Pine Barrens Tribune June 15, 2024-June 21, 2024

‘PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN’

TABERNACLE—The “people have spoken,” declared resident Katherine O’Connell Crain of Tabernacle Township voters ousting incumbent Republican committeemen Mark Hartman and Samuel “Sammy” Moore through a June 4 GOP Primary over what had been their refusal to back away from a deeply unpopular decision to tear down Tabernacle Town Hall, with Crain also asking during a special Tabernacle Township Committee June 7 meeting held, in part, to decide the fate of the seat vacated by now-former Deputy Mayor Natalie Stone, “Are you going to listen now?”

“It is a question,” pointed out Crain, as she looked at the governing body, and then pointed to an audience of over 100 people who showed for the Friday evening session, many of whom are not only upset over the Town Hall debacle, but also a related road closure and the committee canceling a previously scheduled session just before the election, but only after a crowd had already gathered, over a lack of a quorum, with Moore and Hartman having failed to appear and Stone having resigned by that point. “You have all these people here now. It may be a little too late for some things, but we are still here. We are not going anywhere.”

Crain, who is one of the residents who sued to obtain the temporary injunction that has, so far, prevented any demolition of Town Hall, is one of three people whose names Tabernacle GOP Chairman Mark LeMire – also opposed to any demolition – submitted to the governing body to have filled the seat vacated by Stone, with Crain also

Photo By Tom Valentino

New State Law Allows Districts Hit by State Aid Funding Cuts to Increase Tax Levy, as One-Time Relief, Above 2 Percent Cap, with LRHSD Planning Hike of 7.7 Percent

By D ouglas D. M elegari

Staff Writer

SHAMONG—Dr. Carol Birnbohm, superintendent of the Lenape Regional High School District (LRHSD) had released a letter last week to the community announcing that the district, facing repeated state aid cuts and other funding

inadequacies, would be raising regional school district taxes by an “additional 5.7 percent” over what was proposed earlier in the spring (2 percent – with there having been a 2 percent cap) to help close the hole (which is now allowable under a new state provision), and also avoid some, but not

See HIKES/ Page 7

File Photo

Signage for LRHSD.

Medford Mayor Blames $240 Tax Hike on ‘Inflationary Pressures’

But Says Township Taxpayers Still Better Off Than Most in County Picture Brightened by News of $61,000 State Grant Being Awarded for Cleanup of Rancocas Creek, with Resident, Official Given Credit

By Bill B onvie Staff Writer

MEDFORD—The Medford Township Council’s adoption on June 5 of a $26,130,588 budget resolution calling for a 7 percent tax increase over 2023, which will amount to an additional payment of $20.09 per month, or more than $240 annually, on the average assessed home of $330,799, was justified by Mayor Charles “Chuck” Watson as being the unavoidable result of “inflationary pressures faced by all local governments” compounded by the cessation of COVID relief funding sources.

Viewing the increase from a broader perspective, however, the mayor maintained that the township “can take pride in the fact that in fiscal year 2023, out of 40 municipalities (in Burlington County), Medford was 12th from the bottom in its local budget per resident, and 16th from the bottom in local purpose property taxes per resident.”

In addition, he noted, of the county’s eight largest municipalities, Medford is one of only two that fund fire and rescue services within their municipal budgets, rather than as separate standalone entities.

Another positive note in municipal money-saving, unrelated to the current budget, was introduced by acting Township Manager Thomas Czerniecki, who revealed in his report that Medford had just been awarded a $61,000 local recreational improvement grant from the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs to fund a cleanup of conditions on Rancocas Creek that have been interfering with its recreational uses—something the township had previously hoped to do on a piecemeal basis utilizing its Department of Public Works personnel.

Prior to being notified of the grant, Czerniecki told those in attendance, “our strategy was going to be to use Public Works when we could free them up to start pulling logs out here or there.”

“But now we’re really excited that we can do a real quality job in attacking that creek,” the township manager declared.

What made the announcement particularly gratifying, the manager emphasized, was the fact that it came about as a result of the persistence of a local resident, Kathleen “Kathy” Roberts of Medford Leas, in calling attention to the problem and the initiative taken by a township employee, Beth Portocalis, in locating and pursuing the funding opportunity “without any direction from me.”

Both the recreational grant and the installation of a speed indicator by Freedom Park “as a result of issues brought to our attention by the School of Music” that has generated “positive feedback” from the community were cited by Czernieck as examples of how township officials actively respond to matters the public wants addressed.

“There may be a bit of a lead time when residents complain about something, but I wanted to point out that we listen,” he said. “And it is not just to give us a pat on the back. It is also to really recognize the residents for coming forth and stating their concerns.”

The concerns voiced by Roberts and other residents about the current state of the Rancocas Creek, Portocalis told the Pine Barrens Tribune in a subsequent phone interview, have centered around the erosion of its banks by recent storms, resulting in trees falling into the creek, which is popular with angling enthusiasts (and stocked with fish by the state) as well as kayakers and canoers, and onto a system of adjacent public trail used by hikers.

The grant money, noted Portocalis, who both works as an executive assistant to the township manager and open space coordinator, will be used for tree clearing and bank stabilization of the creek from Freedom Park into Medford Park and behind Main Street to the top of Branch Street.

“It’s a process we’ve been working on for a year and a half,” added Portocalis, often involving having to identify property owners and making sure the township was within its legal rights and slowed down even further by the pandemic when “we weren’t able to put staff out there.”

In his statement on the budget resolution and accompanying tax rise, which were unanimously approved by the council, Watson cited some of the more significant hikes in operating costs that have helped drive up the bill for ratepayers, chief among them being the township’s contract for household waste removal, which went up by nearly 82 percent from $862,000 to $1,537,000.

“Other significant increases we experienced were in landfill costs, healthcare expenses and utilities totaling over $250,000,” the mayor noted.

Adding to those sharply higher costs of municipal services, he said, is the discontinuation of pandemic relief funds previously available in the form of American Rescue Plan grants, which has resulted in a projected “salary budget gap” for 2024 of $952,324.

Watson further pointed out that only about 12 to 13 cents of a property owner’s tax dollar is used to support the township itself, the remainder reflecting “the various tax levies established by the county, Lenape Regional School District and the Medford School District, which the township is obligated to collect.”

Medford, the mayor contended, “has been extremely prudent and careful with respect to its budget and taxes,” having consistently kept them “below the rate of inflation” and managed to maintain “a very low budget and tax levy when compared to our peers.”

Watson also reviewed some of the capital improvements that will be covered

See TAX/ Page 9

Tabernacle Committee Rescinds Motion to Demolish Town Hall, But Whether Court Will Retain Jurisdiction Over Matter Unclear Vote Follows Months of Angry Confrontations, But Takes on New Urgency; Committee Explores Various Means to Get Key Artery in Town Reopened to Traffic

By D ouglas D. M elegari Staff Writer

TABERNACLE—A deeply unpopular Feb. 26 decision of the Tabernacle Township Committee to demolish Historic Tabernacle Town Hall, which has led to litigation in an attempt to stop any razing of the building following public outcry, has now been reversed on June 10 in a 4-0 vote by the township committee, with the governing body comprised of a new

member following a resignation and two rounds of leadership shakeups, the second following the outcome of a GOP primary here that saw two incumbents lose.

The June 10 decision also came as the township committee, at the strong urging of the public, appeared to wrestle for control of the situation from Superior Court Judge Richard Hertzberg, who

See DEMOLISH/ Page 8

Photo By Douglas D. Melegari

Tabernacle Town Hall with construction fencing and demolition signage around it.

Land Acquisition Deal with Russo’s Farm to Purchase 144 Carranza Road, 19-Acre Lot That Had Been Slated for New Tabernacle Complex Dies

By D ouglas D. M elegari Staff Writer

TABERNACLE—Russo’s Fruit and Vegetable Farm has been cut loose by the Tabernacle Township Committee from a land acquisition deal that would have enabled Tabernacle Township to purchase 144 Carranza Road for $825,900 from the farming entity to erect a new Town Hall.

