PROPOSAL

quarterly payment.”

There is also this stipulation in the prospective agreement: “the compensation due hereunder is expressly conditioned upon the general level of construction activities and demand for related inspections in Woodland not exceeding levels experienced in Woodland during the two year-period preceding the term of this agreement.”

The prospective agreement specifies “Tabernacle is hereby designated primary employer” and “officials and inspectors and staff are employees of Tabernacle.”

What hasn’t yet been addressed is what will become of Woodland’s shared service agreement with Pemberton Borough for Boyd’s fire and plumbing subcode services, for which, according to the 2022 Woodland salary resolution, he earns an extra $10,000 annually.

The appearance of the prospective agreement on the Woodland July 26 committee agenda led to renewed Woodland resident complaints and questions about code enforcement issues in town, and Boyd’s responsiveness to resident queries, as well as time and attendance recordkeeping processes for the posts.

“I understand that the State of New Jersey is happy with that,” said Resident Terry Sheerin of the prospective shared services agreement. “But every time I requested that individual’s records and activity reports, I get, ‘There are no responsive records.’ … He is either not doing something, or not logging it in or not doing what he is supposed to do.”

Sheerin, on a couple of occasions on July 26, suggested that Boyd be paid “per diem” instead of the township “fully sharing services.”

“When he comes down here and works, let him log in and (that way) you know where he is and what he is doing,” Sheerin declared. “Because, if you look at the town right now, we have some issues, up on Route 72, and with the Hedger House, and Woodshed. There are some things going on that I think the code enforcement officer could have nipped in the bud had he been here. But the fact that I keep getting ‘no responsive records’ and ‘no existing records’ – that is troublesome. Either he is not keeping records, nobody is making sure he is keeping records, or he is just not doing it.” a mutually agreeable settlement of all claims subject of the litigation, including, but not limited to, the dismissal of all claims against the township with prejudice.”

Brown, when time and attendance recordkeeping for Boyd was raised back in 2019, contended there is no requirement that Boyd maintain a log.

It is further contended in the settlement resolution that “the Parkers and Friedmans further agreed to release the township from and against any and all past, present and future actions, claims, demands, causes of action (including all causes of action in tort), losses, damages, fees, penalties, fines, interest, liabilities, costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) of any and every kind of character, whether known, unknown, fixed, contingent, accrued, unaccrued, matured or unmatured, arising from, relating to, or connected in any way with the litigation.”

“Our office defended the township and provided proof in depositions and interrogatories that established, in our opinion, that the township had no liability in this matter, but the matter never went to trial,” Prime told this newspaper. “Eventually, the parties settled among themselves. The township did not admit any liability or pay any money or damages as a result of litigation.”

According to the prospective shared services agreement, while “Tabernacle shall maintain an office,” all “inspection records and business dealings pertaining to Woodland shall be maintained and conducted in Woodland.”

The construction official, it continues, “shall maintain hours of at least one hour per week at an office to be provided by Woodland,” with the “dates and times to be determined from time-to-time by the parties.”

As for “hours of service” to be provided by Boyd in Woodland, the agreement stipulates “services of the officials and inspectors and staff shall be provided during hours outside the regular business hours conducted within Tabernacle, except for the scheduling of inspections, which will be scheduled on an as needed basis.”

“Why isn’t the code enforcer required to be at meetings – Tom Boyd – to answer questions residents have for him?” asked Woodland resident Lisa Sabatini, who has, since the fall, called for code enforcement actions to be taken in the Lebanon Lakes section of Woodland, where she lives, and last month quipped that there are issues just not limited to there, but that exist throughout the entire town.

Woodland Mayor William “Billy” DeGroff replied that when Boyd “is in his office” Sabatini “can speak to him at that time,” causing Sabatini to retort, “you just disregarded my question!”

Initially, DeGroff responded that he “didn’t know of any meeting” Boyd attended previously, and then he expressed concern that it could “turn into a real wild” session should he make an appearance before the public.

“He may give an answer you may not agree with, and we are not going to be going back and forth,” DeGroff said. “If you have a question with Mr. Boyd, contact his office.”

That led Sabatini to quip, “he will never respond,” causing DeGroff to assert, “Tell us – I’d like to know if he doesn’t respond … I am serious.”

Sabatini put her query another way to the mayor: “If you guys are required to be here, why is he not required to be here?”

“Taxpayers have questions for him, directly, that you guys are not able to answer,” she declared.

