your desired arrangement.

Choosing flowers comes down to a few simple steps to offer a gift of love on Valentine’s Day.

Calling All Valentine’s Day Lovebirds

Gifting is a key component of Valentine’s Day celebrations every February 14. Valentine’s Day is a mere month-and-ahalf after the holiday season, so ideas for more thoughtful gifts may be in short supply. Let these Valentine’s day gift ideas serve as inspiration.

1. Custom painted portrait: Many local artists paint beautiful portraits from photographs. Find an image you like and have it made into an even more impressive work of art.

2. Doll likeness: known Funko POP! brand known for its pop culture figurines enables customers to create likenesses of themselves or

8 Unique Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas

and specially packaged so they can endure and serve as lasting, welcome reminders of Valentine’s Day love.

4. Journal or scrapbook: A decorative scrapbook or journal enables your special someone to keep track of moments spent together and key milestones.

5. First date map: Gift a framed picture of a map marked with the specific location of your first date, whether it was a restaurant, park or museum.

www.americangemsociety.org/birthstones/.

7. Experiential gifts: Experiential gifts may be just what is needed this Valentine’s Day. Some options include a couple’s cooking class, tickets to a sports game or concert, a vacation to a romantic locale, or a day or night out on the town.

8. Prepare a favorite recipe: Learn what your loved one enjoys eating the most and then recreate the recipe as a thoughtful gift and dinner at home.

This Valentine’s Day, people can consider these unique thoughtful gift ideas.

Give your backyard birds the perfect love nest this Valentine’s Day!

Birdhouses for nesting season

Perfect for bluebirds, wrens, chickadees & more

A great gift for bird lovers!

Because love starts with a cozy home.

Group of Seven Residents Demands Tabernacle Officials Address Home They Claim Is Occupied, But ‘Unfit for Human Habitation’ Request Leads to Discussion About Need to Update Land-Use Laws

By D ouglas D. M elegari Staff Writer

TABERNACLE—A petition has been presented by seven people to the Tabernacle Township Committee, asking the municipality to address a home that the petitioners contend is “unfit for human habitation.”

The presentation of the petition has resulted in a broader committee discussion about changing the township’s land use ordinances, with Township Administrator and Clerk Kathy Burger recognizing the town’s Housing Ordinance, for instance, “hasn’t been updated in several decades.”

The house of concern is identified in the petition as 64 Summit Drive, which neighbors allege is not only “unfit for human habitation,” but is presenting “a significant health and safety risk to the occupants, surrounding neighborhood and first responders.”

While the property has been purportedly observed to be occupied by two people, the petitioners claim it has had no power for three months, nor has there been “water, heat or smoke detection.”

At the same time, the neighbors have alleged two fires have occurred on the property, including one that reportedly was the result of “dangerously strung extension cords attached to a gas generator.”

In addition, the petitioners described “this property has hoarded trash and debris that is a health hazard to the occupants, nearby residents and first responders.”

The petitioners conclude their petition by requesting enforcement of the township’s existing code.

“We are looking into it,” said Burger in presenting the petition to the governing body to make them aware of it.

But to “be able to look into it,” according to Burger, the Housing Ordinance will need to be updated.

“And I did speak to the zoning officer/ code official, and he agreed that we should have a subcommittee to take a look at our housing ordinances, as well as I know we had a memo or an email from Mr. (Ray) McCarty, the chair of the Land Development Board, on some changes with ordinances regarding the Land Development Board, and they can look at all that,” revealed Mayor Joseph Barton.

Barton said the subcommittee would comprise Deputy Mayor Noble McNaughton and McCarty, with an additional appointee, to be determined, “from the Land Development Board to work with our code official.”

“And of course, we are also going to need our attorney and the Land Development

See UNFIT/ Page 13

Tabernacle Official Reveals Prior Committee Might Not Have Awarded Contract for Repaving Hawkin(s) Road, But Plans Fix

By D ouglas D. M elegari Staff Writer

TABERNACLE—There has been a bit of a hiccup in moving forward with the much-anticipated repaving of Hawkin(s) Road in Tabernacle Township, but an official contends resurfacing of the thoroughfare is still planned for the spring.

Readers may recall that following public outcry last year about the condition of the road, Joseph Raday, of Pennoni Engineering, contended during Sept. 9 and 23 Tabernacle Township Committee sessions, as the township’s then-engineer, that “design plans have been drafted” and the initial phase of the project will be put out to bid shortly.

He also announced that the township was the recipient of the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) grant funding to put toward the resurfacing project.

However, according to Jan. 27 Tabernacle Township Committee meeting remarks from new Township Administrator and Clerk Kathy Burger, apparently the township committee (which has a new makeup of membership as of the first week of January), between the time of September and now, actually never awarded a contract for the work, or at least she can’t find the resolution that awarded the project to a contractor.

“I was looking for that today because the engineer thought we had awarded it,”

Burger said. “But I cannot find a resolution that awards that contract. So, I am waiting on the bid specs, and the design, to come over so that I can have the new engineer put the bid spec out today.”

Amid controversy involving Pennoni Engineering, especially as it relates to recommendations Rayday’s predecessor, Tom Leisse, made last year regarding Tabernacle Town Hall, the Tabernacle committee, during its 2025 reorganization meeting, decided to instead use the engineering services of Environmental Resolutions, Inc. (ERI), moving forward.

According to Mayor Joseph Barton and Burger, Pennoni “owes” the township the design plans and specs it drafted for Hawkin(s) Road, and then once they are received, “ERI will pick it up from there.”

As for what may have been behind the delay in awarding the contract, Barton acknowledged that Pennoni had been directed late last year by McNaughton to “stop” working on the paving project and “not to do anything further until we have our new engineer.”

In addition to the Town Hall debacle, Pennoni had faced criticism for allowing a drainage project to proceed on Hawkin(s) Road without a repaving element to it. But Leisse responded at the time that the project was actually approved by an engineering firm that had predated

See CONTRACT/ Page 13

Upgrades and Reconfigurations in the Works in Medford Lakes

By D ouglas D. M elegari Staff Writer

MEDFORD LAKES—A trailer being utilized for Department of Public Works operations in Medford Lakes Borough is “potentially” needing to be replaced, according to Borough Manager Dr. Robert Burton.

Burton announced during a Jan. 22 Medford Lakes Council meeting that “we are going to be meeting with a vendor to discuss the possibility of a new DPW trailer.”

