Pine Barrens Tribune September 7, 2024-September 13, 2024

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609-801-2392 Vol. 8 – No. 38

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The News Leader of the Pines

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September 7- September 13, 2024

Umba, Former State Assemblyman and Administrator of Lumberton, Assumes Municipal Administrator Position in Southampton Township Interview with Umba Touches on Reasoning for Accepting Job, Motto for Government, How He Views Financial Obligations of Post, Embracing Shared Services and Preparing for What His Predecessors Faced: Flooding

By Douglas D. M elegari Staff Writer

‘TIME ‘TIME TO GET THIS THIS DONE DONE AND BRACED’ BRACED’ Photo By Douglas D. Melegari

Tabernacle Town Hall.

Medford Lakes-Tabernacle Road is Reopened to Traffic, at Least Temporarily, After Judge Finds Court-Appointed Structural Engineer’s Findings ‘Credible’ That Tabernacle Town Hall Does Not Pose an Imminent Danger of Collapse Condition is That Tabernacle Mayor Will Follow Through on ‘Emergent’ Bracing Plan

By Douglas D. M elegari Staff Writer

TABERNACLE —A detour decree that accompanied an injunction order t e mporar i ly preventi ng de mol ition

of Taber nacle Tow n Hal l has be en temporarily lifted until at least Oct. 1, and the judge who imposed the detour, Richard L. Hertzberg, of Burlington County Superior Court, declared in doing so, “I

don’t want to have to reinstate the detour.”

But it will all depend on whether Tabernacle Township officials will follow through on their commitment to the court See TIME/ Page 6

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SOUTHAMPTON—Brandon Umba sees a lot of similarities between Lumberton Township, where he served as township administrator for six years, from May 2015 to May 2021, and adjacent Southampton Township.

That is partially why Umba, he told this newspaper in an interview, accepted the fulltime position of township administrator for Southampton Township, with his first day on the job Aug. 19.

Umba, a re sident of neig hbor i ng Medford Township who most recently was the administrator for the Borough of Spotswood in Middlesex County, also wanted to be “home,” having just started a family with the birth of his first child back in December, Connor, now 8 months old.

“I am looking forward to serving the community, and am happy to be back in the area,” he said. “Some of my best years of serving as a township administrator were in Lumberton. I loved serving that community, and I really do love Burlington County.”

See ADMINISTRATOR/ Page 7

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Saturday, September 7, 2024

Homes with Red Numbering on Them in Village of Vincentown Slated to Be Torn Down After Being Sold to State Due to ‘Persistent Flooding’ Hampton Lakes Emergency Squad ‘Getting A lot of Volunteer Participation,’ Bucking National Trend and ‘Something We Haven’t Seen,’ Squad Chief Says

By Douglas D. M elegari Staff Writer

SOUTHAMPTON—Several homes along Mill Street in the Village of Vincentown have large red numbers spray painted on them, leading to a question from local Donna Haines as to why at the Aug. 20 Southampton Township Committee meeting.

The scene can be jarring given that Vincentown is a well-kept community with historic houses, many of which are Victorian homes, with a Historic Preservation Committee created to regulate the standards in the downtown for that reason.

Southampton Mayor Michael Mikulski, in answering the query, revealed that the homes, which are in the vicinity of the flood-prone Rancocas Creek, were “sold” to the state through its Blue Acres Flood Buyout Program because they had “persistent flooding” and are now “abandoned homes.”

“Eventually those houses will be torn down,” Mikulski declared.

The Pine Barrens Tribune previously reported that after a major flood in 2019, one of many here in the last two decades, the state sent Blue Acres Program personnel to the township following a visit by Governor Phil Murphy, who had heard directly from a number of exacerbated residents who

were hit by repeated flooding.

Dozens of homeowners ultimately came out for a session to hear more about the program.

The Murphy administration has put an emphasis on the buyout program given repeated rounds of flooding targeting the state, with the administration contending the frequency of such events will only increase due to climate change.

Mikulski, on Aug. 20, however, pointed to a major drawback of the program, which is that once the properties are sold to the state, no new housing can be built on them, and they are permanently taken off the tax rolls.

“We talk about how hard it is to keep taxes low,” Mikulski said. “Each one of those, we are not allowed to resell. Once they complete a tear down, then we have to maintain the properties without getting tax revenue for them. We can’t sell the lots to be a farm, or for one to even extend their backyard.”

Several of the lots are near the historic Telephone Museum, which abuts the creek and reportedly houses the township’s historical archives.

Mikulski was asked on Aug. 20 if this building would also be torn down (one that many previously pushed to be saved and preserved in its current spot, despite the See SOLD/ Page 10

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LOCAL NEWS / FEATURES ♦ Page 3

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Medford’s ‘Fun Run/Walk’ to Stamp Out Hunger Doubled to 10K to Celebrate Its 10th Anniversary

By Jenn Lucas Staff Writer

M E D F O R D —T h e c o m m u n i t y came together on Labor Day to raise money to fight food insecurity during an annual event that not only keeps getting bigger, but also keeps raising more money each year.

Volunteers began before dawn Sept.

2 setting up the courses, prizes and refreshments for the 10th Annual Stamp Out Hunger 5K, organized by the Zallie Community Foundation.

In addition to the 5K and Fun Run/ Walk, a 10K was added this year to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the event, according to Renee Zallie, race director, dietitian and founder of the Zallie Community Foundation.

“September is Hunger Action Month and we wanted to come up with a way to raise money for food insecurity,” Zallie said. “I had the idea of a walk, which turned into a 5K and now it’s a 10K. We feel we’re a conduit between the community and the food bank and wanted to give people a way to support others. Public health is a passion of ours and since a lot of us are nutritionists, we feel everyone deserves access to not just food, but healthy food.”

SEPT.

Stamp Out Hunger began in 2015 with 60 people registered, according to Zallie, and this year more than 500 adults, kids, dogs and babies ran, walked, or were pushed in strollers on one of three routes with a chip to record their time as they crossed the start and finish lines.

Most of those who participated were in it for fun, according to volunteer Jennifer Levas, who was helping sign runners up on the day of the event. Others, however, were competitive runners like Sabina King, who was training for an upcoming race and decided to bring along her three kids, Amadu, 10; Mohamed, 9; Kalatu, 5; and her husband, Ahmed.

“The registration money goes to such a good cause, and I can have a little fun with my kids and husband while getting some extra training in,” she said. “We are really enjoying it.”

Stamp Out Hunger is more than a fundraiser or a race, it brings so many Medford area businesses and organizations together to create a fun atmosphere for all ages with a balloon artist, bubbles, DJ and giveaways.

The St. Mary’s of the Lakes Knights of Columbus were in charge of set up and bringing all the refreshments to the finish line.

“We have been doing it for years, probably since the start,” said Chris Dicristo, who is with Knights of Columbus. “Once we set it all up, we hand it all out then take it all down.”

T he Me d ford Fi re and EMS Department showed up for the first time this year to teach fire prevention, show off the fire trucks and shower the runners at the finish line with water provided from a ladder truck.

“We are always looking to improve our support for the community; we love helping out any way we can,” said Capt. John Holland.

Rich Plowman, a retired chief, noted, “We like doing community outreach.”

“We’re here to make a water curtain to cool the runners as they cross the finish line, if they choose to,” he further described.

Signs thanking community sponsors lined the event area and Zallie said it is because of them that they can do so much good with this fundraiser.

“It’s really a team and community effort, and thanks to the support from our sponsors, all the registration money goes to help families with food and nutrition insecurities” she said. “Every year we add and add, and this year we’re poised to raise about $60,000.”

Saturday, September 7, 2024

Photo By Jenn Lucas

Marco Cardoso cools himself off thanks to the Medford Fire Department who was at the finish line waiting to spray down runners at the Stamp Out Hunger 10K, 5K and Fun Run Sept. 2 in Medford.

To promote your event on this page Events and special contact Jayne Cabrilla at 609-801-2392 promotions happening or email news@pinebarrenstribune.com locally this month!

SEPTEMBER 9 Campbell’s: More Than Just Soup Location: Vincentown

Details: The Southampton Historical Society is presenting “Campbell’s: More Than Just Soup”, on Monday, Sept. 9, at Old Town Hall, 25 Plum St., Vincentown, at 7:30 p.m.

Come out for this special presentation by Marisa Bozarth, Museum Curator, Burlington County Division of Parks. The program follows the company from its humble beginnings as a small canning company, through to becoming a multi-million-dollar global food company. Marisa will discuss Joseph Campbell and others who worked to make the company what it is today, as well as how Burlington County farmers played a role in its success. For more information, contact Kathy Rosmando at 609-859-0524.

Photo By Jenn Lucas

Runners of all ages take off from the starting line during the Stamp Out Hunger 10K, 5K, and Fun Run Sept. 2 in Medford.