The 4-0 decision of the committee on June 10 means that a plan to build a new municipal complex on the approximately 19-acre parcel, as well as a new Public Works facility, is now dead.

On June 7, the Tabernacle committee convened a closed-door session to discuss, in part, 144 Carranza Road, a property it had previously agreed to purchase pending the outcome of due diligence studies and receipt of all approvals, including from the Pinelands Commission.

Upon exiting the closed session, Township Solicitor William Burns announced that on June 6 the township received correspondence from an attorney representing the Russo family “in connection with the purchase and sale of 144 Carranza Road,” which indicated that “time is of the essence” and reportedly “demanded settlement on or before June 27, 2024.” Burns indicated that if the committee could not reach “further agreement”

with the Russos by its June 10 meeting “regarding the date of closing,” it is “currently the intent of committee to solely release the Russos from the contract as requested by their attorney.”

On June 10, newly-chosen Mayor Noble McNaughton, following the development of Mark Hartman stepping down as mayor, reiterated that the “Russos have asked to be let out of the contract,” contending it is because “the original settlement date was a year ago and we still do not have any indication from Pinelands as to when they are going to approve our plans.”

“We just can’t purchase a property when we don’t know if we are going to have the approval to do it,” McNaughton declared. “I think we don’t have a choice but to let it go. I spoke to Mr. Russo, and he is determined to give up the contract.”

In it being noted by Township Solicitor William Burns that there is “no further obligation owed to either party,” the committee, in a 4-0 vote, released the Russos from the contract. It led to loud applause from a crowd of over 100 people that gathered for the June 10 proceedings.

While the Pinelands Commission process was cited as the reason for the Russos being let out of the contract (it was only on Jan. 22 that Township

See DEAL/ Page 10

Tabernacle Twp.’s Mayor Steps Down, Handing Over Mayoral Post to Committeeman with Decades of Local Government Experience

New Mayor Makes Commitment to Answer Public’s Questions at Sessions, Representing Marked Shift Toward Transparency; Returning Committeeman Chosen as Town’s New Deputy Mayor, with New Leaders Both Past Mayors

By D ouglas D. M elegari Staff Writer

TABERNACLE—Mark Hartman, who was chosen in January to serve as township mayor for 2024, and recently suffered a resounding defeat at the ballot box in a June 4 GOP primary election after having cast one of three Tabernacle Township Committee votes in February and March to tear down Historic Tabernacle Town Hall, has stepped down as the municipality’s mayor.

Hartman, who stepped down from the post on June 10, was under public pressure to resign completely from the township committee after not only having voted to raze Town Hall, but also for having largely avoided answering public questions and concerns for months, in addition to having phoned the township clerk at the last minute on

May 28 to say that he could not make a scheduled committee session that evening, causing a lack of quorum, which led to the meeting’s cancellation all as a large crowd had already gathered.

Additionally, the Pine Barrens Tribune has learned that shortly before the June 10 committee meeting, a judge presiding over the Town Hall matter had denied a motion of reconsideration regarding a temporary injunction, and in becoming apparently angry over a sequence of events involving the Town Hall debacle that had violated a court directive, ordered the township committee to appear before him in a scheduled July 19 hearing (see separate story).

But Hartman cited increased work responsibilities as his reason for stepping

See MAYOR/ Page 10

Photo By Douglas D. Melegari

Sign for Carranza Road.

Photo By Tom Valentino

Now Tabernacle Deputy Mayor Joe Barton (right) shakes Committeeman Mark Hartman’s hand after the latter decided to step down as township mayor. Noble McNaughton, seated, prepares to take over as mayor.

Superior Court Judge Tears into Tabernacle Officials for Having Held Memorial Day Celebration at Town Hall, Despite ‘Unstable Structure’

Judge Orders Township Committee to Appear Before Him in July Hearing, Says Conduct Undermines Credibility of Its Experts, Defies Common Sense

By D ouglas D. M elegari Staff Writer

TABERNACLE—When a lawsuit was filed by locals and local organizations seeking an injunction to prevent the demolition of historic Tabernacle Town Hall, Tabernacle Township’s retained professionals, through Solicitor William Burns, had made the case to Superior Court Judge Richard Hertzberg that Tabernacle Town Hall is unstable and is in imminent danger of collapse into Medford Lakes-Tabernacle Road, and therefore it needed to be razed as soon as possible.

The judge, given there had been no mention of “collapse” in written structural engineering reports, however, had granted a temporary injunction to the plaintiffs, but on the basis the road had already been closed by the township committee, alleviating any danger to the public until an independent structural engineer could be brought in to perform another evaluation.

But then following the injunction, Burns conferred with the township committee behind closed doors about its decision to close the road amid mounting public pushback and chaos, and upon the committee emerging from an executive session, it ordered the road to be reopened, with Mark Hartman, the then-mayor, contending the risk of keeping the road closed outweighed the benefits.

And it was reopened for nearly five weeks until Hertzberg became aware of it, and now, as a June 10 court order denying a township request for reconsideration of the injunction states, Hertzberg wants answers about how the road was allowed to be reopened in the first place by the committee, despite the professionals’ warnings that had been previously presented to him.

And Hertzberg also wants answers as to how the public was allowed to gather in the area of Town Hall for a Memorial Day ceremony given the township’s own professionals purportedly submitted a report to the court that Burns acknowledged during a June 10 session described there being a potential collapse

zone spanning some 35 feet, necessitating the road closure.

In denying the township’s motion for reconsideration, Hertzberg wrote that “the defendant’s conduct undermines the credibility of its experts.”

“As noted at prior hearings, despite warnings of imminent collapse, and despite the court’s April 19, 2024, direction to maintain the status quo, on or about April 24, 2024, the defendant saw fit to remove the detour allegedly put in place to protect the public,” Hertzberg added. “Upon learning of this violation of its directive, on May 22, 2024, the court entered an order reiterating the importance of the detour. On or about May 28, 2024, the court discovered not only that the road remained open, but that the town Memorial Day parade, occurring on May 25, 2024, ended at the Town Hall structure with activities taking place in its parking lot.”

Hertzberg contended that the “proffered justification” he has since been given “for hosting a public celebration in the shadow of the unstable structure” is that “the township engineer estimates that the fall radius of the building is approximately 35 feet” and the “closest section of the parking lot to Town Hall is approximately 59.5 feet.”

“Even if this ‘approximate’ estimate were accurate to the inch, the court concludes there is no reason why men, women, and children should have been invited to celebrate 24 feet from a collapse zone,” Hertzberg wrote. “The court does not need expert testimony to apply common knowledge and common sense.”

Hertzberg further declared that the “court cannot imagine that (the) defendant would place the public in danger if it truly believed (a) collapse was imminent.”

“However, the court cannot simply ignore the proffered reports and is obligated to protect residents from the Town Hall’s possible collapse,” Hertzberg asserted.

“The court acts in an abundance of caution, and not because it finds defendant’s reports credible or admissible.”

See JUDGE/ Page 10

Firestorm Ensues After Tabernacle’s Office of Emergency Management Directs Motorists to Two Uncontrolled Intersections to Access Route 206

Announcement Occurrs After Hawkins Road Resident Complains About Traffic Using Road to Get Around Medford Lakes-Tabernacle Road Closure, Even Though It’s Not Part of Official Detour, But Hawkins Is Only Road Nearby with Traffic Signal

By D ouglas D. M elegari Staff Writer

TABERNACLE—A weekend pronouncement from Tabernacle Township’s Office of Emergency Management asking residents to avoid using Hawkins Road as a detour route around the closure of Medford-Lakes Tabernacle Road has led to what one man recognized is now a “sh**storm.”

It is for the very reason that Hawkins Road currently provides motorists the only convenient controlled intersection access for miles to Route 206, as many can’t access the controlled intersection of Medford Lakes-Tabernacle Road and Route 206 because of the closure of Medford-Lakes Tabernacle Road at Town Hall.

