Pine Barrens Tribune August 21, 2021-August 27, 2021

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Vol. 5 – No. 46 ♦

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FR EE

August 21 - August 27, 2021

Skateboarding Buffs Ask Medford to Give ‘Phase 2’ of Skatepark Priority over Pickleball

‘OUT OF CONTROL’ Primarily teenagers and young adults gather at Ski Beach on Aug. 6.

Photos By Douglas D. Melegari

Residents, Local Officials Describe ‘Unbelievable’ Speeding, Racing and Road Rage on Streets of Washington Twp., While Mullica River Becomes a ‘Frenzy’ with Fights, Jet Skis Moving at High Rates of Speed, Party Boats and Beach-Turned-‘Party Central’

By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer

WA S H I N G T O N — P u r p o r t e d lawbreaking on the roads of Washington Township, as well as on the Mullica River, a waterway that serves as the boundary

b et we e n Bu rl i ng ton a nd At la nt i c Counties, or between Washington and Egg Harbor City/Mullica Township, has now reached the point where it has spiraled “out of control,” according to both township residents and officials,

who have voiced concerns at the last several Washington Township Committee meetings that it is only a matter of time before someone is killed, unless something See RACING/ Page 8

By Bill Bonvie Staff Writer

MEDFORD—An ongoing campaign to have a skatepark in Medford Township’s Freedom Park upgraded and expanded, prior to the building of four previously-approved pickleball courts for the park, is resulting in a kind of classic generational division between enthusiasts of two increasingly trendy but very different forms of recreation.

On one side are pickleball proponents, who mostly tend to be middle-aged and older folks trying to either hold onto or revive their athletic agility by engaging in what has been described as a kind of hybrid between tennis and ping pong, involving generally less strain on the body than the former. In Medford Township, pressure from residents who wanted pickleball facilities made available to them resulted in an allocation being included in the 2020-21 budget for the courts, which are now in the planning phase.

See SKATEPARK/ Page 6

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Saturday, August 21, 2021

House That Flipper Once Tried to Rehabilitate in Woodland Demoed Through Emergency Order at $43,600 Due to Lean

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Rubble that remained on Aug. 3 from the demolition of a home at 4007 County Route 563 (which has since been taken away).

By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer

WOODLAND—A home built in the downtown Chatsworth section of Woodland Township in 1874, which became the source of much controversy in 2019 when a flipper attempted to rehab it, with municipal officials subsequently claiming it was “ready to fall down” and presenting an imminent danger to anyone who enters it, and that his work to make repairs was further jeopardizing its structural integrity, has been “demoed.”

The demolition occurred sometime b e t w e e n t h e Wo o d l a n d Tow n s h i p Committee’s July 28 meeting and Aug. 3.

A pile of rubble that remained on Aug. 3 from the demolition at 4007 County Route 563 has since been removed, with straw now covering grass seed that has since been planted where the foundation once stood.

It had just been days earlier, on July 28, that the Woodland Township Committee u n a n i mou s ly ap p rove d a “s p e c i a l , emergency appropriation” of $43,600 to raze the dwelling, with Township Engineer Tom Leisse certifying at the time to Township Solicitor William Burns that the condition of the home had reached a point where “persons and property are in danger.”

“The condition of the home is now significantly unsafe, is now a danger to persons and property, and the public safety concerns raised (warrant) its immediate and emergent attention,” contended Burns on Aug. 3 in explaining the need for the governing body to award an emergency contract of $43,600 to All J’s Demolition Service, the lone bidder for the project.

Tow nsh ip Clerk Mar yal ic e Brow n previously contended at a Nov. 26, 2019, Woodland committee meeting that the home was “ready to fall down” and that the municipality was dealing with an “urgent situation” as it could fall on a neighboring home. The property, as previously declared by officials, is a non-conforming lot, and is only 50-foot-wide. The foundation of the home had abutted the neighboring property given the location of it on the lot.

The house, however, never fell in the nearly two years that had passed since Brown’s remarks.

But recently, according to Brown on July 28, the adjoining homeowner brought photographs to municipal officials at town hall “showing that the house is starting to lean a little bit more,” leading officials to believe “it is getting a little more precarious.”