Saturday, September 7, 2024

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LOCAL NEWS / FEATURES ♦ Page 5

Key Constituency in Pemboro Demands Return of Public Comment to End of Meetings, with GOP Councilwoman Siding with Residents Republican Mayor, Who So Far Refuses to Budge and Previously Told Public Decision Had ‘Consent of Council,’ Now Says ‘It Was Basically My Decision’

Bass River Could Realize Additional Revenue Generated

by Legal Developments Involving Two Separate Utilities Verizon May Lose Exemption from Paying Any More Property Taxes; Dialog Over Damage Claims Finally Begins with Atlantic City Electric

By Douglas D. M elegari

By Bill Bonvie

Staff Writer

PEMBERTON BOROUGH—A number of increasingly frustrated residents from a key constituency in Pemberton Borough are reiterating their calls for GOP Mayor Bonnie Haines to move the public comment section of the Pemberton Borough Council meetings back to the end of the sessions, where it was prior to Jan. 16.

But Haines continues to not give in to the increasing pressure from her constituents, even though now a Republican councilwoman, Diane Fanucci, has joined with the residents in calling for an immediate policy reversal.

The one thing Haines did do during the latest Aug. 19 session is contradict what she had told the public previously, or that “this decision was made with the consent of council, before it was made, and everyone agreed we give it a try.”

The Pine Barrens Tribune previously reported that there are no meeting minutes to that effect, and such a discussion in an executive session would have been illegal under the Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA).

“It was decided by myself, in conjunction with (Township Administrator and Clerk) Kathy (Smick),” conceded Haines on Aug. 19 when again challenged on the policy, this time by resident Lois Sickles. “We sat down and went over the format of the agenda.”

But there appeared to be some surprise at the dais when Smick’s name was mentioned, causing Haines to clarify further, “It was basically my decision.”

“I am not going to throw anybody else under the bus,” she added. “We did it together.”

Sickles, a resident of the Hearthstone retirement community, the borough’s largest constituency, declared, “I want to know what we can do as residents of Pemberton Borough to get the format of these meetings back to asking questions at the end of the meeting, and I want to know why that changed!”

A s p r ev iou sly r e p or t e d by t h i s newspaper, on Jan. 16, during only Haines’ second council meeting as mayor, residents arrived to find that the agenda order for

council sessions had been changed, with the mayor announcing upon commencement of the meeting that the council is “testing a new agenda format.”

Prior to the public comment changes, residents were given an opportunity under the former GOP Mayor Harold Griffin administration to first comment on consent agenda items only, and then a second opportunity, at the end of council meetings, to comment on any borough business.

Some re sident s wou ld often ask clarifying questions about the business heard during the course of the meetings.

But the new format takes that ability away from residents. Haines has not permitted residents to make comments or talk to their elected officials at the end of the council meetings.

“We are old! We are from an over 55 development! And we like to hear the whole meeting and then digest it, and then at the end of the meeting, ask you all the questions that are important to us,” Sickles said. “Not now (at the beginning of the meetings)!”

Sickles questioned how council can “expect us to ask questions” at the start of the session “when nobody has given us reports” yet.

“I don’t necessarily see your point, but I understand what you are saying,” Haines responded. “I don’t agree with it. If you have any questions about what happened in this meeting, we have a very capable staff, and you can call and ask us questions and you will be given an answer.”

Haines further maintained that members of the public can “call my extension and leave a message” and “I will call you back.”

The public can also “email me and I will respond to you.”

“But we are here tonight!” Sickles retorted. “We are here to listen to a meeting! We are here to listen to every one of you! We would like to come up and voice our opinion on everything you all had to say!”

Sickles repeatedly asked if council can “override” the mayor’s decision, to which she never received an answer.

See MEETINGS/ Page 17

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Issue Date: September 14, 2024

Staff Writer

BASS RIVER—The economic outlook for Bass River Township could soon be brightened considerably should a couple of prospective sources of additional revenue materialize from separate utility companies, even while what is left of a longtime effort to auction off foreclosed properties has been placed “in a holding pattern” for the time being, Township Solicitor JoAnne O’Connor reported at the Aug. 12 meeting of the township commission.

I n a n u n relat e d development, a resolution authorizing the township Office of Uniform Construction to switch its shared services agreement to one with the Borough of Tuckerton and drop a previous one with the neighboring Township of Little Egg Harbor was adopted unanimously by the commissioners.

One potential windfall announced by O’Connor could result from a previous determination that Verizon owed no further property taxes to the township on its infrastructure having now come into question.

What allowed the telecommunications behemoth to be excused from further property tax obligations in Bass River and quite a few other municipalities was its claim that the number of customers for its services had fallen below 51 percent of local residents due to an increase in cellphone usage and a corresponding decrease in landlines, which was the upshot of litigation initiated in 2008 based on a provision of the 1996 Telecommunications Act. While local officials chose not to assess Verizon for those revenues because to do so might have incurred the risk of having to reimburse the company for back taxes plus interest, O’Connor noted, a court ruling has since held that the 51 percent figure is not one that is reviewed annually.

“So hopefully what this means is that basically, the township will be getting some more tax dollars from Verizon,” she maintained.

C ol le c t ively, she a dd e d , su c h a development could end up costing Verizon “a huge, huge dollar amount.”

O’Connor also told the commissioners she had managed to make a meaningful connection with a contractor for Atlantic City Electric in an effort to settle the municipality’s claims of damage to Amasa Landing Road and South Maple Avenue from the installation of new poles, after having initially been “tossed around from person to person on the matter.”

“I am assuming I have a live body that will be there for more than 13 seconds,” the solicitor quipped.

The township, however, has decided to hold off on disposing of the 15 or 16 remaining properties being foreclosed on for back taxes remaining from the dozens that it has successfully sold in order to accommodate new rules governing such foreclosures. Complaints, she said, will now have to be refiled and then served again, with each having to go to a sheriff’s sale at a cost of a couple thousand dollars—an expenditure that in some cases might be less than the asking price.

Changing the shared services agreement from Litle Egg Harbor to Tuckerton, ac cording to Deputy Mayor Louis Bourguignon, followed “a little bit of a hassle” Bass River had with the former municipality. Mayor William “Rick” Adams indicated he was pleased with the new arrangement, saying he thought Bass River would benefit more from Tuckerton being “a smaller town.”

Another shared-service arrangement, this one with the Burlington County Division of Roads and Bridges, has already provided a tangible benefit to the township in the form of two radar feedback, flashing speed-limit signs that have been installed since the Aug. 12 meeting by the division on North Maple Avenue, Bourguignon told the Pine Barrens Tribune in a subsequent phone interview. The commissioner added that he wanted to express his thanks to officials there for acting so promptly on that commitment, which Adams had just announced during that session.

In regard to a separate road-related matter that came up at the meeting, Bourguignon characterized as premature See REVENUE/ Page 14

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Woodland Resident Recounts Being Victim of Recent 3-Vehicle Crash in Chatsworth, Warning ‘Town Is Getting More and More Dangerous’ Victim Calls on Committee to Demand Traffic Enforcement by State Police; Locals, Committeewoman Address Altercation That Followed July Meeting

By Douglas D. M elegari Staff Writer

WOODLAND—A regular meeting attendee of the Woodland Township Committee, Jane Donoghue, became emotional during an Aug. 28 session in recounting a traffic accident she was in the week before, on Aug. 21, while attempting to make a left turn onto Jones Mill Road from County Route 563 in the Chatsworth section of the municipality.

“I have been begging you guys for State Troopers out here,” she said. “On Wednesday, I was rear ended by someone going over 60 mph.”

Donoghue described that an unidentified male motorist “totaled his car” and “totaled another innocent individual’s car.”

“And he did about $10,000 worth of damage to my truck,” Donoghue described. “If I was not in my truck, I would not be standing here tonight – I would be dead on the road.”

Donoghue charged the “Troopers don’t care” about the township’s purported ongoing speeding problems.

“You guys have got to get on their butts and make them get out there and do their jobs!” Donoghue declared. “Because next time, someone is not going to be so lucky.

We were all lucky to remove ourselves from our vehicles and walk away.”

Donoghue observed of the speeding problem in town, “This town is getting more and more dangerous.”

“An idiot passed me coming through town on a double-yellow line, going 60 mph,” she said of another incident that followed the crash.

“Every morning on this road, I get passed five or six times. And I don’t drive slow.”

Donoghue had this warning for the township committee and local officials: “somebody is going to get killed and it is going to be on all of you.”

Mayor William “Billy” DeGroff was absent from the meeting. There was no response to the calls for an increase in policing.

At a preceding committee session in July, both Donoghue and resident Terry Sheerin (frequently outspoken on township issues) contended that no Nixle emergency notification was sent to residents with information about the early July Tea Time Hill Wildfire, until calls were made to Committeewoman Donna Mull, and only one notification followed those calls, despite the wildfire having burned heavily for five days along the Woodland border with Tabernacle Township.

