‘WE LOVE TO SERVE THIS COMMUNITY’
By D ouglas D. M elegari Staff Writer
owners of Red Top Farm Market, a familyowned and-operated business of nearly
100 years in Southampton Township, found themselves for the first timeever in front of the Southampton Township Committee on Aug. 20 to see if the enterprise could continue to
hold its popular Wine Tasting events with food trucks after another business had reportedly recently phoned the township “and complained that we See COMMUNITY/ Page 6
Pemberton Twp. CFO Files Suit Against Municipality, Its Mayor and Business Administrator Alleging Disparate Treatment, Hostile Work Environment Suit is Just the Latest in String of Filings by Women Staffers Alleging Harassment at Hands of Mayor, Followed by Retaliation
By D ouglas D. M elegari Staff Writer
PEMBERTON—Township of Pemberton’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Candice Pennewell has become the latest township figure to file a lawsuit against the municipality, Republican Mayor Jack Tompkins and Business Administrator Daniel Hornickel, alleging various violations of township anti-discrimination, harassment, and retaliation policies have occurred while on the job.
Pennewell’s story outlined in her formal complaint, charging the defendants with one count of “disparate treatment and hostile work environment due to gender/ sex,” is similar to many others that have been told in a recent Pemberton Township Council-ordered investigation summary and other formal actions filed by a series of women over the past year – Tompkins allegedly engages in sexual harassment and other inappropriate conduct in the workplace, and when the claims are ultimately brought to Hornickel and/ or Human Resources, proper protocol
Photo Provided
Mary’s Mobile Diner food truck at a recent wine tasting event held at Red Top Farm Market in Southampton Township.
Pemberton Boro’s Mayor Airs Opinion Over Proposed Park Balloon Ban and Also Slams Calls for Rooster Ban, Causing Both Proposals to Fail
Draft Balloon Prohibition Would Have Applied to Mill Creek Park, Where Officials Still Intend to Ban Glitter, Confetti; Councilwoman Discusses Anonymous Letter She Received About Salmonella Risk Roosters Pose, But Calls for Ban over Noise
By D ouglas D. M elegari Staff Writer PEMBERTON BOROUGH—As
Pemberton Borough officials continue to toy with draft regulations and a fee schedule for its public spaces, including its Mill Creek Park and gymnasium, a provision that appeared in the latest draft that would have banned balloons at the park, seemingly got the hackles up of Mayor Bonnie Haines.
“I personally am a little bothered they can’t have balloons,” declared Haines during an Aug. 19 Pemberton Borough Council meeting, with the latest draft of the regulations containing a provision that would ban balloons, confetti and glitter at the park. “I have never seen a 4-yearold’s birthday party yet that didn’t have balloons!”
Haines continued that she doesn’t “want to kill the joy” for the children and their families who might use the park to hold a birthday party.
“So, I want balloons allowed!” she forcefully declared.
Councilwoman Diane Fanucci, during a previous council session, had suggested provisions regarding the use of “confetti
and glitter” at the park, maintaining “it is hard to clean up” afterwards and the materials “get chopped up by the grass cutters.” She also described that a “giant Easter egg party” had occurred earlier this year at the park, which she contended “accrued 40 people” and caused her to spend the “next day picking up plastic pieces and boxes.”
“I didn’t bring up balloons,” pointed out Fanucci of the preceding meeting during the latest council session.
But then the councilwoman added of the balloon provision somehow getting added into the mix since the last council session that it has been proposed “only because they get all torn up outside.”
“They throw them all over, then our guys go over them with the grass cutters and then there are a million little pieces of latex all over the place,” said Fanucci, describing that the pieces also end up in the Rancocas Creek, which is adjacent to the park.
Haines appeared to encourage other members of council to speak out, asserting, “Does anybody have a problem with allowing parties?”
See BAN/ Page 9
Richard J. Weber, DMD
Dr. Weber has been recognized for excellence in dentistry and has trained nationally and internationally with the most prestigious members of the profession.
Ready, Set, LEARN
Tips for choosing the right lunchbox for your kid
Choosing the right lunchbox for your child ensures their meals stay fresh, safe and enjoyable throughout the school day. Here are four important things to consider when selecting a lunchbox:
1. Material. Look for BPA-free, foodgrade plastic or stainless-steel containers. These materials are easy to clean and maintain, reducing the risk of food contamination. Additionally, stainless steel is durable, making it a great option if your child is prone to dropping or tossing their lunchbox around.
2. Capacity. Choosing a lunchbox that fits your child’s appetite is essential. For instance, if your child is a big eater, you may want to consider a larger box. Remember that a lunchbox that’s too big or too small can result in food waste or hunger.
3. Compartments. Look for a lunchbox with multiple compartments for better organization and portion control. Compartments can also prevent various food items from getting squished or mixed together. Some lunchboxes come
with removable dividers so that you can adjust the size of the compartments based on your child’s needs.
4. Insulation. Prioritize insulating and leak-proof features. This helps keep food fresh and prevent spills, especially perishable items and liquids. Look for lunchboxes with insulated compartments or include an ice pack to maintain the desired temperature.
Lastly, let your child help choose their lunchbox so they’ll be more excited about using it. Choose designs, like cartoon characters or animals, that reflect their personality and interests, making lunchtime an enjoyable experience.
Preparing your devices for the new school year
As the new school year approaches, ensuring your digital devices are ready for the back-to-school season is important. Here are some tips to help you prepare your devices.
UPDATE SOFTWARE AND SECURITY
Ensure that all software, including operating systems and apps, is up to date. Install any necessary security updates and antivirus software to safeguard against cyber threats.
ORGANIZE FILES AND FOLDERS
Declutter your device by deleting files or programs you no longer use. You should also take the time to organize your files and folders. Create dedicated folders for each subject or project to streamline workflow and improve productivity.
BACKUP DATA
Back up important files and documents to an external hard drive or cloud storage service. This ensures that critical information is accessible if your computer stops working or gets stolen.
REVIEW YOUR PASSWORDS
Make sure your passwords are secure,
and change the password for any accounts that have been breached. A strong password is made up of four or more random words and has at least 15 characters or longer. Avoid using the same password for multiple accounts.
CLEAN AND MAINTAIN YOUR DEVICES
Clean your devices, including keyboards, screens and ports, to keep them in optimal condition. Consider investing in protective cases or sleeves to prevent damage during transportation.
Stay proactive and make technology work for you as you start your academic journey!
