Pine Barrens Tribune October 19, 2024-October 25, 2024 by Pine Barrens Tribune

MERGER OF THE SQUADS?

Chiefs of Tabernacle Rescue and Hampton Lakes Emergency Squads Publicly Reveal Intentions to

By D ouglas D. M elegari Staff Writer

TABERNACLE—The chiefs of the Tabernacle Rescue Squad (TRS) and the Hampton Lakes Emergency Squad (HLES) have publicly revealed their intentions to merge the two entities beginning in 2025 through a regionalization agreement, hoping to become a single “Pinelands”

squad serving Shamong, Southampton and Tabernacle townships.

Currently, TRS has a partnership with the Lumberton Emergency Squad to provide emergency medical services in Tabernacle and Shamong townships during the daytime hours on weekdays, which has been in place since 2022 given the Tabernacle squad’s purported struggle

to recruit volunteers, particularly for the daytime shift. The now-defunct Shamong Emergency Medical Squad had also consolidated in 2021 with TRS for the same reason.

HLES, recently said to be bucking the national trend of declining volunteerism, is solely responsible for providing emergency

See SQUADS/ Page 8

By D ouglas D. M elegari

Staff Writer

PEMBERTON—Paula Cozzarelli, of Jersey Professional Management, has been named interim business administrator of Pemberton Township, chosen by Pemberton Township Council, all while Republican Mayor Jack Tompkins’ initial choice to replace now-former business administrator Daniel Hornickel, Jerome Barberio, created controversy to the point that the mayor pulled his nomination, at least for now. Tompkins attempted twice to have Barberio elevated to the position of Pemberton business administrator – once on Sept. 4, and again on Sept. 18, but both times his selection faced backlash, in part because some felt the search process was moving along too quickly, and also because a resident called attention to apparent unfavorable news coverage pertaining to Bar berio’s service in the Village of Mamaroneck, which is in New York.

Tompkins, when it was apparent he did not have the support to move forward with the nomination of Barberio on Sept. 18, “pulled” a resolution that evening seeking council’s consent to his appointment. Council appeared somewhat open to the idea of appointing Barberio to the Pemberton business administrator post on Sept. 4, following an executive session, but then Resident Alex Costa approached the dais during public comment to say he was

Ambulances for the Tabernacle Rescue Squad (TRS) and Hampton Lakes Emergency Squad (HLES).

Determination to Conduct Pemberton’s Leaf Collection in Spring Leads to Bipartisan Disapproval, Calls for Buying Vacuum Trucks Council Reluctantly, But Unanimously Approves $2.1M Bond Ordinance and

Calls for Any Future Projects to Be Based on ‘Needs’ and Not ‘Wants’

By D ouglas D. M elegari Staff Writer

PEMBERTON—A pronouncement by

Republican Mayor Jack Tompkins that Pemberton Township has decided to hold off on leaf collection until the springtime appeared to bring about swift bi-partisan disapproval during an Oct. 2 Pemberton Township Council session, and led to an intense discussion about prioritizing needs in budgeting, such as leaf vacuum trucks, as the council entertained a $2.1 million bond ordinance to implement its 2024 Capital Improvement Program.

Last fall, township crews did not pick up leaves in the municipality because there was a purported issue in securing trash trucks to use for leaf collection, and it led to a delay in collection until this spring.

“There is always a discussion on where we are in the leaf collection process and where the leaves actually are, whether they are on the tree or on the ground,” Tompkins declared. “So, we determined it might be better just to hold off the collection until the springtime when all the leaves are definitely off the trees and do it then.”

“Okay, I am not sure the residents are going to agree with that,” retorted Harry Harper, a Republican running for Pemberton Township Council.

Democratic Councilman Donovan Gardner asked a follow-up question of the mayor, “Since most residents are going to rake their leaves probably out to the curb, or to the front of the yard, don’t we always run into a problem of the sewers becoming clogged because of the leaves being blown around, like after a rainstorm or snow melting?”

“I am not aware of that,” Tompkins answered.

But Gardner persisted in questioning the mayor, asking, “There has been no reports of the sewers being clogged up and all the water not draining correctly?”

“I answered – I am not aware of it,” Tompkins asserted. “I haven’t heard anything like that.”

It led Gardner to snap, “Okay – well, that is an issue.”

“So, you may want to look into how we are going to manage the leaves,” maintained Gardner, noting that most residents are not going to put them in bags, but rather put them out for collection on their front lawns, asserting, “Then it becomes a drain problem.”

“I hear you,” Tompkins responded.

Resident America Phillips, who has more often than not sided with the See COLLECTION/ Page 16

Residents of Woodland Twp. Advised by Emergency Management of Municipality’s Procedures in Both 'Local', 'Major Evacuations' Local OEM Coordinator Details Possible Evacuation Sites, Busing Locations and Landing Zones; Urges Locals with Pets to Make Advance Arrangements

By D ouglas D. M elegari Staff Writer

WOODLAND—Following concern that Woodland Township residents did not know where they and their pets and animals were supposed to go in the event an evacuation order had become necessary during an early summer wildfire, as well as for future emergencies, Municipal Emergency Management Coordinator Michael Huber presented those answers “due to popular demand” to the community in a Sept. 25 presentation.

Huber described that there are two types of evacuations that could be ordered for the township: “local” and “major,” the latter which could be on a potentially township-wide scale.

“A ‘local’ evacuation is going to be managed from an incident command post likely in town, and utilize township buildings,” Huber described. “If something affects the entire town, and we all have to leave, that is going to be managed by the county and state Offices of Emergency Management. They are going to direct us where to go and get us there.”

In the event of a local evacuation, Huber said the municipal building is the “best location for it” given there is a “back-up generator,” as well as “heating and air.”

While the Chatsworth Elementary School, across the way from the municipal building could also be used as an evacuation site, it is “not really the ideal evacuation facility” because there is “no back up power.”

Huber, however, cautioned he “can’t say for certain we would evacuate” to either one of those facilities as it is all based on the kind of incident that occurs. Additionally, he added, for local evacuations, “shelter is generally going to fall on the superintendent and administrator, depending on what is happening.”

In the event of an evacuation out-oftown, Huber revealed that Chatsworth Elementary, the municipal building and the Chatsworth firehouse are “established bus pickup locations,” in addition to the

Lakes

“They are all designated county busing facilities,” he said.

In the event an evacuation is ordered, Huber revealed the township’s Emergency Operations Plan calls for, “if need be, a house-to-house effort” with personnel from the New Jersey State Police and emergency management “knocking on doors.”

Separately, Township Administrator and Clerk Maryalice Brown revealed that she recently met with the New Jersey State Police school resource officer assigned to Chatsworth Elementary and the new superintendent of schools (Dr. Laura Venello), and the superintendent had requested a key and alarm code to the municipal building because “should there be an incident at the school, we are the evacuation shelter for the school.”

Huber, during his presentation, also disclosed that the township’s Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) identifies three “authorized landing sites,” including Coyle Airfield, New Lisbon Developmental Center and Chatsworth Elementary.

Given Woodland Township’s limited resources, Huber cautioned, “Any real major disaster in town is going to require outside assistance.”

“An Emergency Operations Center (EOC) may be established in or outside of town,” Huber said. “In most cases, the township is not going to be in any kind of command, of any natural disaster.”

As for those residents who have pets and animals, Huber urged that they “make plans and arrangements” in advance “for transport of animals,” pointing out that they are “not allowed in a shelter.”

The municipal emergency management coordinator urged residents with pets and animals to also get in contact with the Burlington County Animal Response Team (CART) as they “help to transport cows and take care of animals during disasters in the county.”

“It always helps, too, to have friends with farms in another area where you can move your animals,” Huber added.

Lebanon

firehouse.

Photo By Nick Weissmann

Woodland Township Emergency Management Coordinator Michael Huber informs residents of what to generally expect in the event of an evacuation order.

