ROADS OF NO RETURN
By Bill B onvie Staff Writer
SHAMONG—Lovers of the outdoors who, rather than jetting off to a distant destination this holiday weekend, prefer an
“over-the-river-and-through-the woods”type visit with Mother Nature in South Jersey’s Wharton State Forest instead may be in for a rather rude awakening upon finding their favorite back roads
and byways unexpectedly barricaded to vehicular traffic.
That is, if they haven’t already heard the news about the official “remapping” of the
RCBC Board of Trustees Fails to Meet, Reorganize Amid Fallout Over Claims of Nepotism in Hiring County Commissioners’ Choice to Fill College Trustee Vacancy Briefly Reconsidered, But Then Is Reaffirmed as Its Selection; Search Committee is Reshuffled
By D ouglas D. M elegari
Staff Writer
MOUNT LAUREL—The Rowan College at Burlington County (RCBC) Board of Trustees failed to reorganize as scheduled Nov. 19.
This newspaper, upon observing that the RCBC Board of Trustees meeting was not being held as scheduled Nov. 19, was subsequently informed that it had reportedly been called off earlier in the day by Board Chairman Dr. Anthony C. Wright.
No official explanation for the decision was reportedly given to those who arrange for the Trustee’s meetings, this newspaper was told, nor had there been an immediate attempt to reschedule the proceedings. As of press time, a scheduling page for the board did not contain any upcoming meeting dates.
However, the development came after a preceding October board session descended into an acrimonious affair, giving way to allegations of a nepotism in hiring scheme purportedly entailing
For the Pine Barrens Tribune
PEMBERTON—The American Legion Post Eden-Stanley 294 in Pemberton paid tribute this month to its co-founders, Anthony A. Collins and John L. Sutton, by mounting a commemorative plaque honoring them on the hall’s Past Commanders Wall.
Both men, honored in a November ceremony, were lifelong residents of New Jersey and long-standing pillars in the Pemberton Borough business community.
Collins, known affectionately to the locals as “Atty,” was the proprietor of Collins and Son Funeral Home located on Hanover Street, while Sutton owned and operated a dry cleaning establishment on Elizabeth Street, as well as others in nearby Wrightstown and Browns Mills.
Collins served as the Post’s first commander and Sutton, its fourth.
Both Collins and Sutton were veterans of World War I, having served honorably in the U.S. Army.
According to the event’s organizers, information regarding Collin’s particular Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) during his combat tour was not available at the time of the ceremony. However, records that were obtained indicated that Sutton served with H Company, 114th Infantry, 29th Division.
The men had returned home after the war, and given Pemberton’s close
proximity to Fort Dix and McGuire Air Force Base (now known as Joint Base McGuire, Dix, Lakehurst), continued to serve the military community through their respective businesses.
Both men however, recognized as patriots in their own right, were also interested in continuing to contribute to the welfare of the nation’s Armed Forces, as well as perpetuate a lasting and mutually beneficial relationship between the base communities and the greater Pemberton area.
It was decided that they would apply to charter an American Legion Post and Eden-Stanley Post 294 was established.
Since its founding in 1940, in addition to fulfilling its many obligations to the local military communities, the Post, which is located on the corner of Fort Dix and Pointville roads, has contributed to the betterment of the Pemberton community in countless ways, among them; sponsoring the local high school New Jersey Boys and Girls State programs, contributing the land for the construction of the original Pemberton Little League baseball field and sponsoring related teams and events, supporting the local branch of Legion Riders, as well as the high school Jr. ROTC program, funding relevant scholarships and hosting various social events, gathering,
Richard J. Weber, DMD
Dr.
Washington Twp. Officials Say Closure of Atlantic County Artery
Caught Them by Surprise, Blocking Off Critical Emergency Route
Mayor Claims His Inquiry
Was
Answered with ‘Inaccurate Information,’ and Now Large Crane Makes Emergency Vehicle Access Impossible
By D ouglas D. M elegari Staff Writer
WASHINGTON—Officials in
Washington Township maintain they were caught by surprise with the complete closure of Green Bank Road in Atlantic County for “roadway operations” there, which has reportedly blocked a critical access route for emergency vehicles to get in and out of the municipality, and that an initial promise that some limited access would be restored for emergencyvehicle use has turned out to be an impossibility due to the presence of a large crane.
And it could not have come at a worse time for the township already contending with the closure of another main artery.
Washington, which is a Burlington County municipality that borders Atlantic County, has two main bridges that connect the township to Atlantic County, the Green Bank and Lower Bank bridges. The Green Bank Bridge carries River/Green Bank Road over the Mullica River, while the Lower Bank Bridge carries River/Lower Bank Road over the Mullica River.
The roadway operations, according to a source, reportedly entail a smaller bridge on Green Bank Road, which is a bit further
down from the Green Bank Bridge.
Given rural Washington’s lack of a business district, and it being tucked in the southeast corner of Burlington County, most residents cross the bridges daily to access Egg Harbor City in Atlantic City. The township’s emergency squad also transports patients to a hospital in Atlantic City.
However, some also choose a third route, taking Burlington County Route 542 to Bass River Township, or New Gretna, and then pick up Route 9 and/or the Garden State Parkway there to access Atlantic County.
However, as this newspaper previously reported, Burlington County recently took the Ives Branch Bridge, between Loveland Lane and Leektown Road, which carries traffic on County Route 542 over the Wading River, offline for repairs and it will not be reopened for the better part of a year.
The result has been what Washington Mayor C. Leigh Gadd, Jr. described during a Nov. 13 Washington Township Committee meeting as unusually heavy traffic (and speeding) occurring in the Lower Bank section of the township, as motorists descend on the Lower Bank Bridge, while
See CLOSURE/ Page 9
BMIA President Warns Pemberton at ‘Critical Juncture’ Amid Claims Yearly Water Carnival Is on Chopping Block, But Mayor Dismisses Such Reports as Merely ‘Rumors’ Councilman Recounts How ‘Rumors’ of Other Events Being Canceled Turned True; Council Asked to ‘Overturn’ Recent Sale of Sycamore Hall
By D ouglas D. M elegari Staff Writer
PEMBERTON—Is the yearly Pemberton Township Water Carnival, a “beloved, cherished event,” on the chopping block?
Some attendees of a Nov. 13 Pemberton Township Council meeting seemed to believe so in sounding the alarm, pointing to funding reportedly having not yet been allocated for a 2025 event, with the claims coming on the heels of a cancelation of the planned 2024 carnival this past July.
But Republican Mayor Jack K. Tompkins cast doubt on what he called merely “rumors,” and in light of suggestions that he has cut the event out of the municipal budget, asserted it is “100 percent wrong.”
July 2023 was the last time the Pemberton Township Water Carnival was held, and it was then that a thunderstorm swept through, reportedly leading to a public spat between Recreation Director Nichole Pittman and Tompkins, with it being Tompkins’ first year in office.
Tompkins attempted to subsequently remove Pittman from her director position, but the mayor’s decision was unanimously overturned in a bi-partisan fashion by Pemberton Township Council.
What allegedly followed was harassment
and retaliation purportedly at the hands of the mayor, which culminated in a councilordered investigation (in which the mayor was found to have allegedly engaged in such behavior and was asked by council to resign) and an ongoing lawsuit.
The scheduled 2024 carnival was canceled a couple days prior to it being held on the basis of an early weather forecast that had called for inclement weather on the day of the affair. But the predicted storms never materialized, and some questioned why the call had not been made closer to the event, and while there was also concern over high heat indices, past carnival attendees recalled such conditions having not been a prior deterrent.
“As we look forward to 2025, we find ourselves at a critical juncture,” declared Browns Mills Improvement Association (BMIA) President Marti Graf-Wenger.
“It is concerning that the current administration has yet to allocate a budget for the Water Carnival.”
Graf-Wenger further contended the “uncertainty has sparked worry amongst our members and residents alike.”
“We believe the carnival is an integral part of Pemberton Township’s fabric,”
See CARNIVAL/ Page 10
Medford Lakes Authorizes Purchase of New, Nearly $1 Million Pumper Truck, as Its 20-Year-Old One Nears End of Useful Life $76K Pickup Truck Also Purchased for Public Works, Drawing Scrutiny from Former Councilman, Who Is Assured by Borough Manager That Municipality Maintains Maintenance, Fleet Replacement Programs
By D ouglas D. M elegari Staff Writer
MEDFORD LAKES—An E-One
Typhoon Stainless Steel Pumper truck has been authorized for purchase by Medford Lakes Borough Council, which will be provided to the Medford Lakes Fire Department.
The authorization received council approval during the governing body’s latest Nov. 13 meeting.
The fire apparatus is being purchased through the Houston-Galveston Area Council Cooperative as a “capital expense,” with a maximum contract amount of $999,562 authorized, acting on an Oct. 16 proposal.
But the fire truck will not be delivered to Medford Lakes immediately, with Fire Chief Craig Farnsworth noting that there is a delay of “three to four years” currently to get one, appearing to stun Borough Mayor William Fields.
Farnsworth, in thanking council for approving the purchase of a new fire truck, said it “does take four years to build” and “it is replacing an almost 30-year fire truck that served the borough very well.”
“It has shown its wear and tear over the last couple of years, and we greatly appreciate it,”
the chief added. “So, thank you.”
Farnsworth took the opportunity to point out that the Medford Lakes Fire Department currently “has more members than I can remember in 26 years,” calling the membership number “pretty high.”
“We are doing all the right things,” Farnsworth contended. “So, we have just got to keep the positivity going.”
Each fire truck, according to the chief, “has four or five people on it.”
“Every fire truck is getting out,” Farnsworth reported. “We are beating other towns to their calls, which keeps the guys and girls excited.”
The fire department, according to the chief, has a number of third-generation firemen.
“Life is good,” he maintained.
However, former borough councilman Joseph Aromando III repeatedly questioned the quality of the reports being submitted by the chief, contending they are illegible.
Ultimately, Borough Clerk Mark McIntosh, also a member of the fire department, responded that Aromando had not requested the reports in quite a while, “and so I haven’t given them to you,” but “the fire department report is very legible.”
“Oh, okay, well, great,” Aromando snapped. “Good!”
Fields then quipped, “That is why I say I don’t know what you are talking about!”