Medford Lakes Brokers Deal with Camden County Insurance Fund to Extend Liability Coverage to Colony After HOA’s Policy Canceled Colony Averts
‘Nuclear Option’ of Raising Dues by More Than $100 with Deal Only Resulting in $20,000 Rise in Insurance Costs Versus Potentially $200,000; Officials Say Rising Costs,
By D ouglas D. M elegari Staff Writer
Cancelation Are Due to Florida Condominium Collapse
MEDFORD LAKES—An agreement brokered by Medford Lakes Borough and the Camden County Joint Insurance Fund (JIF) [which the borough is part of despite being a Burlington County municipality] has purportedly averted what would otherwise have been considerable financial strain placed on the Medford Lakes Colony Club to the point that the homeowners association (HOA) for Medford Lakes would have needed to go the “nuclear option” and institute a potentially massive dues increase to continue to sustain itself.
The local predicament can be traced back to June 24, 2021, when a 12-story beachfront condominium, known as the Champlain Towers South in the Miami suburb of Surfside, Florida, collapsed, killing 98 people. Since that time, a classaction suit was filed against the Champlain Towers South Condo Association, alleging maintenance had been deferred leading up to the collapse.
According to Medford Lakes Borough Manager Dr. Robert Burton, the Florida HOA “voted down an increase in assessment to repair that building,” and it has resulted in a “chain reaction throughout the country” in regard to liability insurance coverages for HOAs.
In the case of the Medford Lakes Colony Club, according to Borough Solicitor Doug Heinold, it was already paying more than $50,000 for insurance, and had “initial indications there was going to be an increase” when its policy came due for renewal.
But then, recently, the Colony learned its policy was going to be “canceled” in June. Ultimately, the Colony received an extension of time to Sept. 15 before its coverage would lapse, Heinold explained.
The Colony’s broker, Heinold continued, could only find (private marketplace) coverage that would renew for over $250,000.
“If the Colony went the route of asking its members for a dues increase, it would
be well over $100 for every property in town on a going forward basis,” Heinold maintained.
But, Burton noted, in observing the “state of the market” and seeing that the Colony would have to pay for insurance at “quadruple in price,” Colony Finance Officer Dale Keagy is said to have approached the municipality “to see if there is anything we could do to assist because their policy was going to be canceled.”
The borough took the matter to the Camden County JIF “to see what avenues we had” and given that Medford Lakes is “unique” in that one HOA represents the entire borough, the JIF was willing to allow for a shared service agreement to “allow the Colony to become an additional insured under the JIF.”
“The Colony will be paying the borough for that additional coverage, just under $70,000,” said Burton of how the arrangement will work.
The arrangement, which received Medford Lakes Council approval on Aug. 22 and is anticipated to be finalized by the Colony, and then the JIF in September, will avert the Colony having to “go with the nuclear option” of asking members for a dues increase, is how Burton put it.
Heinold contended the brokered deal will result in a “substantial savings to our residents.”
“This agreement represents many hours of behind-the-scenes work,” Heinold said. “The JIF has really stepped up. The short answer could have been ‘no’ to this, but we are one of the founding towns of Camden County JIF, and they stepped up and answered the call.”
The borough solicitor also extended praise to the Colony’s officers and attorney, contending they have “done a fantastic job meeting the needs of their offices.”
Burton noted that he was “very happy they came to us when this first started.
“I think in the last 10 to 12 years, the relationship is much improved,” said
See FUND/ Page 15
County Reportedly Targeting Fall 2025 to Early 2026 to Install Roundabout at Willow Grove and Stokes Roads Intersection Shamong Township Mayor Calls
‘Circle’ a ‘Waste of Money, Time and Energy’;
Month After Di Croce Decried Lack of Blinking Light, One Is Reportedly Installed
B y D ouglas D. M elegari Staff Writer
SHAMONG—One month after residents raised concerns with the Shamong Township Committee that they had observed survey work underway by Burlington County for a controversial roundabout at the intersection of Willow Grove and Stokes roads, a project that had sort of gone dormant for several years, has come confirmation from a local official that the county is now targeting the fall of 2025 or early 2026 to commence the project.
“They did surveying work about a week and a half ago,” said Shamong Township Administrator and Clerk Susan Onorato during an Aug. 6 Shamong Township Committee meeting, after reportedly having a discussion with county officials since the preceding session. “And they are working on a final design.”
According to Onorato, the county’s “hope” is that “construction will start between the Fall of 2025 and early 2026.”
Shamong Mayor Michael Di Croce has long been opposed to any roundabout, or “circle” as he calls it, for the dangerous intersection, but back in 2019 when the project was first proposed by the county, his then-colleagues voted to support the project for fear that if the governing body did not, the municipality would be liable for not going along with the suggestion should there be a tragic accident there.
Di Croce, who is the only one to still hold elected office from the 2019 committee, and an attorney in his day job, last month told concerned property owners that he would do everything he could to support a potential legal challenge that some of them had threatened to bring against the county.
At this latest committee session, Di Croce revealed that Onorato had requested a meeting with the county “so that we can actually question them,” and while county officials were reportedly requested to attend the Aug. 6 session, according to Onorato, they will instead “meet with the committee sometime in September or October” as “they don’t
have all the information” yet to be able to give a presentation.
But the bottom-line, according to the mayor, is, “Yes, their plan is to put the circle in, and they are moving forward with it.”
Last month, some of the private landowners raised concerns that their lot sizes would be reduced by the county reportedly proposing to take some of their land to make way for the roundabout, and in response, Di Croce questioned whether any roundabout could be moved to encompass some of the municipal complex parcel, which also abuts the intersection at issue.
“If we can use the property here (at the municipal building), our property, I would be agreeable to doing that,” said Di Croce on Aug. 6, noting that the township would have to move its septic system in the event the county is agreeable to using some of the municipal lot.
The possibility of making more use of the municipal lot in installing a roundabout is something Onorato said she discussed with the county officials in requesting they attend a committee meeting.
“I don’t want the circle,” Di Croce said. “But if we can move it more onto our property, and it makes sense … but I don’t know how we do that.”
Di Croce, last month, had pointed out that he had proposed different modifications to the intersection to be tried first, such as installing a blinking light, and maintained he had even offered to pay for one. But, Di Croce had maintained his suggestions went nowhere.
But on Aug. 6, a woman attending the latest committee session declared, “Thank you for putting a blinking light with the stop sign.”
“I am very pleased,” Di Croce responded. “I suggested it years ago. Hopefully, something good is going to come out of it and a realization that you don’t need a roundabout.”
See INTERSECTION/ Page 13
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT
The Pemberton Board of Education will be voting to end the superintendent’s current contract 1 year EARLY to award a BIG bonus and NEW 5-year contract with annual increases unless you speak up and say NO!