Pemberton Township Mayor Recognizes Fire Prevention Week, Urging Locals to Check Smoke Detectors, Have Fire Escape Plan

By D ouglas D. M elegari Staff Writer

PEMBERTON—Fire is a serious public safety concern both locally and nationally, said Pemberton Township Mayor Jack Tompkins in recognizing Fire Prevention Week during an Oct. 2 Pemberton Township Council meeting, urging residents to think of fire safety, including making sure they have both working smoke detectors and a home fire escape plan.

“As a child, we had fires in our house twice when I was growing up,” Tompkins recounted. “And that is one of the scariest things in the world to hear is ‘fire,’ fire when you're at the house. And you wake up hearing that. It brings new meaning to fear.”

The Township of Pemberton is committed, the mayor declared, to ensuring the safety and security of all those living in and visiting our state and town.

“Homes are locations where people are at the greatest risk of fire,” pointed out Tompkins, noting home fires killed more than 1,978 people in the U.S. in 2023. “According to the National Fire Prevention Association, the fire departments in the U.S. responded to 360,000 home fires.”

Pemberton Township has had its fair share of recent fires, this newspaper previously reported, and Tompkins pointed out that while touring the town with new interim Business Administrator Paula Cozzarelli, “we actually passed two locations of home fires within the past year or two.”

“So, we are not immune to home fires in this town,” Tompkins asserted. “Roughly three out of five fire deaths happen in the homes with either no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.”

Tompkins urged residents to install smoke alarms in every sleeping room, outside each separate sleeping area, and on every level of their home. Locals, he said, “should also make sure their smoke alarms meet the needs of all their family members, including those with sensory and physical disabilities.”

Residents, he emphasized, should also test their smoke alarms at least once a month.

“Working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in reported home fires almost in half,” Tompkins declared. “Smoke alarms sense smoke well before you can, alerting you to the danger in the event of fire, in which you may have as little as two minutes to escape safely. And in some of our older homes in this area, when a fire starts, it'll start to spread pretty quick.”

Tompkins pointed out that residents who plan and practice a home fire escape plan are “more prepared and will therefore be most likely to survive a fire.”

“Pemberton Township firefighters are dedicated to reducing the occurrence of home fires and home fire injuries through prevention and protection education,” he declared. “ … I urge all the people in Pemberton to make sure their homes have working smoke alarms and to support the many public safety activities and efforts of the Pemberton Township Volunteer Fire Department.”

Medford Lakes Council Weighs Possible Code Adjustments to Address Now Two Complaints of Vehicle Parking on Lawns Fee Ordinance OK’d, Raising Some Fees, Listing All Boro Fees in One Place

By D ouglas D. M elegari Staff Writer

MEDFORD LAKES—In the wake of a complaint about a Medford Lakes property owner parking vehicles and a carry-on trailer on their lawn, where it is accessible by a side road, all in addition to the regular driveway that comes out to a main street, Medford Lakes Borough Council and administrative officials are weighing possible adjustments to borough code.

Borough Solicitor Doug Heinold announced during the latest Sept. 21 council session that he has “sent a memo out to address that issue,” informing council that he reviewed the borough code in regard to vehicles.

And in summarizing what he wrote to the council, the municipal solicitor asserted of the code, “some of it has some issues that I spotted” which “need to be cleaned up.”

“We do have an existing set of regulations for having recreation vehicles,” Heinold recognized. “But I was a little surprised there is an exception, where in certain instances, you can park recreation vehicles in technically a front yard.”

Heinold, after pointing this out to the council, asserted, “I think whatever we do with regard to parking regular motor vehicles in front yards, we have to be cognizant of the interplay between those two things.”

The municipal solicitor maintained that he “provided sample languages” to council for inclusion in a possible ordinance adjusting the code, declaring, “It was tough to find a comparable one.”

The “closest” comparative code Heinold said he could find locally was that of Berlin that, “I think would generally work here,” though he noted the municipality is “not a whole lot like us, except they have small lots.”

“I think the question is do you want to take action in this area, and if so, do you want to follow that Berlin language or do you have other thoughts or concerns?” Heinold asked.

Heinold contended he has been giving a lot of thought to the potential “implications” of any such tightening

of the regulations, pointing out that the borough has “a lot of situations” which “people created a little extra space for parking, essentially at the very front of their front yard, parallel to the cartway.”

“You might want to think about allowing that exception,” he advised the council. “We are trying to prevent parking on the grass, across from a neighbor, which was the subject of a complaint. We have gone decades without having a regulation.”

Heinold also recommended council consult with its local zoning officer as he would be “more familiar” with how many complaints are being received regarding residents parking vehicles on their lawns. Since the last council session, according to Borough Manager Dr. Robert Burton, “we did have one resident who emailed” the borough offices and “explained similar situations” happening to them.

In regard to the initial instance which started the conversation, borough officials described speaking to the complainant and neighbor to try to arrive at an “amicable solution,” but that it has not yet come about, and without tighter restrictions, “there is nothing” the zoning officer can do.

The latest council session began with a second reading and public hearing on a proposed fee ordinance, which was previously described by officials as a measure that would consolidate all borough fees into one ordinance for easier public consumption, and also raise some fees to be level with nearby municipalities.

After former borough councilman Joseph Aromando III described that he “never heard how these fees were decided” and maintained the ordinance was simply being “rubberstamped,” Borough Clerk Mark J. McIntosh repeated a previous explanation that the “project went on at least for a year,” and a “ton of work was done by the borough attorney, manager, registrar, construction official and myself looking at comparative fees in surrounding towns.”

“There was substantial work done,” the clerk emphasized. “There is actually an ordinance folder, which is a public record, that has comparative charts. I want history to show this wasn’t done willy nilly. It was See LAWNS/ Page 19

Photo Provided

Pemberton Township Council President Paul Detrick (left), Fire Chief Craig Augostoni (center), and Mayor Jack Tompkins (right).

Bridge on County Route 542 Between Washington and Bass River Slated to Close for Approximately One-Year, Starting This Month

Month After Washington Committee Criticized State Police, Trooper Declares He ‘Doesn’t Have Any Good or Bad News to Deliver – No News is Good News’

By D ouglas D. M elegari Staff Writer

WASHINGTON—Officials with Washington Township received notice from South State General Contractors that a County Route 542 bridge, in which construction was previously delayed, was to close beginning around Oct. 14.

The Ives Branch Bridge, between Loveland Lane and Leektown Road, which carries traffic on County Route 542 over the Wading River and allows motorists to easily go back and forth between Washington and Bass River townships, is expected to be closed for approximately one year, according to the notice.

A detour will be implemented to provide access to local residents and businesses, Deputy Washington Township Clerk Karen Bacon announced at an Oct. 1 Washington Township Committee session.

Otherwise, the session featured some brief, but pertinent updates to ongoing projects in the municipality.

With regard to the construction of a communications tower at the Lower Bank Firehouse, James said the “cell tower is coming along, looks good and we have all been out there to check it.”

A project to add a well at the township maintenance building is in the works, according to Mayor C. Leigh Gadd, Jr., describing that the municipality is “waiting for permits to be approved.”

“Hopefully in the next few weeks we will

be able to get that done,” Gadd declared. “An electrician will be dropping off the paperwork we need for him to tie that in as well, as well as do some work at the Senior Center.”

Lower Bank Fire Company member and resident Horace Somes was the lone speaker during public comment, inquiring about who is responsible for removing a purportedly half dead, “big, red cedar” tree at the end of Firehouse Lane.

“The question is do we take it down or is this something you could do?” Somes asked.

Gadd ultimately asked Somes to mark the tree in question for review, with James pointing out that once it is cut down, as far as the remnant wood, “All you have to do is say you got to take it all.”