Council also approved a $76,744 purchase of a Ford F-450 pick-up truck with a plow attachment on it for the Department of Public Works.
But before it did, Aromando demanded to know why it is being replaced.
“So, the truck that it is replacing has definitely outlived its useful life probably like six or seven years ago,” responded Borough Manager Dr. Robert Burton. “So, yeah, it is one of those things where you have to replace things. And I don’t like to replace them when they are ‘totally broken.’ I like to replace them a little bit ahead of time, like we did with the trash truck and a lot of the other equipment.”
A “little bit of forward thinking” is “important,” according to Burton, especially given “delays” also with heavyduty pickup trucks.
“You just have to be cognizant of how long these things take and be forward thinking, and not wait until the fire truck, for instance, breaks down and then we don’t have one and then we have to order one,” Burton added.
Aromando, however, charged that public records he did request indicated that Public Works’ fleet replacement program “wasn’t done,” despite the department director requesting $80,000 for it.
“We used to do this, and it really needs to be done,” declared Aromando, maintaining he wants to see if the pick-up at issue was identified previously through the program. “I want to see their fleet replacement program. This should be known years in advance, you know, that this is going to come up.”
Aromando, in also calling for a “maintenance program” to “be sure these trucks are being cared for,” contended that when the borough purchases a new vehicle, it should “automatically start the clock on this thing in order to determine what the funding is going to be and how long you are going to keep it.”
Burton responded that the borough does “have a maintenance schedule.”
“Everything is maintained to the level that is probably accessible, in excess, I should say,” Burton asserted. “We are constantly taking care of our equipment.”
The borough manager added “we might not have it set up to where, okay, we buy a truck, and 10 years from now we are going to buy the next truck,” all “because we got 20 years out of the last truck.”
“We assess this as the trucks are in service,” Burton maintained.
The borough manager advised against a “this is when we bought it, so this is when we are getting rid of it” initiative, describing, for example, that a borough police vehicle had some trouble in just the first few years of its use.
“You have to assess each vehicle by itself,” Burton contended.
The borough manager emphasized “the maintenance of all of our vehicles are always kept on a specific schedule.”
“We are not doing anything wrong,” Burton said. “It is just certain things only last so long, and then they need to be replaced. And you can’t be shocked when a 20-year-old truck is being replaced. You should be shocked when a 4-year-old truck is being replaced because that means there is a problem. That is all I’ll say about that.”
BurlCo Legal Department Maintains County Board of Elections, Superintendent of Elections Office Are ‘Separate’ from County
Claims Made in Response to Newspaper Seeking Various Public Records in Wake of County Election System Failure, Reported Disenfranchisement
By D ouglas D. M elegari Staff Writer
MOUNT HOLLY—Burlington
County officials are maintaining to the Pine Barrens Tribune that the Burlington County Board of Elections, as well as the Burlington County Superintendent of Elections Office, are both a “separate entity from the County of Burlington.”
This claim was made in two separate pieces of formal correspondence sent to this newspaper, which were emailed last week from the county’s Legal Department, responding to this newspaper’s Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests submitted to the county for various documents, including those seeking past meeting minutes and recordings for the recent meetings of the county Board of Elections.
The requests for public records were made as this newspaper continues to analyze what led to an unprecedented election system meltdown in Burlington County on Nov. 5, General Election Day, which reportedly created six-hour wait times to vote, in some cases, with an average reported wait time of two to four hours, resulting in purported voter disenfranchisement.
Since the fiasco, the Burlington
County Board of Commissioners, with the exception of Democratic Commissioner Balvir Singh, as noted by this newspaper last week, has attempted to distance itself from the Burlington County Board of Elections and Burlington County Superintendent of Elections Office in public statements responding to voter outrage.
There has not always been an apparent distinct separation maintained, however. Take for example, the video that Burlington County officials have been pointing to for weeks now, which was released ahead of the rollout of the new machines, demonstrating how to vote with the new equipment.
That video begins with an album/ thumbnail cover, “Burlington County Board of Elections,” and directly underneath that text is a large version of the county seal, and underneath the county seal, is “This video will demonstrate how to vote using Burlington County’s voting equipment.”
In depicting a “check-in” desk at a polling place, the county seal is again placed on that desk as part of a “Welcome” sign. An exit sign is also depicted using the county
Burlington County Honors 41 Local Veterans from Various Eras, Family Members During
Military Service Medal Ceremony
Commissioner Tom Pullion, Commissioner Deputy Director Dan O’Connell, County Administrator Eve Cullinan, State Assemblywoman Andrea Katz and Commissioner Allison Eckel.
For the Pine Barrens Tribune WESTAMPTON—The Burlington County Board of Commissioners honored the service of dozens of veterans and their family members Nov. 8 during the annual Burlington County Military Service Medal Ceremony.
Forty-one veterans from various eras received Burlington County Military Service Medals during the ceremony, along with the families of eight deceased veterans who received medals posthumously.
Among the medal recipients was Dr. George Rubin, a 99-year-old Medford resident who served as an armorer-waist gunner aboard a B-17 during World War II. His plane was shot down in 1944 during a bombing mission over Germany.
He survived the crash, but was captured and held prisoner in various POW camps until being liberated about a month before Germany’s surrender.
“Burlington County is proud to recognize the men and women who answered the call to defend our nation,” said Burlington County Commissioner Allison Eckel, the board’s liaison to the military and Joint Base McGuire-DixLakehurst. “These medals are a way for our county to express our gratitude to veterans for all they have done and sacrificed. We want them to know their service is appreciated and their county is here to assist them if needed.”
See HONORS/ Page 11
Laundromat Involved in Dispute Over Its Future Contends Promised Meeting with Pemberton Mayor Was ‘Canceled’ Relative of Proprietor Says She Later Received an Email that Town Isn’t Interested in Selling Lot; Administrator Claims Meeting Was ‘Postponed’ After Proprietor Said He Planned to Bring His Attorney
By D ouglas D. M elegari Staff Writer
PEMBERTON—A “second meeting” that was to be held between Pemberton Township and the proprietor of Elly’s Premium Laundry, a tenant of the township-owned Browns Mills Shopping Center, to discuss the possibility of him acquiring the former Browns Mills Emergency Squad building to relocate his business to permanently amid planned redevelopment of the center and a possible change of plans that would no longer provide for the project to be done in stages to allow existing shopkeepers to have a place to maintain their business during construction, has now been “canceled” or “postponed,” depending on who you ask.
A family member for the laundromat owner, “Mr. Elly,” told Pemberton Township Council during its latest Nov. 13 session that despite there being a declaration by Republican Mayor Jack K. Tompkins during a preceding council session (amid public outcry over the way in which the proprietor was purportedly being treated by the township) that, “All he has to do is call my office, and make an appointment, and we will have the meeting,” the mayor, the day of a meeting
that had since been scheduled, allegedly “called and canceled.”
According to the relative, she then received an email from the township that it is “not going to sell that property,” or the one the former squad building is on, “because they don’t want to separate the lots.”
“But the building that we want is on a single lot,” the relative maintained. “It is a single lot. You don’t have to separate anything.”
Township Solicitor Andrew “Andy” Bayer recognized a letter was sent to the laundromat owner by Jerry Dasti, special counsel to the township, claiming it was sent on the “administration’s behest,” with the letter dated Nov. 13.
Bayer, currently serving as lawyer for just council in a deal brokered when Tompkins previously had moved to have Dasti be the municipal solicitor, maintained he was merely “copied” on the correspondence.
‘“… We are not interested in dividing the property; we are interested in finding one developer to develop the entire track,”’ said Bayer in reading Dasti’s letter aloud. ‘“Therefore, at this time, no portion of
See LAUNDROMAT/ Page 8
Photo Provided
World War II veteran and prisoner of war survivor Dr. George Rubin, of Medford, was among the 49 veterans and veteran family members who received Burlington County’s Military Service Medal on Nov. 8. Pictured with Dr. Rubin is Burlington County
Photo Provided
Burlington County Commissioner Deputy Director Dan O’Connell presents a Military Service Medal to a veteran during the Nov. 8 ceremony.
Pemberton’s Interim Business Administrator Calls It Quits
After Just Two Months on Job, Taking Role ‘Closer to Home’
ROADS
(Continued from Page 1)
Mayor Describes Cozzarelli as Having Been ‘Breath of Fresh Air,’ and in Saying Goodbye, She Calls Pemberton ‘Really
B y D ouglas D. M elegari Staff Writer
P
EMBERTON—After
just two months on the job, Interim Pemberton Township Business Administrator Paula Cozzarelli is reportedly already moving on from the municipality.
Two hours and 42 minutes into a Nov. 13 Pemberton Township Council meeting, Republican Mayor Jack K. Tompkins proclaimed of Cozzarelli, “Tonight is her last night. I want to say thank you very much for everything you have done.”
C ozzarelli, who has been providing her services to Pemberton Township through the firm of Jersey Professional Management while a search is ongoing for a permanent township business administrator in the wake of former business administrator Daniel Hornickel choosing to leave Pemberton in August for a township manager position in nearby Medford Township, is said to have accepted a position “closer to home.”
Cozzarelli’s LinkedIn profile page says she resides in Whippany, which is in Morris County. Tompkins said of the new job Cozzarelli took that it would make “her commute a lot easier than it has been since she has been here.”
“We were actually considering making her an offer when she came in and said that she got another offer,” Tompkins contended.
Tompkins declared of Cozzarelli’s time in the Pemberton business administrator post, “It has been a breath of fresh air.”
“Paula has done a really, really phenomenal job,” Tompkins further maintained.
Towards the end of Hornickel’s tenure, members of council were publicly taking him to task at council sessions and meetings turned very lengthy and, at
Great Town’
times, confrontational. Since Cozzarelli took over, the meetings have seemingly been more streamlined, and whenever there has been pushback from council, she appeared to explain things and address concerns in a way that took the temperature down some.
“It has been a pleasure,” Tompkins said. “Everybody in the township has really enjoyed working with Paula. It has been a real pleasure.”
Cozzarelli, after thanking Tompkins for his kind words, called the moment “bittersweet, for sure.”
“I have been coming here for two months now, and I have really started to develop relationships with everybody up at the council, our professionals and the staff. Pemberton is a really great town. You should be really proud to call Pemberton your home. It was an honor to serve this township in the short time that I had the privilege to do that.”
