Pine Barrens Tribune October 12, 2024-October 18, 2024
INAUGURAL ‘STATE OF THE JOINT BASE’
Engineering Bills Totaling $61,365 for Town Hall Relocation Approved for Payment Despite Being ‘Excessive’, Tabernacle Mayor Says Demolition Entity Also Bills $34,600 for Equipment Having Been On-Site at Town Hall, Arguing It Was Not Told to Remove It When Work Was Stopped
By D ouglas D. M elegari Staff Writer
TABERNACLE—Payment in full, utilizing “hard-earned tax money,” has been approved by the Tabernacle Township Committee for a pair of controversial bills, submitted by Pennoni Engineering for $35,727 and $25,638, respectively, related to the since-canceled Tabernacle Town Hall relocation plan despite Tabernacle Mayor Noble McNaughton recognizing on Sept. 23 that the charges contained in the bills are “difficult to understand” and that some of the hours billed are “kind of a shock to me” and “seem excessive to me.”
By Jenn lucas Staff Writer
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIXLAKEHURST–State and county leaders, along with business bigwigs, got a behindthe-scenes glimpse into what goes on within the walls of the state’s second largest employer, Joint Base Maguire-Dix-
Lakehurst (JBMDL), on Oct. 4.
JBMDL employs more than 60,000 people, generating about $6.9 million yearly for the region, making it New Jersey’s second largest employer. The base is also unique in that it is home to not only Airmen and Army Soldiers, but also to Sailors, Marines, Coast Guardsmen and the Army Reserve, making it the only base in the country to have all those forces coexisting together.
The military men and women who work and train there know the base and its operations like the back of their hands. Few civilians, however, really know what See BASE/ Page 8
Additionally, a separate $49,200 bill reportedly submitted by Ricco Demolition, the firm the committee had hired back in the spring to conduct asbestos remediation and demolition of the existing Town Hall, is said to contain a purportedly unauthorized equipment rental charge of $34,600, with officials holding off Sept.
Photo By Staff Sgt. Austin Knox
Burlington County Commissioner Daniel O’Connell (right) shakes hands with JBMDL Commander Col. Anthony L. Smith (left) during the State of the Base event Oct. 4.
Woodland Officials Preliminarily Planning to Relocate and Expand Town Veteran’s Monument, But Some Are Opposed to Relocation Local Veteran Calls on Committee to Solicit Input of Township’s Veterans, Mayor Vows to Do So, But Says Project Would Enable Adding of Names
By D ouglas D. M elegari Staff Writer
WOODLAND—Preliminary planning is underway to move and expand the Woodland Township Veteran’s Monument to a different location at the Woodland Township Municipal Building, but at least one township veteran, among reportedly at least a couple other people, while recognizing the need for added space to allow for the listing of more names on the monument, are adamantly opposed to its relocation.
According to Woodland Mayor William
“Billy” DeGroff on Sept. 25, officials are considering an expanded monument that would have as many as four sides with name plaques (versus one) because “we have a lot of names on the one we have now” and “a lot of names of people who still need to be added.”
Additionally, Township Administrator and Clerk Maryalice Brown described that the U.S. flag on the township’s existing flagpole by the current monument has gotten “jammed,” requiring someone to
See MONUMENT/ Page 10
Caring Quality
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.
Photo By Nick Weissmann
Woodland Township officials review and discuss concepts for a new Veteran’s Monument.
Woodland Seeks to Replace ‘Original Roof’ on Municipal Building, Cedar Siding Following Recommendations from Township Engineer
Resident Questions, However, Why Roofing Contractor Isn’t Consulted, Instead
By D ouglas D. M elegari Staff Writer
WOODLAND—Officials are still looking to replace the “original roof” of the Woodland Township Municipal Building, as well as address the building’s cedar siding.
Township Administrator and Clerk Maryalice Brown had announced in August, this newspaper previously reported, that she had met with Township Engineer Tom Leisse to review the municipal building’s roofing and siding, and as a result of his 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.”
Leisse appeared at a pair of meetings of the Woodland Township Committee on Sept. 25 (both the workshop and regular sessions) for the first time since his
apparently being replaced in the township engineer post in neighboring Tabernacle Township, after having come under fire for giving an opinion, with a background in chemical engineering, that Tabernacle Town Hall there poses an imminent danger of collapse and claiming there was limited ability to bring in a structural engineer to give an analysis of the building.
An independent structural engineer has since been brought in to evaluate Tabernacle Town Hall at the order of a Superior Court judge, one that the judge has since found “credible” in the expert attesting that Tabernacle Town Hall does not actually pose an imminent danger of collapse. Tabernacle officials are now pursuing stabilization of the building by order of the judge, with the building still standing over six months after Leisse had offered his public opinion.
“We looked at the roof, and the roof is
See ROOF/ Page 11
NOV. 4 (DEADLINE)
Medford Arts Center’s Annual Poetry Contests
Location: Medford Twp.
Details: Medford Arts Center is having its 2024 Annual Poetry Contests. High School students attending schools in Burlington County may submit up to three poems per entrant to: poetrycontest@medfordarts.com , using 2024 High School Poetry Contest in the subject line and including name, address, high school, grade and contact number.
Residents of Burlington County over the age of 18 may submit up to three poems per entrant to: poetrycontest@medfordarts.com , with 2024 Adult Poetry Contest in the subject line and including name, residential address and contact number.
Submission Deadline: Monday, Nov. 4, 2024; Celebration of awards: Monday, Nov. 18, 2024. For more information, see medfordarts.com/poetry .
File Photo
The Woodland Township Municipal Building.
State Police Allegedly Unresponsive to Woodland’s Request for Speed Enforcement Initiatives in Municipality, Officials Say Resident Declares Alleged Lack of Interest Is ‘Turning Our Roads into Wild, Wild West,’ with Mayor Claiming Entity Lacks Manpower
By D ouglas D. M elegari Staff Writer
WOODLAND—After complaints about purported out-of-control speeding and other motor vehicle infractions were aired at a late August meeting of the Woodland Township Committee, Township Administrator and Clerk Maryalice Brown maintained to concerned residents during a subsequent Sept. 25 session that she was “requested to send correspondence” to the New Jersey State Police Red Lion Barracks, responsible for law enforcement in town, “to request they increase their speed controls here in town.”