They questioned why that was, with She er i n a lso obs er v i ng Mu n ic ipa l Emergency Management Coordinator Michael Huber was not present at the first committee meeting held since the fire to give a report, and recounting that he seldom attends governing body meetings.

Huber showed up, however, to this latest committee meeting following the fallout.

“The New Jersey Forest Fire Service is on top of any incidents we had, locally,” he reported. “There has been no impact to the town, and no threats to property or life.”

Sheerin had also made a point at the

preceding session that she was unable to obtain a plan of what to do in case an emergency should arise in town, and felt that residents should know where to go in case of an emergency moving forward.

“Next month, at the Sept. 25 meeting, I plan to do a little presentation, kind of just going over the general emergency action plan for the town, and explaining best practices for emergencies and forest fire safety,” Huber said.

That presentation, he added, might “potentially” also feature a representative of the New Jersey Forest Fire Service.

“We will be going over a bit about what OEM does and does not do,” Huber said.

When Donoghue and Sheerin, during the preceding session, were airing their grievances and asking questions, a member of the local Land Use Board was heard making comments off the cuff. It culminated into an exchange that DeGroff quickly cut short, saying he was not going to have that occur during a meeting.

But apparently, shortly after the July meeting was adjourned, an altercation purportedly occurred in the hallway of the municipal building involving the Land Use Board member, Donoghue and Sheerin, with Mull an eyewitness to it.

“There was an issue in the lobby of last month’s meeting, when the meeting was over,” Donoghue recognized. “I was extremely disturbed about the comments that were made, and I sent a letter … calling for this individual’s resignation from the township and removal from the Land Use Board. The comments that were made were totally unacceptable for anyone who holds any responsibility for making the decisions of this township.”

D o nog hu e , w it hout i d e nt i f y i ng the member at issue, maintained the individual’s “behavior” on that night was “completely and totally unacceptable.”

Sheerin, meanwhile, said she does not think an individual just wakes up one morning with the intent to disrupt those exercising their right to speak at a public meeting.

“It bothers me that message is being transferred to people in town,” she claimed. “What happened last month was unnecessary.”

Sheerin, who described herself as having a “civic mind” in emphasizing why she speaks out at the meetings, took issue with what she observed is a premise arrived at by officials that she had instigated the altercation, vigorously maintaining, “I didn’t attack the guy; I spoke out and asked someone to behave during the public portion of the meeting.”

“I think everyone has a right to speak, and being a veteran, I earned that right to speak,” Sheerin declared. “We have to come together as a township.”

Sheerin further asserted, “I am not the adversary here,” and in emphasizing that point, offered to lend a hand to Township Administrator and Clerk Maryalice Brown with insurance issues given her “insurance background (in reference to the denial of an insurance claim for a Fire and EMS See CRASH/ Page 12

TIME

(Continued from Page 1) to act in an “emergent” fashion to internally brace the municipal building to alleviate structural concerns.

Hertzberg advised both Mayor Noble McNaughton and Township Solicitor Wi l l iam Bur ns, attendi ng i n-p erson an Aug. 29 hear ing, that he exp ects there to be an “expeditious, expedient, and efficient” effort on their part to “re asonably m itigate the str uct u ral problems” of Town Hall, as outlined in a report by independent court-appointed Structural Engineer Melanie Rodbart, of J&M Preservation Studio.

“What we have here today is a bit of an unusual proceeding,” is how Hertzberg opened the proceedings.

And things turned even more unusual during the latest court hearing, which made for a lengthy proceeding.

Rodbart, as previously reported by this newspaper, wrote in her report that Town Hall is not in imminent danger of collapse, having contradicted the earlier claims of Township Architect Scott England, Tom Leisse, of Pennoni Associates, who had been served as municipal engineer, Constr uction Of fic ial Tom Boyd, as well as two initial structural engineers retained by the township after the fallout of a previous governing body decision (since reversed under new leadership) to demolish the building, Jay Rosen, of SE2 Engineering, and Michael A. Beach, of Michael A. Beach & Associates.

“J&M concluded that Tab er nacle Town Hall has structural instabilities and moisture infiltration in var ious locations throughout the building, but it is not in imminent danger of collapse, or a danger to human life,” Rodbart testified on Aug. 29.

Just prior to Rodbart’s inspection came a reversal from Pennoni in its position that the building posed an imminent danger of collapse, after Rich Roberts, a structural engineer for the firm, was brought in to evaluate the building.

I m m e d iat ely fol low i ng Ro db a r t ’s testimony on Aug. 29, Burns entered a “stipulation” into the record that “based on Ms. Rodbart’s specific experience with aging and historic buildings,” Pennoni, including Leisse, as well as Boyd (though it was pointed out he is not an engineer), would concur with Rodbart’s findings so long as there is an “implementation of J&M’s plan to stabilize the structural integrity of the building.”

“That is acceptable to the court,” Hertzberg declared.

It was apparently thought that it would bring a quick end to the deliberations.

But Rosen, when brought to the stand and asked by Hertzberg if he disagreed with the stipulation entered into by Pennoni, adamantly declared, “Yes, I do!” in what the judge ultimately described as testimony in which Rosen displayed “candor” with him “sticking to your guns.”

“Alright then, how do you disagree with it?” inquired Hertzberg, to which Rosen responded, “I cannot endorse a plan in which I have not been privy to the report.”

“In my professional judgement, if the other engineer wants to take on the responsibility and design, it is on her,” Rosen added. “I have no liability, and do not want to assume that risk at all.”

Rodbart, whose testimony preceded that of Rosen, attested that while she did not find

Saturday, September 7, 2024 Town Hall posing an imminent danger of collapse, it was “clear, in not getting too far into the basement, that there is an urgent area that could lead into additional unsafe conditions” if not addressed.

In further elaborating on what that is, she described observing a “hole in the wall, on the south side of the building, in which daylight is visible.”

“At this location, the sill plate, which is the wood structure that holds up the wood studs, was also deteriorated and also had insect damage on it,” she noted.

“The beam that intersects this area was also damaged and the incoming joists were previously reinforced with steel, but the beam itself was not reinforced. Directly above this area is a load bearing wall that we measured has deflected 4 inches over the course of 11 feet.”

She added that Boyd, during her site visit, had pointed out to her that a door in the administrator’s office had been removed because it was “rubbing” on the floor, sig nifying what she called “active movement” in the building. Yet, she observed that she “didn’t notice any cracking or movement in the walls in the ceiling area, indicating displacement had occurred either at a slow pace, over time, or was covered over.”

Rodbart told the court that she believed that by “filling in the south wall” of the building and “installing temporary shoring to support the deteriorated first-floor beam” below the administrator’s office, if “addressed ASAP,” would “prevent an unsafe condition” and “irreversible damage to the building.”

Hertzberg, at one point, asked Rodbart if she had read the findings of the other structural engineers that arrived at a different conclusion about the risk the building posed, to which she responded, “I went through their observations and did not disagree with their observations and the majority of recommendations, as they were aligned with my approach and takeaway from the building.”

How e v e r, s h e a d d e d , “ f r o m m y experience, in seeing a building in this condition, it is not in imminent danger of collapse, so, I disagree with their last finding – to go from those observations and recommendations to say the building is in imminent danger, as it is unoccupied, I disagree with.”

Hertzberg then asked Rodbart “to the extent you can,” whether she would “attr ibut e the d i f ferent c onclu sions reached to your specialization in assessing older structures.”

“Ye s, my exp er ienc e is ba s e d on existing buildings,” said Rodbart in describing to the court she has almost 20 years of hands-on experience exclusively working on existing buildings (she does not work with new construction). “Most of them are unstable, and I work in buildings that have active collapse, the majority of the time.”

Hertzberg, when Rosen took the stand, specifically inquired of him whether he agrees with Rodbart’s conclusion that there is “‘no imminent danger of collapse.’”

“I do disagree with her,” said Rosen e m p h a t i c a l l y, t o w h i c h H e r t z b e r g responded with another query, asking if he believes there is a risk to “life and limb,” causing the SE2 structural engineer to reply, “I do!”

The judge demanded to know of Rosen, “Why is that?”

See TIME/ Page 15

Saturday, September 7, 2024

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LOCAL NEWS / FEATURES ♦ Page 7

ADMINISTRATOR

Medford Lakes Boro Council to Consider Banning Parking on Lawns It Follows Complaint from Resident That His Neighbor Parks Both Cars, Trailer On Lawn Abutting Side Road, Which Face His Driveway, Calling Matter ‘Big Deal’

By Douglas D. M elegari Staff Writer

MEDFORD LA K ES — Shou ld residents of Medford Lakes Borough be allowed to park their vehicles elsewhere on their properties, besides in their designated driveways?

