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January 30, 2021 – February 5, 2021

Green Bank Gives Longtime Fire Chief Rousing Reception Over Health News

THE EVOLUTION OF EVESHAM

First Responders from Area Towns Join in Tribute to Lenny Forand, Jr. By Andy Milone Staff Writer

Photo By Andrew King

Evesham Township Mayor Jaclyn Veasy (left), with newly sworn-in councilmembers Eddie Freeman III and Ginamarie Espinoza (right-center), Councilwoman Patricia Hansen (right), and Deputy Mayor Heather Cooper (television screen).

Democrats Take Absolute Control of Evesham Governing Body, Township Mayor Declares ‘Get Ready, Because Here We Come!’ By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer

EVESHAM—Democrats, in a Jan. 4 hybrid ceremony amid the Coronavirus pandemic, assumed absolute control of Evesham Township Council with the swearing in of two new councilmembers, Ginamarie Espinoza and Eddie Freeman III, with the township mayor later declaring, “Get ready, because here we come!” Espinoza and Freeman, who were seated alongside what was described by a dignitary as the “Rockstar ladies” team of Mayor Jaclyn Veasy and Councilwomen Heather Cooper and Patricia Hansen (all of whom first assumed office in 2019), have replaced veteran GOP councilmen Ken D’Andrea

(who was defeated in November 2020 after running for re-election as an independent) and Bob DiEnna (who choose not to seek re-election). It is the first time that Democrats have gained absolute control of the governing body since council elections were changed in 2009 from non-partisan to partisan, and to mark the occasion, the council reorganization meeting was attended both remotely and in-person by several top Democratic lawmakers, and also included a pre-recorded video message from another prominent Democrat, Senator Cory Booker. “I was a local mayor and understand when there is a crisis, like the (2008) recession or Hurricane Sandy, the people who make a

difference are New Jersey’s local leaders – standing strong, in the breach, in the storm – making sure that we are instead New Jersey strong,” said Booker, a former mayor of Newark. “Our resiliency, and our power against the pain of years like with what we just had, is what defines us. We are defined by how we rise up together to deal with those challenges now more than ever.” Espinoza, who serves as constituent services director to 1st Congressional District Congressman Donald Norcross’, was administered the oath of of fice by her boss attending council’s Jan. 4 reorganization meeting from his office in See EVESHAM/ Page 8

GREEN BANK—At a time when news on the health front generally is about as bad as it has been in a century, some good tidings concerning the health of a beloved local figure, Fire Chief Leonard “Lenny” Forand, Jr., have proven to be nothing less than cause for celebration in Washington Township. Forand, who has served as chief of the Green Bank Volunteer Fire Company for about three decades, was diagnosed with a “treatable” form of prostate cancer back in July and subsequently received doses of radiation, along with hormone therapy, for many weeks, after which he was officially deemed to be cancer-free earlier this month. After receiving the good news – nearly eight years after the passing of Forand’s wife, Michelle, a member of the fire company’s ladies auxiliary, to cancer at the age of 47 – his family initiated a surprise drive-by tribute as a way for the community to express its overall appreciation for his service to the community. That show of gratitude is shared by people well beyond this rural, close-knit town. First responders from about 15 different fire companies and emergency service agencies from the area met up at the Washington Township Municipal Building on Green Bank Road the morning of Sunday, Jan. 10. Then, once given the green light from Lenny’s daughter, Jamie Forand, a lieutenant in the fire company, the group drove past his parents’ house on County Route 563, where he had See CHIEF/ Page 6

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No Changes to Medford Leadership Positions for 2021, Council Liaisons Assigned to Town Boards, Committees Four Contracts Awarded to Buy Furniture, Records Storage for New Municipal-Library Building Expected to Open in April By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer

MEDFORD—There are no new changes for the new year to the leadership positions of the all-Republican Medford Township Council, as the governing body has spent much of its last two meetings reorganizing for 2021, and anticipates the grand opening of a new municipal-library combination building later this year. Charles “Chuck” Watson, who has served as Medford’s mayor since 2017, and on council since 2012, was chosen by his colleagues during the governing body’s Jan. 5 meeting to serve as township mayor again in 2021. Watson, after being sworn-in during the Jan. 5 meeting, said he believes the current council makes “a great team,” and remarked that he is looking forward to the impending opening of the new mu nicipal-librar y combination building, is “listening to all the Medford residents” and would like to see his councilmates become more “active in visiting some of the (advisory) committees.” “They appreciate when we are there, and it (attending the meetings) helps us bring information back to council as well,” the mayor contended. Erik Rebstock, selected on Jan. 5 amongst his council colleagues to serve as the municipality’s deputy mayor for a second, consecutive year, was essentially tasked by Watson on Jan. 19 to attend the meetings of the Medford Township Neighborhood Services Advisory Committee (NSAC). Councilman Bradley Denn was essentially

assigned by the mayor on Jan. 19 to work with the Medford Township Economic Development Advisory Commission (EDC). The remaining council members, the mayor said, would be “spread around” to the other township boards and advisory committees. Watson, who noted that he would serve as a backup and may even sometimes join his colleagues in attending the township board and advisory committee meetings, cautioned of the assignments that “nothing is set in stone,” and that the councilmembers do not have to attend every one of the advisory committee meetings, adding he would be satisfied with their quarterly attendance. Assigning an actual council liaison to the municipal boards and advisory committees was first suggested on Jan. 5 by Councilman Frank Czekay. Rebstock, who joined council in 2018, later told this newspaper that he was honored to serve alongside his councilmates and that they “remain focused on the success of Medford.” “Without question, a main priority for the year is maintaining fiscal responsibility through a balanced budget that increases services without raising taxes,” Rebstock said. “This will be the ninth consecutive year without a municipal tax increase. “A second priority is continuing an excellent relationship with the Medford Youth Athletic Association (MYAA) via our Open Space Fund. The MYAA makes a giant and valued effort as they shape the lives of thousands of See MEDFORD/ Page 5

Saturday, January 30, 2021

‘Long-Term Solution’ to Purported Speeding Problem on Taunton Boulevard Sought by Resident of Roadway By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer

M EDFOR D —A resident of Tau nton Boulevard in Medford Township is calling for a “long-term solution” to address what he contends is a chronic speeding problem posed by motorists traveling the county-maintained roadway. He is hoping that Medford Township Council can help bring forth a permanent resolution to the purported speeding issue by working with Burlington County officials, recognizing that Medford Township Police effor ts to recently provide for g reater enforcement of the speed limit in the wake of his emails is “like putting a Band-Aid on a cut artery.” Resident James Shiffer, during a Jan. 19 meeting of the governing body, contended that the issue of motorists speeding on the roadway, also known as County Route 623, had worsened over the last year due to less school buses on the road, a result of the Coronavirus pandemic, which has resulted in many students learning remotely from home. “We no longer have the school buses slowing down traffic at certain times of the day,” he said. “Those school buses caused traffic to slow down.” Shiffer, however, told council that he has evidence that the speeding problem extends into the weekend. He contended that he has downloaded a phone app that allows him to monitor the speed of motorists traveling Taunton Boulevard. “27 cars were going in excess of 50 mph down Taunton Boulevard during a 90-minute period on a Sunday afternoon,” he said of the results of using the phone app, though he cautioned that he did not know if there was a