“The current trailer that we have was bought for a dollar, from Evesham Township, in 2000,” Burton said. “And I think it was old when we got it.”

Burton described that there are “some issues with the trailer” and that this might potentially be the time to “get them a better situation over there.”

At the same time, at Medford Lakes Borough Hall, according to Burton, “we are going to be doing some interior office upgrades and reconfigurations with some doors and things like that.”

The intent, he maintained, is “just to improve the security of the office.”

Additionally, “upgrades” are slated for the second floor of the Medford Lakes firehouse.

Meanwhile, according to Burton, “an emergency repair” is required at the Medford Lakes Wastewater Treatment

ADMINISTRATOR

(Continued from Page 1)

recognizing that what became a very public scene during Pemberton Township Council’s Jan. 1 reorganization meeting, in which the mayor repeatedly pointed his finger at the provisional business administrator, telling him to leave the business administrator’s seat, and then being escorted to a conference room by top police brass where Tompkins allegedly told him he was terminated, as well as council’s failure to act upon him pleading his case that he had just been wronged, all began a serious bout of anxiety and distress.

That is not to mention, he contended, of his learning of “serious concerns” beforehand, including pertaining to the township’s Sewer Division, or formerly the Pemberton Township Municipal Utilities Authority (PTMUA), which he says he stumbled upon by chance in asking for a tour of the facility.

Plant after a pipe “had deteriorated on one of the recirculation pumps.”

He did not yet have final numbers to share regarding the cost of the repair.

The only other item of significance was when Borough Clerk Mark McIntosh raised that the Medford Lakes Colony Club’s Historic Division had told him “they could use a little bit of additional space” as they conduct “their historical reviews and are categorizing all that stuff.”

McIntosh suggested offering the Colony “some space that is available in our record storage, down in Wastewater – our offsite storage,” adding, “I don’t think a formal agreement is needed.”

“I just want to let you know that I might be storing some Colony historical records until they can get everything reviewed,” said McIntosh, with Mayor William Fields thanking him for bringing it to the council’s attention.

But Joseph Aromando III, a former borough councilman, declared, “I don’t really agree,” maintaining “there should be some kind of document that keeps the borough harmless in case there is any damage to these documents,” including from “water damage or theft.”

“I don’t know why we have to store anything for the Colony,” Aromando declared. “They have plenty of facilities.”

(A source close to Wright previously told this newspaper Wright believes his “getting too close” to things such as this is what ultimately led to his firing.)

And Wright shared with this newspaper that he gave up other job offers in taking the position of Pemberton business administrator back in December for over $150,000 a year, and when he was allegedly unlawfully “terminated” by Tompkins, his pay was cut off, as well as his health benefits, without proper notification (a dispute which this newspaper previously reported on).

As a result, Wright maintained, his “bank cards became frozen” from being overdrawn and he ultimately became “homeless,” besides an occasional hotel stay that he could manage.

All of this, he further maintained, led to “extreme anxiety,” a “hypertensive crisis” and a “depressive mood,” for which he claims he is now being treated for by Hampton Behavioral Health.

He also noted that when he initially

voluntarily sought treatment at a local hospital earlier in January, that is when he had first learned that he no longer had access to promised healthcare benefits from the township, which only made the situation worse for him.

What purportedly happened to Wright has some similarities to another case that this newspaper chronicled last year from town hall, in which a township employee claimed she was retaliated against for reporting alleged wrongdoing involving the mayor. That employee described that what followed included her being “hypercriticized” and subjected to “heightened scrutiny.” She ultimately reported suffering a stroke, necessitating a leave of absence.

But that employee also alleged in a later legal filing that after she sought leave under the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), she was informed by the township she was being demoted, and then, according to the filing, upon nearing a return to work, she was informed she was suspended, before ultimately being terminated.

That case is part of what are numerous filings (including lawsuits) since Tompkins became township mayor, alleging workplace wrongdoing and retaliation.

Wright, in the phone calls to this newspaper, called what he sees as the “harming” of multiple employees who work in town hall difficult to watch (he put it in more colorful terms), emphasizing he is intent on doing something about it, and it is why he is even pondering a “class-action suit.”

And in his case, he contended, “I was mentally, physically and financially harmed by that mayor!”

Wright, in the phone calls to this newspaper, vowed to bring upwards of a $5 million lawsuit for the alleged “harm” he says he has personally suffered, but at the same time contended that, “I will find a way to resolve all these lawsuits without there being financial harm to the taxpayers.”

As the standoff continues over whether he is still legally the township business administrator, Wright shared with this newspaper that in leading up to his stay at Hampton Behavioral Health, he had attempted a return to the Pemberton Township Municipal Building on Jan. 29 to “work.”

It was despite multiple written warnings from Township Solicitor Jerry Dasti (since an initial Jan. 3 letter memorializing Wright’s termination) that he is to “cease and desist” contacting employees, in addition to the attorney’s multiple affirmations he is “terminated.” Wright

further described to this newspaper that he was using the “hallway as his desk” on that day, and that it is a “public building,” in which he cannot be stopped from entering.

On his LinkedIn profile page, Wright, who has previously maintained publicly that he would be the township’s “personnel officer” as township business administrator (in addition to the director of the police and fire departments), documented what he maintained he did during his visit Jan. 29 to the municipal building – including allegedly attempting to put an employee on leave of absence with pay, pending further investigation, and elevating another employee to temporarily fill the spot of the person he attempted to have put on leave.

He described to this newspaper having handed over written orders to Township Clerk Amy Cosnoski (purported orders of which he later posted photographs of on his LinkedIn page).

While Wright is undergoing treatment, he remains emphatic about one thing: he is still legally the township’s business administrator as of the first few days of February, despite what anyone says, and that the mayor cannot fire him alone and there is a process that must be followed to terminate him, that affords him due process, which apparently had not been done by the start of February.

“You probably think I am ‘crazy,’ right?” he asked this reporter in one of his many phone calls from Hampton Behavioral Health in continuing to assert that he is still the business administrator of Pemberton. However, while Dasti has repeatedly asserted since the Jan. 1 council meeting that Wright has been “terminated” from the township, as of press time, notably, none of Dasti’s communications have addressed head-on whether Wright is incorrect in his understanding of the Faulkner Act MayorCouncil form of government.