It appears to be a question Medford Lakes Borough Council will take up soon following a resident complaint during an Aug. 22 council session.

The circumstances leading to all of this are somewhat unique.

Resident David Russo, who aired the grievance, has a front porch that fac es Mckendi men Road. He has a sidewalk that leads to a mailbox there, and therefore is assigned a Mckendimen Road address.

Syosset Trail separates his yard from his neighbor’s yard. Russo’s driveway, where he parks his vehicles, is on Syosset Trail, not Mckendimen Road.

His neighbor also has a front porch facing Mckendimen Road, and as such, a Mckendimen Road address. But unlike Russo’s property, the neighbor’s driveway is on Mckendimen Road.

However, his neighbor, he maintains (and as shown on Google maps) also parks his vehicles and carry-on trailer on the part of his property facing Syosset

Trail. As evidenced by Google maps, the parking over time has killed some of the grass, giving the appearance of a makeshift second driveway.

“My neighbor just likes to park his cars on his lawn, in the middle of his lawn,” Russo charged to council. “It is the area on the side, adjacent to my driveway.”

The fact that his neighbor parks his vehicles on the “lawn” and also purportedly has a trailer parked there, going on three years, Russo maintained, “is a big deal to me.”

A “second big deal,” he contended, is that “if I ever sell my house, or someone comes here, there are two cars parked on the guy’s lawn.”

“There is no driveway, no easement,” Russo said. “I am just asking that you look at that, and make an ordinance to prevent that.”

Russo said he inquired of the borough as to whether there is an ordinance prohibiting the parking of cars on the lawn, and learned there is not.

“When my friends and family come, it is an eyesore,” Russo contended. “It looks like a junkyard.”

Borough Manager Dr. Robert Burton responded that in speaking to Borough Code Official David Crane, “we don’t have See PARKING/ Page 12

(Continued from Page 1)

File Photo

Brandon Umba, a former 8th District assemblyman and municipal administrator for West Deptford, Lumberton, Manchester and Spotswood, assumes Southampton administrator post.

While West Deptford in Gloucester County is where Umba grew up as part of the third generation of his family, it is in Burlington County where he met his wife, a multi-generational resident whose dad was a police officer and mom a nurse for a local hospital system.

“I have been able to grow from being a college graduate, to the career I am in now, start a family, and welcome my son,” Umba declared. “Burlington County has become my home. West Deptford was where I was raised, but Burlington County has really become my home, and I am always drawn to try to help the people of Burlington County because they are my neighbors.”

Umba, who readers might recognize was

the Republican assemblyman of the local 8th Legislative District from 2021 to 2023, earned his bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Government from The Catholic University of America in 2008.

But while Umba was in college, he interned from 2006 to 2008 for now-former GOP Congressman Frank LoBiondo, then a representative of New Jersey’s Second Congressional District.

Umba told this newspaper he “never expected to come back to New Jersey” as he “fell in love with D.C.,” but both LoBiondo and Jim Saxton, a former congressman of the state’s Third Congressional District, had convinced him to come back to the state and run the campaign for Chris Myers, a Republican who sought to replace Saxton when the latter congressman decided to retire.

While Myers ultimately lost his race, Umba, the following year, became the political director for the Burlington County Republican Committee, helping to run the campaign for then-GOP freeholders Bruce Garganio and Mary Ann O’Brien. It is then, according to Umba, when he “started learning about municipal government.”

But Umba described to this newspaper he “always had an eye on getting back to D.C.,” that is until he met Jon Runyan, who played football for 14 seasons as an offensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL), including for the Philadelphia Eagles, and ultimately served as a GOP congressman for the Third Congressional District from 2011 to 2015.

Umba was a field director for Runyan’s

See ADMINISTRATOR/ Page 8

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LOCAL NEWS / FEATURES

ADMINISTRATOR (Continued from Page 7)

2010 campaign, and then served for two years as his director of Constituent Outreach.

“I wanted to go back to D.C. when Jon won, and he came back to me and said, ‘You know too many people in New Jersey, and I would like you to work in my district office,’” Umba recounted. “So, Jon Runyan basically convinced me as a third-generation resident of New Jersey that I needed to stay here and stop thinking that I want to go back to D.C.” Runyan and Umba were together for a fundraiser when the then-congressman pointed out to Umba that Umba’s hometown of West Deptford was undergoing a “changeover in government.”

“Jon said, ‘You know I think you can make a lot of change in local government, Brandon,’” Umba recalled. ‘“You are passionate, and I think you should switch from federal to local town government.’”

Umba had assisted West Deptford’s youth recreation program, and also “threw trash” for the municipality’s Department of Public Works to earn money while interning for LoBiondo. Shortly after Runyan pointed to the change in government occurring in Umba’s hometow n, the municipal administrator post opened there, and Umba applied for and landed the job.

“11 years ago, in 2014, I started as a township administrator, and I have been a township administrator ever since,” Umba said. “I have loved every minute of it.”

Umba left West Deptford in 2015 for the job of municipal administrator in Lumberton. It was a post he held until 2021, leaving just as Lumberton came under full Democratic control.

He then briefly served as administrator for the Township of Franklin, before moving on to be the business administrator of Manchester Township in Ocean County, a post he held for almost two years.

In the midst of his Manchester role, he began serving as a state assemblyman.

Then, after a change in political headwinds in Manchester, he filled the administrator post in Spotswood. Umba described to this newspaper that “it was a commute” for him to go to Middlesex County, but that he was doing so to help out a “former colleague,” Republican Assemblywoman Victoria Flynn, also an attorney for that area.

“My wife and I welcomed our first born, Connor, 8 months ago in December,” Umba said. “I was always looking to get back into the Burlington County area, so I would be closer

WWW.PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM to home. As we are starting a family, I want to be there, and I want to be more present in Connor’s life – and really this is home. So, I want to make sure I am closer to home.”

By working in Southampton, Umba can “go home for lunch,” he told this newspaper and spend some time with his wife, who currently works a hybrid schedule.

As for choosing to work in Southampton, Umba noted that Southampton and Lumberton are “very similar communities.”

“And there was always talk of doing a lot of shared services with Southampton and we still do a lot of shared services with Southampton,” he said.

Umba described that a few members of the Southampton governing body, “having known them from serving the community,” had asked him if he was interested and would apply for the Southampton municipal administrator post recently vacated by Kathleen D. Hoffman, who retired at the end of June.

“I told them I am trying to get closer to home,” he said.

Reflecting that he “loved every minute” of the Lumberton position and on the striking “similarities,” Umba said he arrived at the conclusion he can “accomplish a lot of good things for this community,” and therefore accepted the Southampton job.

Umba, on his LinkedIn profile page, notes that during his Lumberton tenure, he oversaw a roughly $9 million municipal budget and $10 million capital budget, and lists as one of his “major achievements” having reduced the local tax rate in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021 from a .421 rate to .389 rate, “all while growing the township’s surplus of more than $2.8 million.”

This newspaper asked him how he might do the same for Southampton.

His response began by explain ing that when he assumed the municipal administrator post in Lumberton, the town did not have an administrator for five years and a local referendum had just failed, forcing the town to “lay off a lot of people.”

“So, it was a lot of rebuilding,” Umba maintained. “When I started there, they had (basically) no surplus – I think they had $200,000 in surplus.”

He said he “set out” to build it up, setting a policy “to hold no less than $2.5 million in surplus and anything above that you can use in the budget.” Gone, he contended, were the days of the township using surplus to pay for salaries, for example.

“If you are going to use surplus as a one-time revenue source, you need to use

See ADMINISTRATOR/ Page 14

Off-Duty Medford Twp. Police Officer Reportedly Struck by Vehicle MEDFORD —A female, of f- duty Medford Township Police Department officer was struck in an Aug. 30 ‭c rash at the intersection of Taunton Lake and Hopewell roads in Medford (where Taunton Boulevard also intersects), near the border with Evesham Township.

According to Lt. Dan Burdette, a spokesman for the Evesham Township Police Department, which is ‭leading the investigation due to the “conflict of interest,” an investigation found that the 29-year-old off-duty police officer was riding a bicycle when she was struck by a vehicle operated by a 41-year-old Medford resident.

Police have so far not released the identities of those involved in the crash.

“The off-duty police officer suffered

moderate injuries, and she was treated and released from Virtua Hospital in Marlton,” Burdette told this newspaper.

This investigation, he added, is ongoing.

No charges have been filed as of press time.

If anyone witnessed this crash, Burdette is asking that they contact the Evesham Police Department at ‭856-983-1116 or via email at Facebook@eveshampd.org.

The crash occurred all as a number of residents from Taunton Boulevard in Medford are asking for ‭i mproved traffic enforcement and safety mechanisms in the Lake Pine area, particularly on Taunton Boulevard. Some of them have been vocal since the crash that more needs to be done to improve ‭traffic safety.

