Shamong Limits Number of Coin-Drop Fundraisers at Intersection to Twelve Per Year and Also Sets Age Limit, Limit for Organizations

By D ouglas D. M elegari Staff Writer

SHAMONG—Following concerns having been expressed that a widely-traveled intersection in Shamong Township was becoming a “nickel toll” or “quarter toll” of sorts due to a number of organizations holding coin-drop fundraisers there, the Shamong Township Committee has now acted to limit the number of events that can be held at the intersection each year, as well as have implemented an age limit for collectors and set restrictions on the number of such events organizations can hold there annually.

According to Township Solicitor Doug Heinold, an ordinance governing “charitable contributions at specified intersections” in the township, which passed during a July 11 committee session, “limits entities from holding no more than two events per year” at the intersection of Oakshade and Indian Mills roads and specifies that “no more than 12 events will occur at that intersection, per year.”

“Hopefully, this strikes the right balance, so that we have an ability for people to make these requests and hold these events, while also not overburdening residents who are using that intersection on a regular basis,” Heinold declared.

The ordinance also notes that the fourway stop intersection of Oakshade and Indian Mills roads is “designated as the approved intersection for the solicitation of charitable contributions” out of all the intersections that exist within the municipality.

Heinold explained that the township is still allowing for there to be fundraisers at this particular intersection, to some degree, because it is “designated as a four-way stop” intersection and “because of the fact there is good visibility there,” in addition to the fact that the “roads are aligned at 90-degree angles as opposed to other spots in town.”

Committeeman Chris Zehnder, in referring to the aforementioned limits, called them “practical.”

Heinold noted that “one other requirement” that has been placed on any coin-drop fundraising at the intersection is that “those participating in the coin drop must be over 18 years of age.”

As previously reported by this newspaper, the Indian Mills Pirette’s Softball Team, back in May, had turned in a request to hold a coin-drop fundraiser at the intersection, but it was tabled.

“The softball team agreed youth should not be at the intersection collecting coins,” Heinold said. “I think that (age restriction) addresses the concerns of the committee.”

Zehnder maintained it is “great” that the township is “limiting this to individuals 18 years or older” because “we all love children, and sometimes they do crazy things and don’t understand the consequences.” He described that by having children in the road collecting coins at the intersection, it can pose a “scary situation” and that in the past he has “seen kids goofing around on that road” and that one “doesn’t know what they are going to do.”

Overall, he said, the law “strikes a nice balance,” noting “all we see in the news is that pedestrian accidents are way up.”

Proposal to ‘Set Forth More Substantial Process’ for Obtaining Approvals to Demo Log Cabins in Medford Lakes Introduced, But Who Has Final Say is Question That Remains Unresolved Matter, Requires Additional Review

By D ouglas D. M elegari

Staff Writer

MEDFORD LAKES—A proposed ordinance that would “set forth a more substantial process” for property owners to obtain approvals to demolish existing log cabins in Medford Lakes Borough’s Historic District has now been formally introduced by Medford Lakes Borough Council, with there currently being two separate versions of the measure that differ in establishing who has the authority to grant any approvals.

According to the latest remarks on the draft measure by Borough Solicitor Doug Heinold, the borough’s existing demolition ordinance is “very short” and “doesn’t provide a lot of guidance as to the standards” that should be applied by the borough Planning Board when deciding any approval. The borough’s demolition ordinance, he declared, “could be a lot stronger.”

“This is acting on a request from the board, and the governing body has agreed that they wanted to see something that would set forth a more substantial process and really make it clear as to what is to be considered in the case of a demolition and the standards to be applied,” said Heinold during borough council’s July 12 session. “This has been researched, and also been brought to the Planner’s office of Alaimo Associates. They did a review of what has happened historically in terms of prior planning in Medford Lakes.”

The solicitor maintained the findings showed Medford Lakes “has a lot of good planning already in place,” including a prepared “list of recognized historic structures,” in addition to an existing Historic Preservation Commission.

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(Continued from Page 1) unanimously adding a resolution to the agenda, and then passing it 5-0 in a bipartisan fashion, “disapproving of the mayor’s decision to remove Nichole Pittman as the director of Recreation and Senior Services.”

A “determined” crowd of all age groups, blocs, and ethnicities, one that just wasn’t standing room-only, but extended well beyond the doors of the council chambers, erupted into applause and cheers as the vote concluded, all while Pittman’s initial reaction, upon hearing the verdict, embraced a senior citizen who came out to support her in her endeavor to keep her job.

Council’s decision, given that GOP Mayor Jack Tompkins’ 2022 Republican running mates Dan Dewey and Josh Ward joined together with the Democratic majority to oppose the mayor’s action to “remove Ms. Pittman from the position of the director of Recreation and Senior Services,” played out as had been exactly intended, according to a high-level Republican source: “to put him (the mayor) in his place.”

Tompkins, who simply looked on as the decision was handed down, but appeared to be increasingly tense, when later approached by this reporter for his reaction, said, “no comment … no comment.” He said nothing on the record during the proceedings.

As previously reported by this newspaper, the mayor’s action against Pittman, which came in the form of a July 13 letter to the director, was purportedly initiated in the wake of an ugly dispute that played out between the two at the township’s July 8 Water Carnival, one in which the mayor has been described by sources as having

“It is just a matter of amending the precise provisions,” Heinold maintained.

However, a “question that has come up” is which body will get to “make the ultimate determination” in granting an approval for a demolition: Should it be either the planning board or commission?

The ordinance, as currently drafted, “provides for a methodology where the Historic Preservation Commission makes the decision, and in the event that it denies a permit for a demolition, the applicant has the right to appeal it to the planning board.”