The actual detour route in place calls for residents to use either the intersection of Flyatt Road and Route 206 or Carranza Road and Route 206 to gain access to the state highway. But neither of those intersections have a traffic signal.

Detour signs have either been incorrect or missing for weeks in the area, and until the question was posed to township officials during a June 7 meeting by a Hawkins Road resident, it actually had not been known by many that Hawkins Road is actually not an official detour route around the closure.

And tell that to the hundreds of people that have been using the road, including school bus drivers for the nearby Seneca High School, since the road closure went into place.

“Don’t tell people to make a left on Route 206 with people going 60 mph,” said resident Leslie Schmidt of emergency management asking that motorists continue down to the intersection of Carranza Road and Route 206, rather than use Hawkins Road. “You really need to think very clearly about the danger you are increasing.”

Schmidt called the pronouncement of emergency management a “deplorable suggestion.”

“It is not your greatest moment OEM, and it really should be retracted,” she said. “It is a huge safety issue.”

But how much fault can be attributed to the emergency manager is not exactly clear, because after the Hawkins Road resident requested during a June 7 committee session that motorists be notified that Hawkins Road is not a detour road, after being told it wasn’t one by Township Administrator and Clerk Maryalice Brown, the administrator had agreed to work on putting an announcement out. Brown was absent from the June 10 committee session.

And new Deputy Mayor Joe Barton recounted on June 10, in response to the concerns, that he had recently obtained the detour route through an Open Public Records Act (OPRA) request that he had filed, and learned from it that the county had actually established the detour route on behalf of the township.

Resident Karl Delaney declared that “both of your detours are inherently unsafe.”

“What you are telling them to do is inherently unsafe,” the resident emphasized.

Delaney questioned why motorists headed south aren’t being directed to Tuckerton Road and Route 206, where there is a traffic signal, versus Flyatt Road and Route 206.

The former, he declared, is “much more sane.”

“This other one – the deaths and destruction are on you and the county,” Delaney declared.

McNaughton responded that he would meet with the township administrator the following day and review the detours, but indicated his support of sending motorists to Tuckerton Road and Route 206 instead of Flyatt Road and Route 206.

But as of press time, there had been no retraction from emergency management, or a new detour announcement.

Delaney maintained that he will continue to use Hawkins Road. And that was the sentiment of those online

See FIRESTORM/ Page 11

(Continued from Page 1)

apparently asking Hartman and Moore, “Are you going to listen now, to fill out the rest of your terms?”

“We always have listened,” replied Hartman (who later offered a “heartfelt” apology for having been unable to attend the last scheduled meeting, attributing his missing it to a traffic backup on the Garden State Parkway in North Jersey upon returning from a business meeting), evoking laughter from the crowd, and causing Crain to follow up, “That is questionable.”

And while roughly the first 45 minutes of the June 7 session featured other blistering public comments from various other individuals, including calls for both Hartman and Township Administrator Maryalice Brown to “resign” (with Hartman ultimately, during a subsequent June 10 session, stepping down as township mayor, but remaining on the committee) there appeared to be a marked step toward striking a more conciliatory tone midway through the special session, with the governing body – unanimously – choosing former GOP mayor Joseph Barton to fill out Stone’s unexpired term.

Barton has also been opposed to the demolition of Town Hall, calling for its rehabilitation in a campaign advertisement, and a critic of the implementation of the related road closure ordered on the premise the building could be in imminent danger of falling into the road, and is one of two candidates who successfully challenged Hartman and Moore in the June 4 primary, the other being David Oiler, whose name was also thrown into the mix by LeMire to be Stone’s successor.

“Sammy Moore and I have been friends for over 15 years,” said Barton, as he rose from his front row seat in the audience, came up in front of the dais and turned around to face the audience, with Moore walking over to stand next to him. “I loved his father, his children, Matt, Samuel, and his wife, Penny. I asked Sammy to swear me in tonight so we can begin to heal this community and stop all the name calling.”

The Bible chosen for the occasion was that of Barton’s son, Jesse, a schoolteacher in Camden who was also in attendance to watch his father retake a position on the governing body, with Barton having previously served from October 2011 to December 2021.

“I actually called Joe and congratulated him on the election,” Committeeman Moore declared. “I am a guy of integrity, regardless of a decision that you may not have agreed with, that I did (make). I told Mr. Barton at the end of the day, we are friends – this is just politics. At the end of the day, I don’t want to lose friendships over it. That is why we are here. I am a man of integrity. Joe Barton is a good man. Dave (Oiler) is a good man. … You know what, life goes on and we are here to support one another.”

The Feb. 26 decision to raze Town Hall, and a vote to award a demolition contract on March 25, had been narrow ones, with Hartman, Moore and Stone supporting it, while Committeemen Noble McNaughton and William Sprague, Jr. voted in opposition to it.

Stone has been subsequently excoriated for spearheading it, and then subsequently condemned for a 2020 “Pineys” posting that

came to light following the vote, containing insulting words that she later apologized for, all of which led to her resignation.

But Moore has seen his fair share of fierce condemnation as well, with many questioning how he could have voted to tear down the historic building many see as the center point of the town, all as a member of a family that has spanned seven generations in town (he has contended it came down to public safety and listening to the professionals of the township).

“And we used to have this saying, sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me,” Barton declared. “We heard a lot of sticks and stones, and heard a lot of names. So, it is time for all of that to stop. We need to bring this community together, stop the name calling, and stop all the nonsense on social media.”

Barton, in pointing out that “my father also had a saying, ‘You know when they are talking about you, they are leaving everyone else behind,’” declared, “So, if you all want to talk about me, you are welcome to do that.”

Typically a reporter in describing a committeeman having just been sworn in would start out by saying “after being seated at the dais …,” but Barton, with a public relations background, well aware of the tension in the room that has even led State Troopers to stand guard for months now over township committee proceedings, including at the June 7 special session, remained in front of the dais for several minutes, quickly taking control over the meeting and providing leadership in the room that had seemingly been lacking for months.

It was a far cry from meeting after meeting here of officials not engaging with the public, virtually ignoring them at every turn when questions were asked or concerns were raised.

And Barton, one of eight children in his family who grew up in Gloucester City, also wanted it to be known that he, who moved to Tabernacle 44 years ago in 1978 to seek rural life, is one of the people here (as well as members of his family) – and in what is seemingly a complete contrast to that of his predecessor – expressed having deep appreciation and respect for his fellow “Pineys” and the area’s vast wilderness

and culture, despite having grown up in an urban setting.

Barton, in initially pointing out that his son had painted the mural on the wall of the firehouse behind the dais, said of his decision to move to Tabernacle in 1978 with his children, “When they were little boys, I didn’t want to raise them in the city, like I was raised in Camden and Gloucester.”

Barton recalled that before he moved to Tabernacle, he took rides to the township to go camping in the woods, specifically seeking out a “dirt road near a straight” to enjoy a weekend.

“That is how we found Tabernacle,” he declared.

Barton explained that during what would become a 54-year career working for a public utility, he had seen the “development” occurring in South Jersey and at one point “said, “I don’t want to get caught up in that development.”

“So, we moved all the way out here,” Barton asserted.

Ultimately, Barton described that he became a local youth sports coach, not only having at one point coached his own boys, but also current local 8th Legislative District Senator Latham Tiver (R-Southampton), in declaring that he “met so many wonderful people” along the way.

Barton noted he and a couple other close friends ultimately started a soccer league and built local baseball dugouts.

JUNE

JUNE 15

Vacation Bible School

Location: Browns Mills

“We did so many wonderful things,” Barton declared. “So did many other people. During that time, we met the ‘real Pineys,’ and met little kids my boys’ ages. They became lifelong friends.”

In pointing to one community member who is now a close friend, Barton declared, “his whole family is like my family, and many of you are,” too.

“I want to see us come together,” Barton declared. “People move here for a reason – we don’t have sidewalks, curbs, or many streetlights – people come here for the quality of life of Tabernacle, and by the way, we have a wonderful school system. People come here, but also people are staying here.”

Barton expressed hope for “more civility in these meetings” to the point “we won’t need to have State Troopers here,” noting “we didn’t have them when I was on committee before.”