“I have not personally noticed an increase,” contended Brown, noting however, she is not always in the township. “But it was requested.”
Resident Jane Donoghue had warned during the August session, having been in a serious three-car collision in town earlier that month, “somebody is going to get killed and it is going to be on all of you.”
Donoghue, in response to Brown’s pronouncement, asserted, “I would like to know when that email was sent to the Troopers.”
Woodland Committeewoman Donna Mull answered Sept. 5, maintaining she had been copied on the correspondence.
“There was no response,” Mull contended.
Woodland Mayor William “Billy” DeGroff maintained that he previously
held meetings with the state police and the state agency’s purported response to his concerns was that “they don’t have the manpower,” but that he can request another meeting. He added that the “biggest thing” is that the Red Lion Barracks lacks the “manpower to cover four towns” in which it is sole provider of policing services (Shamong, Southampton and Tabernacle being the others).
He also contended that “after midnight, they go down to two men.”
Donoghue responded by describing her frustrations, alleging that she observed State Troopers “sitting” in various locations on the outskirts of town (including the Four Mile Circle and at New Lisbon), on Route 72, while “people are flying, passing on a double-yellow line” in town.
“I go in and out of this town five or six days a week and have been looking for Troopers,” she maintained. “They are not out there.”
Donoghue pointed to now “three severe accidents” occurring within about a months’ time in the center of town, including the recent crash that impacted the Chatsworth firehouse, crashes which she charged were the result of “speeding” (the crashes remain under investigation with no cause released).
“They are not doing what we need them to do, where we need them to do it,” charged Donoghue, describing she was passed on a double-yellow line recently
See SPEED/ Page 10
Man Dies After Motorcycle Reportedly Veers Off Rt. 72, Strikes Tree
WOODLAND—A motorcyclist is dead after his bike reportedly veered off Route 72 in Woodland Township and struck a tree.According to New Jersey State Police Spokesman Sgt. Jeffrey Lebron, the crash happened around 6:12 p.m. on Oct. 3. around Route 72’s milepost 9.4.Based on a preliminary investigation, Lebron
said, a Suzuki motorcycle was traveling eastbound when it “veered off the roadway right and impacted a tree.”As a result of the crash, the driver, Christopher Elk, 46, of Brick, was ejected and killed.The crash remains under investigation, and no additional information is available at this time, Lebron told this newspaper.
GRIST MILL ANTIQUES
Play Spooky, Stay Safe
Trick-or-treating on Halloween night is a time-honored tradition for children all over the world. Share these tips and tricks with your little goblins to keep them safe while out and about.
• Don’t approach animals you don’t know. Halloween may make some pets more nervous than usual.
• To avoid injury, carry only toys and accessories made of soft materials.
• Carry a flashlight to make sure you can see where you’re going and drivers can see you.
• If possible, carry a cellphone so you can reach your parents in case of an emergency.
• Knock on doors in a group or with an adult nearby.
• Respect the route you agreed upon with your parents and make sure to be home on time.
• Never go into the home or car of someone you don’t know.
• Opt for makeup instead of a mask to make sure you can hear and see everything going on around you.
• Choose a costume that’s big enough to cover warm clothes, but not so long that you’ll trip.
• Stay in well-lit areas and avoid houses with no lights on.
• Don’t eat any candy until your parents have checked that it’s safe.
These safety tips are the perfect way to have an enjoyable, safe time trickor-treating on Halloween night.
• Always cross the street at intersections or crosswalks, and make sure to look both ways before you do.
6415 Black Horse Pike, Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey 08234 VISIT US ONLINE AT
Medford
Officials Announce Plans to Use DCA Grant Money to Proceed with Bidding for Rancocas Creek Branch Cleanup
Promises from Mayor, Town Manager Follow Appeal from Resident Who Spearheaded Drive to Clear Waterway for Recreational Users
By Bill B onvie Staff Writer
MEDFORD—Plans to proceed with the use of grant money from the state to clear brush and other debris from the southwest branch of Rancocas Creek to allow for its unimpeded use as a recreational resource were announced by Mayor Charles “Chuck” Watson and Medford Township
Manager Daniel Hornickel at the Oct. 1 meeting of the Medford Township Council, following a rousing appeal from the resident who has been at the forefront of the effort to restore the waterway.
To help facilitate that goal, Beth Portocalis, executive assistant to the township manager and township Open
See CLEANUP/ Page 12
Pemberton Borough Mayor Reminded ‘This Is Not a Dictatorship’ in Again Being Asked to Allow Public Comment at Meetings’ End Municipal Solicitor Points to Law Stating Nothing Can Limit ‘Discretion’ of Public Body in Setting Rules for Public Comment, But Councilwoman Reiterates Support for Reversal, Declaring, ‘We Are Here to Serve Public’
By D ouglas D. M elegari Staff Writer
PEMBERTON BOROUGH—
Residents of the Hearthstone Retirement Community in Pemberton Borough are yet again calling on Republican Mayor Bonnie Haines to return the public comment portion of Borough Council meetings to the end of the sessions so that members of the public can make comments and ask questions on borough business that they watch unfold at the sessions.
Haines is, so far, refusing to budge, despite Hearthstone being the single largest voting bloc in the borough, and fellow Republican Diane Fanucci, a member of the council, again calling on the mayor to “move it back where it was previously.”
“This is the second time I am here pleading the case,” declared Hearthstone resident Lois Sickles at the governing body’s latest session on Sept. 16. “Since this is not a dictatorship, I was hoping the mayor and council have had time to realize that having public questions at the end of the meeting makes much more sense than instead of asking questions when we have not even heard most of
the borough information and individual council reports.”
Sickles maintained that residents of the borough “need time to listen” to the entire proceedings, from “beginning to end,” rather than “just the first five minutes,” to be able to make intelligent public comments and ask pertinent questions of their elected officials.
“We have the right, as taxpayers and concerned citizens, to verbalize questions on what is going on in our town!” Sickles declared.