The pronouncement that Cozzarelli is moving on came just mere moments after GOP Councilman Dan Dewey chided the township departments for going “on their end of the year spending spree” and exclaimed, “There is going to be a new crew (of councilmembers) here (next year) – so enjoy it, because it is going to be over!”
Cozzarelli, in her goodbye speech, made a point, however, that, “The township’s department heads are excellent here.”
“The department heads always have tax dollars as their top priority, and to make sure that the services are delivered efficiently, effectively, professionally and kindly,” she said. “They are just a really great group, a bunch of staff that I am really going to miss.”
Second 14-Year-Old Boy Arrested, Charged with Setting Late October Forest Fire in Vicinity of Sycamore Drive
By D ouglas D. M elegari Staff Writer
EVESHAM—A second juvenile has been charged with setting an Oct. 30 forest fire in Evesham Township.
Authorities had already taken a 14-yearold boy into custody on Nov. 7 “without incident,” charging him with aggravated arson and causing or risking widespread injury or damage, alleging that he set the fire, which consumed 52 acres of land over several days near Sycamore Drive and the Berlin Township border.
A second 14-year-old boy determined to be “in connection” with the incident was taken into custody on Nov. 19, according to a press release from Evesham Township Police, and also charged with aggravated arson and causing or risking widespread injury or damage.
He, like the first boy arrested, was lodged in the Middlesex County Juvenile Detention
forest (as many apparently did almost as soon as it was made public at the start of what is ordinarily an uneventful week, at least in local and regional governmental affairs).
To put it in more precise terms, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), for whatever reason, chose the Monday before Thanksgiving to unveil its long-planned new map of the 124,350-acre preserve, the largest of the more than 50 overseen by its Division of Parks and Forestry, thus making good (or bad, depending on your point of view) on the agency’s promise to put a significant number of the forest’s sequestered secondary roads off-limits to motorists.
And should you think that the timing implies these new restrictions will be less than immediate, according to a news release put out to coincide with the start of the holiday week, State Park Police officers have already begun enforcing them as of Nov. 25, “with an emphasis on educating forest visitors” about what they now can and can’t do.
Furthermore, as the new year begins, such efforts “will progressively increase,” with enforcement on the roads now designated as closed to be “supported by the installation of gates and barriers in areas where vehicles are prohibited.” Such enforcement, as of Jan. 1, will also include “the issuance of summonses at the discretion of the responding officer,” according to an email to the Pine Barrens Tribune from NJDEP spokesman Larry Hajna.
The ne wly formulated Wharton State Forest “Visiting Vehicle Use Map,” as it has been labeled by the NJDEP, is now available online and may be downloaded from the New Jersey State Park Service Facebook page, as well as being offered as a georeferenced PDF, which allows drivers “to use their mobile device to determine their location on the map in real time, including in areas with limited or no cellular service.” Printed copies, it added, are now also available at the agency’s Atsion office and Batsto Visitors Center within the forest.
A statement attributed to John Cecil, assistant commissioner for State Parks, Forest and Historic Sites, calls the new map “a milestone for enhancing both visitor safety and natural and historic resource protection and conservation throughout New Jersey’s state parks and forests.”
Wharton’s diverse natural and cultural treasures, minimizing impacts on sensitive habitats and supporting the integrity of our shared public lands,” Cecil is quoted as saying.
Or, as Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette puts it, “we are taking a crucial measure to ensure visitors can continue to enjoy all the forest has to offer, but in a more responsible way that preserves its natural and historical resources for future generations.”
All-told, what the map offers the motoring public, according to the Park Service Facebook page, are some 261.3 miles of roads it may traverse through the forest, 175.5 miles of which consists of unimproved roads, with an additional 28.3 miles available for in-season hunting access, along with another 57.5 miles of municipal, county and state roads.
But while that may sound somewhat more expansive than the approximately 200 miles of roads the agency proposed to make available last February, it really isn’t, John Druding, president of Open Trails NJ, an organization that has been in the forefront of opposition to such road closings, maintained when contacted by the Pine Barrens Tribune for his reaction to the map’s release.
“The roads they are adding back are those over which the NJDEP has no control and would not have been subject to closure anyway,” Druding maintained, such as the section of U.S. Route 206 that runs through Wharton and “weren’t part of the equation.” In reality, he contended, the new map offers “fewer back roads even than the one they proposed originally.”
As one of the biggest advocacy groups for keeping roads in the park open, OpenTrails NJ, whose membership includes hikers, hunters, kayakers, horseback riders, photographers, and environmentalists who “want to help solve the problems facing the forest while keeping it open for responsible recreation,” has been engaged in collecting signatures on a petition it put up on Feb. 1, 2024, when the NJDEP announced its tentative mapping proposal. The petition calls for the agency to “adopt the topographical maps that were codified by the Pinelands Commission and review “the feedback it has already received” and “justify to the public each road they believe needs to be closed, individually.”
Center, pending a first court appearance.
Authorities previously announced they were probing the first suspect’s connection to a second forest fire that broke out on Nov. 7, which burned 375 acres, also occurring in the area of Sycamore Drive.
The first 14-year-old boy was arrested that day, according to a police spokesman, but not until after the second inferno was reported.
Neither inferno caused damage to homes.
There have also been reports of multiple other brush fires occurring in Evesham during October and early November, all of which occurred during a record dry spell.
“Detectives are continuing efforts to identify all suspects who have contributed to the forest fires in our town,” said police in announcing the second boy’s arrest.
Anyone with information regarding these fires is asked to contact the Evesham Police Department at 856-983-1116, or its confidential tip line, 856-983-4699.
“By clearly defining safe, legal vehicle roads, we are improving access for responsible exploration while protecting
As of Nov. 26, according to the group’s Facebook page, that petition, which it plans to deliver to Democratic Governor Phil Murphy, had garnered some 6,340 signatures, or 75 percent of its hoped-for
See ROADS/ Page 9
PLAQUE
(Continued from Page 2)
ceremonies and celebrations.
Collins, the event organizers explained, enjoyed a long and distinguished life in the comfortable confines of the Borough of Pemberton, passing away in 1980 at the age of 86.
COLLEGE
(Continued from Page 1)
certain college officials, the college’s law firm, Malamut & Associates, and powerful 7th District Democratic State Senator Troy Singleton.
Those allegations have since been extensively reported on by this newspaper, causing the college’s two largest unions to have since expressed a “vote of no confidence” in Wright.
Wright, who is also an assistant commissioner to the state Department of Education and was appointed to the Board of Trustees by Democratic Burlington County Commissioner Director Dr. Felica Hopson in 2021, did not return, as of press time, this newspaper’s request for comment on the reason behind the cancellation of the meeting.
And Wright has yet to respond to this newspaper’s other requests for comment on the allegations, as of press time.
This newspaper previously reported that College President Dr. Michael A. Cioce, after pushing back against the alleged nepotism in hiring, found himself the subject of two complaints, which led to an employment hearing pertaining to him at the October board session.
The board ultimately voted to have the complaints investigated, maintaining it has no other choice when complaints are brought against a chief executive officer, but decided not to have them probed by a law firm that Wright had initially proposed, given allegations it had purported friendly ties to Adam S. Malamut, managing partner of Malamut & Associates.
This newspaper has since reported that sources told it that the complaints lodged against Cioce were allegedly filed by the college’s chief financial officer, Kevin Kerfoot, a purported relative of Singleton, and that Singleton and Malamut are known close friends.
Sutton, on the other hand, died suddenly on Memorial Day 1945, only moments after rededicating the Pemberton Honor Roll to include the brave men and women who served our country during World War II. He was, at the time, serving as Post Commander and just 45 years old.
Additionally, Jeanne Paulsen, Cioce’s executive assistant (and the spouse of former county GOP chairman Glenn Paulsen, the latter who switched law firms amid a change in the political tide to Democrats back in 2019 and worked for Malamut up until recently), following a threat of termination aired at the October board meeting by Wright after she had made a reference to the Attorney Malamut connection, ultimately went public in alleging that Attorney Malamut, reported to have strong Democratic ties, was trying to exert pressure on the college for his own political gain.
One example that she cited is that Attorney Malamut allegedly tried to have the college board award a $500,000 contract to an IT firm tied to a close associate of his, and that Attorney Malamut also purportedly tried to have someone appointed to the Board of Trustees belonging to that firm.
Paulsen went on to claim that Attorney Malamut tried having Kerfoot pull Cioce’s recommendation for a different web vendor off a board agenda, but ultimately the college board went with Cioce’s recommendation, costing the college only $150,000.
The complaints allegedly lodged against Cioce, sources told this newspaper, question his authority in certain decisions without having to first come to Kerfoot to get his approval.
This newspaper, in checking into Paulsen’s claim, found that Sean Kennedy, of the CGI technology firm and a Medford resident, who is pictured with some of the state’s highest-ranking Democratic officials, had posted on his LinkedIn page a letter he had received from the Burlington County Board of Commissioners, dated Oct. 10, informing him that he had been appointed by the commissioners’ board to the RCBC Board of Trustees, effective Oct. 10, 2024, to Oct. 31, 2026.
The letter specified that it would be
“The extraordinary achievements made during the Post’s tenure have contributed to a healthy and robust relationship
Jeanne Paulsen who would invite Kennedy to his first Board of Trustees meeting.
But Kennedy, who reportedly would be taking over for James Kerfoot, the latter being the purported father of the college’s chief financial officer and fatherin-law of Singleton who resigned from the board amid a purported falling out between Cioce and Attorney Malamut, was not seated during that acrimonious October board session, which followed the Kennedy appointment letter from the county commissioner’s board.
And Kennedy has yet to be seated, as of this newspaper’s press time.
This newspaper, in trying to find out why, was initially told by County Spokesman David Levinsky, “Sean Kennedy, of Medford, was appointed to the Rowan College at Burlington County Board of Trustees during the Oct. 9 County Commissioners meeting.”
However, when this newspaper pressed Levinsky as to why Kennedy has not yet been seated, Levinsky acknowledged, “Concerning why Mr. Kennedy has not yet been seated: My understanding is the county’s legal counsel has advised the search committee to reconsider their recommendation.”