Community Activist Alexander Costa, upon learning of Wright’s plight, began researching the issue, including scouring dozens of past council meetings, recalling that a resident last year had asked about who does the hiring and firing of the business administrator amid calls for thenadministrator Daniel Hornickel to resign (he ultimately departed the township in August).

Costa, having a major breakthrough in his research, phoned this reporter just after midnight Feb. 2. He found the council meeting in which the question was asked by resident Joe Anderson, with it

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it right now. There is nothing the zoning officer can do to go out and address the issue. There is no violation to bring to the attention of the property owner.”

However, the solicitor acknowledged that one thing led to another, and municipal officials began not just looking at prohibiting the parking of standard vehicles and trailers on front lawns, but also recreational vehicles. Or, as Heinold put it, officials came up with a proposal that would not be “just front lawn specific.”

And while “I don’t want to promote that too much,” Heinold conceded that a resident is correct in his understanding that basically an individual can park vehicles anywhere on their property in Medford Lakes, as of this moment.

And so, in December, the governing body introduced an ordinance that would disallow a person from parking a “motor vehicle of any type, or a camper, trailer or boat, with a gross weight of five tons or less and/or a length of less than 20 feet, on or upon a front yard of a property, other than in a driveway.”

The proposed law would have also prohibited a person from parking a “motor vehicle of any type, or a camper, trailer or boat, with a gross weight of more than five tons and/or a length of greater than 20 feet, on or upon the front yard of a property.”

In the case of the latter, the ordinance would have required homeowners to park such vehicles “behind the front yard or applicable front yard setback line, pursuant to the zoning for the area, whichever is

further from the street, provided such vehicles and boats are adequately buffered from the view of adjacent property through conforming fencing, vegetation or a combination thereof.”

It would have also prevented the parking of “such motor vehicles, campers, trailers or boats” in driveways of private properties “between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m.” each day.

“I am going to make a motion to table it and let it die on the table,” declared Mayor William Fields. “So, we won’t be proceeding with that ordinance at all. So, just so you know, that’s the plan.”

But a crowd of those opposed to the ordinance stayed put for council’s Jan. 8 session anyhow, and in recognizing there was heavy business on the agenda, it prompted Fields to move up an advertised public hearing on the ordinance.

Heinold, before the public hearing was opened, acknowledged that the mayor had held several “discussions” with residents before the meeting had commenced.

And Heinold also acknowledged that after a resident had specifically complained “about the parking of motor vehicles on front lawns adjacent to their property line, not in a driveway,” it led to a “further review of the code.”

“If you look at our code, we have provisions about other vehicles, RVs, boats, trailers – things like that,” said Heinold, before explaining that the code suggests residents “try” to park such vehicles “in your side yard, and then if you can’t, in the front yard,” and while “there are conditions associated with that, none of those conditions” require the parking of such vehicles in a driveway.

“So, we were trying to make the code logically consistent, for lack of a better term,” said Heinold, who has previously helped to craft controversial ordinances that have resulted in concerns about private property rights, including Airbnb restrictions. “But obviously, when you do things, sometimes you catch fish in a net you’re not trying to catch, right?”

The “response we have gotten” to the latest proposal that would restrict parking of recreational vehicles has given the governing body a “desire” to not move forward and “cause problems that were not intended,” Heinold maintained.

“We are trying to fix problems, not create issues,” Heinold declared. “So, based upon that, I think the recommendation, at this point, is to just make a motion to table the ordinance with the intent that it dies on the table.”

Heinold then added, “I have done a draft ordinance that solely would make it to address the initial issue of the first resident, which I don’t believe anybody would have an issue with, which is the idea of ‘you can't park a motor vehicle on your front lawn or yard.’”

As for “further regulation on trailers, RVs,” that is where Heinold maintained “I think the issue lies” prompting opposition, in which he maintained “I think that’s just a long, longer-term discussion that I think we need to hear from the public on.”

But Heinold and council got an earful for not having held initial community discussions before introducing something that would curtail recreational vehicle parking.

“It seems completely ridiculous to me that we are concerned about RVs, and

that this would even make it past your eyes, when my neighbors completely built an entire house, in front of their house, and then made their entire front yard a driveway,” declared resident Deidre Kempf, of Chippewa Trail.

She described that there is a trend in town “where they are building garages with apartments on top,” and then paving the exteriors to the point that people are “making the entire front yard a driveway.”

Kempf called such an ordinance that was proposed “a big miss,” contending it would be one thing if people came in complaining about an RV parked in a front yard, but rather, residents have instead gone to Planning Board meetings to complain about a one-car garage purportedly being replaced by a multi-story, three car garage with a “complete driveway.”

Kempf also maintained council needed to “do a little more research” before introducing such ordinances, as well as maintain better “communication” with its residents.

Resident Corey Landante told the council he “really appreciates” the governing body “scrapping this on behalf of the people that do have campers,” noting that such a proposal, if enacted, would have “put us in a real financial hardship.”

“My concern is that it made it through a first reading, and that is what concerns me the most,” Landante declared. “You are all up there, and you volunteer to represent the very best of us and make decisions on behalf of the community and look out for us. And I don’t think that first reading was looking out for us!”

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occurring back on July 10, 2024.

But even more significant is that the question was answered by Dasti himself, with Dasti at the time having filled in for who had been then-solicitor, Andrew “Andy” Bayer. (With council having shifted from Democratic to Republican control this past January, Bayer’s services have been ended, replaced with that of Dasti’s services.)

“Who does the hiring and firing of the business administrator?” asked Anderson at the time, to which Dasti replied, in pointing to those on the dais, “The council … they vote on it.”

Anderson then replied, in being told it was the council that holds the authority, “How long are you going to wait until you fire him (Hornickel)?”

In addition to this tape, Costa located an article from the New Jersey League of Municipalities, titled, “Forms of Government: Everything You’ve Always Wanted to Know, But Were Afraid to Ask,” authored back in 2007 by Michael F. Cerra, serving then as a senior legislative analyst for the League.

The article breaks down each form of government in the state, including the three forms of Faulkner Act governments a municipality can adopt, with this newspaper finding the township identifies as a MayorCouncil form of government under the Act.

The key two sentences, Costa pointed out of Cerra’s write up on the MayorCouncil form of government, is, “The mayor, with the *advice and consent of the council*, appoints and removes department heads, including a business administrator. The mayor has the right to speak at a council meeting, but has no vote and does not need to attend.”