Saturday, September 7, 2024

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LOCAL NEWS / FEATURES ♦ Page 9

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LOCAL NEWS / FEATURES

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Saturday, September 7, 2024

Photo By Douglas D. Melegari

A home with a red number spray painted on it, slated to be torn down on Mill Street in the Village of Vincentown.

SOLD

(Continued from Page 2) repeated flooding).

“The old phone building will not be torn down,” Mikulski vowed.

Resident Susan Costales previously questioned why she could not find the veteran’s banner for her late husband hanging in the Village of Vincentown this year (banners for the township’s veterans are usually hung as tradition to honor the vets).

Deputy Mayor Ron Heston had previously explained that there is a “stack this high of banners that would be disrespectful to hang” because they have been weathered, and the local Junior Order of United American Mechanics, which plays an instrumental part in the banner-hanging project, was accepting orders for replacements.

“I want to thank Ron Heston for helping me get a new flag for my husband – a veteran,” said Costales during this latest committee session.

Kevin Boyd, a for mer member of the LeisureTowne Board of Trustees, had a new question for the township committee – inquiring when storm inlets in LeisureTowne would be cleaned again.

“Cleaning out storm inlets proved to be effective,” said Boyd of his time on the board, noting he had previously “championed” the project.

Mikulski explained, in response, that the township utilizes the services of the county to clean the storm inlets, but is presently unaware of where Southampton falls on the rotation.

“Let’s make sure we get on the schedule,” the mayor directed the township staff.

Boyd also inquired about whether street sweeping would occur again this year in LeisureTowne, to which Mikulski replied, “Yes, the county wasn’t giving us advance notice, but they have been out in LeisureTowne this year.”

“We are on a regular rotation with them,” the mayor added. “They do their best to give us notice.”

LeisureTow ne Board of Tr uste es President Bill Cozzi, in joining in on the conversation, maintained “we requested several times for the stor m drains, especially the ones that are the inlets for the lakes, to be cleaned out and we have not seen that done at all.”

“We are in the process now of starting to clean our culverts,” Cozzi noted. “And we need that extra support to get proper water flow.”

Mikulski responded that the township

“doesn’t have the equipment” to do it on its own, to which Cozzi suggested that the township possibly partner with the company the LeisureTowne Homeowners Association has retained to clean out its lakes (an ongoing project), but Mikulski maintained that the municipality can’t do that because it is a governmental agency, which must follow state contracting restrictions and procedures.

Announcements from the mayor during the latest committee session included that the township engineer has been directed to evaluate the township’s basketball courts at the municipal building to see how they can be improved, if not “double or triple” the number of them.

“There has been a big crowd of cars out here as the basketball court is filled with kids playing, basically from after work time till dark,” Mikulski said. “The games are refereed and actually organized, so I think it would be a good thing to enhance what we have as athletic activities here.”

Mikulski expressed his hope that the engineer would get pricing to the township committee for such a project sometime after Labor Day. The committee, also on Aug. 20, awarded a $446,015 contract to Asphalt Paving Systems, of Hammonton, to conduct Phase III of improvements to Retreat Road.

The meeting was capped off by a pronouncement from Hampton Lakes Emergency Squad Chief Eamonn FitzpatrickRuth that the entity has “onboarded three new staff members – all volunteers.”

“As we have talked about in the past, we are seeing a great trend of bringing in more volunteers, year-after-year,” Fitzpatrick-Ruth said. “If you go back about five years, we had about two or three volunteers, total, in the organization. Right now, as of these three members coming on board, we are up to 18.”

In response to a question from Mikulski, Fitzpatrick-Ruth explained that currently “30 to 40 percent of our shifts are staffed with volunteers.”

“We are getting a lot of volunteer participation, which is something we haven’t seen,” Fitzpatrick-Ruth declared.

“It is definitely very opposite what the national trend is – so we are happy to have them. The longevity of the volunteers isn’t what we used to see, of course. We don’t see those 10, 15-year volunteers. We see a year, two years of volunteerism and then they look for a paid position. But nonetheless, we are still bolstering the ranks with volunteers, which is fantastic.”

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TRUCKER APPRECIATION WEEK ♦ Page 11

Trucker Drivers:

National Truck Driver Appreciation Week September 15 to 21, 2024

Sharing the road with big rigs: essential safety tips Big rigs are vital to our economy, but their size and weight can be intimidating for smaller vehicles. By following these tips, you can navigate the roads alongside them safely and confidently:

4. Minimize distractions. Driving requires focus, especially near large vehicles. Put down your phone, avoid fiddling with the radio and stay alert to the road and the truck’s movements.

1. Give them plenty of space. Due to their weight, big rigs take longer to stop and maneuver. Maintain a safe following distance of at least three to four car lengths. Trucks also need extra space to turn, so anticipate wide swings when rounding a corner.

5. Be predictable. Erratic driving is dangerous around any vehicle, but big rigs have less room for error. Signal your intentions, maintain a steady speed and avoid weaving in and out of traffic.

2. Know their blind spots. Trucks have large blind spots on their sides, front and directly behind the trailer. Avoid lingering next to a truck, especially on the right side. If you can’t see the truck driver in their mirror, they can’t see you.

3. Pass safely and decisively. When passing a truck, use your turn signal well in advance and only pass when the oncoming lane is empty.

Once you’ve passed the truck, use your turn signal again before merging back into your lane.

Remember, everyone deserves to arrive at their destination safely. A little patience and respect goes a long way.

National Truck Driver Appreciation Week takes place September 15 to 21, a time to show professional truck drivers appreciation and support for their hard work. Learn more by visiting ntdaw.trucking.org.

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“At the end of the day, a lot of people want to help and be part of the town,” Sheerin said. “This divisiveness has to stop.”

Mull responded that “I don’t see you two as coming in here and being divisive,” declaring, “I don’t know why you think I think that of you.”

a resident complaint she received that the transfer station is “looking a little trashy.”

Brown also announced that she met with Township Engineer Tom Leisse “two weeks ago” to review the municipal building’s roofing and siding, and as a result of the findings, “the roof is probably going to need to be re-shingled” and as for the siding, he “was not sure whether it can be re-shielded or needs to be replaced,” but that he observed “some spots are significantly deteriorated.”

She further maintained Leisse’s lack of attendance at the latest session is because he is on vacation. It was the third month in a row, however, that he was absent from a Woodland committee session, with him not being seen at a local public committee session since a debacle in neighboring Tabernacle over the Town Hall there led to his apparently being replaced in that town as the local engineer.

Additionally, Brown said Leisse has been asked to “design the layout for the Veteran’s Monument out front,” but no further details were offered on what officials hope to accomplish with the project.

brought to the borough’s attention, Burton said he thinks council should permit parking in “designated driveways” or allow “on-street parking,” but that “front law ns or side law ns shou ld probably be a no-no” for parking.

Borough Solicitor Doug Heinold, also a Medford Lakes resident, in response to Burton, pointed out “many towns do

regulate that.”

“I can provide examples and then we can make a determination,” Heinold added.

Medford Lakes Mayor William Fields observed that “people park out in front of houses, in front of the road,” with Heinold noting that when it comes to the borough, “some don’t put stone down” for their driveways.

“It is a somewhat unique situation,” Heinold said. “I would word carefully, and at least create a setback, at a minimum.”

A message left with a listed phone number of Russo’s neighbor was not returned as of press time, and an attempt to contact the individual through social media was unsuccessful.

Photo By John Dooley

company vehicle, as revealed in an email that was included in a meeting packet),” as well as to assist Huber.

PARKING

(Continued from Page 7) anything that prohibits that,” or parking on lawns.

“As odd as it may seem, we don’t have people who do that,” Burton contended.

However, in light of the situation

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But “what I do know,” Mull continued, “is that the situation that happened last month could have been avoided.” The committeewoman expressed her belief that the women could have “ignored” the comments being made by “the other person.”

“Whatever the case may be, things were said, and the person was told to be quiet,” Mull recounted. “In the hallway, that totally was out of control. From what I saw being out there, people were going after the certain person who made the comments. He was talking back, yes, but it was unnecessary. All of it was unnecessary. If you guys want to do that sort of thing, you can go outside from now on, because we don’t want to hear it. We are here to run the business of the town, and we are doing the best we can up here.”

In running the business of the town on Aug. 28, the committee passed, 2-0, an ordinance updating the salary ranges for township positions, and introduced another that would establish cannabis taxation rates, but the intent behind the items was not explained.

Donald Estlow was also hired as “maintenance man #2,” with Brown describing that she would debrief him on

The crowd attending an Aug. 28 Woodland committee session listens intently to the township business.

(Continued from Page 6)

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LOCAL NEWS / FEATURES

REVENUE

(Continued from Page 5) a number of complaints he claimed to have gotten about how bad a job the repaving of South Maple Avenue was.