Pemberton BOE Public Meeting
Thursday, 9/5 at 6 P.M. in the Pemberton High School Auditorium 148 Arney’s Mount Road, Pemberton, NJ
A few reasons why you should TELL The Board NO as a taxpayer and community member:
• Jeff Havers’s policies have led to a morale crisis among the staff, leading to a record number of resignations, which hurts our students.
• Jeff Havers currently earns $205,497 -- one of the highest salaries in the county. Why give him a huge bonus BEFORE his contract ends on 6/30/25?
• Jeff Havers has been actively interviewing with other school districts (and was not hired by any of them). Does that show dedication worthy of an immediate raise and brand new contract?
• We don’t have enough teachers, aides, custodians, or security guards, and valuable student programs have been cut, but they have enough money to give an unearned, unnessary bonus to the superintendent?
• A new contract condemns the students and schools to 5 more years of failed leadership.
The BOE works for you! Show up on 9/5 & tell them to vote NO on a new contract for the Superintendent!
Both Parties Quickly Field Candidates for Remaining Two Years of Pat Hansen’s Unexpired Term on Evesham
Township Council
Democratic Choice Is Also Proposed to Assume Post Until January; Contenders for 2
B y B ill B onvie Staff Writer
Other Pending Council Vacancies Expound Aims
starting with the Democratic slate:
EVESHAM—Both Democratic and Republican party officials this past week acted quickly to field candidates for the unexpired two-year second term of former Evesham Township Democratic Councilwoman Patricia “Pat” Hansen, who unexpectedly announced her resignation at the Aug. 14 meeting of the township council, in the November General Election.
In an Aug. 24 press release, the Evesham Township Democratic Municipal Committee announced it had voted to nominate Krystal Hunter, PhD, a member of the local Municipal Utilities Authority Commission, for the post as well as to immediately replace Hansen for the remainder of the year, a proposed interim appointment that the remaining members of the council must approve. She will join Evesham Board of Education member Joe Fisicaro, Jr., and former Fire Commissioner Christian Smith as previously selected candidates for the four-year council posts due to be vacated by incumbent Democratic council members Ginamarie Espinoza and Eddie Freeman III, who were not renominated by the committee, a factor in Hansen’s resignation.
On the Republican side, local resident and political novice Keith Roman has been chosen by the Evesham Republican Committee as the opposition candidate for Hansen’s unexpired term, creating the possibility that the currently allDemocratic council could once again come under GOP control should local voters opt to elect the committee's choice of Robert DiEnna, a former Republican councilman, and Thomas DeMarsey to those two open four-year seats, as well as deciding to give Roman a try on the council.
To better acquaint the Evesham electorate with these new candidates for the township council, the Pine Barrens Tribune, using publicity releases, phone interviews, and emailed queries, has endeavored to put together profiles of each one and their reasons for running,
Joe Fisicaro, Jr., a 40-year Evesham resident and educator, has served on the local school board for all but one term since 2003, including seven years as its president and five as vice president, as well as having served on the township planning board from 2003-2008. A Stockton University graduate, he returned as an instructor 20 years ago to his alma mater, Cherokee High School, where he now teaches courses in history and advanced placement government, in addition to directing student musical productions there in the fall and spring. He and his wife, Amy, have two daughters who are also currently students in the Evesham school system.
Fisicaro‘s reason for running is to bring council the benefit of his experience in these areas.
“I plan on working with the mayor and council to continue to improve our open space and continue to be fiscally responsible while providing excellent services to the community, as well to keep Evesham a safe community for all people,” he said in response to a questionnaire from this newspaper.
“I would like to see us continue to improve our open space projects, start a summer children’s and teens theater rec program much like our sports programs in town, and invest in solar fields and other green initiatives.”
Serving with over 40 different board members in nearly 20 years on the board of education, Fisicaro maintained, has taught him that “you can have disagreements and still be able to get along and continue good government, which is the ability to find common ground and work together.”
“I will always speak my mind as I have my entire career,” he added. “But I believe we can come together when it matters the most.”
Smith, who, along with his wife Victoria (a local zoning board member), has called Evesham Township home since 2013, has spent the last 17 years
See COUNCIL/ Page 10
COMMUNITY
(Continued from Page 1)
were using food trucks at our non-profit beneficiary events.”
That phone call purportedly placed to the Southampton Township Construction Office, according to Philip Narozanick, of Red Top Farm Market, led the local construction official to question whether a variance was needed for the farm market to continue to host food trucks.
“Ultimately, the township official instructed us that if we had a problem with that, or we wanted to figure out a way to get a variance for our food trucks to help our non-profits, to come here and ask you guys how to proceed,” Narozanick told the township committee.
Narozanick maintained that he “speaks for the generations of my family who have been here” in making his appeal to the governing body.
“We love to serve this community,” he said. “For the last 8 years, we have done everything in our power, since we began selling wine, to turn it into an event that could benefit the community. It is free. We pay for the live music. We pay for any other amenity that makes the party a little bit better. And we ultimately use every single event to benefit some member of, or a portion of the community, whether it be a non-profit, a family in need, or a family
that has fallen on hard times.”
Narozanick further declared, “I think anyone standing in the way of trying to help other people is a little distasteful.”
Mayor Michael Mikulski, who said he became aware of the food truck complaint on Aug. 15, maintained that “we do not have an ordinance relating to food trucks, as of right now.”
“So, there is nothing to get a variance from, because there is no ordinance,” Mikulski declared.
Without an ordinance in place pertaining to food trucks, the use is technically allowable, and unregulated.
However, some nearby towns have recently adopted food truck ordinances to make it clearly understood that food trucks are a local permitted use, but to also provide for some basic regulations.
“What we have to decide is whether or not we really want an ordinance to deal with food trucks,” Mikulski told Phil Narozanick, who was joined by his entire family. “So, as it relates to any business that has food trucks, the only piece that construction has told me, as I have been trying to investigate this, is what does it do for parking.”
While parking “may not be an issue for you at Red Top,” Mikulski said, “let’s say some other business wanted to have food trucks or a band or something.”
See COMMUNITY/ Page 9
Photo Provided
Some of the items that were part of a silent auction to benefit Angel's Helping Animals on Aug. 23, with the auction held during a Sharrott Winery Wine Tasting event at Red Top Farm Market.
allegedly isn’t followed and nothing of real consequence purportedly happens to put a stop to the alleged behavior, and instead, those who make any reports and/or the victims are reportedly subject to retaliation.