The article references state statute, NJSA 40:69A-31, which outlines the rules and regulations for the Mayor-Council form of government.

This newspaper, in reviewing the statute, found it is the council that is delegated “expression of disapproval of the removal by the mayor of officers or employees” and it is also the council that can cause “the removal of any municipal officer for cause.”

Further, the “mayor, may in his discretion, remove any department head and, subject to any general provisions of law concerning term of office or tenure, any other municipal executive officer who is not a subordinate departmental officer

or employee,” but only “after *notice and an opportunity to be heard*.”

“Prior to removal, the mayor shall first file written notice of his intention with the council, and such removal shall become effective on the 20th day after the filing of such notice, unless the council shall prior thereto have adopted a resolution by a two-thirds vote of the whole number of the council, disapproving the removal,” the statute continues. “In the event of the removal or failure of reappointment of a business administrator, that administrator may, upon the enactment of an ordinance, be entitled to a three-months’ written notice of the removal or non-reappointment, or if the mayor determines that the removal shall be immediate, then the administrator may, upon the enactment of an ordinance, be paid any unpaid balance of his salary, plus his salary for a maximum of the next three calendar months following the effective date of the mayor’s action, unless the removal is for good cause. For the purposes of this subsection, ‘good cause’ shall mean conviction of a crime or offense involving moral turpitude, the violation of the provisions of section 1714, 17-15, 17-16, 17-17, or 17-18 of P.L.1950, c.210 (C.40:69A-163 through 40:69A-167), or the violation of any code of ethics in effect within the municipality.”

This newspaper previously reported that Wright was purportedly asked to resign on Dec. 31, but reportedly maintained he never did, and that Wright allegedly did not receive any notification of an employment hearing prior to the mayor’s actions on Jan. 1.

And Wright, upon his publicly asking during the Jan. 1 council session, received confirmation that the council did not take any action with respect to his employment on Jan. 1 prior to his having arrived at the meeting. No official action by council was also observed by this newspaper having taken place during council’s Jan. 1 session, or during the body’s subsequent Jan. 15 session.

Wright has also not reportedly been charged with any crime related to Pemberton, as of press time, and it is the council that holds investigatory powers, and the council, as of press time, had not formally ordered an investigation into Wright’s actions to determine any qualifying violations.

Costa, in observing that state law requires Wright to be sent a “written notice” from the mayor of an intent to terminate him, prior to any such termination becoming effective on the 20th day from receipt, filed an Open Public Records Act (OPRA) request to obtain a

copy of the document.

The Township Clerk’s Office answered on Feb. 5 that no such record exists, as Costa showed this newspaper.

This newspaper also previously reported that Wright was given what he believes is a “contract” by Tompkins, having offered him a $155,000 salary and eight different benefits, including health insurance.

Costa also requested to see any “employment contract” between Wright and the mayor. He received a copy of it on Feb. 5, as well, with the mayor and Wright having both apparently executed it on Feb. 12. The document does not offer any terms or conditions on how to null and void the agreement.

There are, however, a couple notable wrinkles in all of this, one being that when Tompkins reportedly executed that contract with him, his appointment caught members of council off guard. There was no apparent council vote to approve the contract, or of Wright’s “provisional” hiring.

What turned out to be a later bid by Tompkins to “permanently” hire Wright in December, was ultimately turned down by council for that reason.

The township’s own codebook, if to be relied upon, states, “The Department of Administration shall be headed by the business administrator, who shall be appointed by the mayor, with the advice and consent of the council, and whose term of office shall be coextensive with the term of the mayor.”

Additionally, regarding temporary appointments, the township codebook states any such appointments “require the advice and consent of the council pursuant to applicable state law” and they “shall not be made without the express authorization of the township council, except that the mayor may designate a current township employee to perform the duties of a vacant position, unless applicable law precludes such designation.”

Wright was not an existing township employee at the time of his contractual hiring, either.

The state statute further dictates that council is to conduct “approval of contracts presented by the mayor,” while the mayor is to only “negotiate” and “sign all contracts.”

“The mayor shall, with the advice and consent of the council, appoint the municipal assessor and all other municipal officers not assigned within municipal departments, subject to the terms of any general law providing for these offices, unless a different appointment procedure is clearly required by this plan of government or by general

law,” the state statute continues.

How Wright was able to even able to be employed under these circumstances, and receive a paycheck, is unclear, as of press time.

Another document that Costa obtained on Feb. 5 shows Wright’s hire date was “Dec. 13” (the council didn’t convene a meeting until Dec. 18), and that before what the township lists is his Dec. 31 termination date, Wright collected 0.07 years of service.

Yet, the contract Costa obtained, states in its first paragraph, “The township would like to conditionally offer you a position at Pemberton Township as business administrator, pending township council consent.”

Additionally, “conditionally” is not defined, and while Wright has acknowledged he was retained as a “provisional” business administrator, the contract offers a full-time salary (that is in comparison to another temporary business administrator, who preceded Wright, who was paid $16 an hour through a contracted firm [which did get council approval]).

“This is America,” Costa told this newspaper. “And I don’t care what you think of him, the fact is he was hired by this township, and he is asserted certain rights under our form of government. And the contract clearly shows he is an employee of the township.”

Another wrinkle is that the township code book (or book of local laws) does not appear to accurately reflect the state statute when it comes to the hiring and firing of a business administrator, as well as due process that person is to receive.

While the township codebook defines “administrator” as “the township business administrator, duly appointed pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:69A-31 et seq.,” it later states “the business administrator may be removed from his position by the mayor or by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the full membership of the township council.”

Notably absent are the state statute requirements “with the advice and consent of council” and “after notice and an opportunity to be heard.”

It is unclear when the local codebook was last thoroughly vetted, though many of the Faulkner Act provisions, according to JUSTIA U.S. Law, a site used to access state code, date back to 1950, with updates made to the state statute at least up until 1997.

Notably, Recreation Director Nichole Pittman, who has a lawsuit pending,

See ADMINISTRATOR/ Page 7

as of press time, against the mayor and township, was afforded an opportunity to be heard by council, as outlined in the state statute, when Tompkins had attempted to remove her as director, which led to council reversing his decision.

And when former Democratic Mayor David Patriarca had previously allegedly fired Hornickel, council ultimately convened an executive session with Hornickel, and then reinstated him as business administrator.