“That is a base coat, not a finished coat,” he said. “But (on) social media, you know how people jump on things and say, ‘How can you leave it like that?’ Well, it will be done like all the other roads that are done here.”

T he c ontractor, A rawak Pav i ng Company, he added, has been responsible for many other local road projects, and “We’ve never had any problems with them.”

That, however, apparently isn’t so much the case with the reconstruction of the bridge on Route 542, which has been delayed due to an apparent error in the shipment of steel components that was delivered to the site.

“When they checked it, it was supposed to have coding on it,” the commissioner noted.

But when it was found to lack the required specifications, “they had to take all that steel on trucks back to where they got it,” Bourguignon added.

Then they’re going to bring it all the way back again,” he said. “So figure that out.”

Adams, when later queried about that job by the Pine Barrens Tribune, said the span will stay open until the start of the work, which he estimated would take about a year to complete, during which traffic will detour onto Route 679 (Chatsworth Road) to Leektown Road, then back to Route 542.

During the public comment period, just prior to the close of the meeting, a question posed by resident Ashley Cramer about the ownership of the local fire company opened the door to a warning about its future by Bourguignon, a 30-year veteran of the Bass River department.

A f t e r B ou rg u ig non a nd Ad a m s responded that the fire company owned

ADMINISTRATOR (Continued from Page 8)

it on one-time projects, such as a road or park” Umba declared. “You don’t put it toward something that is going to recur like salaries, pensions and healthcare. That is the approach I am going to take here.”

Umb a not e d h e s e e s h i s rol e a s municipal administrator as “principally finance driven,” though “there are other components to it.”

“My biggest pet peeve in government financing is that no one thinks to the next year, but let’s just get this year’s budget done and then worry about next year,” Umba said. “I am a big proponent of making sure you are looking at the long range.”

Umb a , j u s t a fe w d ay s i nt o h i s new position, already had the entire Southampton Township budget on his desk, as well as reports he had pulled, including ones detailing Southampton’s debt service payments.

“One thing I found when I got here in Southampton is their debt service stays pretty consistent next year, it goes down from $1.4 million to $1.26 million, and then after that, in 2026, it goes down to $1.24 million, so that is a $155,000 decrease, and then going from 2025 to 2026, there is a $175,000 decrease. And then, from 2026 to 2027, there is a $511,000 decrease in debt service payments.”

The projected decline of $511,000, he said,

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the building but the township owned the vehicles and equipment, the mayor then inquired whether Cramer was having some problem with the department.

She replied that her concern was over whether the company’s trucks were “rolling out without the right number of people on board” and whether they were all properly certified.

“I appreciate that they’re volunteers,” she said, but indicated she had seen trucks leaving with just one person on board.

That led O’Connor to enumerate all the different agency standards municipal fire companies are obliged to comply with in the manning of their vehicles. “ We don't have the ability to tell them how to operate on a day-to-day basis,” she contended, although the township can “give them donations and provide equipment.” But jurisdiction over fire companies, the solicitor noted, falls under the state’s Department of Community Affairs Division of Fire Safety, whose responsibility it is to check on all independent fire departments and ascertain that they “meet all the standards.”

Her response, in tur n, prompted Bourguignon to predict, based on his considerable experience, that providing fire and EMS services “is all going to eventually regionalize,” resulting in a substantial rise in taxes, which he warned the public should be prepared for because “that’s what’s going to happen.”

“Volunteers are getting less and less,” he maintained, citing his own problems with having to recertify as an EMS provider every three years, which he said he doesn’t have time to do anymore, meaning that he can now only drive a department vehicle, but can no longer legally treat someone in an emergency, despite all his experience.

“I u nderst and p eople shou ld b e certified, but that doesn’t mean you’re a good fireman or a good EMT,” he added. has indicated “now we know there will be that opening there,” so that would be an ideal opportunity to evaluate “what type of capital projects do you need to do – what roads, what parks need to be addressed.”

“So that is the approach I will take to the budget,” Umba declared. “My goal always is to keep the budget increases flat, or to the lowest possible point. In New Jersey, you have to look at what your trends are. If you can keep the budget flat with a healthy surplus, that is always the goal a municipal manager wants to see.”

In Lumberton, Umba recounted, “we made a long-term plan,” having debt service and capital improvements “so it all folds into one,” calling such a plan “the key to doing things.”

“This is so you are not skimping on services residents expect you to do, but are also managing the budget accordingly, so that you still have your contractual raises and things like that, and can fit it into your framework,” Umba noted.

Contributing to his optimism that he can do great things for Southampton is that “Lumberton has continued the budget trend we left them,” and while Lumberton has since changed administrators, “they have been able to keep a healthy surplus and budget for its residents” all while having “been able to continue to meet their obligations.”

“So, that is what we will look to do here as well,” Umba vowed.

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(Continued from Page 6) “The building is 150 years old, in a state of collapse!” Rosen answered. “Things are moved, the foundation is crumbling! It is wet down there, and electrical service there is unsafe for people to enter! The roof has been haphazardly repaired over time and is not erected in accordance with what I would consider standard engineering procedures!

The joists are cracked, the stairways are cut.

There are many issues.”

Rosen began becoming somewhat testy when Hertzberg pointed to Rodbart’s background “dealing with h istor ical structures,” to which he responded, “I dealt with every type of building!”

Rodbart, during her time on the stand, recognized that she “can’t say there is a zero risk of collapse,” but maintained it is “unlikely” that it would occur in the absence of an “act of God, such as lightning, a fire, a hurricane, a tornado, or an earthquake.”

“If a semi-truck drove into the building, would it collapse?” she asked. “Yes. But I can’t predict those situations. However, based on the way the building is situated at that location, and performing in the current state during my July 31 site visit, it is unlikely it would collapse in its current condition without those events happening.”

Hertzberg asked Rosen if he agreed with Rodbart that it would take an unusual event to bring down the building, to which he answered the “issue” is that he is “required to design by present code,” and the building should be able to actually withstand a hurricane.

“I don’t want kids or school buses in that area if I can’t state with certainty that the building conforms to present code,” he continued. “I can’t approve another engineer’s design that I can’t see.”

Around the time the building was found to be posing an imminent danger of collapse, the strongest earthquake in more than 240 years occurred in New Jersey. Hertzberg asked if Rosen’s report was issued before or after the earthquake.

Rosen replied his report was issued on April 10, to which Hertzberg ordered his staff to check the date of the earthquake. He soon received confirmation it was on April 5.

When Hertzberg subsequently asked Rosen whether he had been aware there had just been an earthquake five days prior to his report coming out, Rosen declared, “It doesn’t matter to me!”

Rosen would ultimately acknowledge, however, there are “absolutely” ways to mitigate the threat of imminent collapse of Town Hall and that he “has an opinion” about how that can be done, and when asked by the judge to expand on it, replied, “It can be done with steel, wood, and cross bracing.”

During cross examination by Attorney Matthew Litt, representing the plaintiffs, Rosen described that he “very rarely pushes the panic button” and is a “believer anything can be fixed.”

“Why then did you push the panic button?” asked Litt, in questioning how Rosen got to the conclusion the Town Hall needed to be torn down immediately.

Rosen snapped that the “foundation is crumbling – there is a hole in there,” in addition to Town Hall having “active weather filtration” issues and failing beams and joists, as well as its stairs having been “cut down to prevent a fireman from getting in and out, potentially of the building, if it is on fire.”

“There is an unconventional truss in the roof!” he continued. “The siding was put on

with dry wall screws! … Do you want me to keep going?!”

Rosen added that his conclusion was based on “multiple things here that are wrong,” doubling down on a controversial claim that “given the circumstances of a leaning building, it has the potential it can collapse and can no longer sustain itself.”

As prev iously repor ted by th is n e w s p a p e r, Ro s e n w a s a m o n g t h e tow nsh ip -retained professionals who s i g n e d c e r t i fi c a t i o n s t o t h e c o u r t indicating the building was in imminent danger of collapse in a bid to challenge Hertzberg’s injunction (the certifications were for a Motion for Reconsideration filed by Burns), and Hertzberg queried Rosen as to a “concern” of his that they all seemed “identical.”

“Most engineers are all going to be in the same ballpark,” Rosen replied. “I think we are all in the same ballpark.”

It led Hertzberg to ask, “So, is Ms. Rodbart out of the ballpark?”

“No, she is putting her spin on it based on her experience,” Rosen responded. “She is entitled to her opinion. I don’t think she has done a complete job and needs to do a more complete analysis.”

Rosen then recognized he might be “overly conservative,” but that he is thinking of “life and safety,” to which Hertzberg snapped, “That is why I am here!”

“Is this a situation where reasonable minds can differ?” asked the judge, to which Rosen responded, “I would say, yes.”