Pennewell was appointed township CFO in December 2022, one month before Tompkins commenced his term as mayor in January 2023, the complaint outlines, and therefore, (the filing simplifies) that she and Tompkins “started to work together on behalf of defendant Pemberton.”
It is maintained in Pennewell’s complaint that in her initial days on the job as CFO, “there were many days” when Tompkins would come into her office, “sit on her couch” and “talk to her for 30 plus minutes.”
“At the time, plaintiff did not think there was much to it,” the complaint states.
Then “on or about June 28, 2023,” it is contended in the complaint, Pennewell partook in a meeting with both Tompkins and Hornickel, among others, and it was then that the mayor allegedly “stuck his finger on the crown” of the CFO’s head and said, ‘“finger in your hole.”’
“He also told multiple Pemberton employees around the building about this incident and how he was embarrassed about it, after the fact,” it is alleged in the complaint.
The complaint details a second incident in the summer of 2023 when Tompkins is alleged to have observed a woman walking in the municipal building parking lot, headed towards the entrance to the Police Department.
According to the complaint, Tompkins, who at the time was with Pennewell, purportedly “made a reference” as to the way the unidentified woman walked, “making fun of her,” before allegedly going up to the individual, who was reportedly accompanied by her young son who had just participated in a youth camp.
Tompkins, the complaint describes, allegedly asked the boy what his favorite part of camp was, to which the boy reportedly responded, “yesterday we got to play with the batons,” to which the mayor is alleged to have replied, ‘“she tried to use whips and chains on me yesterday, but I wasn't into it,”’ all while purportedly pointing to the CFO.
It is described in the complaint that the mayor’s remark left the unidentified woman “shocked” to the point she had walked away.
A third purported incident described in the complaint, reportedly having occurred on October 12, 2023, entails Tompkins having asked the CFO about how she was,
all amid a conversation she was having with others in the Community Development Office, and after Pennewell answered, “I’m fine,” the mayor is alleged to have answered back, ‘“Oh, we all KNOW you’re fine!”’
Also among the allegations contained in the complaint is one that involves what is alleged to have been a fourth incident between Pennewell and Tompkins. According to the complaint, Tompkins told Pennewell about a “prior job” in which he had worked from home, and that since his then-boss was located in Dallas, “he would go fishing during the day and finish his work off-hours.”
The story led the CFO, the complaint maintains, to “jokingly” ask Tompkins if she could go fishing during work, to which the mayor is alleged to have replied, ‘“sure, as long as your work is done,”’ and after she emphasized she was only kidding and that she “didn't like fishing because she would have to touch the fish,” the mayor allegedly replied, ‘“or does it remind you of the smell down there?”’
In addition to the lawsuit outlining these various specific incidents, it accuses Tompkins of commenting “on several occasions” about how Pennewell’s “outfits” look on her, in addition to purportedly responding every time she would pose a question to him, ‘“I told you, I am married.”’
“On another occasion, Defendant Tompkins told plaintiff that he and his wife sleep in separate rooms and that every once in a while he ‘would throw her a bone,’” the legal filing states.
Pennewell is purported to have told another employee about the “fishing comment,” and that person relayed the matter, the complaint maintains, to both Human Resources and Hornickel. It led to Pennewell and Hornickel reportedly having a meeting, in which the complaint further maintains that Pennewell “reported all the incidents” (aforementioned) to him.
“A week later, plaintiff was asked by Defendant Hornickel to go for a ride along in the township vehicle,” the legal filing states. “During the ride, Defendant Hornickel told her that he spoke to Defendant Tompkins and that he hoped that Defendant Tompkins’s conduct toward her would stop. Based upon information and belief, Defendant Hornickel was running interference for Defendant Tompkins.”
The lawsuit takes issue with Hornickel having purportedly not asked Pennewell to “complete a Harassment Complaint Form to initiate the harassment complaint,” and “in addition, Defendant Hornickel gave other female employees, who have made complaints about Defendant Tompkins, a meeting with an in-house lawyer to address
their complaints,” with the suit maintaining “plaintiff was not given this opportunity.”
Some of the aforementioned allegations were previously detailed in the earlier township report summarizing the findings of the council-ordered investigation into reports of harassment and inappropriate conduct at the hands of the mayor (though that report redacted the names of those who came forward to investigators), which was spurred by an initial lawsuit filed by Recreation Director Nichole Pittman in making similar claims about Tompkins and Hornickel, in noting there were potentially other victims.
The newly-filed lawsuit by Pennewell, however, makes a point that retaliation is allegedly still very much ongoing against her.
“Since reporting these incidents of sexual harassment to Defendant Hornickel, Defendant Tompkins’s attitude towards plaintiff has drastically changed,” the legal filing charges. “Either Defendant Tompkins ignores plaintiff and/or tries to minimize her in front of others. Defendant Tompkins criticizes her job performance, without justification, and attempts to create job performance issues. He imposes additional alleged ‘job duties’ as punishment.
“Defendant Tompkins, however, does not take any of these actions against the male employees. Plaintiff is legitimately concerned about her job, especially since Defendant Tompkins previously admitted to her that he was working on getting another female employee fired, who had charged him with sexual harassment.”
Pennewell, through the suit, seeks “compensatory damages, consequential damages and punitive damages,” in addition to “ordering defendants to take appropriate corrective action to stop and prevent retaliation at the workplace” and “ordering defendants to take appropriate corrective action to stop and prevent harassment at the workplace.”
In pointing to the previous investigative summary from the council-ordered investigation, the suit highlights that “investigators recommended that Defendant Pemberton take any and all actions available to it pursuant to New Jersey law to thwart Defendant Tompkins’s ongoing, intentional and/or reckless refusal to comply with the township’s anti-harassment, antidiscrimination, and anti-retaliation workplace policies in order to provide a safe and comfortable working environment to its employees,” but maintains “Defendant Pemberton has failed to take any and all actions against Defendant Tompkins pursuant to New Jersey law.”
The legal filing also maintains that the
township was supposed to “fully, formally, and separately” probe each complaint made against Tompkins in the report, and properly address them, but that it has not yet happened.
“As a result of Defendants’ conduct and Defendant Pemberton and Defendant Hornickel’s lack of response thereto, Plaintiff has had to seek medical treatment,” the complaint maintains. “She is currently under the care of a health professional and has been prescribed medication to help her with her emotional mental state.”
Hornickel, when reached for comment on this story, said he had not yet seen Pennewell’s lawsuit, but “he would imagine Special Counsel would advise him not to comment” to the press. Hornickel, who has been on a lengthy vacation this month, according to a township worker, is due to soon leave Pemberton for a business administrator role in nearby Medford Township.