“That is no reflection on you gentleman,” said Barton pointing to two State Troopers in the room June 7, noting he actually had a colonel of the New Jersey State Police swear him in previously. “But I would rather have you on the street, patrolling.”

After Barton addressed the emotions in the room in a way that was far from being pointed or confrontational, but rather comforting, seemingly applying his mastery of the public relations skillset, he turned to

See PEOPLE/ Page 11

To promote your event on this page contact Jayne Cabrilla at 609-801-2392 or email news@pinebarrenstribune.com

Details: Messiah Lutheran Church is having its Vacation Bible School for kids aged 4 – 12, June 24 to June 27, from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The church is located at 530 Virginia Dr., Presidential Lakes (Browns Mills). The theme of this year’s VBS, “Breaker Rock Beach,” is based on Romans 12:2 “God’s rock – Solid truth in a world of shifting sands.” To register, email MessiahLBC@earthlink.net. For more information, call 609-893-1700, or visit www.MessiahLBC.church .

Photo By Tom Valentino

Joseph Barton (right) with his son, Jesse (center), in taking the oath of office, administered by Committeeman Samuel Moore.

HIKES

(Continued from Page 2)

all of the previously planned programming cuts, layoffs and eliminations for the 202425 school year.

Now, the LRHSD has released figures for what the proposed, final regional school district tax hike will look like for its sending communities.

And, for most communities, the proposed tax increase is very significant, with Shamong Township hit the hardest with a proposed tax levy increase of 11.89 cents. The LRHSD Board of Education will meet June 26 at 7:30 p.m. to approve the final budget.

“I am opposed to any increase above 2 percent, and find this proposed 11.89 percent tax increase as unwarranted and unconscionable,” wrote Shamong Mayor Michael Di Croce in an email to Birnbohm, copied to the Pine Barrens Tribune Di Croce advised the superintendent that he will be discussing this matter further” with all of the members of the township committee, and “make the public aware, once again, of these current outrageous plans to unilaterally increase taxes.”

The newly revised proposed tax increases and impacts to the LRHSD sending communities are as follows:

• Evesham Township – Tax levy increase of 3.03 cents, resulting in an increase in regional school taxes of $84.30 on a home assessed at the township average of $272,848;

• Medford Township – Tax levy increase of 5.19 cents, resulting in an increase in regional school taxes of $183.80 on a home assessed at the township average of $330,888;

• Medford Lakes Borough – Tax levy increase of 9.60 cents, resulting in an increase in regional school taxes of $286.48 on a home assessed at the borough average of $289,833;

• Mount Laurel Township – Tax levy increase of 5.47 cents, resulting in an increase in regional school taxes of $134.33 on a home assessed at the township average of $238,700;

• Shamong Township – Tax levy increase of 11.89 cents, resulting in an increase in regional school taxes of $376.25 on a home assessed at the township average of $310,641;

• Southampton Township – Tax levy increase of 8.30 cents, resulting in an increase in regional school taxes of $124.07 on a home assessed at the township average of $189,066;

• Tabernacle Township – Tax levy increase of 9.75 cents, resulting in an increase in regional school taxes of $268.47 on a home assessed at the township average of $274,369.; and

• Woodland Township – Tax levy increase of 2.93 cents, resulting in an increase in regional school taxes of $67.08 on a home assessed at the township average of $255,200.

Birnbohm, in informing Di Croce of the tax increase for Shamong in the email, requested “any help you or the town council members may be able to provide” and asked for “ideas on how you can help the students of Shamong.”

She maintained that “one of our eight sending districts informed me they will be doing a proclamation at their next council meeting and will be sending letters of support by requesting immediate restorative funding.”

While Di Croce responded, in part, “my focus remains to help properly fund our schools,” he is also “mindful of the very serious struggles we all are facing.”

“Many of our residents are having a very difficult time keeping up with bills in light of job layoffs, inflation, and the pressures of having sometimes more than two fulltime jobs, just to make ends meet,” the Shamong mayor pointed out.

The Shamong mayor further maintained that Shamong Township “operates about a nickel’s worth of the taxes it is required to collect each year,” as “most of our taxes go to fund the schools, which have never been responsive to my requests to try and reduce school taxes.” He contended “as you will recall in past years, I have repeatedly requested the school board to find at least a 3 percent cut in their budget” and that “to my knowledge, that request has never been acted upon or even responded to.”

“In fact, to my knowledge, not one nickel’s worth of tax savings has ever been secured (other than when we paid off the bond and the voters refused to secure an additional bond),” added Di Croce in the reply to Birnbohm.

Di Croce then presented a series of questions to the superintendent, including asking, “Can you please forward a copy of your proposed cuts, in detail?” and “Does your current budget have any cuts

in it whatsoever?”

The LRHSD, in response to an inquiry from this newspaper in regard to the questions Di Croce posed, provided a detailed outline of the final cuts that “remain” proposed for the 2024-25 school year (after taking into account restorative aid and the increase in the tax increase):

Staff:

• Elimination of Central Office Administration position (Assistant Facilities Director)

• Not replacing over 40 resignations/ retirees

• Maintaining RIF (Reduction in Force) of two positions (Media Center Specialists)

• Maintaining non-renewal of approximately 25 staff Student Programs:

• Elimination of Chancelight

• Elimination of Navy JROTC Classes

• Elimination of Navy JROTC Cadet and Raider Clubs

• Reducing Special Education Extended School Year Program number of days

• Elimination of a language club – Russian Stipend Positions:

• Reduction of Senior Supervisor

• Reduction of Gymnastics Assistant Coach (four)

• E-Sports Fall Assistant Coach (four)

• E-Sports Spring Assistant Coach (four)

• Eliminate E-News Stipend (four)

Other:

• Reduce SRO at Cherokee for SLEO III officers

• Renegotiated savings for Student Accident Insurance

• Transportation: elimination of some activities at other locations

• Supervision at events savings (guards vs. State Police, for example)

• Keep optional fees at parent level

The LRHSD, in addressing another question Di Croce posed, also provided a detailed outline of the cuts the district has already made in previous years as it has been losing more and more funding (many of which were previously reported by this newspaper):

Staffing:

• Dozens of certificated and noncertificated staff cut through attrition and elimination of positions including subject area teachers, two building principals (via merging of Cherokee’s and Lenape’s North and South High Schools), two office managers, an assistant transportation director, a warehouse employee, a treasurer of school money, district printer, mail room supervisor, utility driver and four crossing guards (the latter have been taken out of the LRHSD budget and picked up by a municipality

• Reduction of health benefits packages for paraprofessionals (single coverage only offered for new hires)

• Elimination of at least 10 stipend positions, etc.

Scheduling Efficiency:

• Sharing of Teachers (between different buildings)

• Combining courses of upper levels (many are AP and/or College Accelerated Program classes)

• Overloads: Teachers taking additional sections to their regular schedule

• All year 1 and year 2 world language classes are unleveled

• Opt-Out of Physical Education option for athletes or marching band members

• Offering of some electives now only in odd/even years

• Review/reduce team-taught support classes for students with IEPs (special education)

• Elimination of double period classes to single periods to maintain advanced Art and Tech options for students (Art and AP Studio, Art Major, Woodworking 3).

Transportation Reductions (Other Than Staff):

• Elimination of courtesy bus routes (for students living within 2.5 miles of a district school)

• Consolidation to neighborhood stops

• Elimination of all late runs

• Requiring single pickup for children of divorced parents

• Elimination of non-public routes – pay Aid in Lieu

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HIKES

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Other Reductions (Safety, Security, Operations, etc.):

• Reduction of two School Resource Officer (SRO) positions

• Security assistants reduced to 9.5 months

• Elimination of most substitutes (students go to large group study hall if their teacher is absent)

• Elimination of buying textbooks

• Elimination of curriculum writing in certain years

• Centralization of more purchasing

• Charging Parking Fee, Activity Fee, and Athletic Fee for students

The district told the Pine Barrens Tribune that Birnbohm, in response to his correspondence, has offered to sit down with Di Croce, his council and township administrator, along with LRHSD's business administrator and members of the board “to discuss his concern for Shamong taxpayers.”