Additionally, last year, thenConstruction Official Tom Boyd came to council to complain that he was not given appropriate due process when he was let go by administration. His firing has been the subject of a councilordered investigation, which is reportedly continuing, as of press time.

Wright, in one of several handwritten directives/memorandums (he previously claimed to have had his work phone and computer taken away from him) that he recognized as having delivered to Cosnoski on Jan. 29 (pictures of which were later posted on his LinkedIn page following an apparent conflict at the building), attempted to put Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Candace Pennwell on “paid leave, pending investigation,” writing it is because of “insubordination,” failure to follow directives and “for failing to provide a copy of a detailed Edmunds’ report audit trail of all transactions related to tax office legal expenses” past five years to him, upon request.

The memo to Pennwell, he claimed, was

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expressed intent, it could conceivably result in the meeting having to be moved to a larger venue than the municipal courtroom – most likely the firehouse itself (as has happened on previous occasions, including some in the past year).

One local resident, Ashley Cramer, even reported on Facebook the following day that she had already started circulating a petition in support of the volunteer fire department, as some attendees at the meeting had discussed doing.

The projected financial shortfall was not the only issue raised by Monaghan and the leaders of his department, as well as not

being copied to a detective in the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office, Police Chief Jonathan Glass and the state Department of Community Affairs (DCA).

Another handwritten memorandum advised Cosnoski, “please be advised that I have placed the CFO on paid admin leave pending investigation into PAID legal bills misappropriated to the tax office legal line,” with him claiming that he was copying that one to the Prosecutor’s Office, Glass and the state DCA, as well as Council President Joshua Ward.

The Pine Barrens Tribune learned through a source that several members of council were presented with “alarming” text messages from Wright last month, about a week prior to Wright’s attempted actions. The messages, which were turned over to this newspaper by a source, contain serious allegations, including regarding misappropriation of funds and involving the payment of township bills.

Wright, in a third handwritten memorandum, attempted to elevate “Stephanie,” an employee in the Finance Department who handles payroll, to acting CFO, with that particular memo, he claimed, copied to all the parties, as well as Dasti.

According to Wright’s version of events, which he outlined on LinkedIn, “I went back in to the office today, had a meeting with the chief of police, obtained paperwork from the court administrator to file charges against the mayor for harassment, intimidation and violating my First Amendment rights (and) violating the 1984 Omnibus Act by not providing me a (COBRA) Notice within 14 days.”

He added, “I also suspended with

being the only one mentioned in that petition. Bureaucratic obstacles, they maintain, are also making their job of keeping townspeople out of harm’s way somewhat more difficult than it should be – such as a newly invoked insurance requirement prohibiting the chief from taking his personal firetruck home or driving it while on errands in and around town.

Having the truck where he is at any given time would allow him to have immediate access to it in the event of an emergency, rather than requiring him to park it outside the firehouse, costing him potentially precious minutes.

Having immediate access to his official truck, as Monaghan described, isn’t just to identify him as chief (although

See DISPUTE/ Page 8

pay, pending an investigation,” the chief financial officer “in writing” and “also made the treasurer the acting chief financial officer.” His final action, he said, was filing an OPRA request to “find out where all the money is going and where it’s been.”

“As this is now a (personnel) issue and (an) ongoing investigation, I (can) comment no further,” he wrote.

Various township officials were emailed inquiries for this story, including whether they dispute Wright’s version of events and whether the public can be assured there has not been any misappropriation of funds, as alleged, but Cosnoski responded that the township solicitor advised the officials are not to comment “due to potential litigation.”

Officials also declined to comment on whether Wright’s orders would be or were implemented.

Wright, in posting a photograph of the OPRA request form he maintained he turned in, on the address line, wrote that he is “homeless.”

Following this incident, in which he maintained he continued to assert his authority as township business administrator (as well as what Wright admits were complaints to police about him lingering at the Pine Grove Plaza, where he says he was not only sleeping once he became homeless, but was gaining invaluable information about the township), according to Wright, Glass and a crisis counselor had attempted to intervene, but he maintained he was ultimately let go following the counseling session.

Wright further contended Pemberton Police declined to take a complaint he had wanted to file against the mayor, who he

alleges was also “stalking him” at the plaza, and that this alleged incident only added to his stress.

Wright posted a picture on LinkedIn of what he says is a township vehicle used by high-ranking officials, including the mayor, pulling out of the shopping center, and contends that multiple shopkeepers were reporting to him that the mayor had visited their stores to ask questions.

(Even before Wright had made this accusation to this reporter, a source told this newspaper that a township council member reportedly shared with other officials having allegedly observed Wright at the plaza during an early morning gym session there.)

Then, Wright maintained, after attempting to pursue a complaint against the mayor with another police department and unloading on what has been occurring, it is when he was purportedly admitted to a local hospital for evaluation, before his being taken to Hampton Behavioral Health. He contended he made multiple requests to see an attorney, but that they were not immediately granted.

Wright recognized to this newspaper that if one isn’t following the events of Pemberton of late, such a story might sound “crazy.”

As for being homeless on the streets of Pemberton, Wright acknowledged having lingered in Browns Mills, including hanging out in the area of the Pine Grove Plaza and Red Roof Inn, but in recognizing that the township has long dealt with a homelessness crisis, he asserted that he was “doing what people live here do,” declaring, “the experience was profound.” This newspaper learned Wright was still at Hampton Behavioral Health, as of this newspaper’s deadline time.

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Landante went on to describe that to “many of us,” recreational vehicles are “expensive pieces of equipment and they bring a lot of memories to the families.”

“I want to believe that it was put in there for the reasons I got, whether it be ‘to make it through a first reading to talk about it,’ or whether it was ‘that wasn’t the intention of it,’” Landante asserted. “I want to believe that. But my fear is that it took us raising this concern to get to this point. And if it didn’t (draw comments), it would have been easily passed.”

While Landante recognized that the councilmembers are “volunteers,” he said he wanted to “remind you” that “you’re filling a position of authority” in which the councilmembers are supposed to review “these laws, regulations.”

“It’s very important, and it’s very important to us,” Landante declared. “So please, I’m just asking you to take the time to read through these. This shouldn’t be something that is quickly passed through.”