Pemberton Council, which censored the mayor back on April 16 and later reduced his pay in light of the report, ordered the investigation’s findings to be turned over to the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office and/or Pemberton Township Police Department. So far, however, there has been no confirmation offered as to whether it has been done.
Also, Pemberton Council, in a bi-partisan decision, had called on Tompkins to resign from office. Democratic Governor Phil Murphy, upon the release of the findings, also expressed his belief that the mayor should resign. Thus far, however, Tompkins has refused to turn in his resignation, maintaining his innocence and vowing to fight all charges in court.
Local 8th District Assemblywoman Andrea Katz separately wrote to Attorney General Matthew Platkin, asking that the Attorney General’s Office launch its own probe into the allegations outlined in the report, but Platkin’s office has yet to say whether any investigation has been launched.
An effort to recall Tompkins, launched by resident Vicky Adams in response to the council-ordered investigation’s findings, had garnered some 2,300 signatures, she said, but fell short of the some 5,000 that were needed by last week, causing the effort to fail. Adams, in a released video announcement, described how many purportedly feared to sign petitions out of concern that they or their businesses might be the subject of future retaliation.
Word of Pennewell’s legal filing came just two days after Adam’s announcement that the recall effort failed.
BAN
(Continued from Page 2)
“It is a kid’s birthday party,” Haines declared. “They should be able to have balloons!”
But the only councilperson to add to the topic initially was long-time Fanucci ally, friend and neighbor, Steve Fenster.
“I know behind my house last year I picked up the remnants of about 15 balloons!” Fenster pointed out.
“OK!” Haines shot back. “I don’t know that we have a whole lot of control over what they do with the balloons! But I don’t think we should ban balloons!”
That response from the mayor led Fenster to suggest simply a ban on helium balloons.
“No!” Haines strongly snapped.
Newly-appointed Councilman Ben Bernacki, at that point, declared, “I agree, I don’t think we should ban balloons from children birthday parties.”
It led Haines to passionately assert, “Thank you!”, and with the other councilmembers remaining silent, the mayor concluded, “Balloons are allowed!”
It led Fanucci, who also walks the borough to clean up litter on her own time, to interject, “If you ever had to pick them up, you’d probably change your tune!”
“We have a Public Works Department whose job it is to pick them up!” Haines retorted.
Haines then directed Borough Administrator and Clerk Kathy Smick to “just make it confetti and glitter” that would be among the prohibited items for the park.
“Next month, it will be in its final form,” said Haines, with Borough Solicitor David Serlin suggesting any new rules would only need to be adopted via a resolution, though officials, prior to that, referred to the items as part of a future ordinance, which, if adopted in that latter form, would enable a public hearing.
The meeting started, in part, with former council president and resident
Robin Mosher, in responding to recent calls for a rooster prohibition at preceding council meetings, describing himself as one of the borough’s “oldest residents that has had poultry over the years, for the longest time.”
Mosher, in describing owning or having owned turkeys, chickens, peacocks and “the whole gamut,” said he has “really never had any trouble” with the birds, except for when a peacock had gotten loose.
“As far as banning any type of poultry, I would say we have a noise ordinance,” Mosher maintained. “There is no need to ban anything.”
The former council president added “there are ways to address noisy animals of any kind” and “they are in place.”
“There are more barking dogs in the borough than roosters, and we are not going to ban barking dogs,” Mosher said.
Later in the session, Fanucci, who has been a proponent of a rooster prohibition in town due to purported loud noise and sleep disturbances she maintains the birds are causing, raised her having received an “anonymous letter from a resident about poultry” since the last council meeting.
“This letter was not really about the noise; it was about salmonella,” maintained Fanucci, claiming the author of the letter was particularly concerned with “salmonella poisoning,” but that she had not proposed the prohibition “because of disease,” rather “people are getting awakened.”
Fanucci moved on to another matter, but when she got done giving her council comments on Aug. 19, Haines asked, “Are we going to just keep talking about chickens and roosters every month, or do you want to do something about that?!”
The councilwoman responded to the mayor “we have not polled council” and was not sure how to best proceed, and that is when Haines suggested Fanucci simply make a motion to have an ordinance developed.
“I make a motion to grandfather
See BAN/ Page 13
COMMUNITY
“And so, I don’t have answers yet, none of us have answers yet,” the mayor continued. “So, there is no ordinance for food trucks, so there is nothing to get a variance from.”
Narozanick told the committee that he understands “there are laws to protect the community and protect restaurants that might feel slighted by us doing something like this,” but that “I can assure you between my cousins at the Red Lion Inn, friends at Red Star – and you can go to every business around this area, they are not going to have a distasteful word about what we are doing for the community.”
Mikulski pointed to Southampton’s past history that “we try not to overregulate,” contending “we don’t have a lot of regulations that we don’t need because we all moved out here because we like being out here.”
variance from” with an ordinance currently not in place, essentially giving the event the green light to proceed.
“Basically, at this point, we spend more money than we could ever make at these events,” Narozanick said. “Over the last eight years, we probably raised over $100,000 for different companies and community members and we just want to be able to continue to do that, ultimately.”
Mikulski thanked the Narozanicks “for your hard work.”
Narozanick declined to identify the business that reportedly filed the complaint against Red Top with the township. Narozanick also maintained that the complaining business “has done what I would consider a little short of harassment,” describing to the governing body that prior to the complaint, the unnamed entity had also stolen a non-profit sign.
“I can tell you I live where I live because there is not an HOA,” the mayor added.
Red Top was scheduled just after the committee meeting to host Sharrott Winery for an August Sharrott Winery Wine Tasting event to benefit Angel's Helping Animals on Aug. 23, and was to have Marys Mobile Diner on-site.
Narozanick asked the mayor point-blank if the event could be held without issue, and the mayor repeated “there is nothing to get a
“We have never called the township on anyone, and we are extremely reluctant to do that,” Narozanick said. “As longtime members of this community, we are not here to make a quick buck, but are here to make our community and schools better.”
Mikulski advised the Narozanicks that “if someone is stealing your signs,” to call the New Jersey State Police. Otherwise, in regard to the food trucks, according to the mayor, “we are looking into it to see what, if anything, we need to do.”
A township official cautioned the
Photo Provided
Philip Narozanick (right) of Red Top Farm Market, works alongside his lifelong friend and former employee, Vince, to pull off a wine-tasting event.