Haines, during a preceding meeting as a fresh round of complaints had been voiced about the policy, contended that the borough has a “capable staff” that work in the municipal offices that can field resident questions, and that she is also available by phone and email to answer them.
“Calling and emailing you, Bonnie, makes no sense,” Sickles asserted. “People take the time to be here, to hear what we have to say and council’s response.”
Sickles further maintained “this is a group effort to keep the borough running smoothly, not just (that of) one person.”
“We the residents get here, at 6:30 p.m.,
See MAYOR/ Page 11
Photo Provided
Blockage of the Rancocas Creek near Main Street.
Tabernacle Engineer Expects Repaving of Hawkin Road to Begin in Spring; State Police Said to Agree to More Speed Enforcement Plan to Create Multiple Stop Intersections on Hawkin Now Appears Dead; Meanwhile, Officials to Replace Traffic Circle Signs with Arrows on Gate Road
By D ouglas D. M elegari Staff Writer
TABERNACLE—Hawkin(s) Road in Tabernacle Township, following complaints of the past year, is anticipated to be at least partially resurfaced in the spring, according to Township Engineer Joseph Raday, and the New Jersey State Police Red Lion Barracks is said to now be undertaking speed enforcement initiatives in the area following complaints, according to Mayor Noble McNaughton.
Raday hasn’t specified exactly what part of Hawkin Road will be resurfaced with the first round of grant funding from the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT), but contended during Sept. 9 and 25 Tabernacle Township Committee sessions “design plans have been drafted” and the initial phase of the project will be put out to bid shortly.
He said he would not recommend resurfacing be conducted during the winter months, so it is likely that the project will commence instead in the spring.
Brian Serafine, who lives on Hawkin Road, and has been a vocal proponent of improvements to the road and efforts to curb what he claims is excessive speeding occurring there, asked about a previous plan announced to put stop signs at several intersections on Hawkin Road to slow down traffic.
“I don’t believe we can put in stop signs,” is the latest position offered by McNaughton, which led Serafine to retort, “Tom Leisse was very confident we can put them there,” with Serafine making reference to the township’s previous engineer who was apparently replaced by McNaughton in June, amid controversy over Tabernacle Town Hall, though Leisse and Raday work at the same engineering firm, Pennoni Associates.
What Raday is now looking into for Hawkin Road, according to McNaughton, are rumble strips and crosswalks (it is unclear whatever happened to an ordered traffic study to explore at least one fourway stop intersection on Hawkin Road proposed to slow down traffic).
“I also talked to the administrator last week to look into those flashing speed signs,” McNaughton said.
Raday later acknowledged that he has been “discussing with the mayor digital speed limit signs” for the area, as well as “adding 25-mph signs, with thermoplastic, on the roads.”
“The bottom-line is we are having a problem with the speed and school,” said Serafine given Hawkin Road’s proximity to Seneca High School.
On Sept. 9, when Serafine asked if officials had gotten in touch with the state police Red Lion Barracks’ station commander, he was told, “We sent a letter.” At the latest Sept. 25 session, McNaughton proclaimed he has since spoken to a sergeant from the barracks who “it turns out” lives on Richter Road (which intersects with Hawkin) and he “assured” a police presence in the area, to also include Old Indian Mills Road, which was the subject of speeding complaints on Sept. 9.
Serafine, on Sept. 25, acknowledged having already observed State Troopers on Hawkin Road, calling it a “great thing,” but added, “I wish we can get them to sit on the road when needed.” He previously explained on Sept. 9 that the state police are patrolling the road at 10:30 a.m. when it is not the peak of rush-hour traffic associated with the school.
Part of Serafine’s grievances with the condition of Hawkin Road is that officials undertook a drainage project several years ago that not only tore it up, but that the drains were not installed properly and the water instead collects on the road.
Leisse previously acknowledged the drains don’t drain to anywhere, but contended that the project was planned before Pennoni’s time as the township’s municipal engineering firm of choice.
Raday, on Sept. 25, contended to have met with the NJDOT on Sept. 17 and learned that a local basin is owned by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) and there is “already a connection for a stormwater system into that basin.”
“We are going to implement into that design to alleviate flooding at this intersection,” Raday vowed.
It led Tabernacle Deputy Mayor Joseph Barton to inquire, “Are they going to pick up the cost to repair that basin?”
“I am not aware of any problems, right now,” Raday responded. “All we are going to do, as part of the design on Hawkin, is there is only one inlet connected to that basin, and we are going to connect the other inlets into that basin. I don’t see any issues with that basin unless Public Works tells me otherwise.”
There appeared to be some confusion with a basin closer to Route 206, which was the subject of complaints about it retaining water and overflowing earlier this year into the street, causing flooding.
When that basin was pointed out by Serafine, Raday contended it is “privately owned,” causing the resident to assert, “No one is going to take care of the one flooding over as well?”
McNaughton then reminded Serafine that his time to make public comments was over.
“Weight limits” are also being investigated as a possibility for Hawkin Road, officials said at the past two September sessions.
Meanwhile, readers may recall controversy over Gate Road, in a remote area of Tabernacle Township, after traffic circle warning signs were installed earlier this year in various places to help motorists navigate street islands there following a purported incident with a delivery truck and school bus. Residents of the street complained, however, that the signage installed provided for a city-like atmosphere in a rural neighborhood.
Township Administrator and Clerk Maryalice Brown received approval for $2,835 worth of work “for arrows to be painted” instead on the street via a Co-op agreement, and in light of that, she vowed, “the Gate Road street signs are coming down.”
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23 on its payment, but recognizing that even if that charge is taken off through any dispute, the township may ultimately end up owing Ricco as much as $53,000 given that the firm would be “entitled to renumeration under the contract” in the event the demolition is canceled, which officials have called off for now.
According to McNaughton, the pair of Pennoni invoices in question have to do with the purported engineering work that was done to prepare and submit plans to the Pinelands Commission for a new municipal complex on a 19-acre lot located at 144 Carranza Road that was to take the place of the existing Town Hall at 163 Carranza Road. Officials were undertaking the new building project given questions that have surrounded the structural integrity of the shuttered building.