Leisse noted on July 28 that the “initial thought” of officials, after receiving only one bid recently for the demolition, was to “rebid due to the appropriations the township took out for the job,” but “based on recent reports

of the deteriorating nature and condition of the structure, and that it appears it is starting to lean toward the neighboring property,” it is “creating an imminent need that needs to get done, or demoed.”

Brown noted that given a “special, emergency appropr iation” had b e en approved July 28 by the governing body for the demolition, the state will allow the municipality to make up for the cost of the demolition in next year’s municipal budget.

Some $14,000 of the total cost, she said, will come out of next year’s budget.

Leisse contended that if officials waitied any longer, or sought another round of bids, there would be “no guarantee the township would get any better pricing,” all as the condition of the structure “could further deteriorate” during that time.

Farwez Ali, who tried to flip the home after purchasing it, a civil engineer who said he had migrated from The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago to the U.S. over 40 years ago, previously claimed to this newspaper that he had found the home to be “structurally sound,” though he added it requires a “substantial” amount of work.

A l i h a d m a i nt a i n e d t h at s eve r a l circumstances, including Brown previously expressing her belief at a Woodland committee meeting that he was cutting holes in a wall of the home to make it fall down faster, were the result of someone very powerful in town working behind the scenes with the township’s code enforcement officer, Tom Boyd, to see that the home is removed.

There were also allegations made by Ali that suggested possible discrimination might be involved. Burns previously called Ali’s statements “false” and “defamatory.”

Boyd issued a notice of stop-work to Ali on June 5, 2019. On Aug. 6, 2019, Boyd issued a Notice of Unsafe Structure, and gave Ali until Aug. 30 of that year to resolve the purported issues. But Ali walked away, and the matter went to court, with the flipper contending he had already taken a $40,000 loss. Boyd disputed the integrity of hand drawn architectural plans submitted by the flipper.

Ali, as he disputed the township’s position, listed the home for sale, along with his business partner, on Facebook for $16,000, which Brown previously said had generated “beaucoup calls” to the township with “tons of interest” in it.

Burns, during a committee meeting in March of this year, reported that in regards to 4007 Route 563, the “(now) former property owner entered into a settlement with the township” where he issued a “partial payment to the township for back taxes owed” and “transferred the property to the township.”

See DEMOED/ Page 15

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Saturday, August 21, 2021

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Pemberton Decides to Offer Limited 5-Year Tax Abatement to Those Who Improve Their Dwellings, Businesses in Town, or Construct New Homes, Commercial/Industrial Structures

By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer

PEMBERTON—A program that gives both residents and businesses of Pemberton Township, meeting certain criteria, a “limited” five-year tax abatement for reinvesting into their properties has been approved by Pemberton Township Council.

The program, approved by council on June 3, will expire in 2026.

“If a home is of a certain age and needs some upgrades to bring it up to code, or it is expanded with an addition, we would encourage that by not taxing them right out of the gate for the value of the improvements that they make,” said Business Administrator Daniel Hornickel in explaining the purpose of the program at a recent council meeting.

“Similarly, if a business were to be expanded in the township (or improved), with an owner adding more square footage, rehabilitating its façade, or bringing it up to code, they would not automatically pay a higher tax bill on those improvements.”

A copy of the ordinance enacting the program, provided to this newspaper earlier this month by Hornickel, states that improvements to dwellings more than 20 years old, improvements to multiple dwellings (or the conversion of a building into a multiple dwelling use), as well as improvements to commercial and industrial structures, are projects that are eligible for partial tax exemptions.

Additionally, construction of new dwellings, or new commercial and industrial structures, are projects that are also eligible for partial tax exemptions, the ordinance states.

The adjusted tax assessment over the

five-year period is based on the use of the qualifying structure.

A business in the Urban Enterprise Zone (UEZ) [which comprises the entire township], for example, according to Hornickel, would pay taxes for the first year after making improvements at the same rate it did before making them. Thereafter, in the second year, it would pay 20 percent of the value in improvements, 40 percent in the third year, 60 percent in the fourth year and 80 percent in the last year. Then, after five years, it would “pay the full value of the upgraded, improved property.”

Those interested in learning more about the scope of projects eligible for partial tax exemptions, and the eligibility requirements for the program, can contact the township and request Ordinance 20-2021.