“margin of error” associated with the data. “The average speed was 54 mph.” T he posted speed li m it on Tau nton Boulevard is 30 mph. Shiffer noted that motorists begin speeding on the road as early as 6 a.m., and it continues through about 7 p.m. each day. “If you were to sit on my front porch on a daily basis, and watch what goes on starting at 6 o’clock in the morning until 7 o’clock at night, for lack of a better word, it is a crap show,” he declared. “… It is outrageous. It occurs from Tomlinson Mill Road right down to Maple Road. There are tremendous safety concerns about this.” Some of the violators of the speed limit, Shiffer contended, include those who drive larger commercial vehicles. He explained that he is afraid a dump truck carrying a heavy load, traveling at speeds greater than 45 mph, might not be able to stop in time to avoid any collision with a pedestrian. “The construction vehicles, landscaping vehicles, dump trucks and freight trucks are actually causing the windows in my house to shake on a daily basis,” he said. “They are also causing my foundation to shake on daily basis. I walk my dog, I talk to neighbors, and they are all fed-up as it has been going on for a longtime. We really think we need to come up with a long-term solution to slow down traffic on Taunton Boulevard. It is very, very problematic.” The establishment of the Kings Grant development, in Evesham, Shiffer contended, has resulted in over 5,000 vehicles using Taunton Boulevard each day. He said he believes the commercial vehicles are using See SPEEDING/ Page 6

Solar Farm Redeveloper Eyes Tabernacle Landfill North of Route 532 as Possible Site for New Project

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Preliminary layout of the 10.3-acre solar farm proposed in Tabernacle Township.

By Andy Milone Staff Writer

TABERNACLE—Yet another abandoned municipal landfill site in the Pinelands, this time in Tabernacle Township, is being proposed for a solar farm redevelopment project by CEP Renewables. Representatives of the company pitched the possibility of acquiring the 26-acre former landfill site that sits north of County Route 532, between Old Indian Mills and Oakshade roads, to the Tabernacle Township Committee on Jan. 11, after which Committeewoman Nancy McGinnis, who has been an enthusiastic supporter of the company’s coming in to clean up the site and transform it into a generator of green energy and tax revenue, expressed hope that the other four committee members would feel the same way. “We are discussing the solar farm at our next workshop meeting on Feb. 8 (at 7:30 p.m.),” she confirmed in an email to this newspaper on Jan.

22. “I am hoping that my fellow committee members are ready to move forward with this exciting project.” As previously reported by this newspaper, CEP, a firm based in Red Bank, has either already reached agreements with or approached Pemberton, Shamong and Southampton townships for the use of former landfill sites with aspirations for similar grid-scale solar facilities. L a s t ye a r, Sout h a mpt on Tow n sh ip Committee agreed to sell the tax liens owed on a landfill property, totaling more than 100 acres (30 acres of which would be used), to CEP, which later expects to foreclose on it, in exchange for about $2.1 million in back taxes owed. Similarly, the Shamong Township Committee approved a tax lien sale agreement of $155,966 for a much smaller landfill site, which along with a neighboring sand pit, will See SOLAR/ Page 5

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Pinelands Regional School District Settlement of Gender Discrimination Complaint Disclosed

By Bill Bonvie LITTLE EGG HARBOR—The Pinelands Regional School District last year arrived at a $200,000 settlement with a former employee who claimed she was a victim of gender discrimination in violation of New Jersey law when she was twice denied athletic positions for which she had applied in favor of younger, less qualified male candidates. The plaintiff, Tara Rutter, of Tuckerton, filed a lawsuit in April of 2019 against both the district and its supervisor of athletics, William Sundermann, maintaining that she possessed an “exceptionally strong background in athletics and education,” and had been recognized as a “stellar performer” while teaching physical education (PE) courses to high-school and junior-high students in the district as a fulltime substitute between 2010 and 2015. As a result, according to a legal brief filed with the Ocean County Law Division of the Superior Court of New Jersey, she was offered continual six-month contracts with the school district for the following two years. Rutter further contended that up to that time, she had received “very good written performance evaluations and continual verbal praise for her performance” and that when she was considering seeking employment elsewhere, she had even been given a written recommendation by Sundermann, who told her that he wished he had a “position for her to fill” because she was so good at what she did. But in 2017, when two such opportunities within the Pinelands Regional School District

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Fort Dix Federal Prison COVID-19 Cases Abate, But Pandemic Claims Life of One Inmate There

Female Physical Education Instructor Claimed She Was Passed Over for Two Jobs by Athletic Supervisor Who Favored Male Applicants Staff Writer

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Saturday, January 30, 2021

actually presented themselves, she claimed that candidates with far less experience and qualifications were hired, reportedly because they were males, and that one job opening was actually kept secret. According to the court documents, a link to which was emailed to the Pine Barrens Tribune by John Paff, chairman of the New Jersey Libertarian Party's Open Government Advocacy Project, the first job Rutter applied for and failed to get was as a part-time physical education teacher with the Bass River Township School District (BRTSD), then an integrated part of Pinelands Regional. But that position, which was one she learned about from a BRTSD Board of Education member who suggested she apply, “was being surreptitiously obscured and not publicly advertised, which was inconsistent with practice or normal school district policies,” her legal brief contended. She further maintained that in August, 2017, when she went to meet with Dr. Detlef Kern, the BRTSD interim superintendent at the time, he told her that his “hands were tied” because Sundermann “already had a man in mind for the job.” After she applied anyway and submitted her resume, Kern told her she wasn’t being offered the job, and that the decision “came down to experience.” But Rutter, who in her mid-40s, subsequently learned she “was bypassed in favor of Dan Mulligan, a male in his 20s with fewer certifications and less experience and qualifications.” See COMPLAINT/ Page 7