DeGroff reiterated that one should “call his office,” which prompted Sabatini to press the mayor some more, asking, “You, as the mayor of the township, are not demanding he be here?”

The answer given by DeGroff was “no,” he is not going to present such a demand

/ Page 11 to Boyd, and that he is also not “going to argue back-and-forth” with Sabatini.

“My advice is to contact his office if you have a question,” DeGroff said. “If he doesn’t respond, let Maryalice, or myself, know.”

Sabatini, however, retorted that “you don’t respond either, sorry,” and it is “why I had to show up here.”

Boyd, effective Aug. 1, added another position under his belt. The Tabernacle committee, on July 31, following a closed session, accepted the resignation of Electrical Inspector Ed Micelli, and then voted to make Boyd Tabernacle’s “subcode official and township electrical inspector at $9,369 annually.” Burns pointed out during that session that Micelli also received $9,369 a year while in the post.

Previously, during a June 14 Woodland committee meeting, Brown announced “letters have gone out to all properties in Lebanon Lakes advising them of complaints we received … and that in 30 days code enforcement will be going through the neighborhood and issuing violations if their property is not up to the ordinance.”

“In regard to the Lebanon Lakes July 14 inspections, I didn’t see anything,” Sabatini declared. “Nobody else saw anything. Was this just to shake somebody up, scare them and hope it would be done?”

Sabatini received no answer.

As previously reported by this newspaper, Sabatini has also inquired multiple times about 115 Maple Drive, or what Brown previously recognized as an abandoned duplex. Officials ultimately sent out notices of violation, and then, in March, as Sabatini continued to inquire about the parcel, the Woodland committee met behind closed doors, according to executive session meeting minutes, and asked township staff to “send out a final violation letter” with it reportedly decided “if there is no response, take the owner to Superior Court and obtain a court order to demo.”

Brown, during the June 14 Woodland committee meeting, said that Township Solicitor William Burns “will be filing the paperwork for Superior Court.” When Sabatini asked what that means, Brown replied, “we are taking him to court to order him to demolish the property.”

On July 26, Brown, in giving an update since the last meeting, reported, “115 – we are working on getting that filed in court,” with Burns maintaining the complaint is scheduled to be filed in August, or possibly as late as September.

Burns added that in addition to his work to address the “unsafe structure,” he is “still moving forward with respect to two other land use issues” and “trying to find resolutions to those as well.”

Director

(Continued from Page 5) arms since day one” and “genuinely cares about her job and community, which is why she consistently goes above and beyond her duties to make sure Pemberton Township thrives.” Pittman appeared to become most emotional, however, as she listened to what a young lady by the name of Illissa Forman, another lifeguard, had to say about her impact.

“Nichole has changed me for the better,” the lifeguard said. “Since knowing her, I’ve gained more confidence, self-awareness and I am now sure of myself. During my first year of lifeguarding, I was shy and self-conscious. Nichole told me I needed to work on making calls and being louder. She encouraged me to be sure of myself in the coming season. I have applied it (these skills) at work, outside of the gates of Mirror Lake. She has given me a voice.”

The fourth lifeguard, who has worked for the township in that capacity for four years now, Robert Midura, described Pittman as a “major asset” and that “losing her would be detrimental to this community.”

“She is one of the most kind, caring, dedicated and compassionate individuals who puts 110 percent into the job,” he declared. “Since Nichole has taken over, there has been drastic improvements. She cares about feedback not only from employees, but the community members. The seasonal staff are more prepared to respond to an emergency.”

He then asserted, “Nichole Pittman has brought back what I remember Pemberton to be: a proud and loving community.”

Also attesting to Pittman bringing about drastic improvements, only on the other side of the spectrum, were Vicky Adams (readers may recognize her as an outspoken grandmother turned Pemberton Board of Education member) and Ebba Liguori (whom readers may recall at one time wrote columns about Pemberton senior citizen activities and trips, as well as the township’s Senior Center activities, prior to COVID).

Adams, in her day job, works for the township Senior Services, and her duties include serving as a bus driver.

“I started in 2018 under the former director, and during that time, I never felt appreciated, ideas were swept under the rug, and there was always conflict and nothing would happen,” she said. “When Nichole took over the position, my job became so much fun. The first thing she said is, ‘I am going to listen to you. We are going to help each other out like a team.’ I feel like part of that team now, whereas before, I always

See DIRECTOR/ Page 12 felt like an outsider.”