“There are a number of towns throughout the state that do this,” Hornickel maintained.

“We looked at some of the ordinances from other towns, and we are encouraged by the results. Our director of Community Development had experiences with this program, and he thinks it is something that could help encourage residents to reinvest in their homes, and businesses.”

Officials in Pemberton Township recently launched a code enforcement campaign to ensure compliance with the law, after receiving several complaints about unkept properties. Town officials are hoping that causing improvements to be made to properties in town will have a domino effect, or provide for a better quality of life and attract more businesses, which in turn could provide for more job opportunities See ABATEMENT/ Page 5

LOCAL NEWS / FEATURES

♦ Page 3

Permits for Building of ATM Given Through Waiver to Tenant of Medford Center Despite Oversight, Landlord’s Unpaid Taxes

Medford Shopping Center.

By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer

MEDFORD—Security Vault Works, a firm aiming to construct a “free-standing” Chase Bank ATM machine at Medford Shopping Center, and working in tandem with the New York City-based banking institution, has been provided with zoning and construction permits through a waiver granted by Medford Township Council, after it ran into a snafu earlier this year in obtaining them due to the owner of the center falling behind on property tax payments by “over $115,000.”

Under Medford code, such permits are not allowed to be issued to an applicant unless a certification is retained from the township tax collector that “no taxes or assessments for local improvements are due, or delinquent, on the ‘property’ for which the permit has been made.”

“Ordinarily,” according to Township Solicitor Timothy Prime, the certification is requested by the municipality before an application is heard by the township Planning Board, but in this particular case, “that was not done” and the public body “proceeded

Photo By Douglas D. Melegari

to approve the project” and it “went through the planning process,” before the oversight was found.

It was “just one of those things that happened” due to the Coronavirus pandemic, Prime maintained, adding that “our folks didn’t do anything wrong.”

Augusta O’Neill, an attorney representing Security Vault Works, explained to Medford council on July 20 that she submitted an application for the ATM last summer, “finally got to a hearing” in December 2020, which carried over to January of this year, and then was provided with a resolution memorializing the approval for the project in March.

“It wasn’t until three months after that (resolution) when we became aware of the outstanding taxes,” she maintained, noting that during the approval process, numerous conversations were had with township officials, but the issue had never been raised.

O’Neill asked the council for “leniency” or “some kind of exception,” maintaining her client was “out of remedies at this point.”

“Chase has spent well over six figures on See PERMITS/ Page 5

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Suspected Rabid Racoon(s) Reportedly Attacks People in Green Bank, While Attacked Animals in Adjacent Mullica Test Positive for Rabies

By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer

WASHINGTON—A racoon (perhaps more than one) that has reportedly attacked various people in the Green Bank section of Washington Township, Burlington County, as well as a fox seen fighting with a dog in the backyard of a home in neighboring Mullica Township, Atlantic County, in addition to a cat that was found in distress in the latter municipality, has both Washington Township and Atlantic County officials issuing rabies alerts.

In the Mullica cases, the dog and cat were sent to the state lab for testing where they were later confirmed positive for rabies, according to a statement from Linda Gilmore, public information officer of Atlantic County.

Gilmore told this newspaper that the two cases in Mullica represent the fourth and fifth in Atlantic County this year. Previous cases, she said, have included two bats and a raccoon.

A homeowner, she said, in the 3300 block of Moores Avenue in Mullica found a fox fighting with his dog in his backyard on Aug. 5, and subsequently sought medical attention for the pet.

The following day, two individuals came across a feral cat in distress, found in the 4900 block of Moss Mill Road in Mullica.

“Both animals were sent to the state lab for testing where they were later confirmed positive for rabies,” Gilmore said. “An investigation by the Atlantic County

Division of Public Health has determined no known human exposures in the case involving the fox, however the homeowner’s dog, that was previously vaccinated, received a vaccination booster shot and has been placed under a 45-day informal confinement as a precautionary measure.”

A c ouple of d ays after G i l more’s announcement, Washington officials posted on their website that “we have been notified that a raccoon(s) has attacked various people in the Green Bank area and may be rabid,” urging that residents “do not go near the animal.” The public was also urged to contact Animal Control at 609-296-0675 or New Jersey State Police at 609-296-3131 “if you see anything” out of the ordinary.