By Bill Bonvie Staff Writer

FORT DIX—While a raging COVID-19 outbreak seems to have largely abated at Fort Dix Federal Correctional Institution, the occurrence that earlier in January made this low-security prison on the Fort Dix side of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst the leading Coronavirus “hot spot” in the entire federal prison system has now claimed the life of one inmate. The penal compound’s first COVID-19 casualty, according to a Jan. 22 news release from the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), was Myron Crosby, 58, who had been sentenced in the District of Maine to a 168-month sentence on two counts related to conspiracy and intent to distribute heroin. Crosby, who the release said had been confined at the prison from Sept. 17 2019 until Jan. 7, when he was transported to an area hospital for “evaluation and treatment due to breathing difficulties,” was denied a request for compassionate release in October, according to American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) attor ney Tess Borden, despite suffering from what the BOP acknowledged were “long-ter m, pre-existing medical conditions.” In a letter directed to FCI For t Dix Warden David Ortiz a couple weeks ago, as this newspaper reported, New Jersey’s two U.S. senators, Democrats Robert Menendez and Cor y Booker, questioned Or tiz on prison policies that may have contributed to the number of infected inmates at the institution at a single time reaching nearly 800 on Jan.12. One such policy cited by the senators was the reluctance to grant home confinement to inmates as approved under

the CAR ES Act and called for in t wo memoranda issued last spring by thenAttorney General William Barr “to protect individuals behind bars and staff from the deadly Coronavirus.” By Jan. 27, the number of prisoners testing positive at the facility had dropped to 53, although the number of employees actively infected was reported by the BOP to have risen from 26 to 32. In addition, a whopping 1,425 inmates, as well as 45 employees there were reported to have recovered from the virus that has so far killed well in excess of 400,000 Americans. (It should also be noted that a previous outbreak at the facility in November and December, blamed on a transfer of prisoners from another “hot spot,” was followed by a lull in confirmed cases.) Crosby’s death, however, was the first to result from any of the three outbreaks at the prison, the first of which back in the spring of 2020 resulted in an unsuccessful attempt by the ACLU to facilitate the release of more prisoners to home confinement via a classaction suit. In a statement emailed to the Pine Barrens Tribune on Jan. 25, Borden, who has been monitoring the situation and previously was interviewed on it by this newspaper, called Crosby’s death “a tragedy and an indictment of the system that failed to keep him safe.” Noting that “Fort Dix has seen one of the largest outbreaks of any federal prison in the country,” Borden contended that the BOP “must do better to prevent the spread of COVID-19 at Fort Dix, including effective vaccine distribution, and to effectively quarantine, contact trace, and provide medical care to those who have tested positive.”

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Medford Replaces Solid Waste Collector of Nine Years as Public Records Show Steady Climb in Yearly Rates By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer

MEDFORD—The Township of Medford has cut ties with Gold Medal Environmental of NJ, Inc., its solid waste collector and disposal service provider of nine years. The decision to go instead with Republic Services was made on Jan. 5 by Medford Township Council, as the township’s three-year contract with Gold Medal was set to expire at the end of the month. Republic, according to a consent agenda resolution authorizing its new agreement with Medford, will charge the municipality $810,781.20 during its initial year of providing services, $840,124.80 in the second year and $870,477 in the final year, for a total of $2,521,383. While council, in passing the resolution awarding the new three-year contract to the Mt. Laurel-based firm did not offer any reasoning behind its decision to make a switch, Township Manager Kathy Burger later told this newspaper on Jan. 27 that Republic was “the lowest responsible bidder.” “Republic Services is currently working on the logistics of collections and will begin collecting residents’ trash on Jan. 29,” according to a statement released by the township. “Township officials have met with representatives from Republic, and expect a smooth transition from the current provider.” The statement asked for residents to have “patience” while the municipality’s new solid waste collector “learns the routes.” It was pointed out in the statement that Republic “currently collects solid waste in several other Burlington County towns.” The township’s agreement with Gold Medal ended on Jan. 28, according to public records. Gold Medal, according to past council meeting minutes, in 2015, acquired Casworth Enterprises, Inc., a firm that the township had been using for solid waste collection and disposal services since the governing body decided in November 2012 to outsource

municipal trash collection beginning in 2013 in a bid to reportedly save money. Mayor Charles “Chuck” Watson, during the Jan. 5 meeting, as council approved the Republic agreement, noted that the decision to privatize trash collection has saved the municipality over $300,000. It was unclear, as of press time, whether he meant over the last nine years, or annually, and attempts at receiving clarification from the mayor were unsuccessful as of press time. Burger said she was not present at that meeting (Police Chief Richard J. Meder was filling in for her) when asked if she could clarify the remark. During the first year Casworth hauled trash for the municipality, the firm was paid $499,800 for its collection and disposal services. Gold Medal charged the township $643,658 for its collection and disposal services during the final year of its most recent contract with the township. According to a copy of a December 2020 bid placed by Gold Medal to the township, obtained by this newspaper through an Open Public Records Act (OPRA) request, the firm wanted to be compensated $1,105,799 in year one, $1,218,249 in year two, and $1,241,147 in the final year, for a total of $3,655,195. Competing with Republic for the latest solid waste collection and disposal contract from Medford was not only Gold Medal, but also Central Jersey Waste, a firm that also wanted to be compensated over $1 million each year, for the next three years, with a total bid of $3,233,103.60. The Pine Barrens Tribune previously reported that several area towns were having difficulty in obtaining bids for new trash hauling contracts, and that the New Jersey Municipal Management Association, in an article posted on its website in 2019, acknowledged that “municipal managers have had to face the fact they receive very few bids for their garbage hauling proposal requests – and they all run more expensive than they have in the past.”

Two Charged in Methamphetamine Overdose Death MEDFOR D —Two residents of Maple Shade Township, according to a press release issued by the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office, have been charged with causing the death of a Medford Township man who fatally overdosed on methamphetamine that they purportedly sold to him early last year. Joshua Lanigan, 39, of Woodbine Road, and Jeanine Hughes, 44, of Cropwell Drive, were charged earlier this month with first-degree strict liability for drug-induced death, thirddegree possession of a controlled dangerous substance, third-degree distribution of a

controlled dangerous substance and thirddegree conspiracy to distribute a controlled dangerous substance. The body of the victim, 38-year-old Andrew Shelley, was discovered on March 18, 2020, by a man hiking in a wooded area just off of Route 70 in Medford Township, the press release noted. Shelley was reported missing by his family on Feb. 18, 2020, when a subsequent investigation into his disappearance was launched, the press See DEATH/ Page 7

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WE’RE HERE TO HELP! HOW TO REACH US: Ad Hotline: 609-801-2392 Report News Tips, Breaking News: 609-801-2392 General Questions: 609-801-2392 Fax: 609-801-2395 Submit Ad Copy: sales@pinebarrenstribune.com Submit News Tips, Press Releases: news@pinebarrenstribune.com Send Letters to the Editor: letters@pinebarrenstribune.com Write Us: Pine Barrens Tribune, P.O. Box 2402, Vincentown, NJ 08088 The Pine Barrens Tribune is published each Saturday, except Easter, Christmas and New Year’s Day. Serving Medford, Marlton, Vincentown, LeisureTowne, Browns Mills, Chatsworth, New Gretna, Little Egg, Whiting and Hammonton, and all points in-between. This newspaper is protected under the Federal Copyright Act. Reproduction of any part is not permitted by mechanical or electronic means without the expressed written permission of the Publisher. The Publisher reserves the right to revise or reject any advertisement. No liability shall be attached to the Publisher for interruption of publication or limitation of size/and or pages due to shortage of material, failure of transportation, flood, fire, severe weather, winter weather, riots, strikes, pandemics, acts of God, or other causes beyond his or her control. It is our policy to promptly correct errors. If you believe that you see a mistake, please call 609-801-2392. © 2021 Pine Barrens Media

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MEDFORD (Continued from Page 2)