One of the ideas that Adams said was previously cast aside until Pittman became the head of Senior Services was offering bus trips for seniors to places like Historic Smithville and the Columbus Farmer’s Market. Now, she said, “we’ve been to Smithville and go to Columbus once a month.”

“We go to different things,” she said. “We went to the Sheriff’s Senior Expo. And these people so appreciate it.”

Liguori, a resident of Pemberton since 1975, declared of Pittman, “she works with the youth very well, but in addition she works with seniors exceedingly well.”

“It is important to have somebody who has both of these talents,” she contended. “Because the seniors are like little kids in a way (which provided for a light moment in an otherwise situation) and Nichole knows how to work with them. She comes into the center and makes everyone feel warm and welcomed. There were some people who didn’t come that often, but now that Nichole is there, she really has encouraged participation.”

A big advantage of having Pittman in charge, Liguori emphasized, is “people feel

“I really feel Nichole is a gift to the Senior Center and a gift to young people,” Liguori added. “The young people in this town deserve to have someone like Nichole in charge of the programs. Kids need extra help sometimes and Nichole is there to see it get accomplished. I recommend her very, very highly, for her to be continuing in her positions as both director of

Some of the most pointed words of the evening, which were directed at Tompkins, came from the youth that work for the Recreation Department.

And their remarks appeared to reveal a possible undercurrent to what has unfolded, related to the township administration having put out a press release a couple weeks ago threatening to shut down Mirror Lake Beach due to purported unruly juvenile behavior.

The lifeguard named Evelyn, in mentioning the Mirror Lake situation, described that “Nichole, (Recreation Leader) Kenny (Willitts) and Jen (Deeds) were the only ones that ensured our safety from the start,” adding “it is sad the township didn’t do anything about us lifeguards being catcalled, followed home and much more.”

“Nichole is the one who stood up for us,” she declared. “She stood up, took the initiative, and got the township involved. Furthermore, it deeply troubles me that the mayor made this decision to fire Nichole. Nichole has been an advocate for us, and our lifeguarding team, in the face of a challenging situation.”

The lifeguard, in emphasizing her point, quipped “it should mean something that a 17-year-old girl is telling you there is no chance Pemberton will be the same without her.”

Apparently, Tompkins had handed out “challenge coins” to some of the youth a few weeks back, with Forman bringing hers and laying it on the podium.

“If it wasn’t for Nichole, we would not have stood up at that meeting and spoken about the things that were happening to me and my fellow employees,” she said. “I can assure you many of us lifeguards who were working, were followed home, threatened, and even sexualized. And her advocacy is the reason why kids don’t harass us anymore, and she is the reason we are fully open and staffed.”

She called the action the mayor took against Pittman “immensely unfair,” before repeating that “Nichole encouraged me to use my voice” and that she will now “advocate for her until the very end” by using it.

Scott was blunter, however, who declared, “this is directed at our mayor,” before excoriating him for taking an action against Pittman.

“A few weeks ago, at our meeting, when you proposed to shut down Mirror Lake Beach and to move us to other locations to essentially run away from our misbehaving juveniles, I told you it was the stupidest idea anyone can think of,” she asserted. “Respectfully, I think you have managed to top that. Firing Nichole is just not your stupidest idea yet, it

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Tabernacle Township

NOTICE OF SALE OF VARIOUS REAL ESTATE PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT BY PUBLIC AUCTION

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:12-13, the Township of Tabernacle (“Township”) is the record owner of properties and equipment listed below. The Township has determined that the properties and equipment are not needed for public use and has authorized the sale of the Properties and equipment at public auction.

The public auction will be conducted by GovDeals, an online public auction site for the sale of governmental, educational and related entities surplus assets to the public.

Interested parties must register with GovDeals and may submit bids at https://www.govdeals.com/tabernaclenjre

Bids may be submitted, and the on-line auction will commence on Monday, August 21, 2023 and will continue until Thursday, October 12, 2023 per the online listing. The Township reserves the right to adjourn or cancel the sale.

PROPERTIES:

6. The sale of the Property shall be subject to other terms, conditions, restrictions and limitations contained in the Agreement of Sale, a copy of which is on the GovDeals auction site, and in the Tabernacle Township Clerks office.

7. The successful Bidder will be required to execute the Agreement of Sale and pay the required Ten Percent (10%) deposit to Tabernacle Township within forty-eight hours and prior to the date that Purchaser’s bid is accepted by Resolution adopted by the Tabernacle Township Committee. The $5,000 or $1000 bid fee will be applied on account of the required 10% deposit for the successful bidder. The successful bidder shall properly execute the Contract in the signature spaces at the end. Failure to execute the contract properly shall not affect the obligation of the successful bidder or the validity of the sale.