Despite the plans – which were adjusted many times over the past two years, having been submitted to the Pinelands Commission, the committee abruptly canceled this summer its plan to build a new municipal complex, following public outcry.
“The committee, at the time, was going to go through with the new building and because it was finally approved, they started this work,” said McNaughton during a Sept. 23 Tabernacle Township Committee session. “I looked at them and I was shocked at some of the costs.”
One of the items that the mayor cited as giving him a shock was 23 hours billed by Pennoni to the township for “project professionals helping with landscape.”
Another, he contended, was Pennoni putting down 57 hours for review of a new building footprint to account for adjustments to a driveway entrance.
“It seems excessive to me, but I don’t know at this point how we can get out of it,” McNaughton contended.
Township Administrator and Clerk Maryalice Brown acknowledged, when questioned heavily by resident and former Medford Administrator and Clerk Kathy Burger at a previous committee meeting, that no scope of work had been obtained from Pennoni before pursuing the engineering firm’s services for the Town Hall projects, rather officials were simply reliant on the firm’s general annual contract for municipal engineering services.
Pennoni’s involvement in and handling of the Town Hall projects had already been subjected to criticism after Tom Leisse, who had been representing the company in the capacity of the township engineer through June, before he was apparently replaced by McNaughton, claimed the existing Town Hall is in imminent danger of collapse, comments made in the absence of a structural engineer having been brought in to evaluate the building. When offering the opinion, he further maintained that a structural engineer would likely not be immediately available to inspect the building, a premise the committee originally went along with in acting with urgency.
Pennoni became the subject of even more controversy after it was learned that Leisse’s background is in chemical engineering, and that Pennoni actually has a structural engineer on staff, Rich Roberts, who has since weighed in on the matter to say that Town Hall actually does not pose an imminent danger of collapse, an opinion conflicting with that of Leisse’s thoughts. Leisse certified his opinion, and it also resulted in a Fall Plan being placed on Pennoni letterhead, which forced the
closure of Medford Lakes-Tabernacle Road for months, resulting in chaos and economic disruptions.
Roberts’ opinion is also identical to one rendered by Melanie Rodbart, of J&M Preservation Studio, an independent structural engineering firm that examined the building at the order of Superior Court Judge Richard Hertzberg. Hertzberg has since found Rodbart’s opinion to be “credible” and has ordered the township to shore up Town Hall and suspended the road closure.
A third bill submitted to Tabernacle by Pennoni, for $27,000, said to reflect Leisse’s prior work, was also challenged earlier this year, but ultimately paid.
As McNaughton claimed he didn’t know how the committee could not pay the latest $35,727 and $25,638 Pennoni bills and questioned the charges as being excessive, recognizing “there are other things” to question, resident and local transparency advocate Fran Brooks shouted, “Ask them to lower them!”
“I think in the future, when we have big projects like this, we have to kind of get serious estimates upfront, so we know exactly what we are spending, rather than just doing something, getting bills in and getting blindsided,” declared McNaughton, who took over as mayor in June from Committeeman Mark Hartman, absent at this latest session, with Hartman having joined back in the spring with then-Deputy Mayor and then-Committeewoman Natalie Stone and Committeeman Samuel “Sammy” Moore to move ahead with the demolition, despite protest from McNaughton and Committeeman William J. Sprague, Jr.
There has since been a shakeup on the governing body after Hartman and Moore lost a re-election bid, putting McNaughton and Sprague in the majority, with Joseph Barton having joined the committee following Stone’s resignation, serving as deputy mayor.
“I reviewed the bills, and I wasn’t here in that timeframe,” Barton noted. “But it appears to me there was a lot of work that I would have thought the architect would have been responsible for.”
However, given that he was not on the governing body at the time, Barton concluded, “I have no way of disputing it.”
Barton then made a motion to have the bills in question from Pennoni paid, which received 3-0 approval, with Moore also absent from the Sept. 23 session.
“I think the problem is we had such chaos back then, things were getting passed and approved and we are now stuck with the bill,” Sprague maintained.
Sprague recognized there were “things we should have spent time with,” but instead, “things got put through just so quickly.”
“So, at this point, we don’t have a choice,” Sprague maintained. “We already accepted this work; we don’t have a choice in not paying it. But going forward, absolutely we should have estimates and ideas of what things are going to cost.”
Stuart Brooks, the husband to Fran and also a local transparency advocate, however, asserted, “What I don’t understand is how you feel handcuffed to dispute that amount or to demand more information.”
“Or to make sure Pennoni explains to you why that is a reasonable charge,” Stuart Brooks added. “Reasonable charges should be paid; unreasonable charges should not be paid.”
Stuart Brooks said he doesn’t know for certain if the hours billed are legitimate or not given he hasn’t seen the breakdown of the invoices, and that it is not his area
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goes on behind the fences at JBMDL. It was that premise which gave birth to the State of Joint Base event, which was held for the first time last week, coinciding with the base’s 15th birthday.
“It is like a State of the Union address, but for our operations here,” said Matthew Porter, Senior Airman with the U.S. Air Force. “We get to show off our aircraft and vehicles and let people know what we spend their tax dollars on.”
Politicians, business leaders and members of the Burlington County Chamber of Commerce were invited to climb aboard some of the military’s newest aircraft so that the service men and women who know them best could showcase their capabilities and share their knowledge.
“It is very interesting to be able to see these vehicles and planes up close and ask questions of the people who know them best,” said Ed O’Malley with Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. as he was viewing the Air Force’s KC-46A Air Pegasus.
After checking out other impressive-sized
aircraft like the U.S. Marine’s Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion and some of the U.S. Army’s newest ATVs, like the MRZR “razor,” the crowd watched the doors of an immense hangar slowly close.
Even though he has been to the base several times, Burlington County Commissioner Dan O’Connell said the highlight of the day was seeing the helicopters and planes up close and learning about the capacity of what they can carry.
“It was hard to narrow down what was most impressive,” he told this newspaper. “The speakers, the equipment – it was all very interesting. It gave elected officials an idea of what they do at the base. It was the first one and I hope they have the event again.”