At a preceding committee session in September, the Washington committee was particularly critical of the Tuckerton Barracks of the New Jersey State Police, charging that the agency had failed to update the committee on previous complaints about drag racing, and was not adequately addressing speeding issues in town.

The topic did not get raised this time around, however, but at the very end of the meeting, Gadd made it a point to recognize there was a State Trooper in the room and asked if he had “any news to deliver,” with the State Trooper responding, “I do not have any good or bad news to deliver – no news is good news.”

James then called the State Trooper “simply a spectator tonight.”

Evesham Twp. Says South Jersey Gas Responsible for Blunder Involving Digging Up of Recently Resurfaced Hopewell Road

Township Claims Utility Failed to Respond to 3 Attempts to Notify It of Road Plan; Company Agrees to Redo Job But Doesn’t Take Blame

By Bill B onvie Staff Writer

EVESHAM —A resurfacing job that Evesham Township paid a contractor to perform this past June on Hopewell Road, from the Medford Township line to the vicinity of Bortons Road, will now have to be redone due to South Jersey Gas Company’s allegedly not having informed the municipality about its plans to replace an aging gas main running under the thoroughfare until after the road had been repaved.

According to Zane Clark, director of public information for Evesham, the utility will be responsible for the complete restoration of the repaving job once the gas line has been replaced since it failed to respond to three separate attempts township officials made to reach out to the company about their plans to regrade the road surface, in addition to not notifying them of its own plans to dig up Hopewell until after the fact.

In a brief email sent to the Pine Barrens

Tribune late on the afternoon of Oct. 16 in response to a request that the gas company state its position on the matter, a spokesperson for the company, Krystle Straus, concurred that it would remedy the situation even while appearing to disclaim responsibility for the blunder itself.

“It is to South Jersey Gas’ knowledge that appropriate parties were notified of this project,” Straus said.

She did agree, however, that “the road will be restored by South Jersey Gas,” estimating that the work would “be complete in December.”

But while Clark also indicated that an arrangement to have the company fix the problem has been mutually agreed upon, bringing the road back to the way it was after the initial job was completed might possibly have to be put off until spring unless temperatures over the next month or two permit it to be accomplished before the mercury goes below freezing.

Once the company has finished

Virginia Man Faces Many Charges After Allegedly Pointing Firearm at Evesham Homeowner; Also Suspect in Virginia Double Homicide Suspect Also Accused of Assaulting Officer at Virtua Marlton Hospital

EVESHAM—A Virginia man who allegedly pointed a firearm at an Evesham Township homeowner in an Oct. 13 incident, and then later was apprehended in Medford Township, before assaulting a police officer at a local hospital, is also a double homicide suspect in Virginia.

Amandeep Singh, of Manassas, Virginia now faces many charges, including two counts of homicide.

It was on Oct. 13 around 2 a.m., according to a press release from the Evesham Township Police Department, when Evesham officers responded to the first block of Kelly Drive for a report of a man standing outside of a residence, “pointing a firearm at, and threatening a homeowner.”

in possession of multiple firearms, police said, including a .40 caliber handgun, believed to have been involved in the assault in Evesham Township, along with an AK47 rifle, with four fully-loaded, high-capacity magazines.

“Upon police arrival, the suspect was no longer on location,” Evesham Police reported. “The victims reported that the suspect was a relative, Amandeep Singh, who traveled to the location from Prince William County, Virginia, and was looking for his estranged wife.”

An argument had ensued, according to police, which prompted Singh to point a firearm at the homeowner before fleeing.

Police ultimately learned the suspect was at a location in neighboring Medford, and with the assistance of the Medford Township Police Department, Singh was located and arrested, without incident. During his arrest, he was found to be

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medical services to Southampton Township, ever since the Vincentown Emergency Medical Squad closed shop around 2013-14.

TRS has been around, according to its chief, George Jackson, since 1953, while HLES has been around since 1958, the latter currently led by Chief Eamonn Fitzpatrick-Ruth.

Jackson, in announcing the proposed merger for the first time during a Sept. 23 Tabernacle Township Committee meeting, maintained that when Lumberton began staffing TRS trucks in 2022, it was on a “temporary basis” on Monday through Friday, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., with the intention of “moving toward a merger.” He revealed that a “larger regionalization” had been “initially” discussed between various area municipalities, but some towns had since purportedly “backed out” of those discussions.

“Today, a merger between Lumberton and Tabernacle has not progressed and an alternate solution was needed,” contended

Evesham Police subsequently contacted the Prince William County, Virginia Police Department and requested a welfare check at Singh’s residence.

“The Prince William County Police Department responded to the residence and located two deceased individuals inside of the home,” Evesham Police said. “Both victims appear to have died from gunshot wounds.”

The Prince William County Police Department is said to have since commenced a homicide investigation.

The continued investigation located Singh’s wife, safe at another location in Virginia.

Singh, following his arrest in Medford, was reportedly transported to Virtua Hospital, Marlton Campus, for evaluation and treatment, “unrelated to his arrest/ police custody.”

“While at the hospital being treated, Singh assaulted an Evesham Police Officer, by kicking him,” police maintained. “The officer was not injured.”

Singh is being charged with alleged

Jackson of what he described as a two-anda-half-year period of ongoing negotiations to come up with a more permanent solution.

As for why a more permanent solution between Tabernacle and Lumberton has failed to come about, Jackson contended the “make up of the towns are different” and differing “visions” led to a “stalemate where we could not move forward.”

“In 2013-2014, we had 50 volunteers with 35 active members meeting requirements,” said Jackson of the state of TRS. “Now we are at 20 volunteers with 10 trying to answer double the calls we used to get.”

The HLES, on the other hand, Jackson described, currently has 57 members, three of whom are considered full-time staff.

“We face the issues of missing calls, longer response times, and missing billing revenues as volunteers cannot keep up with increasing call volume,” said Jackson of the state of TRS.

The Tabernacle chief, whose LinkedIn profile page states he has been the chief of TRS for 25 years and has been with the entity for over 51 years, or since July 1973, claimed that the entity’s annual call volume when he started was around 800 calls, and last year, there were a total of

crimes in both New Jersey and Virginia, and has been lodged in Burlington County Jail, pending a first appearance in Burlington County Superior Court.

Among the charges Singh, 49, faces include, second-degree possession of a weapon(s) for an unlawful purpose, second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon – handguns without a permit, third-degree unlawful possession of

1,600 calls.

And that increase in call volume has coincided with a “dwindling volunteer corps.”

“Back when I started, there were a lot of people not working, or they were homemakers,” Jackson said. “Today, most homes are dual-incomes, and most people have more than one job. Our volunteer corps has dwindled.”

Additionally, he described that TRS has been impacted by the supply chain shortages of late, as well as by inflation in which “our expenses have doubled everywhere,” in addition to increased minimum wage and sick-leave mandates.

Also having an impact is the rising cost of required EMT courses.

“Right now, it costs $2,500 to go,” Jackson maintained. “The other issue is that, several years ago, individual agencies taught EMT classes. Our county no longer has a program. One of two agencies in the county that provided it, no longer provides it.”

Should the merger of TRS and HLES be approved, according to Jackson, it would allow the two entities to combine their fleets and equipment, in addition to manpower and financial resources.

HLES, he explained, has four ambulances

weapon(s) – rifles/shotguns, fourthdegree prohibited weapons and devices – large capacity ammo, fourth-degree prohibited weapons and devices –hollow nose/dum-dum, fourth-degree aggravated assault with a firearm, fourth-degree aggravated assault on law enforcement and fugitive from justice (related to two counts of homicide and related charges from Virginia).

and a command vehicle. TRS has six ambulances, a command vehicle and a boat. Both have a physical station, and in regards to them, Jackson said the one for HLES was built in 1990 and “needs work,” and the one for TRS was built in 2012 and is in “great condition.”

