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FR
EE
November 14, 2020 – November 20, 2020
PILOTLESS IN A PANDEMIC
As COVID-19 Cases Increase, Pemberton Council Debates Need of In-Person Meetings Until Pandemic Controlled Councilwoman Contends Residents Have Contacted Her About Partaking Via Phone, Concerned Over Exposure
By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer
Photo By Douglas D. Melegari
Restored Open Space Funding Was Expected, But Ultimately Withheld from Pinelands Towns Due to New Jersey’s COVID-19 Financial Crisis By Andy Milone Staff Writer
NEW LISBON—Municipalities in the Pinelands are urging Democratic Governor Phil Murphy and the state Legislature to restore a withheld portion of funding designated for an open space preservation program that, before COVID-19, was expected to be fully reinstated for the first time since 2010. The decision was part of a revised fiscal year budget adopted at the end of September. Members of the Pinelands Municipal Council (made up of the mayors of the 53 municipalities in the Pinelands Area or their designees) have or are expected to have their respective governing bodies pass resolutions asking that these previously promised monies
for the Open Space Payments In-Lieu-of Taxes (PILOT) program, once known as Garden State Trust funding, be provided after many local finance departments had believed the projected revenue figures for the program put forth by the state earlier this year to be authentic. T h e s e p r o j e c t e d a m o u n t s we r e subsequently incorporated into many finalized budgets and tax rates, which later were certified by the state, with tens of thousands of dollars in additional revenue anticipated in many cases. One of the highest amounts of restored funds had been designated for Washington Township, which now stands to lose more than $370,000, according to a resolution passed by its governing body on Nov. 10.
Municipalities have not been receiving an estimated one-third of what was originally allotted under the Garden State Preservation Trust Act since 2010 when Republican Governor Chris Christie, faced with budgetary constraints, had to make cuts of his own. This year’s projected revenue figures had reinstated this funding, which serves as aid for towns with acres of untaxable preserved land owned by the state or a nonprofit conservancy. The Pinelands Municipal Council had met on Oct. 27 and adopted its own resolution asking for reconsideration to get the ball rolling. “For some municipalities, this is a lot of See PANDEMIC/ Page 9
PEMBERTON—Members of Pemberton Township Council are conflicted as to whether the legislative body, amidst the apparent “second wave” of the Coronavirus pandemic, should hold its meetings in-person, as is customary, or go back to doing them remotely for the time being as was done during the initial wave. In late March, when Democratic Governor Phil Murphy issued work-from-home and non-essential business closure mandates, the Pemberton Township Municipal Building shut its doors to the public. The township reopened its doors to the public in October, with a revamped facility that contains a number of pandemic safeguards, and in-person council meetings resumed at that time. Only one remote session, held on June 15, in the wake of protests over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, had five members of the public on the telephone line. The rest had three or less members of the public in attendance. “Some residents have conveyed to me their hesitancy to come here, even though we are distanced apart” said Councilwoman Elisabeth McCartney during a Nov. 4 council meeting. “But we know the direction of COVID nationally is not going in the right direction. … I know that when we did phone calls, not a lot of residents called in, but I am wondering if we, as a town council, should talk about considering going back to dial-in sessions during this time, because I don’t know that we can do both where See MEETINGS/ Page 9
INDEX Business Directory... 18
Games..........................11
Local News................. 2 Marketplace.............. 15
Christmas Countdown... 5
Job Board.....................16
Worship Guide.......... 14
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