Medford youth each year. We are excited to work with them to improve Medford’s athletic fields and infrastructure.” During council’s Jan. 19 meeting, a number of professional appointments were made for the new year. Among the municipal appointments made during the meeting included Timothy and Tyler Prime, of Prime & Tuvel, legal counsel; Carmen Saginario Jr., of Capehart Scatchard, labor and human resource attorney; Environmental Resolutions, Inc. (ERI), engineer; Christopher K. Koutsouris, of Dasti, Murphy, McGuckin, Ulaky, Koutsouris & Connors, prosecutor; James D. Fattorini, Esq., public defender; Malamut & Associates, bond counsel; Robert P. Nehila, Jr., of Bowman & Company LLP, auditor; Michelle and Scott Taylor, of Taylor Design Group, Inc., planner; Triad Associates, affordable housing administrative agent; Maser Consulting, affordable housing planner; Christopher Noll, of ERI, utility engineer; Municipal Maintenance Co., utility instrumentation programming and engineering service; Gregory McGuckin, of

SOLAR

(Continued from Page 2) house a solar-energy conversion facility. CEP is also eyeing a 26-acre closed landfill site in a remote section of Pemberton Township, near the Manchester Township border, for an approximately 10-megawatt landfill solar array. Pemberton Township Council recently authorized a study to determine whether or not the site meets ‘an area in need of rehabilitation,’ and approved an escrow agreement with CEP. Correspondence between Tabernacle and

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Dasti, Murphy, McGuckin, Ulaky, Koutsouris & Connors, conflict attorney; Maser Consulting, conflict engineer; and LCA Engineering LLC, mechanical engineer (the latter appointment is the result of the director of Neighborhood Services pur portedly requesting one to assist with HVAC work at various township buildings). Council, during its Jan. 19 meeting, also approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in which the Medford-Vincentown Rotary Club will assume responsibility and oversight of a volunteer initiative to reconstruct the grandstand bleachers and a park sign at Bunning Baseball Field. About $294,230 in municipal renovations and upgrades to Bunning Field, located off Mill Street in Medford Township, were identified previously by Watson as being “mostly done” by last summer. Bunning Field was restored through the Burlington County Municipal Park Development Grant program, with matching funds provided by the township. Last summer, after most of the renovations were completed, council approved an MOU with the Medford Township Board of Education for maintenance of Bunning Field, a field that Watson previously called “historic.” During the 2021 reorganizing of the

township, council awarded a contract to Datum Storage Solutions, not to exceed $60,982.59, for the purchase of a new Datum Records Storage System for the new combination municipallibrary building currently under construction at 51 Union St. Jasper Seating Company was also awarded a contract not to exceed $20,120.20 for the “purchase of various office furniture for the new municipal building-library,” while Group LaCasse, LLC also received a contract not to exceed $67,606.50 for new office furniture that will be purchased to furnish the new building. Also receiving a contract to furnish the new building is SOI/Exemplis Corp., which will receive up to $36,441.44 from the township. All of the goods from the three companies are being purchased through the state’s Cooperative Purchasing Program. The two-story, over 20,000-square-foot building, with an estimated final cost of a bit over $10 million, will feature library facilities on its first floor, including a children’s library, a technology center and 102-seat multi-purpose room. The building’s second floor will house the township’s municipal offices. “In the near term, the completion of the new municipal building and library is an

area of significance,” Rebstock later told this newspaper. “It will be a wonderful and enduring town center that will be enjoyed by residents for generations to come; I am especially pleased that we were able to construct the building without raising taxes.” As for when the new facility might actually open, Township Manager Kathy Burger told this newspaper on Jan. 27 that the construction is on schedule and the contract calls for the building to be substantially complete by March 26 of this year. “We anticipate moving into the building in April 2021,” she added. Rebstock noted that later in the year, council is “excited to once again focus on the events that our residents love.” “These events will help us lead our amazing community and local businesses through the financial hardship brought on by COVID-19,” he said. “Once we can safely host large gatherings, we look forward to the Celebrate Medford fireworks, the Memorial Day Parade to honor veterans at our war memorial, Oktoberfest, the Halloween Parade, and our winter Dicken’s Fest. “I thank the residents of Medford for the opportunity to care for and lead such a wonderful community of people.”

CEP, obtained by this newspaper, suggests 24 acres of the Tabernacle-owned site, which has not been an operating landfill in more than 30 years, could be capable of hosting solar panels potentially producing 10 to 12 megawatts of electricity and “making it among the larger installations in the state.” At the Jan. 11 Tabernacle committee meeting, company attorney Steven Gouin shared with the public a preliminary layout consisting of approximately 9,700 solar panels covering about 10.3 acres and generating around 5.5 megawatts, but with a contingency that it was “nothing that we would want to be bound to” and that the final result could be even larger,

out of a desire to “maximize the site.” “CEP Renewables was able to provide to my satisfaction enough information to address my questions and concerns, and I believe those of my fellow committee members as well,” said McGinnis, noting she previously spoke with Pemberton officials about the possible solar project in that municipality, and they were happy with the progress to date. “Barring any new revelation, I am hoping the committee will vote to approve the proposal and start the process to bring this positive public-private project to fruition.” The company is touted on its website as being capable of “taking on particularly challenging

projects, such as brownfields and landfills, repurposing such land for productive use and reducing carbon emissions with sustainable clean energy.” It was further described during the Jan. 11 presentation by Gouin as the “most prolific developer of grid-scale solar in the state,” with a portfolio that includes between 200 and 300 megawatts worth of solar-energy projects currently under development. “CEP will take this project through the entire approval process,” said Gouin, pointing out that the company covers all the costs involved. “(And) unlike some developers, it will purchase

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Photo By Andy Milone

Saturday, January 30, 2021

Photo By Andy Milone

Fire Chief Lenny Forand’s family pictured, from left, are: Jamie (daughter), Leonard Sr. (father), Lenny, Jeffrey (son), and Shirley (mother).

Chief Lenny Forand Jr. waves to the line of fire trucks on County Route 563.

CHIEF

the fire service, and it is really appreciated.” He noted that he has spent a lot of years as fire chief, and got to know a lot of people. “All that matters is we got him,” quipped his mother Shirley Forand, who was there alongside Lenny with his father, Leonard Sr., and son Jeffrey, as well as Jamie, who told her father there was no need for him to thank them because “the look on your face was worth it.” “He is the best dad I could ask for and he is literally my best friend,” she added. “He’d help anyone who would ask him for help, no matter what time and no matter what the weather, no matter who it is, whether it would be somebody he knows or a complete stranger. He has given up a lot of time. He doesn’t think twice about helping somebody else in need. That is just who he is.” Lenny Forand joined the fire company as a junior member back when he was teenager, and that desire to serve never went away, even after his diagnosis. He still managed to respond to a lot of fire calls, as he kept the mindset that he is “just got to keep on trucking.” “I was lucky I didn’t have to do chemo, and it was just radiation,” he said. “It didn’t knock me out too much, and I was still able to do some work.”