However, despite Jackson at one point describing that one of the advantages of such a deal for HLES would be that it would address the entity currently having a “building that does not meet the need,” he seemed to indicate that both stations would be kept in some capacity, contending that, right now, “everything is township-line based” or when a call goes out, the entity in that town gets dispatched, but if the merger is approved, based on the new boundaries, the “closest ambulance goes.”

An example he cited in describing the current situation is that if there is an incident in the Avenues section of Tabernacle, while HLES’s headquarters is on Holly Boulevard, off Route 70, closer to the scene, TRS, based on New Road, is dispatched to the call. Such a deal, he maintained, would also be See SQUADS/ Page 10

Singh

Woodland Committee Orders Audit of Local Fire/EMS Company for

2022 and 2023

Amid

By D ouglas D. M elegari Staff Writer

Claim Last One Was Performed in 2013

WOODLAND—An audit has been ordered by the Woodland Township Committee of the Woodland Volunteer Fire and EMS Company’s books for 2022 and 2023.

“In reviewing the township records, it has come to my attention that the township has neglected to perform an annual audit of the Woodland Volunteer Fire and Emergency Medical Services, as stated in the agreement,” declared Committeewoman Donna Mull during a Sept. 25 session of the governing body in making a motion for an audit to be performed of the agency.

Mull’s motion came after the committee spent time in an executive session to discuss, as Solicitor William Burns put it, the “renewal and amendment of an agreement with Woodland Fire and EMS, and potential terms and conditions to be included in the (existing) terms and conditions, in the current agreement, understanding prior agreements took a significant amount of time to negotiate and resolve.”

Past questioning of the finances of the Woodland Fire and EMS Company, known to have limited resources, had provoked strong emotions in town, but the committee always appeared to side with the first responder entity.

But this year has represented a marked shift in attitudes following a primary challenge (which turned out to be unsuccessful) to the township deputy

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“told to tell you,” or the councilmembers, that “there were some newspaper articles about him (Barberio), and I think you all should just read them just to have a little bit more of an understanding of what is going on.”

“Who is pulling the strings here?” Democratic Council President Paul Detrick demanded to know, but another member of council, Democrat Donovan Gardner, wanted to further understand what it was that Costa was referencing.

Township Solicitor Andrew “Andy” Bayer then cautioned that the discussion involved personnel, advising that Costa can “email” what he has to the council.

Costa later told this newspaper that is what he did, and when asked who it was exactly who told him to bring the media coverage of Barberio to council’s attention, Costa maintained he could not reveal the person’s identity.

The Mamaroneck Observer, an online publication, published an article on Feb. 14 headlined, “Barberio Placed on Administrative Leave,” with the lede paragraph asserting that, “After more than a year of head spinning drama, the Board of Trustees (BOT) apparently had enough.” The report goes on to describe controversy over salary raises, including allegations that they were “highly unusual and unprecedented,” and that the controversy gained steam after it was learned that Barberio had

mayor, Mark Herndon, by a battalion chief with the agency, Christopher Stopero, and a kerfuffle involving a couple township officials and the township fire chief, Shawn Viscardi, while he was working for the Public Works Department. Viscardi resigned from the public works position.

Township Administrator and Clerk Maryalice Brown, per the motion that passed in a 3-0 vote calling for an audit in years 2022 and 2023, has been authorized to “contract with a dually qualified professional of our choosing, not to exceed $10,000 in this year’s budget.”

“To clarify, the clerk is authorized to appoint a professional, subject to ratification,” Burns added. “So, work can begin with or without approval.”

Woodland Mayor William “Billy” DeGroff maintained that the agreement the municipality has with the Woodland Fire and EMS Company enables the township to “request an audit at our expense.”

“We have not had one done in years,” said DeGroff, before asking officials when was the last time one was completed, to which he was advised, “2013.”

“So, we feel it is necessary to have an audit done at this time,” DeGroff asserted.

Viscardi has come to the township committee on a couple of occasions this year asking for financial assistance from the township to repair various fire and EMS vehicles.

The entity receives a quarterly contribution of $22,500 from the township, with the latest contribution approved Sept. 25.

accepted a “second job” in “New Jersey,” or in the Borough of Englewood Cliffs. It also discussed a dispute having occurred concerning a bridge.

But even before the past apparent news coverage of Barberi o had been publicly raised to Pemberton council by Costa, several Pemberton residents questioned the speed at which Barberio’s selection had seemingly occurred.

“I didn't know there was anybody,” said Harry Harper, who is also running as a GOP candidate for council in this upcoming November’s election. “I hope somebody from council was involved in looking at the possible candidates. And I don't think we should rush into, you know, hiring somebody new.”

Harper emphasized that “we need to take our time and find the right person –the right fit.”

“And I am kind of curious, and I am not the smartest guy in the world, but why would somebody come here to work for less money than they were making before?” asked Harper, contending that for him, it “throws me a red flag.”

Resident Deborah Skipper described to council being “gobsmacked” by the proposed resolution that “consents to the appointment of Jerome Barberio as business administrator for the Township of Pemberton.”

“We come in tonight and we find out that we have a new business administrator?” Skipper said. “Has he been hired?”

Skipper was assured the council had not yet hired him.

“I am just hoping that when Medford

OCT.

OCT. 26

Tabernacle Historical Society's 50th Year Anniversary

Location: Tabernacle Twp.

Details: Tabernacle Historical Society invites one and all to the first in a series of celebrations for their 50th Year Anniversary. To kick off the series, come see the 8th Infantry Regiment as they honor Civil War Veterans in a dramatic historical event. Hear the voices of Tabernacle’s Civil War Veterans as they speak at their gravesites and learn their histories and the battles they fought in. To allow for respectful moving through the cemetery, although not required, it is asked that you register for this free event at: tabernaclehistoricalsociety@gmail.com (please include Civil War Veteran Presentation as the subject). The event will take place Saturday, Oct. 26, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. (rain date, Oct. 27), at Old Tabernacle Cemetery, Carranza Rd., across from the historical Tabernacle Town Hall.

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 .

takes nine months to find a business administrator, and there are quite a few townships that are looking for one, and you find one in less than a month, that he is being vetted properly,” Skipper declared. “When looking him up online, it is Jerome, “Jerry,” or whatever, but I hope that everyone has done their due diligence because we come in tonight and all of a sudden, we hear that we have a new BA.”

Skipper pointed out that already Pemberton has had “problems,” which “we have had for the past how many months or

years?” (Alluding, in part, to Tompkins and Hornickel being the recent focus of an investigation, as well as several complaints filed with the courts.)

And Resident Vicky Adams maintained that while “I don't know the new BA” and “I have no idea what his propositions are,” she pointed to “the one thing that has been said all along” during the past year of controversy, which “is to vet, vet, vet!”

“That is the one thing that Mr. (Dan) See TENSION/ Page 19

Photo By Alex Costa

Paula Cozzarelli, interim business administrator of Pemberton Township, looks on at the audience attending a Pemberton Township Council meeting.

Former Burlington County Animal Shelter Dog Has New Job of Supporting State Troopers at Agency’s Red Lion Barracks County Commissioners Approve Waiving All Adoption Fees for First Responders

SOUTHAMPTON—A

former Burlington County Animal Shelter dog has found a new home and a new calling as a station dog for the New Jersey State Police’s Red Lion Barracks.

Ace, an 18-month-old German Shepherd, was adopted from the animal shelter in August by New Jersey State Police Lt. Christopher Salvato (Red Lion’s station commander) to serve as a station canine at the State Police’s Red Lion barracks in Southampton, according to Burlington County officials in a press release.

As a station canine, Ace is said to report to the barracks with Salvato and “provides support for the troopers serving there.”

His interactions with troopers and other state police employees helps them relax and reduces their anxiety and stress, the

county said.