However, Hopson, during a Nov. 26 Board of County Commissioners meeting, rescinded the appointment of Kennedy from Oct. 9, but then moved to appoint Kennedy “to fill an unexpired term, effective Nov. 27, 2024, to Oct. 31, 2026” on the RCBC Board. Hopson then asked, “Are there any other nominations?”, but none were heard, with the county commissioners choosing Kennedy in a 4-0 vote. Commissioner Allison Eckel was absent.
Prior to Hopson’s reaffirmation of sorts, during a preceding Nov. 13 commissioners meeting, there was an item, titled, “Nomination and Election - Rowan College at Burlington County Board of Trustees Search Committee - 1 Year Term.”
between the Military Base communities and Pemberton Borough,” the event organizers told this newspaper. “There is little doubt that, were these two fine gentlemen with us today, they would proudly but humbly view what their efforts have wrought.”
Hopson, when the item was heard, nominated Nancy Youngkin and Dennis Culnan (for a term effective Nov. 14, 2024, through Dec. 31, 2025) and Hillary Chebra, Claire Volpe and Patrick Progar (for a term effective Jan. 1, 2025, through Dec. 31, 2025).
The prior search committee that recommended Kennedy the initial time, Levinsky recounted, was made up of Chebra, Progar, Gary Catrambone and Volpe.
“At the Commissioners’ Nov. 13 meeting, the commissioners voted to make appointments to the search committee, which is done annually,” responded Levinsky when asked about the timing of the appointments. “Nancy Youngkin and Dennis Culnan were appointed to the search committee effective Nov. 14, 2024, through Dec. 31, 2025. They replaced Catrambone and Carl Schoenborn, who was a member of the search committee, but was not present when the committee discussed and recommended Mr. Kennedy. Chebra, Volpe and Progar were also reappointed by the commissioners to new terms on the search committee, effective Jan. 31, 2025, through Dec. 31, 2025.”
According to their respective LinkedIn profile pages, Culnan is the vice president of Stevens & Lee Public Affairs, while Progar is a chief clinical officer with Brett DiNovi & Associates.
Meanwhile, Schoenborn is the Democratic council president of Burlington Township, while Catrambone is the Democratic mayor of Delran Township. Volpe is also a Democratic councilwoman from Maple Shade Township.
Youngkin, according to her LinkedIn profile page, is the executive assistant to the executive director of the state Senate Majority Office (which is controlled by Democrats). She also identifies on Twitter as a “Passionate Jersey Democrat,” and is the spouse of former Burlington County Democratic
NEPOTISM/ Page 13
Photo Provided
A commemorative plaque presented this past month honoring the late Anthony Atwood Collins, 1894-1980, and John LeRoy Sutton 1899-1945, co-founders of American Legion Post EdenStanley 294 in Pemberton.
LAUNDROMAT
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the property at 30 Juliustown Road is available for individual sale in pieces. At least we would be required to obtain an appraisal, subdivision of the property, etc. This obviously would take a substantial period of time, even if the township wanted to go in that regard.”’
The relative pressed officials if what is represented in the letter is in fact the township’s intent. The laundromat proprietor, meanwhile, who last month offered an immediate $175,000 for the tract of interest, could be heard shouting in distress.
“It is not a question and answer period,” Bayer responded.
It led the family member to raise a “second problem,” charging that the current unit the laundromat occupies has a “roof that has been leaking.”
“So, I think it is up to you guys to relocate us somewhere!” the family member insisted.
The relative also contended that the redeveloper for the Browns Mill Shopping Center, New Horizon Properties, has had “no contact whatsoever” with the laundromat proprietor, despite being a current tenant of the center.
“And the deal we had was a wink and a shake deal with the township, that we would move into the next building,” the relative maintained. “But for them to build that building, they have to knock where we
are down. So, do you know what is going to happen with that?”
Bayer responded, “My understanding of that redevelopment agreement, with the redeveloper, requires them to provide relocation assistance to you.” The solicitor added, “I think we can have their representatives reach out to you” if that has not yet already happened.
“OK … so it is not on the township to relocate us?” the family member asked. “It is on the developer. But you guys still own the property, correct?”
Bayer answered that query by maintaining “we haven’t closed” and “the developer hasn’t obtained all final approvals yet” and “so, as we sit here, the township owns the property.”
Democratic Council President Paul Detrick reiterated what he had said during the previous month that “the way I understood it” and in the “plan presented to us” is that the redeveloper is “going to build a section of retail stores from where the stores are now” and “and they were supposed to build those stores to allow you to move in, and then tear down where you are now.”
But the family member claimed that “according to the engineers, that is not possible,” with the laundromat proprietor having been told, “It would be super expensive for them to keep us there.” A “drawing of where everything would be,” the relative added, also suggests “that is not possible, either.”
The laundromat proprietor can be heard
See LAUNDROMAT/ Page 12
BurlCo Sheriff’s Office Launches 29th Annual Holiday Toy Drive
For the Pine Barrens Tribune
MOUNT HOLLY—It is the season of giving and the Burlington County Sheriff’s Office is once again collecting new toys to give area children and their families in need a joyful holiday.
The Sheriff’s 29th Annual Toy Drive is underway with donation bins at close to 50 locations across Burlington County. Collections will occur regularly from now through Dec. 13.
Hundreds of toys and gifts were collected during last year’s drive and were distributed to local families in need by the Sheriff’s Office and its partners. The Sheriff’s Office also continues to accept and distribute donations of food, toiletries, water, toys, paper supplies and other household goods for distribution year-round.
“As members of law enforcement, we take a lot of pride in serving Burlington County communities and the toy drive is a special part of that service,” said Burington Couty Sheriff James Kostoplis. “It is a longstanding tradition that has brightened the holidays for thousands of children and families. We want to make this year’s drive our most successful yet, so we are once again reaching out for community support.”
A complete list of donation bin locations is available on the Sheriff’s Office
Facebook page (www.facebook.com/ Burcosheriffnj) and County website (www. co.burlington.nj.us/DocumentCenter/ View/20284/2024-TOY-DRIVE-FLYER-BOX-LOCATIONS).
The Sheriff’s Office originally began collecting toys and other items as a holiday service, but it has grown the past four years into a year-round operation that has aided numerous families throughout the year.
“The Toy Drive began as a way to help make sure all Burlington County children received a toy or gift during the holidays, regardless of their family’s circumstances,” Kostoplis said. “That is still our goal, but we also know that need exists year-round. Thanks to the generosity of Burlington County’s residents and businesses, we have been able to provide help 12 months a year, and at the same time, build stronger ties with the communities we protect and serve.”
Businesses or offices interested in hosting a donation bin should contact the Sheriff’s Community Outreach Unit at 609-265-3788.
Donated toys and gifts will be distributed to local families who could benefit from some holiday assistance. Those with questions about this year’s Toy Drive should contact the Sheriff’s Office at 609-265-3788.
Photo Provided
Burlington Couty Sheriff James Kostoplis and a commanding officer hold toys in their hands in announcing this year’s Toy Drive.
How to Make a Home Welcoming for Holiday Guests
Millions of individuals travel to see family and friends during the holiday season. The automotive group AAA estimated that roughly 115 million travelers planned to travel 50 miles or more during the 2023 year-end holiday travel period, which the organization defined as a 10-day window that began on December 23 and ended on New Year’s Day.
The 2024 holiday season figures to be just as busy for travelers as 2023, and many of those individuals will accept the hospitality of loved ones while away from home. Holiday hosts can embrace these
strategies as they prepare to welcome guests in the weeks ahead.
• CLEAR CLUTTER FROM WORKING SPACES. The pandemic sparked some lasting changes, including a greater number of professionals working from home. Some do so part-time while others have become fully remote workers. That shift has led many homeowners to transform guest rooms or pockets of shared living spaces into home offices, which can make a residence feel a little more cramped once guests arrive.
Declutter these spaces prior to guests’ arrival so they have ample room to relax and maneuver in guest rooms and to ensure there’s no shortage of seating or room to spread out in shared spaces like living rooms or dens.
• PROVIDE SOME GUEST ROOM CREATURE COMFORTS. Some creature comforts in the guest room can make guests feel right at home. A smartphone charging dock on a bedside nightstand is a nice touch that allows guests to keep their chargers tucked into their luggage, ensuring they won’t be forgotten when the time comes to return home. A scent diffuser in the guest room is another nice touch that can help travel-weary guests relax and unwind during their stay. A small handful of books and magazines left on a guest room dresser so guests have some nighttime reading material is another welcoming gesture that can make them feel right at home.
• ASK AHEAD ABOUT FOOD ALLERGIES. Cooking is a big part of holiday hosting, as the dinner table is a relaxing setting to catch up with loved ones. Prior to
planning a holiday hosting menu, hosts can reach out to guests and ask if they have any food allergies or other dietary restrictions. This small gesture lets guests know hosts are thinking of them even before they arrive, which can establish the welcoming vibe hosts are aiming for.
• GUESTS-ONLY BATHROOM, IF POSSIBLE. If hosts’ homes have multiple full bathrooms, designate one exclusively for guests during their stay. This gesture affords guests some privacy that they’re sure to appreciate. Parents can explain this gesture to kids before guests arrive so there’s no confusion during their stay.
As individuals prepare to welcome loved ones into their homes this holiday season, they can embrace various strategies to welcome their guests and ensure their stay is comfortable and relaxing.
Decorate Safely This Holiday Season
The holiday season wouldn’t be the same without decorations, which go a long way toward establishing the festive atmosphere that dominates the month of December. Injuries and accidents may be the furthest thing from people’s minds when decorating for the holidays, but the potential for such outcomes is there. This season, holiday celebrants are urged to keep these safety strategies in mind as they deck the halls.
• CHOOSE A FRESH TREE IF YOU’RE GOING THE NATURAL ROUTE. Some people prefer natural Christmas trees because of their scent and additional characteristics. While it’s alright to choose a natural tree, the Consumer Product Safety Commission notes that many artificial trees are fire-resistant, which makes them a good deal safer than natural trees. The CPSC urges individuals who opt for a natural tree to check for signs of freshness before making their decision. Such signs include a tree that is green, fresh needles that are difficult to pull from branches and do not break when bent between the fingers, and a trunk that is sticky with resin. In addition, when bounced on the ground, a fresh tree will not shed too many needles. One that does is dried out, which poses a significant safety hazard inside a home.