Admittedly, though, the treatments were tiring, he said, and kept him from doing some of the things he ordinarily would have, like going to meetings. But he still tried to respond when people called for help. G r e e n Ba n k Volu nt e e r A mbu la nc e Company Chief Barbara Cavileer recalled how Lenny Forand got up in the middle of the night a few months ago to drive a fire truck to a blaze in New Gretna. “He had a perfect excuse to stay in bed,” she said. “But he responded to someone else’s emergency. That is how dedicated he is. He has been chief of Green Bank almost as long as I’ve been chief here with the squad. He is very proactive. He has always been the first to get involved in any situation. He is like a fixture and he does it all: searches, fires, drills, refuels … he is in the middle of everything.” The message that the cancer was now “undetectable,” or that “they got it all,” was delivered Jan. 4 to Lenny Forand after his treatment wrapped up at the AtlantiCare Cancer Care Institute in Egg Harbor Township on Dec. 7. Jamie Forand, the oldest of Lenny Forand’s three children, said of his finding out about his diagnosis, that he didn’t have any symptoms, and that it came “out of nowhere” after routine

lab work had indicated high PSA (prostate specific antigen) levels in his system. For nine weeks, he received five-day-a-week treatments in the early morning, and most days he went to work later on, always keeping the faith that he would defeat the cancer, she said. “He describes himself as unflappable,” she added. “He is pretty unfazed by a lot of things, and he doesn’t really ever lose hope, and is pretty much always positive.” That trait was reinforced Jan. 4, when the good news was delivered. Jamie Forand remembered giving him a high five for what she called “the best 30th birthday and New Year’s present that I could ever ask for” – and him responding: “I told you I’d be fine.” “I never lost hope either, but in the back of your mind, you’re always worried because we have been down this road before,” she noted. In the end, the community was also both relieved and grateful over the tidings that Lenny Forand was a cancer survivor. “He is a great guy and he has been great for the fire company,” said David Bell, captain and treasurer of the Green Bank Volunteer Fire Company, who has known Lenny Forand for decades. “He has been the chief forever, and somebody we rely upon. We can’t do it without him, and he makes all the calls.”

advocate from Medford Township if I am going to go to the county,” Shiffer maintained. “It is an ongoing disaster waiting to happen.” Shiffer invited Mayor Charles “Chuck” Watson to his proper t y to obser ve the problem for himself, to which the mayor agreed to come over for a cup of coffee and sit on his front porch. “If you sit there for a half hour, your mind will be blown,” Schiffer declared. There is no immediate word on whether Watson followed through on his promise, and what solutions the township might bring to the county, as he did not return messages seeking comment on this story as of press time. Schiffer also could not be immediately

reached for comment. Richard J. Meder, chief of the Medford Township Police Depar tment, told this ne ws p a p e r o n Ja n . 27 t h at “c u r s or y numbers” indicate that 430 summonses (for all motor vehicle violations) were issued last year on Taunton Boulevard/Taunton Road, and for this year, through Jan. 14, a total of 23 summonses (for all motor

vehicle violations) were issued on Taunton Boulevard/Taunton Road. “I recognize the (recent) efforts of the police depar t ment and their increased p a t r o l s , w h i c h h a s (t e m p o r a r i l y ) resulted in the slowing down of traffic,” said Shiffer on Jan. 19. “… But I look at this like putting a Band-Aid on a cut artery. We really need a long-term solution to problem.”

(Continued from Page 1) been having breakfast prior to being lured outside at about 10:30 a.m. The fire trucks, police cars, and ambulances sounded their horns and sirens, along with tossing occasional confetti or silly string, past the small-town celebrity who waved back to his ‘second family’ in appreciation. “We’re all really thankful for what he does on a daily basis, even if we don’t show it all the time, and I just want him to know how much he is loved and appreciated, and supported,” said Jamie Forand in an interview. “It was a treatable, curable cancer, but we have been through a lot as a family. And he did it. He beat cancer.” Lenny Forand, 58, a Wading River resident who founded his own business, PDQ Appliance Repair, was born and raised in Green Bank and has lived in the area his entire life. “It is pretty awesome, and I appreciate their support for what one man has gone through,” Lenny Forand told this newspaper after the event. “I didn’t know anything. They snuck one by me. I know I have a lot of friends in

SPEEDING (Continued from Page 2)

the boulevard to bypass state highway Route 73 (which can become congested at times). Shiffer said possible long-term solutions he would like officials to consider include potentially limiting the allowable tr uck size and weight on Taunton Boulevard, putting a bypass in for trucks to use off Tomlinson Mill Road, adding speed bumps to Taunton Boulevard and installing additional crosswalks in the area. “I come here tonight because I need an

We are still meeting virtually, please join us for service on Sundays at 9:30 am on Facebook or follow us! We’d love to connect! Facebook.com/MedfordUMC You can also download our mobile app to receive our daily devotional and get up to date information regarding MUMC during this time. Just text “medfordapp” to 77977 or search your app store for “Medford UMC”

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Page S2 ♦ BIG GAME PLANNING GUIDE

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Support Your Local Pizza Place Jus t like ever y thing over the past year, big game get-togethers will look a little different in 2021. If you’re used to hosting large parties, you may be opting to welcome a much smaller group into your home this year. One thing hasn’t changed: Celebrating would not be complete without pizza. And your local pizza establishments need your support this year more than ever before. Be sure to devote some of your food budget to a local pizza or two on game day. You and your guests will be sure to enjoy the fresh, tasty treat while rooting for your favorite team.

Why Order Out?

Speaking of teams, Americans seem to all be on “Team Pizza.” Consumer spending on pizza d e li ve r y i n 2 019 r e a c h e d $11 billion in 2019, according to Statista. More than 20 0 million people eat frozen pizzas every year. When you order out from your local pizza joint, you’re more likely to find fresh, local ingredients. You’re also doing more to support your local community, as research shows that local business owners re-invest more money into the local area versus big box stores.

What Toppings Should You Try?

According to a recent sur vey reported in the Huffington Post, the most popular pizza toppings are pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms and bacon. America’s least favorite options? Those would be anchovies, eggplant, pineapple and artichokes. Looking for something a little more unique on your pie? Try some cilantro, jalapenos, garlic or chicken. Don’t forget your dessert pizza, as many local pizza establishments may offer cinnamon- and vanilla-glazed options for after your main course of more “traditional” pizza.

Choose Convenience

One big benefit of ordering from your favorite local restaurant is that many of them support easy, online or app-based ordering. Intuitive and easy-to-use ordering systems make your experience more convenient than ever before. Picking up your pizza instead of having it delivered? Be sure to ask if you’re expected to come into the store or if they will bring your order out to your vehicle for you. This will help you plan accordingly and know what to expect upon arrival.

Saturday, January 30, 2021

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BIG GAME PLANNING GUIDE ♦ Page S3

Making Cocktails for the Game Every big game shindig needs some fun cocktails (or mocktails if you’re abstaining from alcohol). Fortunately, the internet is ripe with mixing ideas to impress your friends and family — no matter how small your gathering this year. The key to mixing a great cocktail is to be creative and use fresh ingredients. Check out these fun Super Bowl cocktail ideas and don’t forget to visit your local liquor establishment for all of your mixing ingredients.