Heinold, in trying to defend his and council’s thinking in presenting such a proposed ordinance, also pointed to his having taken the time “to look at other boroughs” and finding “there were a number of other boroughs that are in Camden and Burlington counties that do have more restrictive language than what Medford Lakes has.”

“Wrong, right or indifferent, it’s out there,” Heinold maintained. “So, I just

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he did recount that in his previous role of assistant chief, while having had to rush to fires in his personal pickup truck that was equipped with sirens and flashing lights, other drivers had “flat-out refused” to give him the right of way).

“I have my gear in it, I have my portable radio, I have a mobile radio,” he said of his official vehicle, emphasizing the importance of having such a high-powered unit on hand in order to guarantee the ability to communicate in “dead zones” where regular cellphone service might not be available.

There is also inside the truck a “command post” that slides out of the rear and enables him to take charge in emergencies, as well as equipment such

want people to understand this is not all a matter of degree.”

Landante, in response to Heinold, declared, “And to your comment on other towns are stringent, more stringent – that’s why we chose Medford Lakes!”

“We are different,” Landante contended. “We are always going to be different! And I hope it stays that way. … So, I don’t know if that was meant to say ‘we could be more stringent because other towns are doing it,’ but we do things here differently, and we always have, growing up here.

“Everything’s been done differently in Medford Lakes. And that is the beauty of this town. So, I just want to throw that out there, that other towns may be doing other things, but we’re not!”

The council appeared to let the blowback mainly fall on the shoulders of Heinold, who has been the borough’s longtime solicitor, and is also a longtime borough resident.

“The first thing I would say is you don’t know what you don’t know,” Heinold responded. “Right. So, we’re working on these things. We get some initial communication from a resident. The room is not filled with people usually. So, we are trying to do the best we can to process an issue and, like I said, make things logically consistent.”

After pointing out he is a resident too, Heinold said he is the solicitor in other towns as well, and “there is a spectrum.”

“Like, you know, we have a lot of people who live in Medford Lakes,” Heinold said. “If somebody came in and pulled in a yacht, and parked it in their in their backyard, I think everyone would pretty much agree that is not appropriate. Right?

as an air pack, a chainsaw, and “rescue tools” if “I need them.”

In addition to the benefits of having the truck at his disposal, the chief pointed out, there is also the danger of a firehouse lot being subjected to vandalism of the sort that reportedly happened a while back to an antique fire truck. A vehicle parked at a private residence, he contended, would be much less apt to be targeted by vandals.

Part of the problem, he noted, is that while the department owns the truck, the cost of insurance is apparently covered by the township’s arrangement with the Joint Insurance Fund (JIF).

While the previous chief, Tom Wetmore, was permitted to keep the truck at his domicile, Monaghan maintained, he has been specifically asked that it be parked outside the firehouse and told that taking it home is considered personal use. So,

So, it’s just a spectrum. We are trying to figure out where we fall in that spectrum.”

Heinold agreed that “Medford Lakes is unique and different,” but while “I love it here” and “I’ve raised my kids here,” Medford Lakes being a “beautiful community” is something “that is not by accident.”

“We do have zoning in place,” Heinold said. “We do have regulations in place. We do try to keep a residential character to the neighborhood.”

The borough solicitor continued that “I don’t want you to take what we are trying to say is, ‘Well, it’s just a matter of time we are going to do something on this,’” because, “I don't know what the answer is.”

Heinold added “no one’s trying to aggrieve anybody,” rather “we are all neighbors” who all have to “live together and figure out where to draw the appropriate lines.”

But Landante maintained the “concerning part” is “just how drastic the change was” that was proposed, and that it got through a first reading without any consideration of allowing for “grandfathering or variances,” despite such a proposal, if enacted, putting “a lot of people” in a hard position.

At one point, Borough Manager Dr. Robert Burton told resident Robert Randall, who questioned the intent behind the ordinance, “that the idea is” that “you don’t want to have somebody that has a driveway” to then have “three and four cars parked” on a front yard “because your buddies came over and there is no place to park.” He then pointed to “where we’ve all seen the movies with house parties, and what happens” with

whenever a call comes in, Monaghan maintained, he is expected to first go to the firehouse to get the chief's truck and then respond to it from there.

“I did not do that at first, and it became a bigger issue,” he said. “So, then we decided … to try to work things out, to just park it here and do what we were being asked. And that is why it is sitting here.”

That disclosure prompted resident John Gormley to urge Monaghan to “take it home tonight,” offering to “pay for the insurance if they shut it down.”

“I am serious,” he declared. “I'll get everybody to pitch in. Take it home.”

Yet another type of institutional roadblock was revealed when someone asked whether any sort of grant had been applied for to help keep the company afloat, and the response was that the township had sought one a few years ago, only to be rebuffed on the grounds

“cars parked in front lawns.”

It led Randall to point out such situations are typically “temporary,” however, they are actually a common occurrence during Medford Lakes traditions such as the Canoe Carnival, in which five or more guests might come over to a residence, to have fun, including “family, friends – things like that.”

“Is that our money ticket that weekend?” asked Randall, further inquiring if the borough would actually take the opportunity to issue upwards of what he estimated would be “400 citations.”

Officials were quick to push back that it was not the intent of their proposal, with Fields declaring, “We are not trying to cause a hardship, because we do have small areas, and we don’t have the biggest yards.”

The Jan. 8 session ended with former borough councilman Joseph Aromando III contending the focus should be on what he says is people “parking in a perpendicular fashion” on borough streets, as well as vehicles being parked dangerously on corners.

And, in referencing an earlier remark of Heinold, Aromando declared, “these issues are being allowed to fester and go on in the sense that we say we ‘don’t have any remedies,’ but we do!”

“People who park on the streets, their cars completely on the streets, like I see on the weekends when people visit, I don’t fault them,” Aromando said. “It is a difficult thing. But I do fault our residents who think that they can take property all the way up to the paved line, and that we allow it – that our code enforcement official allows it when we have provisions in the Land Use Ordinance that say no!”

that it had a surplus at the time – even though that extra money was not designated for fire department use.

Adding to the issues facing the volunteer unit is that the state has certain regulations to which it must conform, such as those requiring procedures like regular pump and hose testing and the mandatory replacement of protective gear for firefighters every 10 years, which the department is obliged to pay for itself (and has done on occasion, if that expense can’t otherwise be accommodated within its existing budget.)