“It is interesting we do agree on the work that needs to be done,” Rosen added. “I do think she has seen everything I have seen.”

Rosen clarified that “her opinion is work needs to be done” to Town Hall, but that “my feeling is I think I see a lot more work, than she does, that needs to be completed here.”

England and Beach were also brought to the stand on Aug. 29, providing testimony that Hertzberg ultimately recognized as “not persuasive.”

The township architect initially appeared to try to soften his position, telling the judge, when asked for his view of Rosen’s testimony, “I agree something has to be done with that building … but how do we get to that point?”

Then, when Hertzberg asked England if he had heard Rodbart’s testimony and agreed with her conclusion, the architect, attending the hearing via Zoom because of a vacation, asked, “Which conclusion?”

“That the building is not in imminent danger of collapse...,” clarified Hertzberg, prompt i ng Eng l a nd to r e s p ond , “I d i s a g r e e h ow w e a r e i nt e r p r e t i n g ‘imminent hazard.’”

The township architect then went into the expansive history of the building since he first came into the matter in 2020, describing to the judge that there have been “structural deficiencies that have not been dealt with to this day.” And given it is “continuing to deteriorate” and “nothing has been done,” it could merely take the “onset of winds” to lead to a situation in which “that building could go down.”

“Could it never?” England asked. “I don’t know – I don’t have a crystal ball.”

But that unknown, he explained, has led him to “always be conservative,” mindful of the schools in the area, contending he has to “take that very seriously” given he “can’t say it will stand there another week or for a year.”

“It could fall down tomorrow, but it may not,” he maintained. “But given that

LOCAL NEWS / FEATURES ♦ Page 15

chance … .”

England told the judge that his conclusion boiled down to the premise that “something had to happ en,” and descr ibed that stabilizing Town Hall was an option that had been presented to the Tabernacle Township Committee, but then came questions about how much it would cost, and, “Is it worth putting that kind of expenditure into the building … when that site has issues?”

Describing that “another red flag” had also been discovered, the members of the township committee at the time, he pointed out, relayed that they “don’t want to put money into it.”

Litt also cross- exam ined England, and when he questioned the architect as to whether the certification he provided to the court had mentioned it would take an act of God to bring down the building, the architect replied, “It might not be” in there, and when the plaintiff’s attorney pressed England as to whether he mentioned in his certification the possibility of stabilizing the building, he struggled with giving an answer until he acknowledged, it was “not in the certification, but in the written reports.”

Beach, in his testimony, similar to England, described that it was “talked about that there needed to be actions to shore the building up,” but that the governing body “decided it did not want to spend money.”

That decision, he told the court, had “left a lot of risk to be concerned about” and there “needed to be some sort of remedy to mitigate the risk.”

“Therefore, that is how the course of actions got to your point, sir,” Beach told Hertzberg.

Hertzberg then queried Beach as to his view of Rodbart’s conclusion, to which he responded, “I don’t agree with her opinion, sir.”

“We ne e de d to make a st atement ‘something needs to be done’ and we did (that),” Beach added. “That is clear.”

Hertzberg then posed a question to Beach in regard to his certification the building is in imminent danger of collapse: “How soon is ‘imminent?’”

“My opinion is if it could collapse, it

could,” responded Beach, noting there are “certain code requirements we design to” and the Town Hall doesn’t meet the current code.

Overall, Beach added, Town Hall is “not safe,” though “I can’t quantify when it could fall down.”

But that it “cou ld” fal l dow n, he maintained, is “enough to say” what he has and that there is a “problem,” with him further contending he feels as though one can “split hairs here,” but it “doesn’t meet the code requirements reasonably.”

“I do know the building is unsafe and shows signs that deterioration has occurred, and has since 2021,” Beach said. “When that happens, I need to raise a red flag.”

However, Beach acknowledged, just like Rosen did, Town Hall “can be stabilized.”

“I said that from the beginning,” Beach contended. “Temporary shoring, bracing the roof, bracing the wall – it will take away reasonable concerns.”

Beach appeared to struggle during Litt’s cross examination when asked repeatedly by the attorney if his report from 2024 had “represented the actual and immediate danger of failure or collapse” as he had later certified, to which Beach pointed to where he “talked about severe deterioration and that it can’t support required loads and may collapse” as well as to another portion that discussed “in the event of a possible collapse.”

“Something needs to be done to arrest that,” said Beach, maintaining that he was of the opinion that if the suggested “remedy” is not going to be done, “then the building could possibly collapse.”

But Litt questioned whether mentioning in a report that Town Hall “could possibly collapse” and “needed to be shored up” versus the certification that Town Hall is in “actual danger of collapse” are “two different things.”

“It doesn’t meet the standard, that is my concern,” Beach retorted. “Nothing is being done to protect life and safety, and the township was not agreeing to temporary shoring. Something needed to be done.”

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(Continued from Page 15) Rodbart was ultimately called back to the stand by Hertzberg.

“After hearing various other professionals testify, are you in anyway inclined to modify your opinion?” asked Hertzberg, to which Rodbart replied, “My opinion is unchanged in that I don’t think the building is likely to collapse.”

“I think all the design professionals today did recommend shoring, which is one of my recommendations,” she added, maintaining that in her report, “I did identify over two-dozen issues” and “the other design engineers didn’t really acknowledge that aspect” in their testimony.

“There are structural issues, and it does need shoring, and that should happen ASAP,” Rodbart further emphasized. “The shoring that is required, in my opinion, prevents the building from becoming unsafe and future damage, which could lead to future collapse.”

Rodbart was asked by the judge how long the internal shoring could take, responding that it would take 30 days to design and another 30 days to construct or a “two-month period.”

“Shor ing around the p er i meter to prevent collapse would take much longer,”

ADMINISTRATOR (Continued from Page 14)

Umba was asked by this newspaper to identify his top three priorities for Southampton.

“It is important to know the township administrator serves at the pleasure of the five governing body members,” is how he initially responded. “So, any priorities need to have a blessing from the governing body.

I am still feeling everything out. There are a couple of things I would look at.”

He then said that this reporter’s question is one “I would pose to the governing body.”

“Even though I dealt with them before in my other role for the community, I want to make sure I am sitting down with them to see what their priorities are, and what their goals are for the community,” Umba added. “They were elected by the people here in Southampton. I want to make sure I honor that.”

So far, Umba said he has not gotten a chance to discuss “long-range projects” for the community with the Southampton committee, but he revealed he has had a discussion with the members that they want to “streamline the budget” and “streamline projects” to “make sure we are focusing on them and meeting our obligation to the residents.”

But then, a bit later on, Umba shared with this newspaper “one thing that has been talked about by the township committee” is trying to “convert” Southampton Public Works over to “using one-arm bandit trash trucks” for waste hauling.

It has been something discussed for years by the Southampton governing body, but never acted upon.

Umba said he sees the use of one-arm bandit trash trucks as “more efficient” and that it “saves on worker’s comp claims (by not having to have the workers lift heavy trash containers and bags, potentially injuring their backs).”

Another benefit, he pointed out, is that it only takes one person to operate such a trash truck, whereas currently, as many as

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she noted. “It would have to be laid out relative to the road, so as to avoid the Right-of-Way. But it is not a large building and is not complicated, and in fact, timber shoring can be utilized. But the site has to be maintained, not neglected.”

Burns briefly cross-examined Rodbart, asking if “bracing the basement” would “mitigate any risk of collapse,” to which she replied, “Absolutely, yes.”

Hertzberg, after a break, returned from his chambers, recognizing there “is a fair amount of agreement, but a formidable departure as to what is the meaning for a building to be in a state to qualify as an ‘imminent’ collapse” risk.

While Rosen “is a little removed from whatever political influence” there was in the opinions rendered by the structural e ng i ne e r s , He r t zb e rg d e s c r ib e d h i s concern that “opinions were for med” at “a time when the atmosphere in the political world in Tabernacle” was seeking to “justify a demo.”

He cautioned of his remarks that is “not to say there was a lack of acuity,” but that there are “different ways to look at the same thing.”

Hertzberg then descr ibed that “imminent” from his perspective stands to mean “something is going to happen immediately, shortly.”

“I didn’t hear anything other than what I understand it to mean,” the judge added.

“What makes sense to me is this is a structure that needs immediate attention and under the circumstances, such as an earthquake or hurricane, the structure will not be as sturdy as probably required by code. But also, Ms. Rodbart’s testimony is that fixes can be made, braces can be put into place, to mitigate this threat. So, you have two sets of experts indicating imminent collapse is not at issue, then you have Rosen engineering indicating that they have concerns, that given a certain set of circumstances that can arise, it can collapse.”

The court, he noted, “is not in the business,” nor is it able to, “determine the structural condition of the building,” and therefore, has to rely on experts, and in this case, Rosen testified ‘“reasonable minds can differ”’ and “they can,” and so, in this matter, “I find the court-appointed independent expert (Rodbart) to be logical with a reasonable degree of certainty.”