Afterward, some of the newest members of the military at the base took to the stage to share stories of what they are working on and why they joined the military.
“It was important we showcase the younger people,” said Rochelle Naus, deputy chief of Public Affairs. “The veteran men and women could talk about missions and trainings for hours, but we wanted to show a fresh perspective of what the newer men and women are accomplishing.”
From base firefighters to mental health
and family support, to technical writing, men and women of all ages, all new to working at the base in their respective capacities, spoke about advances they are making and the help and services they provide
“Things have changed so much recently,” Porter said. “Our Coast Guardsmen barely have boats anymore (meaning their responsibilities have expanded), they deal with lots of environmental issues, which is
something most people don’t know.”
Illustrating that was a story from Petty Officer 1st Class Claudio Giugliano, who joined the U.S. Coast Guard in 2015.
“Everyone knows the Coast Guard from the little boats you see on TV after hurricanes – we just had people come back from helping with Hurricane Helene actually,” Giugliano said. “But there is so much more than catastrophic search and
See BASE/ Page 15
Holiday Ad Packages
Photo By Jenn Lucas
Marine Sgt. Cole Karpinski talks about the capabilities of the Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion to a group of special guests at the JBMDL State of the Base event Oct. 4.
Photo By Jenn Lucas
Spark Plug, one of two robot dogs on the JBMDL security force, shown to guests on Oct. 4, can traverse all types of terrain and perform all sorts of tasks from spotting drones to being the eyes, ears and voice of the control person.
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of expertise, but that given there are 40 hours in a workweek and the charges are “equivalent to one person working over a week” on landscaping, for example, it “seems like it is egregious.”
Despite pressing the governing body, Stuart Brooks got no answer as to why the committee feels handcuffed in protesting the charges or can’t at least decide to seek more information prior to authorizing payment.
Joseph Raday, who has since replaced Leisse in the township engineer post, is the “office manager” for the local Pennoni office and was present during the discussion, but did not contribute. Rather, he stayed silent.
As for the Ricco Demolition bill in question, Brown, in introducing the bill to the committee, contended that she spoke to Ricco about it and when the demolition was halted, Ricco reportedly claimed it was “never given an order to pull their equipment when the work was stopped.” Therefore, Ricco, she indicated, has assessed the township a “daily rate” for having its equipment on site, despite no work being conducted on the days in question. She pointed to a “daily rate” chart provided by Ricco.
“$14,600 of the $49,000 is for the portion of abatement of paint they did,” Brown said. “I don’t know how you want to handle this.”
After a period of silence, Sprague inquired, “Nobody in town was advised that we would be paying rental for the equipment?”
Township Solicitor William Burns responded by maintaining that equipment rental fees are “not part of the original demolition (contract),” rather Ricco had agreed to a “lump sum bid.”
“I think we should contest that (bill) if it was not in the original contract,” McNaughton responded.
Barton asked for clarification if the contract was indeed based on a lump sum bid, to which McNaughton answered, “I believe so, yes.”
But then the deputy mayor asked the follow-up question of, “Even if the contract is canceled, do they get paid?”
That is when the committee learned Sept. 23 of a likely outcome that Fran Brooks had warned about in previously urging the committee to slow down and not hastily approve the contract with Ricco, with Burns responding Sept. 23 to Barton, “If the job is canceled, they would be entitled to renumeration under the contract, which would be the lump sum of $50,000 and change.”
Brown confirmed the contract is about $53,000 in total.
In response to another question from Barton asking, “How much of the work has been done?”, he was told by Burns “about three-quarters of the asbestos – these are rough estimates – has been completed, no other work has been completed.”
“They have done all the work they can do, and according to them, they did it,” Burns continued. “They have done all the work that they can do with the asbestos abatement that will not further degrade the structural integrity of the building.”
He added that the “rest of the asbestos may not have to be removed depending on future use, and what the future renovation of the building entails.”
Burns’ response means, given that the township is on track to not demolish Town Hall, that the municipality could end up having to pay Ricco at least $38,400 through renumeration, for potentially no further (or
limited additional) work.
And the $38,400 may be on top of the $49,200 bill, unless the township can get the charges taken off for equipment rental.
As for who was responsible for notifying Ricco to pull their equipment, it was a question put to the committee by Fran Brooks, who specifically sought whether that responsibility lied with either Brown or Burns.
“Pennoni,” answered both Burns and McNaughton, only raising further questions.
Fran Brooks subsequently expressed outrage that the alleged oversight occurred “while we are getting charged up to the wazoo from the Pennoni organization,” contending the money being paid out is “our hard-earned tax money.”
McNaughton, when challenged by Stuart Brooks about the penalty for “breaking the contract” with Ricco, responded, “We’ve got to negotiate with them about the contract still.”
Stuart Brooks asked McNaughton, “Do we have a scope of work that remains, and do you know what that is?” to which the mayor responded, “We have to find that out.”
McNaughton, during the latest committee session, appointed a subcommittee to “look at our options of where to go” next given the township is still using construction trailers for municipal services in light of the Town Hall’s closure. Appointed to it were Barton, Sprague, Stuart Brooks, former mayor and Tabernacle Historical Society President Rick Franzen and Planning Board Chairman Raymond C. McCarty.
The subcommittee, according to the mayor, will be charged with exploring the former dump site on Old Indian Mills Road for a possible Public Works facility, and in regard to a previous request for the township to find an old study done on the lot, Brown and McNaughton reported that officials have since found two old boxes of “documents” that go back from 1980 to 2009, but they have been unable to find a 2020 study performed by former municipal engineer Dante Guzzi.
“We have not been able to find that,” Brown declared.
As for the subcommittee’s work, McNaughton maintained he expected it to be an “open process” with the “key finding someplace for Public Works (in hopes that tearing down the existing Public Works facility will expand the amount of pervious soil coverage at 163 Carranza Road to allow for upgrades and a possible expansion of the existing Town Hall) and seeing what we can do with old property and Town Hall.”
“Hopefully, we can do something there,” the mayor said. “I also talked to the school about hooking up to their sewer, and they seem to be agreeable, but before they commit, they want to see what we are doing with Town Hall and the site.”