“We can’t trade gear here, it is not (like) playing cards,” the chief explained. “When they come out to measure us, they actually measure you more than they would for a suit or a tuxedo.”

Yet while there is no requirement that

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OPINION

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

County Should Engage Residents in Long-Range Planning for Former Pemberton Twp. Campus of County College

Burlington County has announced the purchase of the former Pemberton Township campus of Rowan College at Burlington County. It has lain dormant for seven years. Plans are underway for the demolition of the buildings and parking lots.

As a resident of Pemberton Township and a family physician, I am committed to the health of residents and landscape of Burlington County. I feel a review of the history and assets of the derelict campus is fundamental to planning for its future. As important is giving equal weight to the thoughts and opinions of the citizens of this asset-rich township to help give shape to its future.

The 226-acre, former campus of RCBC had its origins within the 431-acre Gaskill Farm. In 1799, the Burlington County Freeholders purchased the estate to create an “a poor-farm” for the indigent of the county. The southern portion of the property – the college campus – was converted to agricultural fields where “residents” helped to grow crops; the water power of the North Branch of the Rancocas Creek was harnessed by a dam and mill-pond for the grinding of grain, sawing of lumber, and forging of bog iron. The almshouse, located where the present-day Aspen Hills facility is located, sheltered the poor from the county’s eight townships, for approximately 150 years.

With the advent of public health services and advances in clinical medicine, the county converted the buildings into

the clinical facilities of a tuberculosis sanitarium and residential nursing home: a more than 150-year history of devotion to the public benefit of the county.

The first educational facilities of Burlington County College appeared in 1965, in trailers on the east end of the campus. In 2017, the closing of the campus, including the swimming pool and gym, concluded an almost 60-year creation of educational, social, and community capital that transformed the lives of thousands of students, staff, faculty, and Pemberton area residents: capital that was sadly lost to a community already suffering the “9/11” closure of Trenton and Juliustown Roads and the connection between the military base and Browns Mills.

As a clinician, a public health professional, and a resident devoted to the well-being of our township and its rich cultural and natural history, I applaud the county’s acquisition of the former college property.

I urge the county to now fully engage the township and its residents in designing a long-range plan: one that will lift up the community and protect the resources that define us as the distinctive agricultural and Pinelands treasure that we are. The County of Burlington memorialized its commitment to the welfare and wellbeing of its most vulnerable residents here, from 1799 through 2017. Let us recommit ourselves to those same values as we curate the resources of the college site, for the next 200 years.

– Mark s . T hoM as Pemberton, New Jersey

Co-founder of the Rancocas Conservancy, Land Trust for the Rancocas Creek Watershed

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Coverage of Referendum Changed My Mind

I want to thank you for your Feb. 1 article regarding Southampton Township School District’s $14 million referendum, and the upcoming March 11 special election.

I received the Mail-in-Ballot earlier that week and my initial reaction was to vote ‘no.’

As a LeisureTowne resident on a fixed income, I certainly wish Southampton Township residents had received this information from our elected officials.

Your in-depth coverage of Southampton Township School District Superintendent

Megan Geibel’s remarks changed my mind. It thoroughly explained WHY the solar array should be removed (and the contract reviewed), the state aid and current beneficial interest rates.

And most important, the tax implications for the township.

Superintendent Geibel and the Southampton Board of Education are to be commended for their plans for updating the three schools, and utilizing available funding from the state, keeping the increase to approximately $29 per year.

– Carolyn sullivan

Southampton, New Jersey

HOW TO SEND ITEMS TO THE EDITOR: letters@pinebarrenstribune.com, please type "letter" in the subject line.

PUZZLE NO. 006

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any (conditions) that (don’t) meet the requirements of the ordinance.”

Deputy Mayor Mark Herndon and Committeewoman Donna Mull indicated they were in agreement with the next step, with Mayor William “Billy” DeGroff absent from the session.

Sabatini also raised a new issue: alleging a local contractor was observed dumping toilets in the area.

After the resident said she had sent a picture to Brown, the township administrator replied that the picture depicted a truck belonging to a local plumber in town, but that she did not see any toilets in the photograph, and therefore, she does not know what the individual had been doing, however, “if he is bringing debris from a construction job site, yes, that would be a problem.”

“We could always send him a letter just reminding him, ‘no harm, no foul,’” Herndon declared. “We are not accusing him.”

A workshop meeting of the committee preceded its regular session, with discussion of a proposed ordinance in the works – to require escrow fees be paid to the township for review and certification of any stormwater management plans submitted for new housing construction.

Brown explained that the Pinelands Commission is now requiring that municipalities sign off on state-required stormwater management plans for new housing to attest that they comply with both the commission’s regulations, as

well as local municipal ordinances.

However, in the case of Woodland, she said, “none of the employees of the township have that certification” to sign off on such plans, rather, “That is an engineering certification.”

Therefore, the township is going to be requiring that contractors submit any such plans to the township engineering firm of Pennoni Associates, according to Brown, with Township Engineer Tom Leisse “and his team” reportedly concluding a “$1,000 escrow fee would cover the base.”

“This is not something that the township is making any money off of at all,” Brown maintained. “It is requirements put into place by the new stormwater New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) requirements. And the only reason we are doing the escrow is so that the engineering costs do not get passed on to all of the residents, but strictly to the homeowner or contractor who is building the new single-family dwelling.”

The ordinance was introduced on first reading during the regular committee session in a 2-0 vote, with a second reading and public hearing scheduled for Feb. 26.

Brown, who said there are already two stormwater management plans on her desk waiting for certifications, described that the contractors she has been dealing with are “very unhappy.”

“Because it is $1,000 that they have to now pass on,” Brown said. “You know, not that this is low-income housing, but he is running into the same issue with low-income housing in other towns. You

know, you are building a $100,000 home for low income. Now, you are putting a $40,000 stormwater plan on top of it. You have now got to charge another $1,000 for these inspections. It is no longer a ‘low-income, affordable home.’”

During preceding meetings, it was previously described that the township is planning its first improvements to the Woodland Township Municipal Building, including putting on a new roof and siding. Leisse has been said to be taking an active role in planning for the improvements.

During the Jan. 21 regular committee meeting, Leisse announced that a representative from a state purchasing cooperative toured the municipal building lot earlier in the day “to look at some capital improvement projects around the building.”