“I found her to be persuasive, credible,” Hertzberg further declared.

Before his finding, Hertzberg had called Tabernacle Mayor Noble McNaughton to the stand, and McNaughton affirmed to the court that he would proceed as if this is an “emergency,” declaring he has felt it has been since he became mayor in June, and agreed to an emergency contract with Rodbart to design the internal bracing needed to stabilize Town Hall. Burns, joined

at the hearing with Township Administrator and Clerk Maryalice Brown, described the township would be “very happy to do this on a very urgent basis.”

And so, that arrangement was approved

by Hertzberg, who told McNaughton and Burns he will “hold your feet to the fire.”

“It is time to get this done and braced,” Hertzberg declared. “I don’t want to have to reinstate the detour.”

(Herzberg lifted the detour temporarily due to “prevai l i ng c onsiderations,” referencing the testimony from two nearby business owners who were called to the stand by Burns as witnesses, describing the chaos the detour had created and the severe impact to their livelihoods, which the judge recognized has been “not unsubstantial” and is in fact “significant.”)

The judge set a case management conference, to be held by Zoom, for Sept.

17, telling the litigants, “I would like a report on how things are coming,” and telling Burns that if there is “any problem with anybody, let me know, because I want to get this done.”

Hertzberg also addressed during the course of the hearing why the settlement that had been agreed to by Litt and Burns, in a bid to have the “court step out” from the matter, had failed to occur, describing that the “court can’t step out after there has been several submissions that the building is a danger to life.”

three people are needed to a trash truck.

“One thing I have been charged with to do by the township committee is to look into the feasibility of us using that,” he said of the one-arm bandit trash trucks. “And to find out how is that going to affect the residents, and the services to the residents.”

All three of Umba’s predecessors have dealt with a major flood during their tenures, with some Southampton residences and businesses located along the flood-prone Rancocas Creek.

Umba was asked by this newspaper if he has given thought to how he might prepare for the possibility there will be another major flood during his tenure.

The new Southampton administrator responded that when he first began his Lumberton job, he learned there were four homes there that had been approved to be elevated due to damage seen in Hurricane Irene, but nothing had been done to see the project through. He described that he successfully undertook efforts to get three of the homes elevated.

Umba managed and oversaw the township’s FEMA Home Elevation Project, made possible through a $650,000 grant issued in coordination with FEMA and the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management (NJOEM).

“That was one of the things I was really proud about,” he said.

Then, in 2019, a flood that impacted Southampton, had also impacted Lumberton.

The flood happened while Umba was still at the helm in the latter municipality.

Umba recounted that despite the extent of the damage, the 2019 event “wasn’t a declared storm” and also took note that the “Rancocas Creek hasn’t been dredged in a long time.”

“I said to the committee, I think what we got to do is … mitigate,” he said, also taking into consideration that townships don’t own bodies of water, and therefore cannot bond to dredge them. “What can you do? You can mitigate. After inches of rain, we went to a Flood Hazard Mitigation Plan that the federal government has through FEMA and got several of the houses along the Rancocas

Creek to either be torn down or elevated.”

Blue Acres, a state flood buyout program, Umba pointed out, following the 2019 flood, came in and purchased a number of floodprone properties in Southampton.

“I would look to continue to do that,” he told this newspaper. “And I would continue to look at our flood-prone areas and see if funding is available – and continue to avail them of our resources.”

Additional “mitigation” he would like to consider for Southampton, he said, includes installing flood gauges to better monitor the water levels, noting this was something he had done in Lumberton.

“I think that is something we need to look to do here in Southampton, so we can monitor the water flow,” he said.

According to Umba, “what happened in 2019 is the cranberry bogs are not regulated by anyone” and the bog owners during the torrential rainstorm released water into “the streams and Rancocas.”

“So, between 7 inches of rain and the cranberry bogs being opened up and them not letting any of us know, that is how that flow of water happened, where it crested over Main Street in Lumberton and you had major flooding here in Southampton, which caused Governor Murphy to come down,” Umba said.

He continued that “one thing we all learned in this area is that we need to keep in better communication with our cranberry bog farmers, so we know when they are releasing” water from the bogs.

“They are not required to tell anybody, but they are now telling us – since that storm, they have been better communicating,” Umba said.

The new Southampton administrator also pointed out that Lumberton, during his tenure, installed emergency sirens, asserting he will be working with the Southampton emergency manager to “make sure to have mitigation and warning signs to better prepare residents.”

Umba also said he wants to get a better understanding of whether there are levies in Southampton that can hold water back.

“What we need to focus on is being able to manage the flow of our water, and understand

the trends of what we are seeing on the Rancocas, to better manage it,” he said.

Southampton is a town that relies primarily on volunteers to carry out emergency squad and fire services. But volunteerism is declining nationally, while costs for emergency entities are rising.

Recently, the Hampton Lakes Emergency Squad has bucked the national trend, but the fire companies have reported on their financial limitations, with one company describing it also faces volunteerism difficulties.

Umba was asked by this newspaper how he might address the situation.

“We need to start doing more to start doing shared services in the community – ‘Rancocas Valley,’ ‘Pinelands Region’ – and we all need to start working together in order to best manage our resources, so we can assist,” is how he answered the query.

Umba described the need to do more than just “mutual aid,” but have it to where there are “shared services” in which “everyone is working together and pulling resources for small communities.”

Ac c ord i ng t o Umb a , h e ove r s aw the arch itectural desig n and project construction of Lumberton’s new state-ofthe-art Emergency Services Building, with a project budget of $6.5 million.

At that time, Umba maintained, he noticed fueling for municipal vehicles was an issue and “all towns around us” said “they could not afford to install their own fuel system,” and were reliant on filling up municipal vehicles at local gas stations, for instance, so in keeping with his debt service planning, Umba says he found a state contract and “put in a large refueling tank in Lumberton” that “can also fuel the surrounding towns that are around us.” He then said he arranged for area towns to refuel in Lumberton for simply a 10 percent surcharge, with the town able to “buy gasoline in bulk” and get a “bulk rate.”

“So, we were able to reg iona l i z e gasoline fueling services for the whole region because we had that ability,” Umba

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“They want to be heard at the end,” Fanucci further asserted. “And I think we should make it as easy as possible for them to voice their concerns. And hearing the whole meeting before they get to speak, to me, makes more sense for them. Whether or not it is more efficient for us, I don’t

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Haines, earlier in the year when the policy was challenged by residents, had remarked, “I have not heard any adverse reactions from the council that they want to move it back,” adding, “So, for now, it is going to stay at the beginning.”

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BUSINESS DIRECTORY

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ADMINISTRATOR (Continued from Page 16)

said. “We got to do a better job, all of us township administrators in the area, of communicating with each other on how we can better share our services.”

In addition to putting less emphasis on “home rule,” Umba suggested, “we also need to advocate,” pointing out that in regard to EMS, “one thing that has not changed in a long time is the Medicare reimbursement rate.”

Additionally, Umba pointed out that

P.O. Box 311 Medford, N.J. 08055 Robert H. Griscom Fully Insured NJTC768766

“obviously EMS can bill for their services,” but firefighting agencies are “very limited” in how “they can bill for their services,” contributing to the strain for the latter.

That is why having fire and EMS work together is essential, Umba said.

Umba’s last two predecessors retired from Southampton. So, this newspaper asked Umba if he sees his future in Southampton.

“Listen, I want to stay close to home,” he answered. “I am deeply rooted in Burlington County and this region. My aspirations are here, my family is here, and I want to continue to serve in this area. That is what I want to try and do – whether it is to grow here, do more regionalization. I want to stay

(609) 654-6602

NJ Lic. 13VH06395500

local. My son is going to grow up, and will be going to Medford Schools, … and I want to be here for whatever he decides to do.”

When queried about how he intends to leave his mark on Southampton, Umba answered, “Making sure I am leaving the town in a better spot than when I started – and that is what I have done in every town, leave it better than I found it,” pointing out that when he joined Lumberton, for instance, the police force had purportedly just seen its manpower drop from 32 officers to 17, but that when he left the township, 24 officers were working, with two more just hired to join the ranks.

“My motto is we can’t live by ‘this is

Keith Abrams Lic# 1283

the way we have always done it,’ but we have to think of creative ways to make it more efficient and cost-effective for residents,” Umba said. “So, I want to hear from the employees ‘this is the way we can better do it,’ not ‘this is the way we have always done it.’”

He added that government work is often “very repetitive,” and people often come into municipal offices “not happy,” but that “we have to be able to serve them with a smile, and explain what the laws and rules are so they can better understand them, to give them service.”

“We are public servants, delivering to residents we serve,” he concluded.

Page 20 ♦

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Saturday, September 7, 2024