“Though Ace isn’t assigned the task of sniffing out criminal suspects, explosives or contraband, he still performs an important service for the troopers in the Red Lion barracks,” said Burlington County Commissioner Director Dr. Felicia Hopson. “Our board was thrilled to learn about Ace’s adoption and his new job supporting the State Troopers who serve Burlington County communities. We hope his tale inspires more police and first responders to learn about the benefits a dog or cat can bring to their stations and families, and that they consider adopting from our animal shelter.”

Citing the benefits to both first responders and the shelter’s animals, the Burlington County Commissioners have approved waiving all fees for first

Ace, an 18-month-old German Shepherd, was adopted from the animal shelter in August by New Jersey State Police Lt. Christopher Salvato to serve as a station canine at the Red Lion Barracks in Southampton. As a station canine, Ace reports to the barracks with Salvato and provides support for the troopers serving there. His interactions with troopers and other state police employees helps them relax and reduces their anxiety and stress.

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(Continued from Page 8)

beneficial given that HLES is “facing issues with “rapid strike ambulances” and a “small officer core” that struggles to keep up with the “workload.”

While “outsourcing” was one consideration for TRS versus a merger, Jackson said, “We don’t have the call volume that generates a lot of revenue for a third party to be interested in coming in here – it is not a money-maker.”

Another consideration was to establish a “fire district,” but he pointed out that Tabernacle “disbanded” its fire district some 10 years ago.

“It tak es time to set up,” contended

responders adopting from the county animal shelter, the county said. The policy takes effect immediately and expands on the shelter’s existing waivers for adopters who are 65 and older or veterans/military personnel.

The normal adoption fees are $75 for dogs and $45 for cats.

“Studies have shown interactions with pets can help lower an individual’s heart rate and blood pressure, and help reduce anxiety,” said Dr. Herb Conaway, director of the Burlington County Health Department. “Expanding the free adoption policy to include first responders is a proactive method to help improve first responders’ health and resiliency. The change can also help find more homes for the pets at the shelter, which is another big plus.”

The Burlington County Animal Shelter is located at 35 Academy Drive in Westampton and is open for walk-in visits from noon to 4 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays and from noon to 4 p.m., and Thursdays

from noon to 7 p.m. The shelter is open for appointments-only on Wednesdays. All available pets can be viewed online at https://www.co.burlington.nj.us/1446/ Available-for-Adoption .

Burlington County Commissioner Dan O’Connell, who adopted his dog Bingo from the Burlington County Animal Shelter after fostering the hound for several months, encouraged residents to visit the shelter and learn about the benefits of pet ownership.

“My dog Bingo is a wonderful companion, and I’ve seen first-hand the positives that spending time with him has had on both my physical and mental health,” said O’Connell, the board’s liaison to the animal shelter. “Ace is a great story, and we want to thank Lt. Salvato for giving him a new loving home and calling as a station dog. Good on you, lieutenant. By waiving the adoption fee, we hope to encourage more first responders to contact the shelter and learn more about a potential match.”

Jackson, adding that a fire district is not good for a regional agency. “Also, (EMS) in a fire district is considered a ‘secondary mission.’ It would be funding me, but not additional staff or support.”

A “regional merger of EMS,” however, according to Jackson, is “where it matters” and “makes more sense,” so long as it entails what he described as “similar agencies and people” and not “incompatible agencies like discussed with a Lumberton merger.”

“So, we formed a committee,” revealed Jackson, listing off the individuals who have served on it, representing both TRS and HLES. “We formed a steering committee.”

Jackson emphasized that the group intends for there to be a “creation of a regionalized agency” to cover Shamong,

Southampton and Tabernacle and would simply be “executing a merger” and “not a takeover of either agency,” all to “improve the service delivery of each agency, and therefore, the entire program.”

Hampton Lakes, according to Jackson, has an annual volume of 2,500 calls, and a regional squad accounting for calls also in Tabernacle and Shamong would lead to a total call volume of somewhere between 3,500 and 4,000 calls per year.

He pointed out Southampton is about 44 square miles with 10,464 people, Tabernacle is approximately 49 square miles with a population of 6,900 residents and Shamong is roughly 45 square miles with 6,400 residents, and a regional squad would result in a 140 square-mile territory with nearly 24,000 residents.

The next steps in moving forward, Jackson maintained, includes bringing the proposal to affected municipalities, after having claimed to have brought the proposal to membership. Then, a more concerted effort would be had to engage the public, including holding a forum in LeisureTowne, which Jackson recognized is very supportive of the HLES.

Tabernacle was the first on the list of towns to be approached with the concept, with Jackson requesting formation of a Tabernacle Committee subcommittee to study the proposal further. The Tabernacle committee, however, took no action Sept. 23 and the only one to speak briefly on the topic was Tabernacle Mayor Noble

See SQUADS/ Page 17

Photos Provided

What can you give for Halloween instead of candy?

Traditionally, people hand out candy to trick-or-treaters on Halloween. But what if you want to give something other than candy this year? After all, candy isn’t the healthiest treat, and lots of it ends up going to waste. Here are a few fun ideas you may want to try.

TOYS AND ACTIVITIES

You may want to dole out little toys and activities instead of candy. These items are sure to please even the pickiest trick-or-treaters:

• Stickers

• Temporary tattoos

• Bouncy balls

• Play-Doh

• Glow sticks

• Playing cards

• Bubbles

• Silly string

• Crayons

• Puzzles

• Sidewalk chalk

• Pencils and erasers

ALTERNATIVE TREATS

There are a number of non-candy treats you can hand out for Halloween. Here are a few suggestions:

• Raisins or other dried fruits

• Mini water bottles or juice boxes

• Granola bars

• Fortune cookies

• Pretzels

Remember to stay safe this Halloween. Avoid handing out items that could be hazardous, and make sure to only choose treats that come in sealed wrappers and packages.

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THE "ORIGInAL" LAKES APPLIANCE

The annual Apple Festival returned to Historic Kirby’s Mill in Medford on Oct. 12. Hosted by the Medford Historical Society and presented by ShopRite of Medford, the event drew thousands of people, browsing to 120 plus handmade goods, in addition apple cider, apple baked goods, signature apple cider donuts made on-site and specially made apple ice cream.

Medford's 45th Annual Apple Festival

Photos By Andrew King

COLLECTION

(Continued from Page 2)

Republican members of council, declared, “We should not be bagging the leaves – we have old people, and I am one of them!”

“We just … have to figure out what we are going to do with our leaves?!” said Phillips in apparent disbelief. “The leaves have to be picked up because if you leave the leaves until the springtime, do you know what is going to happen when a snowstorm is coming? All those trucks will take everything with them!”

Phillips also decried the possibility that the situation would kill her lawn.

“You think it is a bad idea to wait till the spring,” concluded Democratic Council President Paul Detrick, who did not reveal his position on the matter. “Understood.”

Later in the Oct. 2 session, GOP Councilman Dan Dewey revealed he had provided former business administrator Daniel Hornickel with “all the literature for (purchasing) 40-yard vacuums for leaves.”

The council, when Dewey raised the subject, was entertaining passage of a bond ordinance that is intended to appropriate $2,196,022 and authorizes the issuance of $2,086,221 in bonds.

Dewey decried that the bond measure allocates funding for a list of what he charged contained a lot of “wants” and not “needs,” declaring he believed the leaf vacuums, which he found cost approximately “$35,000 a piece,” are a “need” not funded by the measure.

“You can hook it up to a small dump truck, and you only need the same guy who drives the truck to run the machine because it is all hydraulic,” Dewey said. “If the leaves are raked to the curb, you pull the truck up, sit in the seat, and it is all hydraulic, suck all the leaves up, the branches and then it mulches them.”

Dewey decried, however, “That never went anywhere because he (Hornickel) wanted to buy garbage trucks and all this stuff!”

The Republican councilman maintained, “I don't know if the paperwork is still around, but we ought to look at it.”