Beer Margaritas

margarita glasses. Dip rims into salt to coat lightly. In a medium pitcher, combine beer, limeade, and tequila. Fill prepared glasses with ice, then with margarita mixture. Garnish with remaining lime wedges. Serve immediately.

Fun Punch

No matter how small your gathering for the game this year, a tasty punch may be a touchdown for your Super Bowl weekend. Check out this punch idea from the food website Delish.

If you like beer and margaritas, why not combine them into a refreshing mixed drink? Take your favorite beer to the next level by combining it with the punchy satisfaction of a tangy margarita. Follow this recipe from Food Network for the perfect Beer Margarita.

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Directions: Rub lime wedges around rims of 4

Be a Good Host

Let your guests know you plan to serve alcohol and be sure to find out what they prefer to drink ahead of time. Don’t forget to advocate for

responsible celebration, ensuring that your guests partake within reason and have designated drivers. Plan ahead for a socially distanced event and make sure your guests are not gathering in close proximity to each other, like in a

t ypic al bar environment. Make sure your guests are not sharing drinks and refer to the gathering recommendations put out by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention before planning your Super Bowl gathering.

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Saturday, January 30, 2021

You Can Never Go Wrong with Wings Is there anything easier to serve than chicken wings — especially when you’re not the one making them? This fantastic finger food has long been a football-watching staple. In fact, wings are the most eaten food during the big game each year. Why should this year’s big game be any different? Every year, the National Chicken Council (NCC) releases its annual Chicken Wing Report that projects how many wings Americans will consume during the Super Bowl weekend. Last year, a record-breaking 1.4 billion chicken wings were consumed during this time. To get a bet ter idea of jus t how much Americans love their c hic ke n w i ng s, N CC s u r veye d Americans on their eating habits last year. Roughly t wo thirds of Americans (65%) who eat chicken wings, responded that they like to do so while watching a major sporting event, such as the Super Bowl. Half (51%) claim that they believe chicken wings should be the official food of the Super Bowl, said the NCC.

Bone-in or Boneless?

Your order of wings starts with one major decision: Bone-in wings or

boneless wings? Both are great options and it usually depends on your personal preference, or the preference of your guests. To be safe, it’s probably a good bet to get some of each. Some places will give you a split of half bone-in and half boneless for your order — which is a great option for a gathering.

Make Your Own Sauce

Sometimes you just want your own sauce. See if your wings restaurant will let you order the wings without sauce so you can add your own. Find a good recipe online that combines hot pepper sauce, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, cayenne pepper and garlic powder. Add more of the spicier ingredients to give it an extra kick. Just be sure to let your guests know first.

Call Ahead

Restaurants are traditionally very busy on Super Bowl Sunday, especially with takeout orders. If you’re making a big order for wings, it’s best to call ahead of time to make sure you’re not catching your local restaurant by surprise. This common courtesy will help save time for both you and the restaurant’s employees.

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COMPLAINT (Continued from Page 3)

Later that same month, she said she learned via a “vacancy notice” disseminated by thenPinelands Regional Interim Superintendent Maryann Banks of a second opening for a full-time physical education teacher within the Pinelands district itself, “for which she was viewed by colleagues and others as a perfect candidate,” having carried out similar responsibilities with the district for years. But according to her filing, after being interviewed briefly and dismissively for the job by Sundermann, whose secretary, Denise Bartholomew, sat in observation, Rutter was again passed over “without any meaningful consideration,” and the job instead was offered to Michael Keller, another male in his 20s having “less than six months of substitute experience, and lacking anything near Rutter’s experience.” She also alleged that in a conversation with Sundermann earlier that year, he had made her “feel uncomfortable” by virtue of having a photograph of her in a bikini, apparently t a ken f rom a social media page, on his computer screen and “was asking her about her legs.” Pur portedly attempting to refocus the discussion on what her employ ment st at us was, she contended that Sundermann caught her off guard by expressing a “preference for male hires.” Af ter expressi ng her concer n about gender discrimination, the brief contended that Ban ks, “in an inter nal communication,” pulled the PE candidate off the agenda and “asked the supervisor to re -post for the posit ion,” clai m i ng “this time, there would be an ‘established protocol for the interview process that is consistent and fair for all candidates.’” But that process, Rutter charged, was “merely a charade carried out by the very same discr iminator y decision maker,” Sundermann, who gave her “no meaningful consideration and instead simply re-offered the position to Keller.” To f u r t h e r b u t t r e s s h e r cl a i m , of gender discrimination, Rutter alleged that

DEATH

(Continued from Page 4) release added. “ T he probe broa dened af t e r it wa s suspected that illegal narcotics played a role in his death,” said Burlington County P rose c ut or Sc ot t C of fi n a . “ T h is wa s confir med by an autopsy perfor med by Burlington County Medical Examiner Dr. Ian Hood that determined Shelley died of

Bartholomew, Sundermann’s secretary, in a nine-minute conversation “repeatedly confirmed” being told by her boss that the sole reason Rutter had not been selected was that she was female, with a number of recorded remarks from Bartholomew offered in support of that (e.g., “He [Sundermann] told me to tell you, he was like tell Tara that you know as a friend, tell her that I couldn't hire a girl, I needed a guy.”) “Plaintiff's work ended with Defendants as of the summer of 2017,” the brief notes, alleging that she “suffered sig nificant financial and career losses as a result of being denied the aforesaid job positions on account of her gender.” Those actions, it said, constituted a clear violation of the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (N.J.S.A. 10:51 et. seq.). Rutter was represented by the law firm of Karpf, Karpf & Cerruti, of Bensalem, Pa., which demanded that her case be heard by a jury and sought the equivalent of whatever pay and benefits she would have received had she been hired, as well as punitive damages, costs and “accorded any and all other equitable and legal relief as the Court deems just, proper and appropriate, including but not limited to, emotional distress and/or pain and suffering damages (where legally permitted).” In the settlement agreement she signed last Aug. 24, Rutter agreed to release the district from “all claims and rights” she may have against it. She also agreed that the Pinelands district would make “a neutral reference” concerning her employment, and specifically agreed that she would not seek fur ther employment with either the Pinelands or Bass River Township school districts “at any time in the future.” When asked whether the district had anything to say regarding the litigation and subsequent settlement, Pinelands Regional’s c u r r e nt s u p e r i nt e n d e nt , D r. Mel i s s a McCooley, in an email to this newspaper, said it would have “no comment.” Rut ter failed to respond to at tempts to reach her by phone, and Sundermann, who is still listed as the district’s athletic supervisor on its website, did not reply to an email asking if he wished to respond to Rutter’s allegations. methamphetamine toxicity.” The investigation, he added, revealed that the drugs reportedly used by Shelley during his fatal overdose had been allegedly purchased from Lanigan and Hughes, who delivered them to his home in mid-February 2020. Lanigan and Hughes were taken into custody on Jan. 15 in Maple Shade. Hughes was transported to the Atlantic County Justice Facility in Mays Landing, while Lanigan was lodged in Burlington County Jail in Mount Holly.