“The LRHSD administration and board share the mayor's frustration that taxpayers in our region are overburdened with providing adequate funding for education,” the district added.

Additionally, it was pointed out that Birnbohm has “proactively communicated” with the mayors in “all” LRHSD townships, including Di Croce from Shamong, “about the budget situation and its impact on the eight communities.”

The statement from the LRHSD continued as follows:

“The district looks forward to

DEMOLISH

recently ordered the reclosure of MedfordLakes Tabernacle Road for the pendency of the litigation over concerns about a potential imminent collapse of the building into the road, as had been presented by the township’s professionals in initially fighting the court challenge.

But whether the judge will approve of any subsequent attempts sought by the plaintiffs and/or defendants to have the court case dropped is something that is unclear as of press time, as well as whether the judge/court would absolve themselves of complete authority over the matter, including the road closure, following the dismissal. In fact, the Pine Barrens Tribune learned just before press time that Hertzberg had ordered members of the “township committee,” also on June 10, to appear in court on July 19 with Hertzberg clearly furious with their handling of the matter while the case is now under his purview (see separate story).

developing a relationship with Mayor Di Croce, starting with conversations that add clarity and understanding to the impact of S2 on LRHSD, specifically the district's response to seven consecutive years of state aid reductions with consistent, annual budget cuts.

“Administration can also explain the regional apportionment formula, which is set by statute, not LRHSD. Unfortunately, that formula, which is outside of the district’s control, disproportionately impacts Shamong this year more than the other eight townships in our region. The mayor has asked for further cost savings to benefit the residents of Shamong, but cost savings would still be subject to the apportionment formula and would not be solely a savings to Shamong. LRHSD’s goal in communicating with all LRHSD township leadership is to start from the same page, with all the facts on the table and with the same goals, to help maintain confidence within the LRHSD community, which we know is necessary for sustaining our strong, unified voice as we advocate for a fair school funding formula.

“There may be some confusion between how the K-8 district and the LRHSD operate with separate budgets and distinct administration, because the mayor has referenced a request for us to cut our budget by 3 percent in past years. That was not a request made to LRHSD, which has – as demonstrated by the attached impact statement – made significant budget reductions that have included numerous administrative and staffing reductions and increases in operational efficiencies. The attached document does not include the cuts proposed for FY25 as LRHSD faced a $12 million deficit, which are detailed in our public hearing: https:// youtu.be/mVkb-9mrTSU (the events of which were previously reported by this newspaper in detail).

order remarks of the judge).

While the committee’s intent to demolish Town Hall is purportedly no longer, they have kept in place the contract awarded on March 25 to Ricco Demolition to demolish the building, at least for now, fearing not only any potential consequences of canceling it, but also because the township may still need the services of the firm in the future, according to Burns, with him citing the building of any new foundation as an example (but it was also unclear if that is work Ricco can, and is willing to take on given that is not the original scope of work that the firm had agreed to undertake).

As the public raged on about the closure of Medford Lakes-Tabernacle Road during a special June 7 Tabernacle committee meeting, McNaughton proposed committee action in which “all township employees and professionals” as well as contractors would be “expressly prohibited in demolishing” the Town Hall or “further prohibited in compromising the structural integrity” of the facility until “further action is taken by the committee.”

“The proposed 7.7 percent tax increase (an additional 5.7 percent increase above the cap) is necessary due to the impact of this year’s unexpected and drastic state aid reduction on top of seven previous years of state aid reductions and recent inflation. The state's funding formula, established in 200708, disproportionately allocates resources to school districts based on a local fair share calculation. This formula assesses towns' wealth and their capacity to fund education, placing a heavier burden on regions like ours, where local property values now bear a larger share of educational costs.

“Even with this one-year tax increase, the LRHSD cannot reinstate everything that was proposed to be cut. Please refer to the breakdown of the items which remain cut for FY 25. It is not financially responsible to bring back everything in light of enrollment reductions (338 students from FY21, and a projected 80 more for FY25 for a total reduction of 418 students).

“Thirty years ago, the state covered almost 40 percent of our school district's budget. However, this contribution is projected to drop to just 13 percent next year. Consequently, the responsibility for funding education has increasingly shifted to local property taxpayers.

“LRHSD is mindful of this shift by the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) to burden its taxpayers and pursues alternate funding sources, such as tuition and grants. The administration secured nearly $16 million in grant funding since 2020 and initiated the successful 2021 bond referendum. The LRHSD Board leveraged NJDOE grants and a debt service cycle to propose a bond referendum package that included all the necessary safety and security upgrades for our four high schools, as well as upgrades and programming reflective of a communitybuilt strategic plan. This plan comprised

then contended that the “committee has absolute authority to make a decision about what it wants to do with the property.”

“The only wrinkle would be if a judge orders immediate demolition, but you have the ability to determine what happens,” Burns maintained.

After McNaughton contended the committee action he proposed “gives us just a second chance to discuss it,” it passed in a 5-0 vote, including garnering the support of Committeemen Mark Hartman and Samuel “Sammy” Moore who had, up until the election, refused to bend to public sentiment.

But where to go from there was an immediate question posed by Joseph Barton, who was sworn into office that night to replace a seat vacated by Natalie Stone, and recognized that the matter is really in the hands of a “third party” now.

over 1,000 survey results and over 400 people attending three-hour-long sessions to propose these upgrades. The board and administration accomplished all of this at zero increase to the taxpayers, which our region demonstrated appreciation for with overwhelming approval of the bond proposal. The Pine Barrens Tribune last week brought readers a story from the opposite side of the equation, an effort to encourage the district to save library staffing, with reports that as many as 70 percent of media center specialists have been cut from the district’s budget over the last three years. The district made three additional points to this newspaper about how it has ended up with a “budget deficit in the millions”:

• State aid cuts far exceed enrollment decrease: enrollment, in the year prior to S-2 implementation to this year, decreased by 3.32 percent, yet state aid to the district has been reduced by 36.5 percent in that same time period;

• Transportation Aid only covers 25 percent of the district’s actual costs: the LRHSD is 324 square miles, the largest district in New Jersey, and plus with four high schools there is a “greater need to support transportation” for after school and weekend activities; and

• Security Aid only covers 35 percent of the district’s actual costs: there are four large comprehensive high schools and an alternative education program. “Now with this unprecedented reduction in state aid in one year, and years of persistent downsizing (as outlined), this canyon-sized hole demands that we reevaluate our plans and make deeper cuts that will inevitably impact programs and staffng,” the district stated.

June 10 committee session by Barton, the committee settled on a “parallel track” –to include having Burns ask the judge to have the independent third-party architect/ structural engineer now reportedly settled on by the litigants take on additional responsibilities, in not only evaluating the structural integrity of the building overall, but to also determine whether it is in imminent danger of falling into the road, as well as what can be done to shore up the building to prevent any collapse.

At the same time, it was determined to have the township committee retain its own independent structural engineer to derive answers.

While Township Solicitor William Burns contended it was likely that the court would lose its authority over the matter once any case is dropped, both he and Mayor Noble McNaughton were somewhat cautious that it would be the case, especially given the purported track record of the judge thus far (apparently alluding to the June 10 court

“I am concerned at some point the judge is going to make a determination (that the building is to be torn down), and the contractor is going to come in the next day because of the previous motions to do that,” McNaughton declared. “I don’t want him to do that until this committee has another say.” Burns, in responding to McNaughton, recognized it is in the “judge’s hands,” but

Coming out of that discussion was a recognition of deep public concern about the road closure (with some even shouting from their seats about its severe impacts) as well as acknowledgement that an overwhelming majority of the townspeople want the building to be salvaged. The discussion veered toward ways to get the road open immediately (with it indicated that it was believed the judicial process was moving too slowly to meet the moment), as well as how to shore up the building to reduce any public safety threat.