“That is a need for the town,” said Dewey of purchasing a leaf vacuum(s). “And that is something where you will get many, many years out of it.”

Dewey maintained that nearby Westampton Township “has six of them and that is all they use.”

“It is an awesome machine,” Dewey declared.

Tompkins, in response, asserted, “OK – I am waiting for the question,” causing Dewey to retort, “I am just explaining what I said earlier between ‘wants’ and ‘needs,’ that is something the township needs – the leaf vac.”

The Republican councilman further maintained there are “plenty” of local farmers who “want them when they are all mulched up.”

“And even if there are water bottles in there, it’ll grind it up,” maintained Dewey of a leaf vacuum. “It is not going to give you a tough time. If you are on the other side of town, and you have got farms over there, all of them would be glad to take it (the mulch). You don't have to run back to the yard to dump it. You can have spots over there. They dump it and keep going. It saves you on taking it to Herman's (Recycling Center in Wrightstown) and everybody else. You know, that is something that the town needs!”

Gardner said he recalled, however, that Hornickel had recommended against purchasing the “vacuum trucks” because the “costs would come back around to us” due to the expense in repairing the “impeller wheels” on them, which he had indicated purportedly break frequently because of “a lot of sandy stuff in the road, the rocks, and whatever else is out there.”

“So, the vacuum trucks might be great and convenient, and be like a one-man job, but those impeller wheels, after a while of picking up all this debris, that is where we are going to eat the costs,” Gardner maintained. “We will get the costs reoccurring over and over because of those impeller wheels.”

It is why, Gardner further recounted, Hornickel did not look into Dewey’s suggestion further.

Detrick, however, cut the conversation short about the vacuum trucks, maintaining that they are not actually part of the bond ordinance.

Still, Detrick’s council colleagues – both Republicans and Democrats – voiced concerns about a number of other items the bond would float, though Interim Business Administrator Paula Cozzarelli emphasized to the council that the bond ordinance would simply allocate money for the items listed in the ordinance, and that separate council actions would be required to approve any specific purchases

of the listed equipment or goods.

One ongoing point of contention is a plan to widen the driveway for the municipal complex. Previously, officials claimed it was necessary because emergency and Public Works vehicles (the police station and Public Works yard is part of the municipal complex) are having difficulty getting in and out.

Another is a plan to improve the foyer to the municipal building, with Tompkins previously describing that the current setup allows the heating to escape in the wintertime when the automatic doors operate.

“There are too many ‘want’s on here instead of ‘needs’ that we need for this town, you know, like widening the driveway,” said Dewey, indicating the latter is not a necessity. “I don't know why it has got to be widened. There is just stuff on here!”

Dewey then charged that “For the life of me, this building has probably been redone six times, but the poor guys working on the equipment (in Public Works) are working in a ‘cave’ that hasn't been touched since it was built!”

“And I think that is more important (improving the Public Works facility) than widening the driveway!” Dewey maintained. “You got guys in there and they need a modernized shop!”

Dewey also decried that the township’s capital plan (which the bond intends to implement after already having been adopted by council earlier this summer) doesn’t earmark funds for a wash bay.

“If they get a truck wash in there, you could save money – you could probably get 10, 15 years out of your dump truck,” the Republican councilman maintained, slamming what he indicated is a purported philosophy to instead “put $80,000 worth of (dump) bodies” on the trucks when they wear out.

“I mean there are just things that we need to make this town more productive, to make for a better work environment, and make people happy,” Dewey asserted.

Dewey then repeated an earlier provocative assertion that the Public Works employees are working in a “cave,” declaring, “You can't have them working in a cave!”

Republican Councilman Joshua Ward, following the remarks of Dewey, maintained “the concerns that I have are along the same lines as Mr. Dewey’s.”

It was pointed out that in order for the bond ordinance to pass, it needs at least four votes in the affirmative. Democrats hold a slim, 3-2 majority on the council. Gardner, during a preceding Sept. 18 council session when the bond ordinance was first introduced, took issue with the bond ordinance earmarking $50,000 for the purchase of speed cushions (given the township has previously sought to install temporary ones).

“I am in agreement with Mr. Gardner,” maintained Ward on Oct. 2. “I mean, we should be paving in speed humps.”

Dewey, who rarely sides with Gardner, on Sept. 18, had also asserted, “I know this will be hard to believe, but I agree 100 percent with Donovan with the asphalt speed bumps. The plastic ones we are putting down are expensive. And I think they have to be taken out of the ground by the end of October (to allow for snow plowing).”

Tompkins responded that since the Sept. 18 session, “I did talk to public works about this. And we had a conversation and … we seem to agree that speed tables using asphalt would probably be the best way to go in the future.”

As for the widening project at the municipal complex (allocated in the bond is $40,000 for it), Ward declared, “I don't agree with that at all,” and as for the foyer improvements ($35,000 is allocated in the bond for it), “Although I do get the premise as to why Mr. Mayor,” Ward maintained, “There just might be a cheaper and easier way to do it.”

Sensing that there was a possibility that the bond ordinance might fall short of obtaining four votes needed for passage, Tompkins declared, “I just want to remind the council that there is one thing in here that is extremely important – the state mandated that we have the body cameras for our cops. It is $125,000; it is part of this bond ordinance.”

“If we don't have this, I don't know what the repercussions are going to be, but this is very, very, very important,” Tompkins emphasized. “The chief, himself, came down to talk to me when this failed the last time. This is very important that we need to get this through, and if you don’t pass the bond ordinance tonight, I suggest we find $125,000 very quickly.”

Democratic Councilwoman Elisabeth McCartney, however, while recognizing

See COLLECTION/ Page 18

McNaughton, who said he would discuss logistical concerns raised by the public “when we meet with them.”

McNaughton, contending with a major Tabernacle Town Hall crisis and numerous appointed official job openings at the moment that has consumed much of the governing body’s time, with a full committee having not been the case for several meetings now, opened the EMS presentation to public comment, with local transparency advocates Stuart and Fran Brooks appearing to urge further analysis and discussion (past attempts to reorganize Tabernacle emergency response entities have been long, drawn out processes with passionate splits, and have not always gone smoothly, with an attempt at having appointed a public safety director, for instance, having failed with an ultimate resignation and a decision not to replace the individual).

“I share with you your concern to get it right,” declared Stuart Brooks, calling Jackson’s presentation the “most thorough discussion of EMS I have seen in decades that shows a lot of work,” but that it also leaves “lots of questions unanswered.”

Stuart Brooks focused on the one possibility that TRS said it had explored, but ultimately opted not to go for – the creation of a local fire district, with the transparency advocate claiming that when the Tabernacle fire district was disbanded, it was an action “supported by TRS, and now it turns out to be an obstacle.”

“My concern is if there is so much grant money available for fire than EMS, is it wise to go ahead with an organization that is unable to participate in that,” said Stuart Brooks of a fire district being potentially eligible for federal grant monies.

“From what I hear tonight, there are two problems: labor and money. I am sure others are involved, but those two stood out. The money might not solve the volunteer problem, but if there is lots of grant money, then is it wise to create an organization that can’t participate in that?”

Fitzpatrick-Ruth, attending Tabernacle’s Sept. 23 session, at that point spoke out, contending that the “biggest issue” with any “fire proposal” is that it would be “stepping on a lot of toes.”

“I agree there is a lot of grant money,” Fitzpatrick-Ruth said. “But the big concern is trying to get everybody to buy in.”

The HLES chief pointed to at least “four other (fire) agencies serving the municipalities,” before contending “getting them all to agree is cumbersome at this stage.”

Mr. (Art) Liston (the aforementioned public safety director).”

McNaughton then cut Stuart Brooks short, offering that perhaps he can meet “one-on-one” with those proposing the merger to share his concerns.

Fran Brooks then came to the microphone to “raise a more essential issue,” maintaining she was “coming away without a clear picture of what Tabernacle Township’s role should be in this integration and what are the costs to the township residents.”