“It requires no commitment from the township to engage them,” Leisse maintained. “We are looking at developing some investigative prices for replacing the roof and (to do) concrete work around the building. And I also asked them to include the parking lot as ‘wish-list’ capital items. Again, there is no commitment from the township, and no effort on my part, other than to engage them and have them come out.”

Leisse also reported his office is concluding work to update the township’s Master Plan, which reportedly has expired, as it is beyond 10 years old now. The proposed new one will be sent to the Land Use Board in February, with “a tentative timeline” of having any comments from the board (or public)

“addressed in March.”

A second proposed ordinance in the works (after one drafted last October was ultimately tabled after being introduced), to officially set the parameters for the licensing of cannabis enterprises in the municipality, as a cannabis enterprise looks to open on Route 72 where Joe Bell’s Bar used to be, did not gain any traction to be introduced on Jan. 22.

Brown recognized during the workshop committee meeting that the perspective establishment owner “had sent in some revisions that he wanted” to make to a draft proposal, but both committeepersons maintained they did not see them yet.

Mull, however, expressed her uneasiness with “somebody who is opening a business telling us how to write an ordinance.” Burns appeared to agree that the committeewoman’s reservations are valid.

“I would not recommend the changes,” declared Burns, noting of particular concern was a suggested revision that would result in “the only person that could have a retail license, for cannabis, is him.” A number of other changes requested, Burns contended, would purportedly result in what is known as “spot zoning,” or zoning that benefits particular private interests, rather than the collective interests of the community, which is illegal in the state.

“It is spot zoning,” maintained Burns of the changes the perspective enterprise owner is requesting. “It only affords

See TRUCKS/ Page 13

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the township maintain its own Emergency Medical Service – something pointed out by New Gretna EMS Captain Bill Robinson, who noted that the municipality must now rely on neighboring Galloway Township to provide ambulances in an expeditious manner, it is required by law to offer fire protection.

So, were the New Gretna unit to actually close, as some residents fear might happen, local officials would then be obligated to find a paid replacement at whatever that might end up costing.

“If we weren't here, somebody would have to cover (that responsibility) one way or the other,” Monaghan observed.

Part of the problem, as he and his colleagues indicated, seems to be a lack of communication between the department’s leadership and a relatively new township administration that is still in the process of adjusting its financial obligations and priorities, with two of its three members – Mayor William R. “Rick” Adams and Commissioner Jane Allen – having had no prior experience at doing so.

The fact that Allen, in her official

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capacity as public affairs and safety director, also serves as fire commissioner (a post previously held by long-time mayor Deborah Buzby-Cope), complicates that further, since she “is so new to the job, she is not fully aware of how everything works, how it is supposed to be done,” Monaghan contended. “So, she is kind of learning like everyone else is.” (The third member of the commission, Deputy Mayor Louis Bourguignon, a holdover from the previous administration, is a life member of the fire company and thus ineligible for the post of fire commissioner, according to the New Jersey Code of Ethics.)

He added, “We’re kind of dealing with a whole new commission next door, along with new officers here. So, we are all trying to learn together, and we are having trouble finding that common ground.”

And when it was suggested that “the township attorney should know all this,” the fire chief responded that, “There are a lot of things that we think the township attorney should know.”

“But we don’t know where all that stands, either,” he added.

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have been getting bombarded with stuff from the county about different things I am supposed to be doing, and different information they need from me,” with the result that, “I haven't really been able to focus on all that, and to get all that done.”

But there was one point everyone seemed to concur: that donations to the fire company from residents have been indispensable in keeping the volunteer operation going, as have the members’ fundraising activities, including its participation in the annual Tuckerton Decoy Show, which the chief described as the kind of activities “we really enjoy doing,” despite their being “a lot of work.”

The department has also been “very fortunate to have gotten a pretty decent amount of new members” to add to its manpower capabilities, he said, pointing out that it had sent five individuals to fire school last year, from which three had already graduated.

But again, he noted, recruiting new members means having to buy new customized gear for each of them, amounting to added expenses, for which the company will somehow have to come up with the money, no matter how strapped it already is.

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(Continued from Page 3)

Board’s attorney to participate in whatever the responses are,” Barton added. “And hopefully they can come back to the board with some recommendations.”

Last year, recommendations were made by the Land Development Board

CONTRACT

(Continued from Page 3)

him the ability to do it. And we’d be passing an ordinance that directly benefits him.”

Brown ultimately concluded the discussion by asking the committee to review what she had provided each member in regard to the draft cannabis regulations, and then email her with any suggested changes.

The workshop meeting ended with a closed session to discuss a personnel

to update the township’s Master Plan. McNaughton previously raised the need to look at those recommendations and for the committee to implement them, but a debacle over the fate of Town Hall last year had consumed the committee’s attention, and the issue never went anywhere.

“One of the things that I want to work on this year, and that thing from the

Pennoni’s services to the township. When Rayday last raised the Hawkin(s) Road project, the firm faced questioning about the plan for drainage this time around.

matter, with it announced that “Fred Arnwine (Public Works Supervisor) and Doris Nelson” would be partaking in the session. No action was announced, however, following the executive session.

Brown, in later delivering a report from Public Works during the committee’s regular meeting, announced that there had been a series of issues with snow removal equipment “during this past storm.”

Brown said this included brake lines failing on a Ford F-550, while a belt tensioner broke on a Ford F-450, both

Land Use Board really pertains to this … (is) the suggestions at the end of the Master Plan, which are very important,” McNaughton said. “There is quite a few, and a lot of it deals with ordinance changes and wordsmithing – that type of thing.”

McNaughton pointed to “some lots in the commercial zone” of the township “that are zoned half commercial,” all while

In light of the apparent delay in awarding the contract, Burger asserted, “the hope is that we’ll still be able to go out this spring, and have the work done in the springtime.”

problems of which have since been addressed, she maintained. Additionally, the township’s salt spinner “failed during the storm,” and is undergoing mechanical repairs, while “batteries on a backhoe have been ordered.” There is also now a hood “on order” for the backhoe, but there is no delivery timeframe, according to Brown, and while the manufacturer has reportedly offered the township a refund for its order, the town’s mechanic, she said, has no idea where else to order one from.

“their back half is residential.” This is an example of something he would like to “try to change” this year.

Between the updating of the Housing Ordinance, and the Master Plan recommendations, McNaughton, who is a former board member and was on it when the Master Plan was first created, said it is something the subcommittee can work to address.