• INSPECT LIGHTS BEFORE DECORATING. Holiday lights are another staple of the season, but these, too, can pose a safety hazard. The CPSC recommends inspecting both new and old lights for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, and/or loose connections. Discard
any damaged lights. When hanging lights outside, make sure they are fastened securely to trees, a house or other structures to protect against wind damage. In addition, the CPSC recommends using no more than three standard-size sets of lights per single extension cord. Electric lights should never be used on a metallic tree, and all lights should be turned off at night before going to bed or leaving the house.
• BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS WITH CANDLES. Electric candles may not provide the same ambiance as more traditional alternatives, but they are a safer option when decorating for the holidays. If using traditional candles, make sure they are never placed on or near natural trees and keep them away from flammable materials, including wrapping paper and other decorations, at all times. Candles should always be extinguished when leaving a room.
• EXERCISE EXTREME CAUTION AROUND THE FIREPLACE. A freshly lit fire can establish a warm and welcoming holiday ambiance. However, it’s essential that individuals emphasize extreme caution around the fireplace. Remove all decorations, such as stockings, from the area surrounding the fireplace. The CPSC also notes the importance of keeping a screen before the fireplace whenever a fire is burning.
Decorations help make the holiday season special. Some simple safety precautions can ensure such decorations don’t increase the risk for accidents and injuries.
A Season for Song
The Ultimate Playlist to Give Your Home the Right Holiday Season Vibe
Staying home for the holidays can make the season a little more convenient, saving celebrants from having to contend with the millions of individuals who take to the roads, railways and friendly skies each December. But staying home comes with its fair share of obligations, especially for individuals who are planning holiday get-togethers with family and friends. Mood and merrymaking go hand in hand come the holiday season, and music can be used to establish a celebratory vibe this time of year. Whether you’re hosting a holiday party or simply aspiring to create a festive atmosphere throughout the month of December, the following songs can help set the right tone this year.
• “SLEIGH RIDE,” by Ella Fitzgerald
• “THE CHRISTMAS SONG,” by Gregory Porter
• “JINGLE BELL ROCK,” by Bobby Helms
• “LET IT SNOW! LET IT SNOW! LET IT SNOW!,” by Frank Sinatra
• “JINGLE BELLS,” by Kimberley Locke
• “SILVER BELLS,” by Tony Bennett, featuring Count Basie and His Big Band
• “HERE COMES SANTA CLAUS,” by Elvis Presley
• “HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS,” by Diana Krall
• “WHITE CHRISTMAS,” by Bing Crosby
• “WINTER WONDERLAND,” by Louie Armstrong
• “THE FIRST NOEL,” by the cast of “Glee”
• “HAPPY HOLIDAY,” by Peggy Lee
• “O TANNENBAUM,” by the Vince Guaraldi Trio
• “BOOGIE WOOGIE SANTA CLAUS,” by the Brian Setzer Orchestra
• “ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS YOU,” by Mariah Carey
• “SANTA BABY,” by Eartha Kitt
• “MELE KALIKIMAKA,” by Bing Crosby and The Andrews Sisters
• “BLUE CHRISTMAS,” by Elvis Presley
• “FROSTY THE SNOWMAN,” by Gene Autry
• “SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN’ TO TOWN,” by Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band
• “DECK THE HALLS,” by Nat King Cole
• “FAIRYTALE OF NEW YORK,” by The Pogues featuring Kirsty MacColl
• “RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER,” by Burl Ives
• “BABY, IT’S COLD OUTSIDE,” by Dean Martin and Marilyn Maxwell
• “THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS,” by The Ray Coniff Singers
These are just some of the songs that can make up a merry and festive holiday season playlist.
Fun Ways to Make Christmas Eve Even More Special for Kids
Parents know that nothing quite matches the excitement young children feel on Christmas Eve. On the day before Christmas, youngsters anxiously anticipate the arrival of Santa Claus that evening, and are perhaps even more excited by the prospects of the following morning, when they’ll race into the living room and discover all that the jolly old elf left behind.
Christmas Eve seems to have some built-in magical components, but there are a handful of ways parents can make the day even more special for children.
• TRACK THE BIG GUY’S MOVEMENTS ONLINE. The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and its predecessor, the Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD), has tracked Santa’s Christmas Eve flight for more than 60 years. Beginning on Christmas Eve, families can track Santa’s movements across the globe at Noradsanta.org. Kids can visit the site to see where Santa is at any given moment on Christmas Eve, growing more excited as the big fella gets closer and closer to their own region.
• CREATE A CHRISTMAS EVE CRAFT. Gather children and their cousins and/or friends to create a special Christmas Eve craft or decoration that can be displayed next year. This is a great way to channel youngsters’ nervous Christmas Eve energy into something productive, and it can make for a great tradition families can continue even after kids are grown.
• WATCH A FAVORITE CHRISTMAS MOVIE. Hollywood has never shied away from holiday fare, so there’s no shortage of festive films to enjoy with youngsters on Christmas Eve. Enjoy a classic like the 1947 film “Miracle on 34th Street” starring Natalie Wood
as the adorable “Susan Walker” and Edmund Gwenn as “Kris Kringle,” or go with something more recent, such as “The Grinch,” the 2018 adaptation of the Dr. Seuss book How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
• TAKE A NIGHTTIME STROLL OR DRIVE TO SEE THE LIGHTS. Lighting displays are another component that makes the holiday season so special. After Christmas Eve dinner, take a stroll through your neighborhood to see the lighting displays or climb into the car to take in a different neighborhood’s offerings if you’re already familiar with those in your own neck of the woods.
Christmas Eve is a magical day for youngsters and their parents. Some simple ideas can make the day even more meaningful for children and their families.
Are you currently trying to figure out what presents to give your loved ones this Christmas? Handmade gifts are becoming increasingly popular! In an age when you can order a gift online with the click of a mouse, taking the time to choose a local shop's handmade gift or to make a handmade gift of your own, is a meaningful gesture.
A personalized gift that you pick or make yourself reflects the love and care you have for the person receiving it.
Whether you’re skilled in crafts or cooking, here’s a list of 15 thoughtful gift ideas you can make for your loved ones:
1. Knitted accessories, like a throw, scarf or pair of slippers
Gifts Teachers Will Love
Christmas is the perfect time of year to extend your thanks to your children’s teachers. Instead of giving them another “world’s best teacher” mug, choose one
of the following gifts that’s sure to please.
• PERSONALIZED PENCILS with their name printed right on them
• A TOTE BAG that’s roomy enough to carry all their work to and from school
• A PERSONAL LAMINATOR to neatly display student’s work (don’t forget extra laminating sheets)
• A GIFT CARD to a local coffee shop to keep them caffeinated while they’re marking homework
• A MEMBERSHIP to a local museum to inspire their lesson plans
• A SCARF to keep them warm
• A GIFT BASKET filled with supplies like dry-erase markers, red correcting pencils, glue sticks, grade-appropriate books and even classroom decor
• A NICE BOTTLE OF WINE to help them relax over the vacation
• A BOX OF ARTISANAL CHOCOLATES, because everyone deserves a treat
In addition, few teachers can resist handmade gifts, so anything your kids make is sure to be appreciated. No matter what you choose, don’t forget to have your child make a card that expresses thanks to the teacher for everything they do.
Pictures with Santa Claus: Tips for a Successful Experience
During the month of December, it’s customary for parents to bring their child to meet Santa at the mall or a Christmas market. Here’s how to make sure your child’s visit with St. Nick goes off without a hitch.
PREPARATION
Take time to prepare your child for this unforgettable encounter. Explain what’s going to happen in a way they can understand. For example, you could say, “We’re going to wait quietly. When it’s our turn, you’re going to sit on Santa’s lap. You’ll say hello and tell him what you’d like for Christmas. Afterward, we’ll take a picture or two, and then we’ll leave
so the other kids can see Santa, too.”
WAITING IN LINE
No one likes to wait in line — especially little ones! Plan to have ways to keep your child busy for several minutes. Small toys, snacks, juice boxes and books will do the trick. This way, your child will be less likely to get impatient, and your turn will seem to come faster.
REACTIONS
In the West, around 90 percent of children under seven believe in Santa Claus.
It’s quite possible that your child will start crying or want to hide behind you when they get close to Santa. If your little one is shy, acknowledge their emotions and reassure them. You can offer to sit on Santa Claus with them or to talk to him by holding his hand, for example. Above all, don’t force your child and don’t try too hard to take THE perfect photo — think of the other families waiting their turn.
Merry Christmas to you and your little darling!
WHAT’S THE RIGHT AGE?
According to experts, the ideal age for a pleasant first encounter with Santa Claus is between three-anda-half and four years old. Younger children often have an instinctive reaction of fear to this imposing, exuberant figure.
ROADS
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goal of 8,600, with some 31 names having been added following the announcement of the permanent map the day before, Druding said. In addition, he noted, approximately two-thirds of some 1,500 Wharton visitors who responded to an NJDEP survey during the preceding year indicated they favored either continuing the same level of access or increasing it.
Also coming out in opposition to the edict were 11 resolutions drawn up by the governing bodies of municipalities in the vicinity of the forest, which encompasses sections of Burlington, Camden and Atlantic counties, and lawmakers representing the local 8th Legislative District, including Senator Latham Tiver and Assemblyman Michael Torrissi, Jr.
“Decisions like this should be left to the Legislature, not unelected bureaucrats,” declared Tiver, who described the shutting down of some of the roads in the forest as “government overreach at its worst,” adding, “the governor needs to get his outof-control DEP in check.”
Torrissi contended that “residents were clear in the Wharton State Forest information sessions that they did not want road closures,” and that “It is disappointing
CLOSURE
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concerns have also come about pertaining to emergency response times.
If one doesn’t utilize the Lower Bank Bridge, they would either have to take Burlington County Route 563 to pick up Burlington County Route 679, to go into Bass River, or travel toward Crowleys Landing and Batsto to make use of Pleasant Mills/Weekstown Road, which adds at least 15 minutes to the commute.
According to Deputy Township Clerk Karen Bacon, Washington officials “would have never known that the road (Green Bank Road) was going to be closed if it wasn’t for the sign” warning of an “intermittent traffic” pattern.
“And we didn’t know that it was going to be completely shut down,” Bacon maintained. “No email or nothing.”