Fran Brooks also emphasized there needs to be “transparency” and “accountability,” raising concerns that a “non-profit entity” is apparently excluded from the Open Public Records Act, in pointing to the results of a past challenge she filed to obtain TRS records.

As for responding to the question of Tabernacle’s role and the financial impact(s) to the town, Jackson described that the entities “got to get to that point” and would come back with more information, but pointed to getting a Tabernacle committee subcommittee in place, first.

“We need to come up with a plan with them and see where we are at, moving forward,” the Tabernacle chief said. Transparency, McNaughton maintained, would be something discussed with those behind the proposed merger.

Fitzpatrick-Ruth, otherwise, in limited remarks about the proposed merger from the HLES perspective, described having a “very refreshing conversation” as HLES has “very few operational officers doing a lot of work” and “lost a majority of lifelong volunteers who all went out the door,” and such a merger would be a “wonderful step forward” taking the “weight off our shoulders for the future.”

Meanwhile, an officer with TRS described the entity is “now in a position that we can’t get a truck out.”

“January 2025 is when we are looking to implement our partnership to start working as one agency, and start working operationally that way,” Jackson proclaimed. “During 2025, we hope to do a complete merger, and re-evaluate and improve on what we are doing.”

However, Jackson recognized there are some obstacles (in addition to getting the local-level approvals from each affected town), including that the state Department of Health representative for South Jersey, when approached about the possibility of a merger, reportedly told Jackson he would have to ‘“call you back,”’ with Jackson recognizing a merger is “not something that has been done before” and “something that has only been done a handful of times in the state.”

seventh member would be an individual, he maintained, who is not affiliated with either HLES or TRS, but rather “our consideration” would be for that person to be “a chief of EMS from an organization, not from the immediate area, who has a similar agency makeup.”

As for the command structure, he pointed out there would be a chief and assistant chief with captains along with a special operations EMS unit and training division. Administration, he maintained, would “handle billing” and would “answer to the board.”

Soft billing practices, Jackson further maintained, “will continue, but would now be inclusive to all areas served.” Any merged entity, he also noted, would be “seeking cash in-kind contributions to cover our deficits – something that needs to be discussed.”

There is already, the Tabernacle chief revealed, an “estimated annual budget” for the proposed merged entity of $1.25 million, a “large amount covered by revenue,” and “between the agencies,” there would be a $750,000 reserve to “cover start-up costs and the first six months of operations.”

As for a possible, proposed name, at one point during the presentation, Jackson described the merged entities as “Pinelands, which would be us.”

“People say I can’t believe you are going to take ‘TRS’ off the side of the ambulances,” Jackson declared. “You know what I say to them – it doesn’t matter what the truck says; it doesn’t matter what the color of the truck is – it matters about the level of service and what is provided to the community. That is why I am here. I am not here for the name. I care about the level of service.”

Stuart Brooks responded that he “hears you” that there can be “difficulty” and “outright hostility between integrating organizations,” before charging there had been an “absolute refusal of TRS to bring themselves into a common organization in the township led by someone impartial,

However, he said of TRS and HLES

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(Continued from Page 16)

some of the items are “important” and mandated by the state, pointed out “I am hearing that there are some other things that the council thinks might be more relevant for our township based on feedback from residents.”

“So, if we could table it and kind of look at some items and maybe consider some of the things that we talked about, maybe we could do that,” said McCartney in pressing for that resolution to the concerns.

Cozzarelli stressed to council, however, that they had previously decided to go with the items listed in the bond ordinance when approving the capital budget back in August and to “please know you are not giving authorization to go out, right now, and buy all these things,” but rather, “you're only giving authorization for the township to be able to go out” and finance the items.”

BLUNDER

(Continued from Page 7)

replacing the main, “the timeline will depend entirely on the weather,” Clark told this newspaper in a phone interview earlier in the day, noting that it would not make any sense to have the job redone under less-than-optimal conditions.

What constitutes such “optimal conditions” was described in somewhat greater detail by Brian Hart, a local resident with nearly 16 years of experience as a senior Camden County road inspector, who originally called the situation to the attention of this newspaper.

“You have got to keep the asphalt hot, or you won’t get any compaction,” he said, estimating that “the ambient temperature has to stay above 60 degrees” to allow the job to be done right.

When subsequently informed about the utility’s promise to complete the job in December, Hart said there are ways that might be accomplished, provided the contractor has the proper equipment and is willing to perform the necessary prep work in advance so that milling and repaving is all that remains to be done once the actual restoration gets underway, and that “they have a window where the weather is working in their favor.”

However, he cautioned, doing the job right is “an iffy thing once you get past October (the remainder of which is

“They cannot purchase anything without your authorization,” Cozzarelli said. “So, this is nothing more than an authorization to allow the departments to go and procure requests, or proposals to purchase the items that are listed, but they ultimately cannot be authorized without your consent.”

The question was put to the interim business administrator if council can amend the items to be financed through the bond ordinance, causing Cozzarelli to reply, “I don't want to speak for the CFO, but to my knowledge, you put together a capital plan, and it is up to you whether or not you want to put forth the authorization to spend the plan in which you adopted.”

Council was ultimately advised “the choices are to pass it tonight or let it die,” but if it dies or fails, “somebody has got to get to work on an amended ordinance because we need the bond ordinance, as is my understanding, especially for some of the items that are listed,” including also providing for $1 million for new fire

predicted to be warmer than usual, with highs in the 70s).”

“Not too many asphalt plants stay open till after Christmas,” he noted, and conditions in December hereabouts can be quite unpredictable, ranging from mild to frigid, with record lows having been recorded a couple years ago around the holidays.

For that reason, Hart contended that the township engineer should be the one to recommend whether or not to proceed with the project or wait until spring.

Hart also advised that a township inspector be assigned to supervise all stages of the work rather than leaving it strictly to a contractor, who, from his experience with such projects, might be inclined to cut corners if given the opportunity.

“I think the contractor that originally did the job should do the job again and back charge the gas company,” he maintained.

Whenever it might be completed, one thing that Clark said the township had insisted on was that the gas company be required to restore the repaving project in its entirety and “return the road work back to a condition that meets our expectations,” rather than simply address it on a patchwork basis in spots where they have dug up the asphalt.

The public information director also was insistent that what had occurred “was not due to a lack of communication on the part of the township.”

vehicles, to include a new firetruck. Other items in the bond include, but are not limited to:

• $283,882 for an asphalt crack sealing unit, cargo trailer, tri-axle dump truck and two post above ground vehicle lifts

• $45,000 for thermoplastic traffic lines

• $308,440 for hot mix, tack coat for milling and paving operations

• $15,700 for Senior Center repairs, including the siding of the facility

• $6,000 for improvements to the township’s train station (the historic museum)

• $203,000 for various improvements and upgrades to municipal parks

The bond ordinance ultimately passed unanimously, with it noted by Detrick that it was a “reluctant” unanimous vote.

“I think the department heads need to go back, and take a look, and really

“We reached out to them on three different occasions and made every effort to provide them with multiple notices,” he asserted, adding, “That is the part I do want to stress.”

In addition, Clark maintained, the township had requested that the company provide it with “infrastructure information,” which is standard procedure in any road project and should have made the company aware that one was about to be initiated.

According to a timeline Clark provided to this newspaper to substantiate that assertion, Evesham Township first provided for the paving work on Hopewell Road in its 2023 budget.

“Phase 1 of that work encompassed the area from Hopewell Road at the Evesham Township/Medford Township line, down to around the intersection of Hopewell Road and Bortons Road in Evesham,” the timeline noted, with South Jersey Gas having first been “notified of these plans in November 2023.”

The township, the timeline said, then reached out to the utility company again, for a second time, in February 2024, when its engineering firm (Remington & Vernick) began the project’s design work. Then, “when design work was completed, a preconstruction meeting was scheduled for April 2024. At that point, South Jersey Gas was again notified of the upcoming work for a third time.”