Sprague, throughout the discussion on the bills, expressed his optimism that the subcommittee could also look further at what still needs to be done with the asbestos remediation and the charges rendered to date.
Sprague, also during the course of the Sept. 23 proceedings in which the bills were challenged, at one point alleged that “myself and Noble (McNaughton) were misled on things” during the committee meetings in which the Town Hall demolition was hastily approved, but did not offer additional details.
Meanwhile, the Tabernacle governing body canceled on Sept. 23 a bond ordinance that had appropriated millions of dollars toward a new Town Hall at 144 Carranza Road, but not before Fran Brooks asked See RELOCATION/ Page 11
MONUMENT
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come over with a lift.
The township’s existing monument is up against the left side of the township parking lot, and according to DeGroff, “we are talking about putting it in front of the building,” in adding spaces in which the names of veterans would be engraved.
“There are going to be people unhappy with that decision,” recognized Deputy Mayor Mark Herndon during a Sept. 25 workshop session preceding the regular meeting.
When it was asked of the deputy mayor, “What would they be unhappy with?”, an official recognized that, “They won’t be happy that they won’t be able to drive their car up to it.”
“Disabled people can come here (and view it) by staying in their car,” is how the
SPEED
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by a sports car. “They don’t seem to get it that they are kind of turning our roads into the ‘Wild, Wild West.’” DeGroff maintained that the township
official described the current setup.
But under the current proposal for the new monument in the front of the municipal building, DeGroff noted, there would be a walking path around it that forms a circle with the proposed “four-sided monument in the center” to allow for “where people can walk around it.” There would also be a new flagpole and hardwired lighting (not solarpowered lighting, pointed out Township Engineer Tom Leisse.)
Officials also revealed their plan to solicit donations for the project, and donors would be invited to put their names on brick pavers that would be placed in the vicinity of the monument.
“We should think about getting from the parking lot to the memorial though,” Herndon urged.
Brown pointed to a handicap parking lot and hoped that the final design “would tie it into the circle somehow.”
committee has “no control over the state police,” but emphasized he has “met with them several times.” He described that the agency is in a situation in which it has to “prioritize calls.”
“I believe that when they do have Troopers in the area, they send them out,” the Woodland mayor added. “I am not defending the state police, but
Leisse, who discussed possibilities for the monument during the workshop session and compared with the committee designs from other towns, was tasked with coming up with an “initial concept plan for the memorial for the building.”
Brown indicated that the project won’t happen right away, however, rather it is something to “consider for next year’s budget,” though “Tom can start working on it.”
“I can get for you, for the next meeting, a proposal to continue with the concept until we get to an agreement, then work on design,” Leisse said. “Then we can talk about maybe next year putting it out to bid.”
Herndon, when recognizing that some people might be opposed to the relocation of the monument during the workshop session, maintained he knew of at least three people in opposition to the plan, with DeGroff recognizing he was aware of at least two people.
Resident Ken Bowker, a township veteran who is a regular attendee of committee meetings and has been outspoken in the past, particularly on veteran’s issues, during the committee’s regular meeting that immediately followed the workshop, declared, “This is the first time I heard the monument is being moved.”
“Number one, you will take away from the natural view in front of the building placed there years ago,” maintained Bowker of what is proposed. “And the way the monument is now, it is easy for people to get to it to see the names on it now. And my name is one of them!”
Bowker asked the committee and officials, “Have you questioned any veterans about how they feel about moving the monument?”
“No, we thought moving the monument would be a great thing because we know there are a lot of names and we don’t feel there is enough room over there to do what we want,” DeGroff responded. “We are looking to put a walkway out front, a seating area, a flag, and also make it handicapped accessible. This is not written in stone, but what we are looking at. We are
they cover large areas with a pretty small force.”
As for Woodland creating its own police department, while nobody raised that prospect, DeGroff seemed to proactively address the possibility that someone would by declaring, “I don’t think we should be getting our own police department.”
also looking at where residents can possibly purchase a brick and make a donation.”
Bowker responded that it “sounds like all good things” of what DeGroff laid out, but then asked, “How much is this going to cost the township?” (Officials, during the workshop session, tossed around the possibility that some tree removal may ultimately be needed as well.)
“I am sure you can find enough room if you looked at it real good,” said Bowker of the monument’s existing location.
Bowker recognized “some names should be” on the monument “that are not,” including those who served the U.S. in Afghanistan, causing the mayor to assert, “That is why we are looking at what would be the best solution.”
“You can tell I am against moving it!” snapped Bowker, causing DeGroff to vow that the committee would “put out some feelers” before proceeding further with the project.
“I think it is a nice thing the township is going to do,” DeGroff declared. “It is going to be beautiful what the township wants to do! To me, this is a great idea we are looking at, especially where residents can purchase a block – a red brick.”
Bowker pressed the mayor, however, “Is this your idea, Billy?” to which the mayor responded, “It is the committee’s idea.”
“It is mine and the committee’s,” DeGroff added.
That response led Bowker to question, “Is anyone on the committee a veteran?” “No, what does that have to do with it!” DeGroff retorted. “We are looking to do something nice!”
Bowker snapped that if the committee is ‘“looking to do something nice,”’ it should “ask all the veterans still alive what they feel if you are going to move it!”
“We will put something out,” the mayor vowed. “I think it is a pretty nice suggestion that committee is offering to do.”
Bowker got the last word by asserting, “It is nice, but if you leave it right where it is, it would be nicer for me!”
Donoghue contended that the state police “may need to internally look at changing what areas” their Troopers are assigned to cover.
“I am going to make additional phone calls, and I am not stopping at the barracks,” Donoghue declared. “Just so you guys are aware of this – Hurricane Jane is coming.”
File Photo
The existing Woodland Township Veterans Monument.
ROOF
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a roof beyond its useful life,” said Leisse on Sept. 25 of the one on the Woodland Township Municipal Building as he was pressed by DeGroff as to whether it needed replacing or if there is any treatment that can be done. “It looks like, for the most part, it is in OK shape, but in some areas, there is buckling, and areas that probably do need to be taken care of sooner or later.”