Gadd contended that it led him to place a phone call to Atlantic County, and after he reportedly told a representative that “we had no advanced knowledge” of the pending closure “other than a sign board being erected,” the individual “claimed that emails were sent to the township.”
“I told her that I don't know where they were sent, but they were not received by anybody that needed to know,” Gadd maintained.
Bacon contended that “when we finally got one” from Atlantic County, the sender purportedly recognized “she had the wrong email address” for the deputy clerk on file.
Gadd contended that the representative of Atlantic County he spoke to “didn’t tell me” about getting the email address incorrect, and “then, as it turns out, the information provided by her was completely inaccurate.”
In expanding on that point, Gadd maintained he “was told we were supposed to have access” to Green Bank Road “for
that the state is going through with it anyway and ignoring the thousands of people who called and wrote in.”
Previously, Assemblywoman Andrea Katz called the then-proposed “closing of hundreds of miles of roads” in the forest “unacceptable,” maintaining that it would “make many of the waterways in the park completely inaccessible” and “result in congestion in the remaining areas.”
In response to the DEP’s new map, Katz told this newspaper, “As I said when the maps were first proposed, we need to make sure we are preserving accessibility, while also protecting the Pinelands.”
“I plan on continuing to talk with the governor, his office and the DEP to ensure that is the case in Wharton,” Katz added.
One thing that particularly seemed to bother Druding was what he regards as an unwillingness on the part of the NJDEP to arrive at some sort of compromise on the issue, particularly in light of what he described as extensive efforts on the part of his members to contribute to the maintenance of the forest, most recently involving their having cleaned up enough debris in one locale to fill a “20yard dumpster.”
‘I’ve always assumed that there was going to be a compromise position of some sort, but this latest proposal is not a compromise at all,” he asserted, adding, “I’m hoping they can re-evaluate this, but I’m not optimistic.”
Equally adamant in voicing its support
local traffic and emergencies.”
“We met a couple days ago,” the mayor revealed. “It was clear … it was obvious … that was not the case. It is a hard shutdown on both ends.”
According to the mayor, “due to the size of the equipment, they are unable to move it off of the approach to the bridge at the end of business every day.”
“There is a large crane and there is nowhere they can put it,” Gadd explained. “So, they decided, despite me trying to impress upon them the necessity of having access to that in an emergency, the bottom line is they said that it was just not doable to move a crane that big off of the road.”
In addition to that, Gadd observed that “they had already laid out a lot of the material in the road, which blocks it,” and would make it “unsafe even if they were to move the crane.”
“They indicated that the traffic hazard to even leave one lane open wasn’t worth the risk,” Gadd said. “So that is where we are at with that. I mean, it is extremely inconvenient.”
Gadd maintained it took “multiple phone calls” and “speaking to three different individuals” for him to obtain “accurate information” about the closure.
The Washington mayor noted that when he pressed officials about a timeline for the repair, he was told that the bridge would be closed for up to three months, but that the contractor being utilized is known to be ‘“very efficient,”’ and it could only be a two-month closure, dependent on the weather conditions.
Still, Gadd cast doubt on the information given based on what purportedly has occurred so far.
“Like I said, we got inaccurate information from the beginning,” Gadd asserted. “That is where we are with it (the matter) now.”
Atlantic County’s website contains an Oct. 25 “traffic advisory” warning motorists that “beginning at 7 a.m. on
for the new map, however, was another group of woodland devotees, the Pinelands Preservation Alliance, a nonprofit that, according to its mission statement, is “dedicated to protecting and exploring the New Jersey Pine Barrens.” When contacted by this newspaper, its public lands advocate, Jason Howell, declared that what the NJDEP had finally gotten around to creating “after a seven-year advocacy campaign” was only opposed by a vocal minority, and actually represented the efforts of “thousands of people organizing in favor of protecting the wildlife, the scenic resources, the historic sites, and the special places” found in Wharton State Forest.
Pointing out that the last road map of the Wharton tract to be released by the park service dated back to 1966, Howell emphasized just how much conditions in the forest had changed since then - for example, in the case of bridges that no longer exist, such as one on Pleasant Mill Road in Batsto that collapsed three decades ago and has not been replaced. Besides its role in making “general navigation” of the forest easier, the map will be especially important in helping facilitate emergency response capabilities, he noted.
That, in fact, was a point raised in the agency’s press release, which quoted George Fedorczyk, chief of the State Park Police, as stating that the new map “enhances public safety, improves emergency response and
Wednesday, Oct. 30 through late January 2025, Green Bank Road in Mullica Township will be closed between Pleasant Mills Road (CR 643) and River Road (CR 651) for roadway operations.”
Gadd, during the Nov. 13 Washington committee session, railed against Atlantic County officials for authorizing a complete closure of Green Bank Road, because, “for emergency purposes” in Washington there is “no substitute for that bridge.”
“You can’t access Route 9 easily down Route 542 because that bridge is closed as well,” pointed out Gadd, noting that the Lower Bank Bridge is “really our only option for now.”
The Washington mayor said that when he brought up the predicament the township faces to Atlantic County, he was essentially brushed off by one of its engineers, who allegedly responded, ‘“Well, that is just kind of bad timing. We can’t plan around Burlington County.’”
But what the apparent lack of coordination has done, according to Washington Deputy Mayor Daniel James, is put “excessive traffic” going down River Road in Lower Bank.
And it has forced motorists to take Lower Bank Road in Atlantic County, a some two-mile thoroughfare that has repeatedly been raised as a concern over the last few years due to its very rough condition and potholes.
“Is there somebody we can contact or communicate with from Atlantic County to see if we could get that two-mile stretch repaved?” James asked. “Because it is treacherous, especially after a rainstorm.”
James noted that a “couple of those potholes” will “swallow” a vehicle.
Township Engineer Kevin Dixon, who vowed to use his contacts in Atlantic County to try to bring relief to the situations described at the township committee’s latest session, noted he had been “promised last year” that Lower Bank Road was going to be repaved “this year,” before observing
clarifies where vehicle access is and is not permitted, supporting resource protection,” and “also confirms road names, which are crucial to directing first responders to emergencies, and generally enhances State Park Police’s ability to enforce the laws governing the state forest.”
Elaborating on that, Howell contended that the roads at issue are in such poor condition as to be inaccessible to EMS vehicles. Another thing the map will do, he indicated, is to provide a blueprint for roads the Park Service plans to revamp and restore.
In drawing up its preliminary map in February, the agency’s position was that it wasn’t so much planning to close existing roads as to retroactively restrict access to those that should never have been used for vehicular traffic in the first place, as they were never “legally allowable or safe.”
Druding’s position, however, was that many of those roads had been traveled by motorists since the 1950s when Wharton State Forest first opened.
That contention was backed up by Professor Jonathan Peters, of the College of Staten Island of the City University of New York, who maintained, based on historical records he had uncovered that the thoroughfares the agency wanted to close down were “real roads with a written description” that had “been used for years and years and years.”
“this year is almost over.”
Gadd interjected that when he made contact with Atlantic County’s engineers over the Green Bank Road closure, he “mentioned that our only main route of ingress and egress to the township, in an emergency, is that road,” and as a result, “they did say that it is slated to be done in early 2025.”
“Now, whether that holds true or not, I don’t know, but it was addressed, because I told them, you know, that is our main way of getting out, apparently, and the condition is poor,” Gadd said.
Gadd maintained that he was told by Atlantic County that repaving Lower Bank Road is “at the top” of the pile, and in reacting to that, Dixon said it “represents a delay from what they told me, that it would be done in 2024, but that happens quite a bit.”
As far as what Gadd called “obvious” speeding issues now occurring in Lower Bank, he told those residing there, “I can certainly sympathize because all the people that are normally speeding past my house day and night now are speeding down the other River Road.”
Gadd assured residents he contacted the New Jersey State Police, but maintained despite his demand to speak to the acting station commander of the Tuckerton Barracks, responsible for police protection in Washington, he was given a sergeant there instead.
“And there is no real nice way to put it,” Gadd added. “So, I will just say that after everything was explained about the hazards on that particular road, and the increase in the volume of traffic in general because of the detours, I was basically given the same excuses (about lack of manpower) and I was told that an email would be sent requesting that the guys and girls make a presence there, but I was given the same reasons that I’m always given (for State Troopers not being able to be easily deployed). So, I don’t really hold out much hope. Maybe I’m wrong. I don't know.”
CARNIVAL
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she declared.
Graf-Wenger, in explaining the history behind the “beloved” event, said its inception was back in 1948, starting as a “humble canoe festival.” From there, according to the BMIA president, the Water Carnival “blossomed into a cherished tradition that embodies the spirit and unity of our community.”
“With over 20 dazzling floats, it was the highlight of summer, drawing families and friends together to celebrate the stunning beauty of Mirror Lake,” Graf-Wenger
recounted. “This event is not just a festival, it is a symbol of our community spirit, a time where we come together to honor our shared history and create lasting memories.”
The event, Graf-Wenger recognized, has previously faced “its share of challenges,” and it was in 1997, the BMIA president recalled, that the organization had taken a “bold step to revive the carnival” after a 20year hiatus, “reaffirming our commitment to preserving our community’s identity and heritage.”
Graf-Wenger, in alluding to high heat indices having been a factor for the 2024 cancelation, said the BMIA is prepared to establish “designated cooling zones, similar to those at the Farm Fair” moving
forward “to provide shade and hydration.”
“This will allow families to enjoy the festivities without health risks, and ensure that everyone can participate in the fun,” Graf-Wenger asserted.
The BMIA president, in referring to the carnival as “more than just an event,” calling it “a celebration of our history and a chance for residents to come together, share stories and create lasting memories that will last a lifetime,” called on the “committee” to “allocate funding” for the event.
She noted she was “encouraged” by what she saw as “positive responses” from “our newly-elected township committee members” when they were asked during a recent BMIA Candidates’ Forum if they valued the carnival and would want to see it continue.
“The Water Carnival stands as a testament to our resilience, creativity and unity,” Graf-Wenger declared. “I ask the mayor directly: will you commit to allocating funding to the 2025 Water Carnival? Your support is vital to reviving this cherished tradition.”
Tompkins, in responding directly to the BMIA president’s question, contended, “I don't know where these rumors are coming from that we are ‘not going to fund the carnival’ and ‘it is not going to happen anymore.’”
The mayor called the timing of GrafWenger’s remarks “ironic” as “we started budget talks” for 2025 “this week.”