8. As set forth in the Agreement of Sale, the closing of title to the Property must take place within thirty (30) days from the date of the adoption of the Resolution by the Township Committee accepting the bid of the successful Bidder. In the event that the successful bidder shall fail to make settlement prior to thirty (30) days from the date that the bid is accepted, the deposit shall be forfeited as liquidated damages.

There will be two “open houses” when interested parties may inspect 81 Hawkin Road:

Friday, September 22, 2023, from 1 to 4 pm

Thursday, October 12, 2023, from 1 to 4 pm

ALL PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT ARE SOLD “AS IS”.

9. The Property is being sold in as “AS IS” “WHERE IS” conditions. Likewise, no representations are made as to the topographic condition of the Properties. The Properties are being sold subject to existing encumbrances, liens, easements, zoning ordinances, other restrictions of record, such facts as an accurate survey would reveal and any present or future assessments for the construction of improvements benefiting the Properties. The successful bidder is responsible for conducting any and all inspections and testing of the Properties at its own cost and expense, including but not limited to a survey. No representation is made by the Township as to the utility, usability, or environmental condition of the Properties, except as otherwise set forth herein.

10. As set forth in the Agreement of Sale, the governing body makes no warranties or representations of any kind or any manner concerning the title or condition of the property and building. No title contingencies or conditions are permitted. Title will be conveyed by Quitclaim Deed, to be recorded by the Township after closing. See the Agreement of Sale for all additional terms and conditions of sale.

11. The successful bidder shall also be responsible for an administrative fee in the amount of ONE PERCENT (1%) of the winning bid, which will be added to the winning bid. The Township will provide a settlement statement with the total amount due from the successful bidder prior to closing.

BID FEE: a bid fee of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000) is required in order to place a bid on 81 Hawkin Rd in this auction. A bid fee of One Thousand Dollar ($1,000) is required in order to place a bid on remaining properties and equipment in this auction The bid fee will be fully refunded if the Bidder does not win the auction. The bid fee shall be applied to the 10% deposit required by the successful Bidder at the time that the agreement of sale is signed.

AUCTION SOLD FEE: In addition to the purchase price to the Township, the successful bidder shall pay the GovDeals auction sold fee of FIVE PER CENT (5%) of the purchase price.

ADMINISTRATIVE FEE: In addition to the purchase price, the successful bidder shall pay a ONE PERCENT (1%) administrative fee to the Township for preparation of the deed, closing statement and recording fees.

TERMS OF SALE: The sale will be in accordance with the following terms and conditions and all bids must comply with the following requirements:

1. The Property will be sold subject to Federal State and Municipal Laws and Regulations, including applicable ordinances, easements, conditions, restrictions and rightsof-way of record and such facts as an accurate survey may disclose.

2. The minimum bid is listed for each property. No bid less than the minimum will be accepted by the Township. The highest bid in excess of the minimum bid price may be accepted by the Township.

3. Any party intending to bid shall be required to register at https://www.govdeals.com/tabernaclenjre and pay the Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) bid deposit for 81 Hawkin or the One Thousand Dollars ($1,000) for remaining property and equipment.

4. Anyone registering on behalf of a corporation or limited liability company must either submit a copy of a resolution of the corporation / company or a letter on corporate stationery, signed by an officer of the corporation, authorizing the bidder to bid on the property on the corporation’s behalf at the time of registration. A person bidding on behalf of a partnership or using a trade name must submit a copy of the certificate of trade name and a letter of authorization from the other partners at the time of registration.

5. The Township Committee does hereby reserve the right to reject any and all bids received, or to withdraw this offer to sell

12. The Township does not guarantee the construction of any road, water or sewer line, curb, gutter, sidewalk, drainage facility or other improvement on, at or near the property that is sold.

13. By submitting a bid, bidder certifies that bidder has not, directly or indirectly, entered into any agreement, discussions, or participated in any collusion or otherwise taken any action in restraint of free, competitive bidding for the above property.

14. By submitting a bid, Bidder certifies that Bidder has read and understood all of the conditions herein and agrees to same. Bidder further certifies that Bidder has had the opportunity to review all of the terms and conditions of the Agreement of, with an attorney of Bidders choosing, if desired, and agrees to same.