Ultimately, as described in the subsequent

“I want to discuss the possibility that rather than waiting for the judge, who seems to be taking his time (it was said by McNaughton that the judge has “not assigned” the independent third-party architect/structural engineer or set a date to conduct the inspection of Town Hall), that the committee is just going to go ahead (with obtaining an opinion),” said McNaughton in responding to a question from a member of the public as he chaired his first meeting as mayor after Hartman stepped down from the post.

It was expressed among the committee and solicitor that if either one of those two independent structural engineers could opine that either the road is safe to reopen,

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by the new budget, noting that “we need to plan our finances in a way that keeps our bond rating strong (presently AA2 from Moody's) while also making important investments in our infrastructure rather than delaying the inevitable that would only cost more in the future to correct.”

These include funding to facilitate:

• Some $1,800,000 to continue the improvement of local roads;

• Critical upgrades to township buildings and facilities, such as replacement of the antiquated HVAC system in the court and police headquarters, security cameras at Freedom Park and an upgraded fire-alarm system;

• Upgrades to the personal protective equipment worn by firefighters and EMTs, and other safety investments such as thermal imaging cameras, and

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or describe what is needed to shore up the building and then the committee takes such an action, Medford-Lakes Tabernacle Road could ultimately be reopened.

However, Burns recognized at one point there would still be a chance that Hertzberg would not agree to task the independent structural engineer settled on by the parties with any additional assignments, and that he could also be unwilling to accept the word of any engineer retained by the township on its own volition outside the judicial purview.

But Barton expressed proceeding with the two parallel tracks to meet an end game of having the road reopened, asserting, “whatever one gets us there the fastest.”

“I think it is extremely important to get an architect, structural engineer in there ASAP to make a determination,” said McNaughton of whether the building is in danger of collapse. “ … And if so, what can be done to make it safe? And once we make it safe, hopefully the judge will allow us to open up the road and the litigation goes away.”

McNaughton added that the “second part” to this is to obtain an “estimate on the process and costs to stabilize the building,” whether that be to put a “new foundation” underneath it, or “moving” it over.

The new mayor called for an emergency meeting of the committee once it is known what needs to be done, and the cost, to seek Requests for Proposals (RFPs).

McNaughton’s proposal appeared to have the consensus of the governing body, but then resident Katherine O’Connell Crain, one of several residents to have brought the suit against the township that successfully compelled Hertzberg to issue a temporary injunction prohibiting demolition, asserted, the “lawsuit goes away if you rescind to demolish the building and refer back to the February report” of the township engineer, which at the time presented three possible courses of action, two of which did not call for demolition of the building (Engineer Tom Leisse later contended those other courses of action were no longer feasible given the

• Upgrades to the server and stalker radar systems used in police vehicles.

In addition, he said, the township is setting aside a dedicated fund that will allow for the purchase of a new ladder truck for the Fire Department that is better suited to reach buildings that are set back further on residential lots or just generally more difficult to safely reach with its current equipment.

The budget, he added, also includes funds to meet the township’s matching share of nearly $200,000 in grants to improve pedestrian safety.

Two ordinances that either amended or repealed and replaced existing ones and were adopted unanimously were intended to codify a requirement that landscapers take responsibility for removing their own brush and to clarify that the township is not responsible for maintenance of any sewer or water lines on private property, according to Solicitor Timothy Prime.

Another ordinance, also unanimously approved, that extends a prohibition on parking on Union Street to a couple of

danger the building purportedly poses).

While McNaughton was of the opinion that if the governing body rescinds its Feb. 26 motion to demolish the building that “I don’t think the judge will rescind” his decision to close the road as he is “fixated on multiple engineers” that were previously retained by the township, who “sent in letters” affirming the danger, the committee ultimately entertained rescinding the motion to demolish the building.

Barton recognized there are “pros and cons” to doing so “as the matter plays out in the courts,” and pointed out that if an independent engineer were to determine the building is in imminent danger of collapse and needs to be torn down immediately, the measure is already in place.

“My other concern is if we rescind the contract, there is a penalty,” McNaughton said. “I don’t think we need to rescind it now. I think we need more information before we rescind that contract.”

McNaughton contended “guiderails” have already been put in place with the committee’s June 7 action to prohibit anyone from taking any further action in regard to the building until the township committee conducts a further review.

“Nothing can happen to that building unless it comes back before this committee,” McNaughton maintained. “So, tomorrow, if the judge says go ahead, tear it down, they cannot touch this building until it (this matter) comes before this committee.”

The “middle ground” or “middle of the road” approach, contended Burns, is for the committee to rescind its demolition intent, but keep the contract in place, the latter he “does not recommend” canceling, but rather Ricco could “perhaps just demolish the foundation, if you decide to do that” with the township engineer potentially able to negotiate a new scope of work. Burns also noted that Ricco has already done asbestos “remediation” work, contending the firm has already engaged with the municipality.

Burns then recognized “one of the plaintiffs are here” and has “indicated if you rescind” the intent to the demolish

spaces in front of the School of Music drew a vociferous objection from resident Zach Wilson, who called it “incredibly shortsighted” to take away additional parking spaces from The Village, especially in light of the anticipated opening of a tasting room “basically across the street” that can accommodate 275 patrons, and said he thought it was done as a retaliatory measure after some residents urged that a crosswalk be restored.

Czerniecki, however, said he strongly disagreed with Wilson’s statement, and maintained that the ordinance was the result of a meeting with representatives from the School of Music, who upon being told the crosswalk at issue couldn’t legally be replaced, had sought to determine if other safety measures

could be implemented and had pointed to the “blind spot” created by the parking spaces involved.

“We would not have endeavored to deal with those parking spaces had they not put it on the table,” the township manager contended, adding that while he appreciated “the need for parking downtown,” it was a collaborative effort and a matter of public safety.

Wilson replied that while he appreciated Czerniecki’s having worked with the school on the issue, he still thought that “every single parking space you take away creates a hardship” and “an even more dangerous situation” as drivers go in search of places to park.

“You haven’t dealt with the parking issue,” he admonished town officials.

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Administrator and Clerk Maryalice Brown had announced an application for the project was filed with the Pinelands Commission [Brown was absent from the June 10 committee session), the land acquisition deal has been an element of the ongoing Town Hall controversy, with many locals expressing that the new municipal building, at a potential cost to exceed $8 million, is not necessary with calls to instead to restore the existing Town Hall that has fallen into disrepair. Additionally, the lot being eyed by the township for the new complex generated its own controversy, with neighboring property owners currently looking out at a farm at 144 Carranza Road having become concerned about the traffic and disruption a new complex would pose to their surroundings. The nature of the lot, referred to as a flag lot by some, also was cited by the opposition, with expressing their belief a Town Hall should

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Hertzberg, in denying the request for reconsideration, also noted that “separately, the certification submitted by the township administrator does not support reconsideration.”

“It simply sets forth a self-serving narrative of defendant’s supposed compliance with public notice obligations,” the judge continued.

He then contended that “the adequacy of compliance will be addressed at a plenary hearing” and that the “above course of conduct requires further

MAYOR

(Continued from Page 4)

down, not the present controversy.

“I recently took on more responsibilities at work, and am having a hard time balancing between (being) the mayor and doing my work, so I would like to step aside and ask someone else to be the mayor,” said Hartman in making the announcement on June 10, just days after he heard public calls for his resignation on June 7.

Hartman, who has worked since January as a territory sales manager at Airoyal Company, handling hydraulic and pneumatic needs, according to his LinkedIn profile page, contended in a June 7 public apology that the reason he could not make a May 28 session was because he had gotten tied up in traffic on the Garden State Parkway in returning from a business meeting, and didn’t arrive home until 7:30 p.m. that evening.

Hartman maintained it was at 5:55 p.m. when he phoned Township Administrator and Clerk Maryalice Brown, with the committee meeting that evening scheduled for 6:30 p.m. His absence and the subsequent May 28 meeting cancellation drew particular outrage, however, because

be in a more prominent location, with the current Town Hall the center point of the municipality given its location on the corner of 163 Carranza Road.