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♦ Page 7

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856-218-8677 7 Editor’s Note: Clarification/Correction The Pine Barrens Tribune, in a Dec. 12, 2020 article, Clerk Stops Resident from Speaking at Committee Meeting Indicating There Is Stipulation That Public Must Participate in Roll Call at Start to Speak During Public Comment Period, had reported that Fran Brooks, a local transparency activist, has been the financial beneficiary of numerous settlement agreements. Stating that she was the financial beneficiary of numerous settlement agreements is incorrect. In other past articles, the Pine Barrens Tribune has also reported that Brooks had received a $13,500 settlement. This requires clarification. Brooks, in Jan. 24 correspondence, clarified to this newspaper that she has not received any financial benefit from her lawsuits related to her government transparency activism. All of the funds that Tabernacle has paid in settlement of Brooks’s lawsuits have been paid directly to her attorneys for the services rendered by them, or to partially reimburse Brooks for her out-of pocket expenditures in these cases. On. Jan. 25, Tabernacle Township Administrator Douglas Cramer confirmed to this newspaper that settlements were paid to Walter M. Luers (Brooks’s attorney). The Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requires public agencies, including municipalities, to release public records when requested. If a public agency refuses to release the records, the requestor can sue for them. If the requestor prevails in court, the government entity must pay the requestor’s legal costs. The purpose of this “fee shifting” is to enable citizens to monitor their government and to dissuade public agencies from wrongfully withholding public documents. All government agencies have the resources to hire experienced counsel to defend OPRA cases, while most citizens do not. Thus, fee-shifting also helps level the playing field, according to Brooks. Brooks has filed numerous OPRA lawsuits against Tabernacle and has prevailed in all of them, she told this newspaper. “It would be better for Tabernacle taxpayers if the township’s common practice was to release public documents,” she said. “Unfortunately, it isn’t.” It should be also noted that the Pines Barrens Tribune routinely uses the OPRA to obtain public records, as do most newspapers that report on New Jersey government. It is our policy to promptly correct errors, and this clarification is being published to provide a better understanding of the circumstances as we strive for accuracy.

Page 8 ♦

LOCAL NEWS / FEATURES

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Saturday, January 30, 2021

EVESHAM (Continued from Page 1)

Washington, D.C. via Zoom. “When you talk about public service, you talk about Gina,” Norcross said. “She is my constituent services director, and when she mentioned that she wanted to participate in this democracy, I said there is no better person. You hear day in and day out what people are living through, and she does a wonderful job on behalf of the 1st District.” Espinoza, a graduate of Rider University, who described herself during the meeting as a “mother, woman, wife, millennial and Evesham resident,” vowed to work for and listen to the residents. “This is not about me; it is about all of us in Evesham who care about our community,” she said. “We together can make sure this is a town that is a great place to live, play and work. We must make sure that if you are raising a family here, chose to retire here, have a business here, or are just getting your adult life started in Evesham, it is a home here.” Espinoza contended that her 2020 running mate and now councilmate, Freeman, who served in the U.S. Army Reserves for almost nine-and-a-half years, which included a deployment to Khandahar, Afghanistan, “cares deeply about his country and community” and that “we are grateful for his service in the military, as well as in his hometown.” According to an online biography, Freeman was born and raised in Kansas City. 7th District State Assemblyman Troy Singleton, attending the meeting in-person, administered the oath of office to Freeman, who currently serves as in-house counsel for a local insurance company, and previously was a legal service attorney who “gave people a voice whom previously felt they had none,” including championing LGBTQ causes.

Photo By Andrew King

Eddie Freeman III (center) exchanges an elbow bump with 7th District State Assemblyman Troy Singleton, who administered the oath of office to the new councilman. Freeman, a 2016 graduate of Oklahoma City University School of Law, who previously earned a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and Criminology with a minor in Spanish from University of Missouri Kansas City, was the president of a LGBT student organization while attending law school, according to his online biography. Singleton noted that he got to know Freeman during the councilman’s quest to get on dais, and Freeman said he appreciated the state assemblyman’s guidance during the process. “I hope to continue with all the good works that you (Veasy and the two sitting Democratic councilwomen) started, and also establish some of the good works we can start together,” Freeman said. Freeman, wearing a Kansas City Chiefs mask, noted that he was wearing it not only because he is a fan of that particular NFL team, but also in honor of his late father. According to Freeman’s online biography, his parents

divorced while he was in middle school, and he was raised by his “hard-working single mother.” Following the swearing in of the two new councilmembers, the governing body selected Heather Cooper as its deputy mayor for the new year. This is Cooper’s third year serving as deputy mayor of Evesham. With Norcross earlier in the meeting administering the oath via Zoom to Espinoza, who was attending the meeting in-person, and 8th District State Senator Dawn Marie Addiego administering the oath to Cooper over a television set that had been set up in council chambers, arrangements that were the result of the pandemic, Veasy quipped, “It is a very interesting situation we have going on here.” Cooper announced during the meeting that the reason for her not attending in-person for the reorganization meeting is because she and several members of her family had contracted COVID-19. The deputy mayor has since

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recovered from the virus. “We’re not 100 percent insulated,” Cooper warned. Addiego called Cooper, who earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Thomas Edison State University in the field of Psychology, an “accomplished and professional individual” whose career has also included working for over 20 years in the field of human services on behalf of those with disabilities. “As a deputy mayor and councilwoman, she has worked tirelessly to help her fellow council members for the past two years,” contended Addiego, who previously served on the governing body from 1993 to 2000. “She is an amazing team player. She has always asked herself, “‘What is best for Evesham?’” Cooper, following the state senator’s remarks, declared that the deputy mayor post “is one of the largest advocacy roles that one could serve on council.” She further maintained that with the guidance of Veasy, “our best days are ahead of us,” and that “doing something we have never done before seems to be our motto (including administering the oath of office remotely).” “One of the biggest things I thought about in having a new council and working together is that growth requires change,” Cooper contended. “And so, as we move into 2021, while there will be some very challenging situations, we know that we will respond through the change and work to be able to make that growth happen. It is an honor to get to know two new people who want to serve the town to the same level that we have been these last two years.” During the reorganization meeting, also attended remotely by Democratic Deputy Burlington County Commissioner Daniel J. O’Connell and one of his Democratic cou nter par ts, Com missioner Linda A. Hynes (who called Veasy, Cooper and See EVESHAM/ Page 11

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PROUDLY SERVING THOSE WHO HAVE PROUDLY SERVED

*A *All All ppersons ersons aare re llicensed icensed aand nd aable ble tto o eembalm, mbalm, arrange and direct funerals in the State of New Jersey with the exception of Dawn Moore. © NFDA 2020. All rights reserved.