Leisse maintained he would “probably do shingle replacement,” however, “I did get pricing for metal just in case the committee was considering it,” contending any metal roof would allow the township to get two-and-a-half more times the life out of it.
Woodland Committeewoman Donna Mull asserted that she “loves” the idea of a metal roof, but asked about any difference in pricing.
Leisse responded a replacement shingle
RELOCATION
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for the committee’s reconsideration of canceling the bond ordinance, maintaining, “it is more expensive to start from scratch with a new bond, rather than repurposing the bond we have.”
Chief Financial Officer Rodney Haines, whose position has been the subject of recent executive sessions with the post ordered to be advertised as an opening, retorted, “You
MAYOR
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to listen to the entire meeting,” Sickles pointed out. “We want to have questions resolved and not be waiting to next month’s meeting, which is totally ridiculous!”
“Thank you,” responded Haines this time around to the continuing criticisms. “Anybody else?”
While Haines apparently preferred to move on from the controversy that has dogged her first nine months in office as mayor, with the mayor having since acknowledged the decision was primarily hers and not that of the council (as she
roof would cost about $85,000 versus a metal roof that would cost around $116,000.
The township engineer noted that he “did the basic 25 percent of the decking needs to be replaced” in coming up with the figures, recognizing, “I don’t know what kind of condition it (the decking) is in and won’t know till taking it off.”
DeGroff, in response, noted that a total project cost in factoring in any decking could be somewhere around $135,000, if the committee decides to proceed with a metal roof.
“Metal will give you a 50-year warranty,” Leisse pointed out. “Shingles will give you 20.”
As for the cedar sheathing, DeGroff pointed to Leisse’s estimate that it will cost around $40,000 to do the “whole building.”
“Do you think the whole thing needs to be done?” the mayor asked the township engineer. “Is there no treatment to put on the cedar?”
Officials kicked around the idea of replacing only the deteriorated portions of the siding, but Mull voiced concern
can repurpose it, but it is just the same as doing a new bond ordinance, you have to do all the same work.” He also maintained the “costs are all the same.”
Brown, whose position has also been the subject of recent acrimony, closed sessions and is being advertised as a full-time one (versus the current part-time role she has), maintained the bond had to be canceled because it is “site-specific.”
Yet again on Sept. 23, the positions of Haines and Brown were the subject of an executive session, but no action was taken.
had previously suggested), Fanucci, recognizing the increasing public frustrations and pressure to reverse course, returned to the topic during a later council comments section of the latest meeting.
She maintained that council should adopt a public comment policy that is “more effective” for the “residents.”
“I am respectfully asking Ms. Mayor to move it back where it was previously,” Fanucci said. “Everyone seemed to think that was good for the public.”
Borough Solicitor David Serlin, however, pointed to a state statute “governing public meetings” that states, in part, ‘“Nothing in this act shall be construed to limit the discretion of a public body to permit, prohibit, or
that it will be “all mismatched if you only replace some of it.”
Officials arrived at the determination that “if you do it,” at least “do the whole side.”
In response to questions about whether any treatment had ever been done on the building, Brown pointed out that since 1993, “if something should have been done, there was never any kind of treatment done here.”
DeGroff, in evaluating the $40,000 replacement estimate Leisse proposed, asserted, however, “I thought it would be a lot more than $40,000 – it is not bad.”
Brown pointed out that the township would probably include these two projects in future budgets, as early as the one for next year. Leisse said he has been “using a local Co-op” for similar projects and “we can have them come out” to provide firm estimates so Brown can “know how much money to put in the budget for next year.”
“There is no evidence of roof leaks,” pointed out DeGroff. “That is what we don’t want, and you could have leaks and damage to the plywood and don’t know it yet.”
The local chief financial officer asked,
However, the public was informed that Deputy Township Clerk Deirdre Amato was the subject of a RICE notice, and that she decided just prior to the session to resign from her position. McNaughton, however, maintained Amato is leaving on her own terms and simply sought a position with better pay, and Barton thanked her for her contributions and service to the township. Burns reported that Hertzberg “maintained the suspension of the order” closing Medford Lakes-Tabernacle Road, but “wants an update on Nov. 30.”
regulate the active participation of the public at any meeting, except that a municipal governing body and a board of education shall be required to set aside a portion of every meeting of the municipal governing body or board of education, the length of the portion to be determined by the municipal governing body or board of education, for public comment on any governmental or school district issue that a member of the public feels may be of concern to the residents of the municipality or school district.”’
“So, each public body I represent does it differently,” Serlin added. “So, there is nothing illegal or incorrect about how you are doing it. It is subject to the public entity’s discretion, and I want that on
in response, if Leisse had been able to enter the attic, with the township engineer responding he would need to “get access,” before adding, “maybe I will do an inspection before the end of this year.”
During the ensuing regular meeting, DeGroff told attendees officials are “looking at the roof” and “I know it is the original roof.”
“We are also looking at what we can do with the siding, either to replace the whole siding or see if we can replace it partially and put some kind of preventive material on it. We won’t do them both in one year, but rather we will probably do the roof first, next year.”
But in light of the announcement and Leisse’s apparent involvement with the project, resident Terry Sheerin posed this question to township officials and the committee: “Why are we using an engineer when we can use a roofing contractor that does this for a living at a lesser, hourly rate?”
Sheerin received no answer.
“The committee is in possession of design specs provided by J&M Preservation, as per the court order,” said Burns, and after some deliberation over whether the governing body should wait and analyze the specs before seeking quotes on the work, the governing body voted to give Brown and McNaughton the authority to move ahead in getting the quotes, with the committee advised that if any members have any concerns or objections in the interim, to immediately get in touch with the mayor, independently.
the record.”
“Thank you,” declared Haines, and after the solicitor expressed that he was satisfied with the process in place, the mayor added, “Thank you. You’re happy, we’re happy.”
However, the Republican councilwoman reminded the elected and appointed colleagues in council chambers that, “We are here to serve the public.”
“I am reiterating my support to move it back,” Fanucci declared. “A phone call is only one-to-one, so only the person on that end and the other end are hearing what is being asked about. Everything should be done in the public realm, so everyone gets the benefit.”