The pending sale was increasingly becoming a hot-button issue, and the June 4 GOP primary results for township committee, which has essentially become a referendum on the Town Hall, with proponents of razing the existing Town Hall and building the new one losing resoundingly, appeared to change the trajectory, with the committee also deciding on June 10 to rescind its resolution to demolish the existing Town Hall (see separate story).

All of this despite what are likely considerable expenses of the township over the last couple years in securing studies for 144 Carranza Road, as well as coming up with site and concept plans for the proposed new municipal complex.

But with the ultimate fate of the existing Town Hall unclear, and previous allegations that the Town Hall cannot be used as a municipal building again without the township undertaking significant expenses, and even then it is unknown

examination by this court.”

“The members of the township committee are ordered to appear in person before this court on July 19, 2024, to show cause why they disregarded this court’s directives and to address R. 1:4-8 issues,” wrote Hertzberg in concluding his order.

Of course, now, there has been a committee and leadership shakeup.

The order obtained by the Pine Barrens Tribune provides insight into why Mayor Noble McNaughton, during a June 10 committee meeting, had been pessimistic about the rescindment of the demolition order having the effect of expediting the road reopening process, and as to why a date for sending in a third-party

of the existing crisis presented by the closure of Medford Lakes-Tabernacle Road, which the townspeople wanted handled following a judge’s reclosure order, and it was also the last meeting before the primary.

Given that Committeeman Samuel “Sammy” Moore had a planned absence on May 28, and the committee at that time was short a member due to the resignation of Natalie Stone, had Hartman showed for the meeting, it could have been consequential in terms of voting and shifting the balance of power.

But in apparently trying to demonstrate that it is water under the bridge now with the balance of power having shifted anyway following the election, not only did Hartman support the nomination of one of his opponents, Joe Barton, for township committee on June 7, but when he handed off the role of mayor on June 10, he called on and nominated Committeeman Noble McNaughton to serve as mayor, despite McNaughton having all along opposed the Town Hall demolition.

“Mark, I think it is very hard for you to do something like that,” said Barton of Hartman giving up the mayoral role.

“We had an election and the public spoke overwhelmingly, and you are a lame duck. I appreciate your work schedule and I have a big work schedule

what is hidden behind its walls, it raises the question what is next for a municipality currently without a usable Town Hall.

Just a few meetings prior to this development, McNaughton had suggested keeping town officials in construction trailers that are currently being utilized, and that it would still be cheaper 30 years later to rent them out than spending more than $8 million for a new building. Then, in a meeting following those remarks, he expressed that while he is opposed to demolishing Town Hall, he is not opposed to purchasing a new complex because one is needed because of the current limitations that would come with restoring the existing Town Hall.

At the June 10 session, McNaughton called for the formation of a committee to “look at the dump,” or the former township dump facility on Old Indian Mills Road (Barton, prior to being reseated on the governing body had explained that there had been a plan when he was previously on the committee to relocate Public Works to the old dump and then that would allow the township

structural engineer agreed to by the litigants had not yet been set.

McNaughton, at one point during the June 10 committee meeting, acknowledged that the judge was upset with the town’s handling of the matter. And on June 7, Burns also recognized the judge’s anger.

“The committee made a decision to open the road, not because the road was unsafe, but it balanced the harm of keeping the road closed to the building,” said Burns, contending that the committee found there was more harm in keeping it closed because there was theft of detour signs, which caused the public to be unable to follow the detour, motorists were “intentionally” running through

to have the needed impervious coverage, etc., to relocate Town Hall at 163 Carranza Road), as well as to study the state’s new Stormwater Management Regulations and how they might impact any future construction at the site of the old Town Hall, 163 Carranza Road.

“I think it needs to be looked at again,” McNaughton said.

Additionally, in following up on a previous suggestion by Barton, McNaughton said he is “still talking” to the Tabernacle Township School District about tying the existing municipal complex into to the district’s nearby sewer system (with recent word that the township’s system has now failed).

“Just recently, the engineers got estimated flow figures,” McNaughton said. “The school is determining what their capacity is. Hopefully, we can get the sewer system over to that complex. It is still in negotiation. (Committeeman) Sam (Moore) and I had a meeting with the superintendent, and I tell you he was amicable, it went well, and it was promising. But we won’t deal with anything until a deal is done.”

the barriers and then back over them, and there was further increased danger by detouring traffic onto Route 206, in addition “to the fact that people were driving through the church parking lot when mass was going on.”

“The committee took that into account,” he added, but despite that, recognized, “The judge wasn’t particularly happy with me.” Burns and other officials, when asked by members of the public during June 7 and June 10 committee meetings about what would happen if the township opened the road (again) against the judge’s wishes, were told that officials would be held in contempt of court, and face significant fines and even jailtime.

myself, and having been the mayor for three years in the past, I understand the responsibility of that and where we are going in the future, the dilemma of the road closed, and the building and all,

and a lot of major decisions taking place. I respect it.”

who has over 40 years’ experience in township government and

McNaughton,

Photo By Tom Valentino

Tabernacle Solicitor William Burns (left) swears in Noble McNaughton after Committeeman Mark Hartman (center) stepped down from the mayoral post.

(Continued from Page 6)

the underlying issue in the room: Town Hall.

“As we make decisions as a Committee of Tabernacle, we have to be mindful of taxes,” Barton warned. “We have a major project we are looking at, and hopefully we will reexamine it. Hopefully we are going to work

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the building, it is “likely the litigation is moot.” Burns noted he would then “have a conversation” with Attorney Matt Litt, representing the plaintiffs, to see if he is “amenable” to filing a dismissal with prejudice with there then being a “chance of getting the road open.”

“It is very difficult for the court to have jurisdiction on a matter dismissed,” Burns noted.

But while McNaughton maintained he is a “little leery” and Barton said, “I am with you” and called for the committee to “let it play out a little more” before rescinding the demolition intent, Committeeman William Sprague, Jr., declared that given not demolishing the building is the “end game anyhow,” the committee should, “do it now” or rescind the motion, “and see whatever rolls out in front” of it. Astonishing the crowd was Hartman, in a complete 180-degree turn, asserting, “I agree with you!” One man, resident

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in a posting thread that blew up with condemnation in the wake of the emergency management announcement.

“Sending people, including young drivers from Seneca, to make a left off Carranza onto Route 206 at an uncontrolled intersection, which has been the location of many accidents over the years, including fatals, and an accident with entrapment and serious injuries just this past Thursday … this is insanity,” wrote one man. “There is more risk of a serious MVA than that building ever falling. We need some common sense!!!”

The man who had originally questioned whether Hawkins Road is part of any detour had been concerned about speeding

really hard – all four of these gentlemen – to get the road open as soon as possible. That is our number one goal. From there, my goal is also to preserve Town Hall, whatever that comes to be, and hopefully you all will be part of that decision making, and we will get to the right place, at the right time.”

Barton’s remarks led to applause and even caused Hartman to clap for him, with the governing body subsequently – and unanimously – voting in favor of a motion

Raymond Ward who has been deeply opposed to the demolition of Town Hall and alleged during the course of the issue instances of maladministration, shouted from the audience, “Let’s end this tonight!”

Equally surprising the crowd was Barton, after running on a platform to rehabilitate Town Hall, maintaining his hesitancy, concerned “about the impact to the lawsuit.” Ward shouted again, for the committee to “take its chances!”

While Crain reiterated that those who brought the litigation would be “out of it” at the point of rescindment, another local could be heard believing the rescindment could lead to “contempt of court” charges being brought. Sprague and Hartman voted, without hesitation, to rescind the demolition order, but when it came time for Barton to vote, he uttered, “Hmmm,” and looked around at the crowd and his fellow committeepersons (he had also just recognized that if the court case is dropped, the parallel track would likely be no longer a possibility).

“Give us a ‘yes’ buddy!” Ward shouted. “Please, please, please – we need your help!”

on the road. In response, McNaughton, who just assumed the role of mayor, committed to having officials now look into creating four-way stop intersection(s) in three possible places, as well as indicated his willingness to have temporary speed bumps installed.