MARKETPLACE / JOB BOARD

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♦ Page 9

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♦ Page 11

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EVESHAM

Environmental Resolutions, Inc. and Pennoni. Numerous appointments were made by council to the Evesham Township Human Rights Advisory Council, with Freeman taking over for Cooper as its council liaison. The Town Watch Advisory Committee is also being reinvigorated with the appointments of Hansen and Cruz. “As I look back on the last two years, especially this last year, it is hard to remember the time before the pandemic,” Veasy said. “I am looking forward to the time we can meet residents at community events, go out to dinner freely, attend school celebrations and see live performances again. “However, when I look back, I see the work that was done to adapt to our new surroundings. I see a meeting like we have today where government doesn’t stop. I see a community

that is growing and changing daily. And I see that we have laid the groundwork, and have had to make tough decisions this last year, but I look forward to this new year, and new council, with these new councilmates, to bring to light, and to fruition, positive changes for our residents. We have learned through this pandemic how important our open space and parks are for the mental and physical health of our residents, and we will make it a priority to improve our parks system for our residents of all ages to enjoy. We have learned the importance of supporting our local businesses, and with the help of the Evesham Economic Advisory Council, we will be unveiling some great initiatives to continue to support our local economy. “We have also learned that the residents e x p e c t e f fi c i e n t s e r v i c e s a n d cl e a r communication of their tax dollars at work.

We will be continually looking at ways that we can be more efficient, while providing the best services for our residents. We have also learned how important human connection is during this pandemic, and I look forward to seeing more programs and awareness being conducted by our Senior Citizens’ Advisory Council, the Disability Veterans’ Advisory Board, Human Rights Advisory Council, Youth Advisory Council and Environmental Commission. They help to not only inform our residents, but connect them to each other and the services that are available to them.” Veasy added that all five council members have a “long list of things they want to accomplish” and “want to hit the ground running,” but that she would be remiss if she did not thank the municipal employees and professionals “who help make them come to fruition.” “But I’d also be remiss if I didn’t say, ‘Get ready, because here we come!” the mayor declared. Council will now be meeting on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month, a change from prior years, where it would traditionally meet on the first and third Tuesdays of the month. Veasy contended the change is needed as a result of the town’s boards and advisory committees becoming more active, and council was “the easiest one to move” to avoid scheduling conflicts. Singleton, in the wake of Democrats taking full-control of council, declared that “government is about partnership” and further maintained “it doesn’t matter whether the partnership is among five Democrats or a mixed council.” “Par t nership is t r uly about those in re prese nt at ive democ r a cy, a nd about accountability,” he said. “It is about efficient, ethical government. I have no doubt that this council understands that. Residents of this community, some who voted for you and some who did not, are counting on you to be ‘One Evesham’ and move them forward as one unit, one team.”

opposed to farmland, and in turn, creates the opportunity for a “win-win” venture, leading ultimately to contaminated parcels being closed in compliance with requirements set forth by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) at a time when municipalities with residential tax bases and few businesses, such as Tabernacle, do not have the resources to close them on their own. “The reason why these facilities have not been capped and properly closed – a lot of them – is there is nobody who is willing to invest the money,” Gouin said. CEP lear ned of Taber nacle’s landfill, he revealed, during conversations with Pemberton Township officials and reached out to Tabernacle a few months ago about the possibility of using the Tabernacle site for another solar redevelopment project, which will require layers of approvals from the town, county and state, as well as the

Pinelands Commission, in addition to the Pennsylvania, Jersey, Maryland (PJM) Power Pool Interconnection regional transmission organization. To proceed with such a proposal, a redevelopment agreement, as well as a purchase agreement, would need to be reached between the two parties, and as part of the approval process, CEP would need to “close the landfill to the extent that it has not been properly closed,” Gouin said. “We will have to deal with groundwater issues,” added Rodger Ferguson, CEP’s licensed site remediation professional (LSRP), during the Jan. 11 presentation. “We’ll have to deal with landfill gas issues, if there are any, which is probably unlikely, and that would become a part of the program.” When asked by McGinnis about the cost if hypothetically the municipality were to properly close the landfill on its own,

Ferguson replied: “If you had to import two feet of clean fill across 10 acres, you’re in the neighborhood of $3 million dollars just for that, plus the possible requirement of putting down an impermeable membrane, which would probably double that cost easily. That doesn’t include dealing with groundwater, or gas, or anything else that might come up.” During the same discussion, Gouin did acknowledge the company would make the necessary accommodations to address Committeeman Bob Sunbury’s concerns, regarding radio frequency interference (if any), and Township Administrator Doug Cramer’s comments regarding the township’s supply of stone and dirt, which is currently stored at the old landfill site. No other concerns were voiced that evening. However, Gouin noted there would be some sort of “buffer” constructed to screen the facility from public view.

(Continued from Page 8)

Hansen “Rockstar ladies”), along with 8th District Republican Assemblywoman Jean Stanfield, all of whom also briefly spoke of their confidence that the new councilmembers will do what is in the best interests of township residents, a number of professional appointments were made by council for the new year. Among the appointments made during the meeting included Primitivo Cruz, of Malamut & Associates, township solicitor; Murphy Orlando, LLC and Weiner Law Group, LLP, conflict solicitor; Thomas Hastie Jr., of Malamut & Associates, bond counsel; Florio Perrucci, of Florio Perrucci Steinhardt & Cappelli, LLC, labor counsel; Malamut & Associates, COAH attorney; Bowman & Company, LLP, municipal auditor; Acacia Financial Group, Inc., financial advisor (a change from the previous firm of Phoenix Advisors); Regan Young England Butera, PC, Alaimo Group, and Netta Architects, township architects (with the latter two firms new additions to the architect team); Mattleman, Weinroth & Miller, P.C., municipal prosecutor (a change from the previous firm of Walker and DeMasi); Cristina Vasquez, public defender; Rosenberg & Associates, backup public defender; Community Grants Planning & Housing, LLC, affordable housing administrative agent; Millennium Strategies, grant writer; Conner Strong & Buckelew, risk management consultant; Sockler Realty Services Group, Inc., tax appraiser; Scott Taylor, of Taylor Design Group, Inc., township planner; and CME Associates, affordable housing consultant. T he tow nship engineer in Evesham serves at the pleasure of Township Manager Robert Corrales, and Remington & Vernick Engineers, Inc. was appointed to the post by Corrales. Four firms will serve as recreation a nd special projects engi neers: T&M Associates, Consulting Engineering Services,

SOLAR

(Continued from Page 5) the liability landfill property from the town.” Gouin also noted that the firm is in a “race” to have the solar panels in the ground withi n t wo years of the ti me that its application to have the project included in the Tr a n sit ion Re newable Ene rg y Cre d it (TREC) state subsidy program gets approved. He contended that its participation in that program would make the solar farm property “a lot more valuable” and that there is no reason to think the project won’t be accepted, inasmuch as it involves redevelopment of a landfill site. G o u i n s a id t h e a d m i n i s t r a t io n of Democratic Governor Phil Murphy prioritizes these “dirty properties” for solar projects, as

Photo By Andrew King

Ginamarie Espinoza (left) is joined with her husband, George, and three-month-old child, Hazel Grace, while being administered the oath of office to Evesham Township Council.

Page 12 ♦

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Saturday, January 30, 2021

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