However, the mayor maintained, the township’s chief financial officer has a “schedule” to meet with various department heads, and based on where the Recreation Department falls on that schedule, “we haven’t had our Rec Department come before us and discuss what her budget is.”
“I don’t do the Recreation budget,” Tompkins declared. “The director of the department does it. We (administration) review it. We determine what they did last year, and what the requirements are for next year, and that is how we kind of start the ball rolling.”
The mayor further – and emphatically - declared, “To say that I’ve cut this out of the budget is 100 percent wrong!”
“I don’t know where it (the rumors) came from, but I am going to tell you right now, I haven’t cut it out of the budget,” Tompkins maintained. “It is still there.”
The mayor called the cancelation for 2024 “unfortunate,” and contended, “I had nothing to do with that!”
“I wasn’t even in the building when the decision was made,” Tompkins claimed.
“I wasn’t aware of it until I came into the building about an hour or so later.”
The mayor also corrected Graf-Wenger that in Pemberton’s form of government, it does not have a township committee, rather a township council.
Democratic Councilman Donovan Gardner, however, in pointing to Tompkins dismissing the reports of the carnival being cut from the budget as merely “‘rumors’” and “not true,” retorted, “Well, I have a list of rumors that start in this township that end up being true since Jack was elected.”
“Pictures with the Easter Bunny” and “Pictures with Santa Claus” were two traditional township events, Gardner maintained, in which there were “rumors” that they were going to be canceled, and they ultimately “got canceled.”
“Cutting ties with Whitesbog (Preservation Trust) – those ties were severed by the mayor,” Gardner continued.
Rumors concerning events being canceled, Gardner claimed, were “percolating in 2023” and “they did happen.”
Paul Detrick, the Democratic president of council, said he was “glad to hear” from the mayor that the carnival would continue, however, and when the mayor asked if there were “any other questions,” none were asked of him on this particular topic.
Yet again, as heard during the Nov. 13 session, there were calls to save Sycamore Hall, a former yellow bank building overlooking Mirror Lake at 1 Clubhouse Road. It is a facility that many view as historic, but has been vacant since April 27, 2012, and has now fallen into disrepair.
Resident Marie Reynolds “reiterated” that according to a Browns Mills Redevelopment Plan, Sycamore Hall, ultimately purchased by the township in 2019, “was to be leased, not sold” by the township “to an established brew pub or restaurant.”
She pointed out, however, it was purchased from the township on March 22, 2024, by Before and After Properties, LLC, a firm listed as based in nearby New Egypt (Plumsted Township). It was purchased for $250,000.
The firm initially proposed renovations to the second and th ird floors of the building, turning them into “luxury” or “high-end,” but “affordable” apartments, but now has announced plans for a bed and breakfast, as well as offering accommodations for temporary duty
File Photo
Scene from a past Pemberton Water Carnival.
HONORS
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Joining Commissioner Eckel at the ceremony were Commissioner Deputy Director Dan O’Connell and Commissioner Tom Pullion, along with local 8th District Assemblywoman Andrea Katz, who presented Rubin with a state resolution honoring his service.
Burlington County has awarded more
SEPARATE
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seal. The video, posted on Burlington County’s official YouTube channel, BurlingtonCountyNJ, containing various other county productions, including county commissioner meetings from the past, ends with a graphic displaying an even larger county seal.
Also, back on March 27, Burlington County Spokesman David Levinsky had authored a press release on a template with the county indicia up top, with it specified it is from the “County Office of Public Information” (which is a section of “County Administration”). That release was headlined, “Burlington County Unveils New Voting Machines in Advance of June 4 Primary Election.”
“The Burlington County Commissioners, Burlington County Superintendent of Elections and Burlington County Board of Elections announced the acquisition of the new fleet, describing the improved technology as simple to use, secure and more reliable than the county’s old fleet of switch-based machines used by voters for the previous 25 years,” is just one of the statements contained in that release.
That release goes on to quote various county election officials, including Burlington County Board of Elections Chairman Joseph Dugan and Superintendent of Elections Dawn Marie Addiego, whose office is identified as
than 10,000 medals to county veterans since the medal program launched in 2002.
Any veteran living in Burlington County with an honorable discharge is eligible for the decoration, along with deceased veterans who resided in the county.
Medal registration forms are available at the Military and Veterans Services Office and can be obtained by calling 609-265-5008.
The form can also be completed online at: https://www.co.burlington.nj.us/
the “custodian of the machines.” It also contains a quote from Burlington County Commissioner Deputy Director Dan O’Connell, “the liaison to the county’s elections offices.”
Another release from the County Office of Public Information, April 10, again using the county seal, announces, “Burlington County Superintendent of Elections Will Conduct Outreach at Schools, Community Events.”
Yet another, dated May 3, is headlined, “Attention Voters: Be on the Lookout for Primary Election Vote-by-Mail Ballots,” before describing that “Burlington County has started mailing Primary Election vote-by-mail (VBM) ballots to registered voters who requested one, so those voters should be on the lookout for their ballot to arrive soon.”
On May 22, the county Office of Public Information put out another release titled, “Burlington County Releases New Election Video Detailing How to Vote with New Machines.”
“Burlington County will be using a new fleet of voting machines during the upcoming New Jersey Primary Election and voters have opportunities to become familiar with the new equipment and procedures before heading to the polls,” that release continues. “The new machines consist of electronic ballot marking devices and tabulators and are the same as the ones acquired by Burlington County in 2021 for early voting.”
Further signifying how the county did not appear to necessarily previously treat
DocumentCenter/View/17046/CountyMilitary-Medal-application-2023 .
The medal allows the county to honor veterans’ service. By registering, the Burlington County Military and Veterans Services Office is also able to keep veterans and their families informed about programs and services available to them.
This year alone, the office has assisted Burlington County veterans in obtaining more than $13 million in compensation and benefits.
the Board of Elections as a completely separate entity is a press release sent by the county Office of Public Information on Sept. 11, headlined, “Burlington County Election Board Seeking Poll Workers for 2024 General Election.”
Yet again, both Dugan and O’Connell were quoted in that release.
A “Burlington County Vote-by-Mail Ballot Map” also features the county seal.
However, according to Dina Rocco, Burlington County’s Custodian of Records, at least for the sake of public records, the Pine Barrens Tribune will need to file new OPRA requests for some of the information for which it seeks because the “Burlington County Superintendent of Elections Office” is “a separate entity from the County of Burlington with its own records custodian” and the “Burlington County Board of Elections Office” is also a “separate entity from the County of Burlington with its own records custodian.”
Therefore, “please be advised that a search of our files indicates that there are no documents or records made, maintained or kept on file by the County of Burlington” for some of items requested, but, “please be advised that there may be documents or records responsive to these parts of your requests on file” with what she claims are the separate entities.
Rocco then provided this newspaper with a pair of email addresses to utilize.
But the pair of email addresses provided by Rocco are identical to those associated with Burlington County,
Veterans and military families are also eligible for free adoptions from the Burlington County Animal Shelter, veteran identification cards from the Sheriff’s Office and free DD214 registration from the County Clerk’s Office. The county also runs a free cemetery care program to care for veterans’ gravesites.
“These are small gestures of thanks from our County to those who stepped forward willing to give all to defend our nation,” Eckel said.
ending in co.burlington.nj.us . And the “County Election Board,” as well as the “Superintendent of Elections” are listed in a county website dropdown menu of county “Departments.”
The Board of Elections has a website URL of https://www.co.burlington. nj.us/593/Election-Voter-Services , while the Superintendent of Elections has a website URL of https://www. co.burlington.nj.us/301/Superintendentof-Elections .
The county legal team doubled down on its claims that the county Board of Elections is a “separate entity from the County of Burlington” in a Nov. 26 letter to this newspaper, in again maintaining it had no Board of Election meeting audio that it could turn over to this newspaper, including for the 2024 General Election Certification session.
This newspaper, in subsequently analyzing past county responses for public records, found requests made by others directly to the board, and in turn, at least going back to 2021, the “administrator” or “office manager” of the Burlington County Board of Elections then answering the requests.
Perhaps another county’s description of the role of the Board of Elections, for example, offers some explanation behind the claim of Burlington County’s Legal Department: a Board of Elections “is a quasi-state agency, funded by the county.” Levinsky, however, has repeatedly
Photo Provided
Burlington County Commissioners Tom Pullion, Dan O’Connell and Allison Eckel honor a veteran during the Nov. 8 medal ceremony.
Photo Provided
Dr. George Rubin, a 99-year-old World War II veteran, receives the Burlington County Military Service Medal during a ceremony on Nov. 8 at the Burlington County Human Services Building in Westampton.
INTERIM
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An interim replacement for Cozzarelli was not immediately announced, with the next council meeting not scheduled until Dec. 4.
SEPARATE
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asserted his role, since Election Day, in answering all media inquiries of the Board of Elections and Superintendent of Elections, with this newspaper having been, so far, unable to directly access the election officials with the respective agencies for interviews about the county’s Nov. 5 election fiasco.
Rather, when attempts have been tried, this newspaper has been referred to Levinsky for comment.
Levinsky, when asked for comment on this particular story, responded with a Nov. 26 email providing what he called “true facts.”
He maintained to this newspaper that “the Burlington County Board of Elections, Burlington County Superintendent of Elections Office and Burlington County Clerk’s Office are all separate government entities with their own separate responsibilities concerning the election.”
The county spokesman then pointed
CARNIVAL
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(TDY) military personnel and out-ofstate families visiting very sick patients. An indoor lounge and café, along with a gift shop, is proposed for the first floor.
Reynolds maintained there are already various violations of the plan, and then after also alleging that the entity had purchased a property elsewhere in town with the intent to create “long-term affordable housing opportunities,” but then sold it to a “relative” of one of the proprietors instead, she called on officials to “overturn the sale” of Sycamore Hall and “restore it to the community, as mandated by law.”
“The Historic Trust, the BMIA and many residents have all asked that this property be saved,” Reynolds said. “Let us work with council to secure historic
LAUNDROMAT
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saying, “Can I speak?”, before shouting of the current situation at the center, “I'm doing business, too, over there. Everything is blocked. No parking lot.”
“Mayor, I could reach out to their attorney (for New Horizons) to advise them of this continuing concern and ask that they, again, reach out about relocation,” Bayer responded. “That is all I think we can do.”