Additionally, Committeeman William Sprague, Jr. suggested an increased number of speed limit radar signs, noting there had only been one on the road just before the June 10 committee session, as well as having the township write a letter to the Red Lion Station of the New Jersey State Police asking for an increased presence of State Troopers, suggestions which the committee seemed amenable in having the township move forward with right away.

Meanwhile, a pair of detour signs at the intersection of Medford Lakes-Tabernacle Road and Carranza Road, facing motorists

to “expressly prohibit” township employees, its professionals and contractors from demolishing Town Hall “until further action is taken by committee,” with the motion spearheaded by Noble McNaughton, who was chosen June 7, also in a 5-0 vote to be the municipality’s new deputy mayor (after having been overlooked at the start of the year for the post in favor of Stone, despite Stone having been a newcomer and McNaughton having four decades of

Barton, while recognizing the committee could “pay for it” later, said “yes” with a bit of a smile, leading to cheers and clapping. McNaughton then followed suit with a “yes” vote, making it a 4-0 decision.

But Burns cautioned the crowd that “until a further order” from Hertzberg “or until the action is dismissed with prejudice,” the “road is not opening,” with McNaughton again suggesting he was only cautiously optimistic this decision of the governing body is going to get them one step closer to reopening the road, uttering, “with the way this judge has been acting … .”

It led local resident and local transparency advocate Fran Brooks to shout, “It is not the judge’s fault, the fault lies with the previous people (from the township) who made that decision.”

This newspaper posed several questions to a trio of court spokespersons about whether the judge/court has or would honor any requests for dismissal, or retain any jurisdiction over the matter, with this newspaper receiving a response, “Much of this we cannot answer because there would be so many varying factors or it would not be appropriate for us to

looking at the closure point straight ahead from the east, that had arrows pointed towards each other, created quite a stir

public service to the town), with the latter contending after his selection to the post he is a “man of few words, but hopefully a man of action.”

And all of this led to the June 10 decision of Hartman to step down as township mayor (see separate story) and set the stage for yet again a new mayor (McNaughton) and deputy mayor (Barton), and the committee rescinding a decision to raze Town Hall (see yet another separate story).

comment.” This newspaper was then directed to a website showing an order of Hertzberg, handed down also on June 10, ordering the township committee members to appear in court on July 19.

Burns did not return this newspaper’s phone call the following day after the June 10 meeting, either.

Another outstanding question is whether Township Construction Official Tom Boyd will now proceed to carry out his earlier threat (before the ruckus ensued) to go to court to compel a judge to order the building demolished based on his determination that it presents a hazard, should the committee not proceed with demolishing the facility. (Boyd would technically require a budget to bring litigation, and the committee has control over the budget.)

During the June 10 session, when a member of the public expressed concern with the committee’s intent to have Boyd prepare a RFP to shore up the building, McNaughton responded, “Mr. Boyd is not going to do anything to analyze the building anymore; we are just looking for language” to include in the proposal.

of its own, with one online poster saying it should be sent to Weird NJ. The signage has since been corrected.

Photo By Douglas D. Melegari

Detour signage for navigating around the Tabernacle Town Hall closure, now corrected.

Worship Guide

FirstBaptist Church

MAYOR

(Continued from Page 10)

is a past mayor, and was passed over for leadership 2024 positions in January over Stone, who had been a committee newcomer, was then chosen as the new mayor in a 4-0 vote (Moore was absent from the June 10 proceedings).

Barton shook hands with Hartman and McNaughton at the moment of the decision, while the public clapped and cheered, with comments shouted out from the crowd such as “Here, here,” “Woohoo”, and “This is what democracy looks like! ”

As the public celebrated the occasion, Hartman and McNaughton then shook hands and exchanged some words quietly at the dais, while Committeeman William Sprague, Jr., who’s become a close ally of McNaughton, walked up to the new mayor and shook his hand as well.

With McNaughton having been chosen as deputy mayor just on June 7 (following a reorganization because of Stone’s resignation), Barton, who was sworn in on June 7 in a return to the governing body, and who previously served on the governing body from 2011 to 2021, was immediately nominated by Sprague, seconded by Hartman, to serve as township deputy mayor for the remainder of the year.

In a moment on June 10 that seemed to shock Hartman, but in an intended

show of solidarity, Barton walked up to the departing mayor and asked that he swear him in over Solicitor William Burns (who had just administered the oath of office to McNaughton).

Hartman agreed.

From there, McNaughton made clear that as the township’s new mayor, there would be a significant shift in how public comments are handled, including that he “will try to answer your questions,” and if he doesn’t know the answer, he will get one. It led to loud applause and local transparency advocate Fran Brooks to declare, “Three cheers for democracy! ”

“It is great with you being able to answer questions,” said resident Lance Saunders.

“I think that it is important that we all understand when we ask questions, how we will receive our answers.”

Stuart Brooks, the husband of Fran and also a local transparency advocate, thanked Hartman for “making a seamless transition.”

“I echo Mr. Barton,” Stuart Brooks added. “That was a big step, a big thing to do. I appreciate it.”

Local GOP Chairman Mark LeMire, who has been opposed to the demolition of Town Hall, and when Hartman and Moore refused to back down from their demolition votes, had the party back primary challengers Barton and David Oiler for full terms on the governing body, the latter who both won their party’s nomination June 4, thanked

Hartman “for passing the gavel.”

“I think that is the way it is supposed to happen,” LeMire declared. “… I appreciate everyone turning the page on what happened for the last year or so, and moving on. I know we have the team for it.”

But as became evident on June 10, some did not yet want to turn the page.

Resident Kelly Kemps, in recounting the speech Moore gave on June 7 (see front page story) in trying to make amends, recalled that Moore had said he is a “‘man of integrity.’”

She then accused those who voted for the demolition, particularly Moore, of having “facilitated a situation that caused the town to get dragged through the mud” (the situation has led to disparaging social media posts and made headlines as far away as the United Kingdom) and called on them to “apologize to 7,000 residents for what you have done to Tabernacle.”

And Erin Delaney, a 40-year resident of Tabernacle, said the “one good thing” to come out of the debacle is that it “reminded us of what makes Tabernacle residents great” in banding together to fight back, standing “shoulder-to-shoulder to speak up against wrongdoings.”

“I watched in disbelief and disgust at some of the statements made by this committee,” she said of the June 7 conciliatory efforts. “Did you really think a picture-worthy handshake

and speech could undo the financial and legal damage you have done to this town? You broke the legs of this town and now you expect us to thank you for giving us crutches? A genuine apology, explanation and accepting accountability for the part you played in this would have gone a long way.”

Both Kemps and Delaney described the “weaponization of state police” over social media postings preceding the election, blaming certain township committeepersons for playing a role in it (State police have, as of press time, not returned this newspaper’s messages questioning exactly what happened).

The Pine Barrens Tribune previously reported on resident Raymond Ward’s encounter with the state police. Ward, on June 10, contended he too was a “victim” for having spoken out, but then told Hartman “thank-you for stepping down ... I have been trying to get through to you … I appreciate you stepping down as an honest man.”

The June 10 meeting saw Hartman further reversing course, including voting to rescind the motion to demolish Town Hall. After the meeting was adjourned, Ward, who has railed about maladministration, went up to Hartman, the latter who previously had a State Trooper throw Ward out of a meeting for calling out, and shook the now-former mayor’s hand.

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EVESHAM—A Cherokee High School student is among 25 students statewide awarded a Student Leadership Scholarship from the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association (NJPSA) for the 2023-24 school year.

Senior Daniel Leonard, of the Evesham Township-based high school which is part of the Lenape Regional High School District (LRHSD), received the $2,000 scholarship at a luncheon recently held at Forsgate Country Club in Monroe Township.

According to a press release from Cherokee, the scholarship was determined by the recipient’s demonstrated leadership in school activities for participation in cocurricular activities other than athletics. Winners are selected from each of the three regions of the state – north, central, and south.

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