(Continued from Page 6)
COUNCIL
working with U.S. Department of Defense contractors, providing technical solutions for managing and improving the Naval Surface Warfare Center Philadelphia Division’s multimedia infrastructure to provide audiovisual, video teleconferencing, and IT support, and currently works as a senior audio/ visual and video teleconferencing systems administrator at American Water.
As a member of the Evesham Board of Fire Commissioners, according to his bio, he worked to ensure that local residents had the benefit of an efficient fire/rescue service and strengthened emergency response capability. His initiatives along these lines reportedly included bolstering career ranks and supporting a volunteer stipend program to implement around-the-clock, 24-hour, in-house staffing, ensuring continuous fire and EMS coverage, particularly for seniors. His bio also credits him with having helped the executive officers to enhance the emergency vehicle fleet, allowing Evesham-Fire Rescue to respond quickly and effectively at all times of day to a variety of incidents and emergencies.
Around the same time, Smith also joined the Evesham Township Watch Advisory Group, and just this year the Evesham Township Human Rights Advisory Committee, drawing his inspiration from the active role taken by his father within the neighborhood where he grew up in Brooklyn and with the NYPD Community Affairs Division, and having been imbued with the importance of investing in and strengthening communication between residents and officials, engaging with first responders, and creating a safe residential environment.
“If elected, I would like to work with our police department to address traffic concerns within the various individual neighborhoods and utilize the council’s relations with the county to find ways to address our residents’ concerns when cycling, driving, or walking along the township’s various roads,” he said in his response to a query as to what he hopes to accomplish in office. He also said that he hopes to “promote and strengthen the community’s relations with small business.”
Should there be conflicts of opinion, he added, “I would always collaborate with my fellow council members to obtain their perspective in relation to crafting policy.”
Hunter, a biostatistician and associate professor whom Democrats hope to bring in to serve the rest of Hansen’s term in office, in addition to her role as a local MUA commissioner is a volunteer with the Evesham Township Farmer’s Market. The holder of a PhD in Business Data Science from New Jersey Institute of Technology and an MBA from Rutgers Graduate School of Management, she is described by her fellow council candidate Smith as “incredibly smart, compassionate, and thoughtful” and as someone he and Fisicaro were “thrilled to have join our team.”
In the press release announcing her candidacy, to which this newspaper was referred by Democratic Committee Chair Phil Warren, Hunter characterized herself as sharing a lot of values with Fisicaro and Smith “when it comes to our commitment to delivering the best government and services for the residents and businesses of Evesham,” and as “looking forward to working hard for everyone and showing them that we can be trusted with our town’s future.”
Each of the Republican candidates challenging them for those three council posts, by contrast, agreed to conduct phone interviews with the Pine Barrens Tribune
DiEnna is undoubtedly the most familiar of these six candidates to many local residents, having previously served for eight years on the township council (two of them alongside Hansen, whom he previously described as “a good teammate” with whom he formed a personal friendship), as well as 10 years on the Planning Board. During his tenure there, he takes credit for having “delivered smart growth policies and worked to bring in quality establishments like Chickie's & Pete’s and the revamped Renaissance Square shops.”
An Evesham resident for the past 55 years, DiEnna, at the age of 79, also holds the distinction of being the oldest of the six candidates running for council (just slightly older than his running mate, Tom DeMarsey), but describes himself in a campaign pronouncement as having “a strong desire to serve” and being “ready to get back in the game.”
A carpenter by trade and longtime
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“construction professional,” DiEnna, who hails from Philadelphia, is also a retired organized labor executive, having served on the executive board of Carpenters Union Local 1489 255, representing both Burlington County and South Jersey. He is also a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps whose experience with that branch of service includes “18 months on overseas assignments in the late 1960s.”
DeMarsey, is a 51-year Evesham resident, as well as a proud veteran of the United States Navy who specialized in intelligence work during the Vietnam War, and who has been a dedicated member of the Evesham Veterans and Disability Advisory board for the past five years. Having been in the printing industry, where he was a supervisor and plant manager for 34 years, he is presently semi-retired, but still works part-time for the township as an aide on buses for special-needs children, a job he described as “sometimes being very challenging.”
In response to questions from this newspaper about their motivation for becoming council candidates at this particular time in their lives, both DiEnna and DeMarsey concurred that they are highly dissatisfied with the direction the township has taken in the past few years and the changes that have occurred as a result.
DeMarsey, for instance, charged that an “anti-business climate” currently exists in Evesham, saying he would like to help “the town come back” and find occupants for the “empty buildings on Main Street.”
Another thing they expressed disapproval of is the way that the municipality has been spending surplus money, the acquisition of the Beagle Club property for an as-yet undeveloped park area (which was partially covered by a grant) being an example.
Most of the tract, in DeMarsey’s view, is currently unusable for that purpose, being wetlands, and will require having to hire a contractor “to go over there and clear the area so it can be used” at considerable additional expense. A far more sensible plan, he contended, would have been to let a developer purchase it, build a relatively small amount of homes, and give the rest of the land back to the township at no cost—something that might still be viable “with Bob’s connections.”
Both he and DiEnna were also highly critical of the manner in which existing pickleball courts in Brush Hollow Park were closed and padlocked after neighbors complained without any attempt being made to sit down and resolve the problems with them—for example, by setting up natural buffers— and of the recent announcement that new ones would be built in front of the Gibson House, (again, with the help of a grant) where other facilities have created competition for parking, rather than in a locale with far more space, like Evesboro Downs, which DiEnna called “the most obvious place for them to go.”
Roman, the Republican candidate selected to run for the remainder of Hansen’s term, is a 16-year Evesham resident with two children in the local school system who describes himself as “a global account executive for a not-for-profit life-sciences consulting firm, specializing in pharmaceutical and biotech. He’s also far younger than his two GOP running mates—he’ll be turning 43 shortly. He describes himself as being “the young guy on my street” who likes to help his older neighbors, and, like DiEnna and DeMarsey, is a member of St. Joan of Arc parish.
According to a campaign ad, Roman “wants to use his business background to help restore confidence in local government” and “wants the town he fell in love with to be an option for the next generation of Evesham residents,” to which end, if elected, “he will prioritize fiscal responsibility and fight against tax increases” to keep it “affordable for young families.”
Speaking with the Pine Barrens Tribune, Roman acknowledged that seeking political office was something he had never tried before, but said he was eager to find ways to “give back” to the town he had come to love and that his two running mates had the “legacy knowledge of what has worked” that would help him in the effort. That would include being “fiscally responsible, trying to bring in new businesses, trying to get the taxes flat and working our way to lower them,” he said, which in turn, would create “an opportunity to make sure our school system is fully budgeted.”