The company, the timeline claimed,

present to council — and I don't like to use the word ‘bare minimum,’ but what is ‘smart’ from a purchasing aspect?” Ward said. “And where can we cut and maybe keep those trucks running a lot better with the shop and the wash that we desperately do need.”

Dewey added he “wanted it noted for the future” that “if you want my attention, it has got to be a ‘need’ and not a ‘want,’” with Gardner adding, “If we don't need it; we don't want it.”

Ward proposed a “bipartisan” subcommittee to work with administration to “potentially address the issues at hand with the bonds that are being pursued” and “open up a dialogue that we have never had before with the administration, and potentially solve some of these issues before they get to council, and put everything –put trust back in the system,” to which Detrick declared, “I think that would be a smart move. That makes sense to me.”

was also invited to attend the April 2024 preconstruction meeting, but they did not send any representatives, with the timeline adding, “At no point prior to the preconstruction meeting did South Jersey Gas indicate to the township that any upcoming work was being planned or considered for Hopewell Road.”

Subsquently, Evesham Township’s paving contractor began and completed the paving work in June 2024 on that thoroughfare, according to the timeline. Then, in late August 2024, South Jersey Gas “reached out to the township with plans to start work to replace an aging gas main on Hopewell Road, starting at a point in Medford Township, down to Mill Park Lane in Evesham Township.”

At the end of the email containing the timeline, Clark maintained that once its work is fully complete, “South Jersey Gas will be fully repaving the entire section of Hopewell Road in Evesham Township disturbed by their work, once weather allows. Again, this will be a full repaving of the disturbed stretch of road by South Jersey Gas once weather allows, not just patch replacements that may be currently in place while overall work is still ongoing.”

When asked how much the project cost local taxpayers, Clark said he was unable to immediately provide a figure or estimate.

LAWNS

(Continued from Page 6)

very thought out.”

The price for a “historic application,” McIntosh pointed out, will rise from $5 to $25 after his being “advised all towns around us have that price or higher.”

He further maintained that the borough has kept the fees “most advantageous to our residents,” adding that he had already “advised Mr. Aromando our expenses are

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(Continued from Page 9)

Dewey (a Republican councilman) has said, that in a lot of the contracts, a lot of the people that have been able to come through here – that they are not vetted.”

Council, just prior to Costa’s revelation, when the public body had come out of an executive session on Sept. 4 apparently held to discuss personnel matters, added the resolution at issue unanimously onto its agenda for that evening, but Detrick declared, “And just for the public's knowledge, we will take up that resolution when it comes up numerically.”

At that point, Dewey snapped, “I am a yes (for adding it to the agenda). But I want it for the record, I am very disappointed in this administration.”

Detrick reminded everyone, however, that council simply added the resolution for later consideration on its Sept. 4 agenda.

Council ultimately took a break with its Sept. 4 proceedings. GOP Councilman

identically the same as other towns and that even though we are a small town, it doesn’t matter.”

Heinold pointed to the second benefit of the fee ordinance, explaining that it “puts all fees in one section for easy reference, and also makes it easier in the future when we go to amend them.”

“We did this several years ago on general penalty provisions,” Heinold pointed out. “Each ordinance used to have a penalty at the end. Anytime the state changed things, we would have to go through the whole code. That is not the

Joshua Ward looked visibly frustrated with how the proceedings were going, with bickering occurring throughout the night at the dais, even threatening at one point to walk out of council chambers. (This newspaper learned that there was some dismay that Hornickel was sitting at the dais Sept. 4, even though his resignation was effective days earlier – Detrick contended it was part of an agreement that Hornickel would sit in for the Sept. 4 session. Hornickel’s sitting at the dais that night, however, drew some critical comments from some of the public.)

Once council returned from a break, Tompkins declared, “Since we are just returning from a break, and we haven’t started any business yet, I would like to call for another executive session, for hopefully less than 15 minutes. And the reason would be, again, personnel issues.”

Bayer reminded the council that it runs its meetings, and in Pemberton’s form of government, “the mayor cannot call an executive session.”

See TENSION/ Page 21

easiest. So, we changed things to make a general penalty section in the code.”

Heinold added that “what struck me” in the process of creating a fee ordinance, “to Mark’s point,” is that in the “land-use context, our fees were considerably lower than other municipalities.” The result, he maintained, is that the applicants were not paying for all the services they were getting, rather it was “coming out of the general budget to cover those costs,” resulting in “all the residents paying to pick up the difference.”

“Overtime, with each application,

it was a cost to the borough and its residents,” Heinold said.

The fee ordinance passed despite Aromando’s concerns. Aromando also indicated he believed there should be a comparison within the ordinance between the new and old fees, but Heinold said there would be a “struggle with cross outs.”

“If I did that on this ordinance, it would be illegible and impossible to follow – also it is a long and tedious process,” the municipal solicitor declared. “I had to make a choice of how it is going to be digestible.”

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Photo By Alex Costa

Jerome Barberio, Pemberton Township Mayor Jack Tompkins’ initial nominee for Pemberton Township business administrator, with a resolution seeking council’s consent since pulled.

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“I would like to get through the business on the agenda, and if at the end, the council is of a mind to do that, we will,” Detrick said.

Then when the council actually got to the resolution at hand, Dewey asserted, “Mr. President, you know, we had our talk in there (the conference room where council convenes closed sessions) and I think that we should table it to further review.”

“I am seconding it just based on residents’ concerns and input,” declared Democratic Councilwoman Elisabeth McCartney. It was tabled on Sept. 4 by a 4-0 vote. (Ward carried out his threat to walk out before the council had even gotten to the resolution on the appointment – the apparent breaking point for Ward was

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“I just want to comment,” said Detrick following the tabling of the resolution. “I hope everybody will do whatever they think is necessary so that they can make a determination on the 18th, because we do need to have a business administrator.”

Bayer, at that point, advised the council there is a “proposal from Jersey Professional Management to provide, I guess, a business administrator, on a contract basis, for up to 24 hours per week.”

“That was also proposed to assist the mayor in the day-to-day operations of the township,” Bayer added. “So, we could do that by resolution, if there is a consensus of council.”

Several of the council members expressed their willingness to award the contract to Jersey Professional Management so long as it is a temporary arrangement and it can be ended at any time.

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“I don't want to be committed to paying these guys for over three months,” Dewey declared. Detrick clarified for the audience that “a temporary BA” would be “transitional” until “we are solid on our permanent guy.” The temporary arrangement was approved 4-0.

Council, when it reconvened Sept. 18 (with Ward reappearing), held another executive session, and again Barberio was present in council chambers with the proposed resolution consenting to his appointment appearing on that session’s agenda.

More public comments ensued, however, in which residents pleaded with the council to either “vote no” or “vet,” with one person declaring, “I don't want to jump out of the frying pan into the fire, but it seems like if we go along that route, that is where we are headed again. We already got rid of one tyrannical BA. We don't need another one.”

Ultimately, when council went to reentertain the resolution for Barberio’s appointment, Tompkins declared, “Council

President, I would like to pull that.”

Since that time, Cozzarelli has been introduced as the township’s “interim business administrator.”

According to her LinkedIn profile page, she worked as an assistant business administrator in the Township of Parsippany beginning in 2012, before moving into a business administrator role with the Borough of Little Ferry from 2016 to 2021. Thereafter, she had worked stints as a business administrator for both Pompton Lakes and Rockaway Township.

While council was to meet again on Oct. 16, just after this newspaper’s press time, so far, Cozzarelli has appeared to work well with the council. This newspaper asked Cozzarelli if she is semi-retired, or plans to, or already has, put her name in for the permanent post.

“No comment as this is a personnel matter,” she answered on the afternoon of Oct. 16.