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Vol. 3 – No. 45 ♦
@PineBarrensNews
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The News Leader of the Pines
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FR
EE
July 6, 2019 – July 12, 2019
Request to Alter Nitrate Dilution Requirements Leads to Dispute Southampton Committeeman Wishes to Ease Standards to Spur Commercial Growth
Photo Submitted
Nancy McGinnis, center left, stands next to husband and campaign manager, Jack McGinnis, and poses for a family photo with the rest of her family.
By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer
MCGINNIS MIRACLE Former General Store Co-Owner Wins Tabernacle GOP Primary After Recount Finds Provisional Ballot Was Wrongly Disqualified and Machine Count of Mail-In Ballots After Election Was Incorrect
By Mark Hatoff
For the Pine Barrens Tribune
TABERNACLE —A GOP primary election held last month in Tabernacle Township, for two open seats on the Tab er na cle Tow nsh ip Com m it t e e, has proven that every vote, and due diligence, matters. Nancy McGinnis, who was the coowner of Nixon’s General Store in town for 35 years with her husband, Jack, until
selling the business last June, has defeated 18-year Committeeman Joseph Yates IV in an incredible comeback win of sorts. “On Election Night, I had a 37-vote lead, and by morning, with mail-in ballots received thus far counted, I was losing by four votes,” McGinnis said. “After the 48hour deadline passed for mail-in ballots postmarked by election day, I was losing by one vote. At the behest of my family, friends, and supporters I asked for a
recount that took place on June 26.” The new vote tally following the recount indicated 355 votes were cast for Robert Sunbury Jr., Tabernacle’s emergency management coordinator, 297 votes were cast for Nancy McGinnis and 296 votes were cast for Yates. The recount was ordered on June 24 by Superior Court Assignment Judge Ronald Bookbinder, just days before his retirement See MIRACLE/ Page 23
SOU T H A M P TON —A Sout ha mpton Township committeeman’s efforts to have the municipality’s nitrate dilution ordinance revised to “exclude properties in commercial and/or business and industrial zones,” so that commercial businesses won’t potentially face excessive septic system expenses when looking to establish or expand facilities in town, led to a “loud” and sometimes personal, public dispute last month. Ultimately, the Southampton Township Committee passed a motion, 4-1, directing its attorney to draft an ordinance that would exclude such properties from the existing law, also commonly referred to as the High-Quality Groundwater Act. Committeeman Bill Raftery, who during the June 18 committee meeting called on the committee to simply pass a motion to amend the nitrate dilution ordinance after having some debate, said that the law is one of several that is “handicapping” the development of commercial properties in Southampton. He contended that exempting commercial real estate from the nitrate requirements would provide for “an opportunity” for the town “to raise revenue.” After explaining that the municipality has not raised taxes for two years in a row, maintains a balanced budget this year and “enjoys a significant surplus,” Raftery said that it was time for the committee to address the “income end of what a township does” and increase its See NITRATE/ Page 22
INDEX Community........................ 10 Hobbyist............................ 15 Marketplace....................... 18 Dental Column................... 14 Job Board.......................... 19 Opinion................................ 9 Health................................ 13 Leo the Lion Challenge....... 5 Senior Column................... 10 Here's My Card.................. 16 Local News.......................... 4 Worship Guide................... 11
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