CLEANUP
(Continued from Page 5)
Space Coordinator who is scheduled to retire at the end of the month, will be drafting new specifications to allocate funds from a $61,000 local recreational improvement award the township received in June from the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) to ensure that kayakers. canoers and anglers can once again enjoy safe passage on the creek, Hornickel told the Pine Barrens Tribune
The awarding of the grant was largely due to the efforts put forth by Portocalis in locating and obtaining the funds and Medford Leas resident Kathleen “Kathy” Roberts, who has spearheaded a volunteer effort to once again make the creek, which extends from Freedom Park into Medford Park and behind Main Street to the top of Branch Street, navigable to recreational users. The money, according to Portocalis, will be used for both the clearing of fallen trees and limbs, and bank stabilization that will hopefully prevent others from becoming uprooted.
Roberts, speaking during a public comment period at the Oct. 1 council session, said she was especially concerned that the matter might become “lost in transition” given that Portocalis would be leaving her post and Hornickel was a newcomer to Medford town government, having recently been hired away from a managerial role in Pemberton Township.
have reliable transportation and be
Watson, however, told Roberts he wanted to assure her that he intended “to have Mr. Hornickel work on this.”
“If we have grant money, that is money to spend, and my intention would be to use it as quickly as possible,” Watson maintained.
Hornickel, for his part, indicated he would be giving it close attention as one of his initial orders of business.
“I actually think the timing of this is beneficial for us... (since) winter is usually a very down time for tree services,” the township manager asserted. “I’m hoping we can put this bid out by the end of the month, get some good aggressive quotes from multiple companies and be able to maximize the dollars we have available to us—and that is what we intend to do.”
Beyond that, Hornickel said the township should be able to keep tabs on the condition of the creek “at least on a quarterly basis.”
In voicing her concern, Roberts noted that she had first appeared before the council in May of 2023 to point out that the condition of the creek “had not been on your radar for seven years,” and that despite having shared pictures of the blockages and “pamphlets that were in the library that were then removed, “2023 ended with no change” in the situation.
It was not until a year after her first council appearance that Roberts said the interim township manager, Thomas Czerniecki, told her the creek would be cleared by Public Works.
“He said they were busy with park and lawn work in May, but that it would be done by June 15,” she maintained. “And it was not.”
In the meantime, Roberts contended, Portocalis and Medford Public Works Director Ron Fowler walked the creek and assessed its condition, as well as meeting with Medford Leas CEO Jeremy Vickers and owners of properties lining the bank to discuss their responsibilities in maintaining it, but there were no specific plans worked out to clarify those obligations.
Finally, Roberts said Fowler told her on the day before the council meeting that his staff had pulled some limbs from the creek during the summer, but without entering the creek itself to do so. However, she claimed, a group of volunteers who had become aware of the situation by reading about it in this newspaper did venture into the creek twice in July and managed to clear enough of the obstructions “that we were able to paddle up to Kirby’s Mill with plans to continue another day to Main Street.” But further progress was blocked, Roberts noted, by a tree that subsequently fell and was still there at the time of the meeting.
“As I said the first time I came, I feel that it is your responsibility,” she told the council members. “I’m here to ask that you keep it as a priority and follow up with Mr. Hornickel that the RFP (Request for Proposal) is issued for ongoing limb removal to allow enough room for boat
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“Once the initial grant is in place, I would like to see the development of an ongoing plan consistent with the code and property owners’ responsibility to keep the creek passable,” she added, promising that she would continue to do her part “to follow up on the progress being made.”
Roberts concluded by noting that “it is really enjoyable for some of us seniors to be able to do this, and we want to be able to continue to do it and have the town do it.”
In addition to the creek itself, which Is stocked with fish for anglers, there is also an adjacent system of public trails that are popular with hikers running alongside it.
In other business, the consent agenda unanimously passed by the council included two resolutions that authorized the purchase of three 2025 Chevrolet Tahoe SUVs for the Medford Township Police Department through the Bergen County Cooperative Pricing System, as well as a 2023 Dodge Durango SUV for the department through Cherry Hill Dodge.
Another resolution authorized the township to enter into the North Jersey Wastewater Cooperative Purchasing System, which utilizes competitive bidding processes to obtain a variety of supplies, equipment and services at advantageous prices.
Hornickel also announced the approval of Ava Del Palazzo as a new Emergency Medical Service volunteer member of Station 258.
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Maryalice
BASE
(Continued from Page 8)
rescue that we do.”
As a member of Atlantic Strike Team at JBMDL, Giugliano and his team focus on dealing with chemical discharges, weapons of mass destruction, and oil spills, among other environmental disasters. His team was called in during a recent chemical fire in Reading, Pa., and had to utilize high-tech equipment to figure out what was inside long-forgotten storage containers.
“There were 529 drums of unknown chemicals, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) called us in since they had no idea what hazards the responders faced,” Giugliano said.
The Coast Guard has equipment that can dissect a cookie crumb and give a list of the ingredients, he said, so they are the main line of defense to making sure dangerous chemicals won’t react to something like water, which would cause even more of a disaster.
Another aspect of the event was to also show how JBMDL is part of the local community, said Master Sgt. Derick Panchu.
“Our mission goes far beyond aircrafts,”
Panchu maintained. “One of my favorite things is working with local special needs kids and giving them aircraft demos. Things like that highlight the special relationship between the base and the community.”
In all his years in office, O’Connell said Col. Anthony L. Smith was the fourth base commander he had met. This event, Col. Smith said, served as a way to strengthen the collaboration with area businesses and improve relationships with the community. O’Connell said it is important to him to keep the county and base working in harmony and all the base commanders he has worked with have shared that mantra.
“All the people I speak with, who go through the base, say there’s nothing like this area,” he said. “The relationship with the base and the people is wonderful and that is great to see.”
After the speakers were finished and the cake was cut, visitors were invited to learn even more on a tour of the base. Visitors got an even more personal look at what the Coast Guard and U.S. Army Reserves do.
After the bus returned to the hangar, the guests left with a new appreciation and knowledge of all that goes into keeping the country safe and running smoothly, as well as what the base offers for the area that surrounds it.