EXHIBITS:

This notice, along with copies of the Agreement of Sale, is on file with the Tabernacle Township Clerk, 163 Carranza Rd, Tabernacle, NJ 08088 and may be reviewed during regular business hours, and on the GovDeals auction site.

It is suggested and recommended that potential bidders perform title searches and/or last owner and lien searches on the property prior to the date of their bid submission in order that the potential bidder may be adequately apprised of any encumbrances or restrictions of record affecting the use and enjoyment of the Properties. It is further suggested and recommended that potential bidders exercise due diligence with respect to every statement of facts, including open permits, local fines, penalties, taxes, assessments, etc., which may not be of record, but which may nonetheless affect the use and enjoyment of the Properties. The Township of Tabernacle shall not be responsible for the costs associated with such searches in the event that the Township is unable to convey title and/or if a bid is rejected.

The Township has compiled this Notice to benefit prospective Bidders. To the best of the Township’s knowledge, the information contained in this Notice is accurate. The Township and any of its officials, officers, employees, assigns, designees, agents or contractors shall not assume any liability for inaccuracies and respectfully instructs all interested parties to independently verify this information. Maryalice Brown, RMC

Clerk/Administrator

Director

(Continued from Page 12) is a disservice to our community!”

The youth, however, were not alone in condemning Tompkins. The older adults in the room had some pointed words for the mayor as well, taking him to task for his reportedly having used an untoward word in an exchange with Pittman, in addition to his later defense given to the Pine Barrens Tribune, pointing to his military background, and contending he has the right to “freedom of speech,” has a “constitutional right” and that “while some people may hold it against me,” or his choice of using a word, “I don’t see it in the Constitution where certain words, you are not allowed to say it.”

Resident Patrick Moran, who said he and his family came to know Pittman as “the face of the township” with her having been the first to welcome them to the community, called “how she was talked to,” based on the reports and hearsay, “disgusting.”

“I manage 300 employees and I can’t talk to my employees like that,” he said. “I can’t imagine talking like that in the middle of an event. This is one of the best departments I have ever been involved in, and it is a disgrace if you fire her … it is absolutely disgusting. … It is insulting to the families involved in everything.”

Satisfied that all that needed to be stated about Pittman was said, the final public commentor of the evening, William Lange, declared, “What I want to address is the purported language that was used.”

“Whether it is free speech or not, that sort of language should not be used when you are addressing an employee,” Lange asserted. “I feel that person, who supposedly used that language, owes Nichole an apology, and also, every man, woman, and child of this town. He did not set any type of good example. And maybe council should censor him, if they have that ability, for using that type of language in a public forum.”

Lange received loud applause from the crowd. Tompkins did not publicly address the crowd at any point during the meeting. At the start of the council session, Bayer asserted, “I am advising council, the mayor and business administrator – we should not be discussing this matter publicly. Certainly, the public has the right to express their opinions, but council should not respond to any comments, and there should be no back and forth, given we are here for a personnel matter.”

Initially, when the council convened its closed session in a conference room next door to council chambers, it met alone for about 20 minutes with Bayer.

Then, the door opened, and Bayer summoned Pittman and her lawyer, R. Armen McOmber, a civil trial attorney from Monmouth County, who has a history of successfully handling high-profile employment rights and discrimination cases, to the conference room.

After Pittman and McOmber exited the conference room nearly a half-hour later, Tompkins and Hornickel were summoned by Bayer to speak privately with council (the members of the administration were initially excluded from the executive session).

Traditionally, when governing bodies convene closed sessions, particularly of length, the public leaves, with perhaps the exception of a few people. But notably, this time around, most of the public stayed, conversing in various parts of council chambers and in the hallway. One woman told this newspaper those who gathered were “determined” to support Pittman and wanted to see that she stays in her position.

Upon returning to the dais, Democratic Council President Donovan Gardner made a motion “adding” a resolution to the agenda, “disapproving of the mayor’s decision to remove Nichole Pittman as the director of Recreation and Senior Services.” After the item was added to the agenda in a bi-partisan fashion, the vote occurred, with it also being bi-partisan and unanimous, and it noted in the resolution “removal of a department head becomes legally effective in 20 days unless the council adopts a resolution by a two-thirds vote,” meaning Pittman stays at her post.

The crowd erupted with loud applause and cheers, while Pittman immediately embraced a senior citizen supporter sitting to her left. One particular clause in the resolution that Gardner appeared to emphasize in reading it aloud, states, “the parties are strongly encouraged to work together in the future in a professional and courteous manner.”