Another option circulated, Heinold revealed, is that the Historic Preservation Commission would simply give an advisory opinion on a demolition application, and that “everything gets sent to the planning board for a final determination.”

Either way, Heinold maintained, “is legally fine.”

“I think the thinking on the first methodology is that the Historic Preservation Commission is likely to be stricter than the board just because of the makeup of the board, and also because they are focused on historic preservation,” Heinold said. “So, by their voting to allow a demolition, I am not so sure it needs to go to the board. But if you wanted everything to ultimately go to the board, the second version is the way to go.” dropped the F-bomb during the course of, and resulted in the mayor later telling this reporter “there may have been a word used” and pointing to “freedom of speech” and the U.S. Constitution.

It was said that both versions of the proposed ordinance would be taken to the commission and planning board to obtain their feedback on it.

“I think we should have the opportunity to review this more thoroughly and get our thoughts back to you,” responded Dr. Gary Miller, mayor of Medford Lakes, of borough council.

Resident Justine Miller, among those representing the local Girl Scout Troop, put it this way to officials: “How could someone, going above and beyond their job description, who has never been written up or spoken to, suddenly get terminated?”

(Tompkins, last week, indicated that a demotion was the potential action being taken, rather than an all-out termination.)

Miller was among nearly a half-dozen people, from all walks of life, who spoke favorably of Pittman as witnesses to her character during a more than half-hour long public comment period, prior to council convening a closed-door session to discuss the director’s position.

Miller contended that the “treatment of Nichole” was both “utterly despicable and unfair.”

“For 17 years, this woman has led the way for positive change for Pemberton Township,” she declared. “She has been the backbone to the awesome events and programs offered in this community. I have been here for 16 years, and over that time, I have attended countless community events arranged by Nichole. These events never disappoint. She has done her job – and done her job very well. Without her, I fear we would not have successful events any longer.”

Miller described that during the Coronavirus pandemic, when several normal gathering places for the Scouts were closed, Pittman was the “first person” to respond to a call for help, arranging for the Scouts to be able to meet at a firehouse in

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(Continued from Page 4) the Country Lakes section of the township.

“Without her, we would not have been able to serve the young girls of this town,” Miller asserted. “The Girl Scouts and leaders of our community are here to stand with her today. We can only return the favor to offer her support for all the years she has supported us. She is an asset to the community.”

The first person to offer praise of Pittman and attest to her character was Paula Kosko, Pemberton’s first recreation director from 2002 to 2007. Both during that time and afterwards, Pittman, it was described, rose through the ranks of the department.

“For the 10 years Nichole and I worked together, she learned the details and responsibilities of the position of the director by being an integral part of the team,” Kosko said. “She is capable. She is a hard worker. She loves the Pemberton community and the people she works for. I assure you it is her privilege to serve the residents of Pemberton Township every single day. In the 10 years I worked with Nichole, there was not a single disciplinary action or performance concern when she was there. Her work ethic was on point. She is an asset to this township and has worked very hard through the department as the clerk, coordinator and now director.”

Sources previously told the Pine Barrens Tribune newspaper that the dispute at the carnival between Pittman and Tompkins unfolded after a thunderstorm had prompted Tompkins to order vendors setting up for the event to shelter indoors, and that the mayor would not allow anyone to shelter in their vehicles.

Upon the storm clearing, Tompkins, according to the sources, began directing vendors where to set up. But Pittman intervened, having already worked out those details, the sources said, contending Pittman is “very organized.” The dispute was, in part, over Pittman “not backing down to his desires” and unfolded simply because the “mayor didn’t like that she was not listening to him,” sources reported.

“As past director, I can attest the position comes with a great deal of responsibility, coordination, relationship building and stress,” Kosko told council, as Tompkins, sitting alongside Business Administrator Daniel Hornickel, looked on. “There are many challenges that come with running large scale events that the public does not know about or sees. It is extremely stressful with many, many moving parts. There needs to be a well-versed, well-followed order of decision making and chain of command, especially for the purpose of managing unexpected weather events. There must be collaborative decision making.”

Praise was also extended on Pittman by current Recreation Department employees, including Program Assistant Jen Deeds, who in pointing out that Pittman began serving in the director post a year-and-a-half ago, said, “just for that year and a half, all that she has initiated for our community has been outstanding.”

“I implore you to keep her with what she has been able to accomplish and what she can do for our future,” Deeds declared.

“This department and community need her as its director. The Rec Department is something that our community needs, but with Nicole as director.”

Pittman, seated in the back of council chambers amid her family and supporters, often appeared to be holding back tears as the accolades piled on, but especially when a quartet of young lifeguards described how she has changed their lives for the better.

One, named Evelyn, called it a “privilege” to not only work under Pittman’s leadership over the last two years, but even during the course of junior lifeguarding.

“Nichole is inspiring to me as a young girl,” she said. “I truly do look at her as a role model, wanting to help out our community as much as she has done. As someone who actually has a job in the Recreation Department, I have even more admiration for her. She is the ‘foundation of Pemberton.’ She puts more work into this community than anyone I know. I can wholeheartedly say she treats us like her own kids. It is her nurturing and caring nature that has made this lifeguard team turn into family. Our loyalty for Nichole in the Recreation Department is unwavering. Many of us choose this (job) because of her, knowing that under her guidance, we can make a difference and save lives.”

Pittman, she added, “genuinely cares about her job and community, which is why she consistently goes above and beyond her duties to make sure Pemberton Township thrives.” A second lifeguard, Mackenzie Scott, who is stationed at Mirror Lake Beach and is also a waterfront leader for the department, maintained “Nichole welcomed me with open

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