“It’s never too late to correct something that might have been mishandled,” he declared. “And every new day is a new opportunity to right the ship.”
National Night Out
By
Scenes from Evesham, Medford & Pemberton Police Events
Photos
Andrew King
Southampton Mayor Says Parties Are at the ‘20-Yard Line, First and 10’ by Approving
Road
Opening Permit to Relocate Troubled Electrical Unit
By D ouglas D. M elegari Staff Writer
SOUTHAMPTON—A solar developer is reportedly one step closer to relocating an unsightly switchgear station, or massive electrical box, that was installed back in the spring of 2023 to the surprise of residents in front of about a dozen homes on Saint Davids Place in the LeisureTowne section of Southampton Township.
BEMS Landfill, a subsidiary of CEP Renewables, according to Southampton Township Mayor Michael Mikulski during an Aug. 20 Southampton Township Committee session, has applied to the township for a road-opening permit so it can begin moving its equipment from the street.
“BEMS Landfill has requested a roadopening permit to move the box,” Mikulski proclaimed. “This is good news.”
The township committee then granted the road-opening permit in a unanimous vote.
A resolution giving formal approval for the issuance of a permit states that “the parties worked to develop a new concept to ‘move the box’ and after significant negotiations with PSE&G (Public Service Enterprise Group, Inc.) and the Pinelands (Commission), BEMS was able to identify a location on Big Hill Road (which runs adjacent to LeisureTowne) to move the interconnection infrastructure.”
The document also notes that “the relocation plans” have been submitted to the township and “reviewed by the special projects township engineer,” who issued a letter on Aug. 6 “endorsing the plan.”
It is additionally memorialized that BEMS must also obtain “minor site plan approval from the Land Development
Zallie
Board,” which was recently formed to combine what had been separate local Planning and Zoning boards.
Committeemen Ronald Heston (deputy mayor) and William Raftery currently serve on the new board, which has now had six meetings since it was created.
“So, the minor site plan has to go to the Land Development Board first,” Mikulski explained. “So, this (road opening authorization) is contingent upon the approval of the Land Development Board.”
Previously, Mikulski described that the parties had reached a deal for a pole array to replace the ground unit, when the equipment is relocated, though there was no mention of a pole array on Aug. 20.
The mayor had stated it was the first time PSE&G ever had approved of a pole array.
Southampton is served by all three major state electric utilities, and two of them, PSE&G and Jersey Central Power and Light (JCP&L) are tied into a solar array on a landfill that abuts LeisureTowne, known as the BEMS Landfill.
The switchgear station ties the PSE&G grid into a solar array built on the landfill, and an existing pole array reportedly connects the JCP&L grid to the solar array as well (this is where the idea of a second pole array to replace the ground unit reportedly came from).
“I am happy to see the road opening for the box,” Mikulski declared. “It has been a long haul getting this thing moved. But we told everyone it was going to be moved and we are now – I won’t say we are at the goal line, but we are at the 20-yard line, first and 10, and getting ready to have this thing moved. There has been a lot of hard work by a lot of people.”
Community Foundation Celebrates
Hunger with 5K/10K
10 Years of Stamping Out
Planned in Medford Township on Labor Day Event Supports the Food Bank of South Jersey and Similar Organizations
Small Wildfire Briefly Closes One Lane
of Route 72 in Woodland
By D ouglas D. M elegari Staff Writer
WOODLAND—A small wildfire broke out on Aug. 26 along a remote section of Route 72 in Woodland Township.
The blaze developed near mile marker 10.5 on Route 72.
The westbound lane of Route 72 had to be closed for a time while firefighters worked to extinguish the flames. No structures were threatened by the fire.
An isolated thunderstorm passed over
MEDFORD—The annual Labor Day Stamp Out Hunger 5K is celebrating 10 years of raising money to end food insecurity by adding a 10K to the event.
Runners and walkers can choose to participate in either a 1 mile, a 5K or the longer 10K.
“We know that some runners prefer a longer course to challenge themselves, so we thought this year would be the perfect opportunity to add a 10K to the event,” said Renee Zallie, race director. “The course is USTAF-certified which is important to those who compare their performance times on different courses.”
The chip timed event starts and finishes in front of the Public Safety Building at 91 Union St. in downtown Medford on Labor Day, Sept. 2, 2024. Registration begins at 6:45 a.m. The race begins at 8:30 a.m.
The annual Labor Day event, hosted by the Zallie Community Foundation, sees hundreds of walkers, weekend joggers, and competitive runners gather for a morning of fun and exercise to raise money to support the food insecure in the South Jersey area.
September is designated as Hunger Action Month and this event will kick off a month of raising awareness and funds for this important cause.
According to Zallie, “To date, the event has donated over $250,000 to the Food Bank of South Jersey, local food pantries, after-school programs, senior centers and other hunger-fighting groups that support South Jersey communities.”
the fire area and produced “substantial rainfall” that “aided the New Jersey Forest Fire Service” in containing the wildfire. Prior to the storm, the blaze had grown to some 30 acres in size. A wildfire is considered major when the area burned exceeds 100 acres.
While much of New Jersey has gotten heavy rainfall over the last month, the Pinelands has not, with some sections having not seen substantial rainfall for over five weeks.
The Stamp Out Hunger 5k donates all race registration fees directly to The Food Bank of South Jersey, while proceeds from event sponsorships will go to a number of South Jersey food pantries, including the Food Bank of SJ. Visit stampouthunger5k.com to register, find race details and view aerial footage of the course taken from a drone. Entry fees are $45 for the 10K, $35 for the 5K and $16 for the 1-miler with pre-registration by Sunday, Sept 1.
Throughout the morning, Gary Pringle “the Balloon Man” from Premier Parties will provide music and balloon art for youngsters, race participants and spectators. Davis PT will offer stretching pre-race and there will be opportunities for all participants to win prizes in a bib raffle. Complimentary continental breakfast, including bagels provided by Medford Bagel, will be available post-race. The Zallie Community Foundation/ McCarthy Weidler sponsored Stamp Out Hunger 5K/10K is also generously sponsored at the Diamond level by Cold Technology and the Medford-Vincentown Rotary; at the Premier level by Cento and Zallie Family Markets, and at the Platinum level by Boar’s Head (Jersey’s Finest Foods), Liscio’s, and Lynmar Builders. Many local companies also sponsored the race including Merritt’s Service Station, The Running Co., Laura Bishop Communications, Jem Paving, Davis Physical Therapy, The Center for Counseling and Education, SCS Engineers, and Stiles Dental Care.