The family member suggested that Bayer “should also take a look at their drawings for the redevelopment plan,” and then the two disputed whether what is in that plan is actually “relevant.”
It is unclear whether Jersey Professional Management will supply someone else as another interim business administrator.
A contract between the township and firm approved by council in September had stipulated that the firm is to provide
to a previous statement he had given a reporter for this newspaper, explaining that the members of the Election Board and the Superintendent of Elections are appointed by the governor.
“The commissioners do not govern their actions or operations,” Levinsky maintained. “Likewise, the Burlington County Legal Department does not serve as the custodian of records for either the Election Board or the Superintendent of Elections. The New Jersey Attorney General’s Office is the legal representative of both the Election Board and the Superintendent of Elections Office, and both the Superintendent of Elections and the Election Board have their own custodians of records to respond to New Jersey Open Public Records Act requests.”
But Levinsky, when challenged on why he, as a member of county administration, handles media requests for these reportedly separate entities from the county and asserts his role in answering them, remarked, “While the Board of Elections, Superintendent of Elections and County Clerk’s offices are their own
grant funds and help market the building for an appropriate lessee. You can't sell 248 years of historic value for $250,000.”
Harry Harper, a Republican who was just elected to council and will begin serving his first term in January, challenged the GOP administration on several fronts during the Nov. 13 council session.
Harper recounted council having asked in October that representatives of Before and After Properties attend “the next council meeting” to answer for a reported delay in commencement of construction, after Reynolds maintained the delay is in violation of the terms of a redevelopment agreement (Tompkins previously maintained, in response, that one of the individuals involved with the planned redevelopment had died in a car accident).
“There is just no accountability here in the administration,” Harper quipped. “It is just getting ridiculous!”
Democratic Councilman Donovan Gardner, in pointing to the five-minute limit on public comment, quipped, “This is not going to be solved in five minutes.” Gardner then called on Tompkins to “meet with them” to have “longer discussions,” and advised the laundromat proprietor and his relative to “call again” and “make another appointment.”
But Bayer suggested to Gardner if the meeting is about the potential sale of the current property, he didn’t think it would be worthwhile, but Gardner said if it touches on the current building, there would be a benefit to them meeting.
Incoming Republican Councilman Harry Harper, the next to speak after the family member, recounted that “the mayor
an interim business administrator to the township “for up to 24 hours per week.” The agreement was made so that it can be canceled at any time.
Cozzarelli’s name remained on the township website as of this newspaper’s press time.
separate government entities, they and their staffs do work closely together and also with the County Administration, which provides support services for them, including information technology, security, office space, janitorial, etc.”
Levinsky pointed out “this is the same with several other government entities, including the Burlington County Executive Superintendent of Schools and the Burlington County Board of Taxation.”
According to the county spokesman, “The County Clerk’s Office, Board of Elections and Superintendent of Elections Office do not have their own public information officers.”
“In the interest of communicating important voter education and election information to the public, and also to be responsive to media inquiries, the Burlington County Public Information Office works with all three offices to fulfill that role and provide that assistance when called upon,” Levinsky asserted.
Rocco did provide rosters of individuals employed in the Burlington County Board of Elections and Burlington County
Tompkins, in response, turned to Municipal Solicitor Andrew “Andy” Bayer and asked, “Can you clarify - does the mayor have subpoena authority?”, to which the solicitor answered, “No.”
It led to a second question being asked by Tompkins of Bayer, “Does the council have subpoena authority?”
“Under certain circumstances … well …,” answered Bayer, causing Tompkins to assert, “So, for me to tell a resident that they need to appear before the council would be highly inappropriate.”
But Harper pressed if officials simply requested the proprietors’ appearance before council, to which he was told by Bayer, “I can report that there has been some … the email communication between the owner and the township is not very friendly.”
“So, rest assured, I would highly doubt that the individual or individuals would want to come to a public hearing to discuss
agreed and told council he would meet with Mr. Elly and go over … I guess for lack of a nicer word, negotiate with him, possibly in good faith.”
“Apparently, there is no good faith in the administration here!” Harper declared. “You got businesspeople in this town. He just shuns them. It is a shame – the residents, he just shuns them.”
After a few minutes had passed, Interim (and now departing) Business Administrator Paula Cozzarelli claimed “with respect to the meeting with Mr. Elly, I received a phone call from his attorney.”
“So, whenever an attorney is involved … I do not meet with an attorney,” Cozzarelli added. “So, it is attorney to attorney, that is why the meeting was postponed, and it
“I just want to thank you all again for awarding that contract and allowing me to come on and serve your township for the past two months,” she said. “And that is all I have to say. I wish you the best, and the best of holidays to everybody. And I wish everyone the best in 2025.”
Superintendent of Elections offices, as well as some financial transactions, despite the assertions.
“We now consider our response complete,” Rocco concluded. “Thank you for the opportunity to be of assistance.”
The Pine Barrens Tribune, in the interest of getting critical information to its readers in the most expedited fashion, and answers for those reportedly disenfranchised in the latest election, has followed the guidance of Rocco and submitted new OPRA requests to the purportedly separate entities from the County of Burlington. But the clock for them to be answered restarts in doing so.
While a form is not required to submit an OPRA request to a governmental agency, Levinsky pointed to a form on the county’s website that one can use to make requests and pointed to language on the webpage containing a link to the form stating, “any requests for records relating to Board of Taxation, Election Board, or Superintendent of Elections are to be directed through the respective office.” But such language is not on the request form itself bearing the county seal.
all that,” contended Bayer, adding the mayor “can’t make the guy show up.”
The allegation caused GOP Councilman Dan Dewey to ask whether a letter can be sent to the redeveloper that they are “in violation of the redevelopment plan that they signed” and threatening to “revoke” it if no appearance is made before the council, to which Bayer said he would want to discuss that in an executive session.
“I don’t think we should air our legal positions in public before they are asserted,” the solicitor added.
Council ultimately convened a closed session at the very end of its latest meeting to discuss the matter further, but the council meeting was ultimately adjourned without further action.
The proprietors of the entity recently reiterated their commitment to the project in a statement given to this newspaper, which was the subject of a previous story.
was recommended that we wait until we can get counsel at the meeting. During that time, I had asked of Mr. Elly (which his daughter put in writing), ‘What is it exactly you want?’ Because his attorney did not know, either.”
Cozzarelli noted there are “local public contract laws in place,” and therefore, “the township just doesn’t sell property” to anyone without there being a process, no matter the amount of money being offered. “It is a very detailed process,” she concluded. “In addition, the township deemed this particular whole lot as a redevelopment area to be developed by one redeveloper, to make it into a town center. So, there is a lot more (to this), and I just want the public to understand that.”
DEC.
Events and special promotions happening locally next month!
To promote your event on this page contact Jayne Cabrilla at 609-801-2392 or email news@pinebarrenstribune.com
DEC. WEEKENDS
Train Rides Through the Woods of New Gretna
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Details: The Woods of New Gretna Park and the New Jersey Shore Live Steam Organization provide train rides for all each Saturday and Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The small steam locomotives, and other trains, wind their way through the beautiful park. The rides are provided by a group of dedicated volunteers who have revitalized the park and laid out the railroad track, based on the historical Tuckerton Railroad. The volunteers maintain the railroad and walking trails and are constantly expanding them. Riding the trains is free, but donations are very much appreciated. The train rides are outdoors.
DEC. 1
Free Koins for Kids
Location: Lindenwold
Details: South Jersey Coin and Collectable Show will be held Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Moose Lodge, 2425 White Horse Pike (Rt. 30), Lindenwold. Admission and parking are free. There will be free door prizes, food and refreshments, and over 30 friendly dealer tables. The show will be held on the first Sunday of each month during 2024. Dealers wanted! Security provided. For more information, call Tom at 609-742-2279, or visit southjerseycoinshow.com .
DEC. 2
Seneca High School Chamber Singers
Location: Vincentown (Southampton Twp.)
Details: Southampton Historical Society is presenting the Seneca High School Chamber Singers program of holiday songs. Come hear these amazing students from right here in our own community! The program will be held Monday, Dec. 2, at 7:30 p.m., at Old Town Hall, 25 Plum St., Vincentown. After the music program, there will be A Moment in Time segment titled "Reflections from Carrie Haines", wife of attorney Ralph Haines, who lived at 65 Mill St. during the early 1900s. This is the last meeting of Southampton Historical Society until March 2025. This program is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Kathy Rosmando, 609-859-0524.
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Commissioner George Youngkin. Chebra, according to her LinkedIn page, currently manages government relations for the Chamber of Commerce for Southern New Jersey, but formerly served as chief of staff to Singleton and as a cabinet liaison to Democratic Governor Phil Murphy.
Kennedy, whose LinkedIn biography says that he “possesses an elite combination of strategic problem solving, creative, analytical thinking and networking savvy,” and has “worked (with) leaders throughout the political, corporate and educational worlds” whom have reportedly described him as “driven, competitive, tough and
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polished, with exceptional instincts, focus and networking skills,” is the New Jersey director of GCI’s Consulting Services.
His biography also states that he “has also been a key part of hundreds of successful campaigns in NJ, including, founding and directing the SuperPAC that helped re-elect Senate President Steve Sweeney in the most expensive legislative race in U.S. history in 2017” and “has previously served as Associate Executive Director and head of communications for the NJ Senate Majority Office.”
Kennedy, the some 12-year president of the Burlington County Board of Taxation and a self-proclaimed “devout sports fan,” not only has a degree in History, but is a Doctor of Law, having graduated Rutgers Law School back in 1999.
He did not return requests for comment on this story, as of press time.
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Just last week, Kennedy, as he posted on LinkedIn, attended a Chamber of Commerce for Southern New Jersey breakfast, and the week before that, had visited in Washington D.C. with both Democratic U.S. Senators from New Jersey. ROI, which reported on Kennedy being selected as the New Jersey head of CGI, described the firm as a “global consultant firm that specializes in IT transformation that has approximately 250 employees in New Brunswick,” before saying of Kennedy that he is a “well-known and highly respected government affairs professional in the state.” It goes on to describe that prior to holding the role, he worked for Rowan University, his alma mater, as vice president of government affairs and corporate partnerships — duties he held for nearly six years.