Photo Provided
A scene from a past Stamp Out Hunger event.
Photo By New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Crews with the New Jersey Forest Fire Service work to put out a small wildfire along Route 72 in Woodland Township.
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INTERSECTION
(Continued from Page 4)
The woman later called the proposed
BAN
(Continued from Page 9)
the current roosters living within Pemberton Borough, and after they all go into rooster heaven, from that point on, individual owners are not allowed to acquire roosters,” Fanucci motioned. “Not chickens – just roosters.”
The mayor took issue with ‘“rooster heaven”’ being part of the motion, snapping, “I don’t think that needs to be in there,” causing Fanucci to suggest “after roosters expire,” to which Haines again snapped, “It’s your motion!”
Ultimately, the basic intent of the motion was seconded by Fenster. But Bernacki called the prospect of banning roosters “absolutely ridiculous,” given that with some chicken breeds, he maintained, one doesn’t know whether they have roosters until they reach maturity.
“You can’t ban somebody from acquiring a rooster when they don’t know if they are buying a chicken or rooster at that time, depending on the breed of
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roundabout “just ridiculous,” to which Di Croce responded, “I think it is a waste of money, time and energy.”
The current timeframe for its installation, the mayor added, “will give
chicken!” Bernacki contended.
Bernacki appeared to seize on Fanucci having raised the anonymous letter, further contending roosters represent “just a small portion” of how salmonella is transmitted, asserting, “If you look into it, you also can get it from vegetables.”
“Are we going to ban gardens, or people from bringing in produce into the borough before it is washed?” Bernacki asked. “Are we going to ban people from having bird feeders, because you can get salmonella from fecal matter, and that includes dogs and cats?”
Bernacki, who in his first full council meeting the month before had pointed to provisions for zoning along the lines of the much more-stringent Cherry Hill and called for the tightening of local standards, in response to the rooster proposal, maintained council is “stepping over our bounds as a government here, in my opinion, by banning people from obtaining animals.”
“I am sure tigers would be banned, so that is an irrelevant point,” Fanucci shot back. “My point has nothing to do with disease!”
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us enough time for us to gather a plan, I think.”
After the meeting, Di Croce told this newspaper, “I am grateful to the county commissioners for undertaking the
Haines interjected “this is not an argument” when Fanucci offered a rebuttal to her councilmate, and Fanucci then expressed regret for having raised the anonymous letter, maintaining of the salmonella concerns “that is not why I am doing this” and that she “only mentioned the letter because someone else is concerned.”
“My whole point is let people sleep, whether it be at 3 a.m., or 5 a.m.,” Fanucci said. “They are crowing constantly. It has nothing to do with disease, but rather the noise.”
Bernacki, however, retorted, “Anything about noise should be handled under the noise ordinance.”
Councilwoman Melissa Tettemer acknowledged that she has a rooster and has had one for the past 13 years since owning chickens, and while it “crows during the day,” her “neighbor’s dog barks more than my rooster crows.”
“I think Mr. Mosher brought up a good point, that if there is an issue with noise, then that can be addressed under the noise ordinance,” Haines declared. “I am not the one who is going to tell you what you
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before
service. All funds are based in U.S. dollars. Toll free numbers may or may not reach Canada.
additional signage and the blinking light. I am calling for another study to last at least six months to determine whether or not these actions have reduced the traffic accidents at this location.”
should be able to do and not do on your property, because it is your property. I think when you live in a town this size, with lot sizes that are small and houses close together, you need to learn to be a little tolerant of what goes on in your neighbor’s yard, or on the street behind you, because depending on where you are at, you can hear that.”
The mayor added, for example, she is “not crazy” about Joint Base McGuireDix-Lakehurst having purportedly “changed their flight patterns,” but she “can’t ban” the aircraft, but rather has to “tolerate them.”
The attempt at having a rooster prohibition drafted ultimately failed, with Fanucci casting the only vote in favor, and Fenster abstaining. Afterwards, Haines suggested residents with concerns about crowing roosters contact the police to file a complaint under the borough’s noise ordinance.
“Never to be spoken of again, hopefully,” said Haines of calls for a rooster prohibition.
FUND
Burton of the borough’s relationship with the Colony. “We are all on the same team, and help out as much as we can, and we want to continue that.”
He maintained borough residents see very little difference between the municipality and Colony to the point
residents still come to the borough offices to pick up beach tags.
As part of the process, according to Heinold, all of the Colony’s properties were subjected to a “safety inspection” and “all passed.”
Former borough councilman Joseph Aromando III questioned whether there is an “agreement” in place because the municipality “doesn’t oversee what they do.”
COMMUNITY
(Continued from Page 9)
Narozanicks to just make sure the food trucks are in compliance with state regulations, especially in regard to fire safety, because “if the state police come for a complaint, they are going to ask for safety measures.
Deputy Mayor Ronald Heston, in hinting at his position on the issue, pointed to there being an ice cream truck that “just drove out” of the township municipal lot, to which Narozanick said he also observed.
“We understand that every town is different,” said Mary Narozanick, Phil’s sister. “I have looked into a few different townships, and their food truck
Borough Mayor William Fields assured Aromando “there is” an agreement in place that is many pages in length.
Aromando also pointed to Jerry Yowell, a council newcomer, being listed as the Colony’s vice president of Property. Council ultimately approved of the insurance arrangement in a vote with three affirmatives and one abstention (Yowell). Councilman Thomas Cranston was absent from the Aug. 22 session.
ordinances – one being Lumberton. I understand every town is different, and we can all agree townships just want to support and strengthen the connection between the township and the community, and that is what we feel like we do by having our events, and by having the wine tastings with the food trucks. It is a good way to have everybody there. Also, I think it is safer to have food while having wine tastings.”
According to Phil Narozanick, to just give an idea of the “impact we are making,” the Aug. 23 wine tasting event (which has since occurred) raised $3,000 for Angel's Helping Animals. There are two more wine tastings left for the season, Sept. 20 (benefiting the Friends of the Burlington County Animal Shelter) and Oct. 18 (assisting Beacon Animal Rescue).
“The Colony experienced what they experienced not because they have some poor claim history, or not because they are being managed poorly, but this is what has been happening in the insurance industry with substantial increases people are experiencing,” Heinold concluded. “If anything, the Colony probably got a very good rate for many, many years. We are making the best of a bad situation and finding a positive solution to it.”
Photo Provided
Attendees at a recent wine tasting event held at Red Top Farm Market in Southampton Township.
(Continued from Page 4)