“Don’t go near the animal(s), if at all possible,” officials in Washington pleaded with the public. “Please protect your animals.”

Gilmore pointed out that rabies is a viral disease that can be fatal if left untreated.

“Public health officials advise residents to teach your children to stay away from wild, stray or aggressive animals,” she said.

“Never feed or touch wild animals, or try to keep them as pets. If you are bitten by an animal, wash the wound immediately with soap and water and seek medical attention.

“Residents are also reminded that rabies vaccinations are important not only to provide protection for pets, but to also help protect the pet owner and their family members from contracting the disease from an infected pet.”

See RABIES/ Page 15

Man Shot in Sunbury Village Reportedly Not Cooperating With Police, in Addition to Possible Eyewitnesses to Crime PEMBERTON—A shooting in the Sunbury Village section of Pemberton Township has left a man injured – one that police learned about after stopping a vehicle “traveling in an unsafe manner” on Pemberton-Browns Mills Road and speaking with its occupants, including the victim.

The shooting is believed to have occurred in the 140 block of Kinsley Road, around 12:38 p.m. on Aug. 17, ac cording to Pemberton Township Police spokesman Lt. Jay Watters.

A very short time thereafter, officers stopped a motor vehicle, which was traveling in an unsafe manner, according to Watters, on Pemberton-Browns Mills Road, and upon speaking with its occupants, “learned that the front seat passenger was suffering from a gunshot wound to the side of his torso” and that “the operator of the vehicle was taking the victim” to an emergency room, Capital Health at Deborah, in the Browns

Mills section of Pemberton.

The victim, he said, was then transported by officers to the hospital for treatment.

“Through the course of the investigation, it was determined that the shooting had occurred in the 140 block of Kinsley Road,” Watters said.

“At this time, both the victim and potential witnesses in the area are being uncooperative.”

The lieutenant encourages anyone that may have witnessed the incident, or has information about it, to contact police at 609-894-3310, or by using the confidential tip line at 609-894-3352.

The shooting is the first one since Pemberton Township implemented a new traffic pattern in the village with the hope that it would deter crime, including shootings, which have been plaguing the neighborhood, off PembertonBrowns Mills Road, for several years.

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Saturday, August 21, 2021

Woodland Township Website to be Upgraded for $8,700 While Tax Maps Will be Updated for $150K Over 5 Years Committeeman Also Proposes Purchase of Used Equipment for Snow Removal to Reduce Man Hours, Provide Efficiency

By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer

WOODLAND—A major overhaul of Woodland Township’s website for $8,700 has been unanimously authorized by the Woodland Township Committee.

The upgrade authorization was given by the governing body during its July 28 workshop meeting.

“It is not a secret that our website is not exactly up to snuff and definitely could use some improvements,” contended Township Administrator/Clerk Maryalice Brown.

“Come to find out, in talking to the support department with the website (vendor), they have a whole new upgrade available to us.”

Brown contended that the upgrade for $8,700 provides for a carousel (a slider that displays multiple images or content in a single space), 100 percent American with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance, and mobile viewing.

Currently, she said, “we don’t get all the functionality on a mobile device.”

The $8,700 upgrade will also allow for easier accessibility to meeting agendas, meeting minutes, the township codebook (which is currently in the process of being created so it can be viewed online), as well as provide for the ability for meeting recordings to be posted online, Brown maintained.

“It (the new design available) has a much nicer look to it,” Brown contended. “I think we are all in agreement that the website right now is not attractive. This upgrade is much more visually appealing, and you can change pictures. It has nice features on it.”

An upgrade design for $6,700 was also an option presented to the township, but Mayor William “Billy” DeGroff contended that, “If you are going to upgrade, you might as well upgrade to the best for only $2,000 more.”

Brown noted the website vendor, Gov Office, will bill the township for the upgrades in three increments, over the next three years.

Brown noted it was a possibility that she could also use the new platform to disseminate emergency notifications to residents and potentially phase out Nixle, which the township currently utilizes to send such messages.

C om m it t e e m a n D e r r i ck Da n i el s , meanwhile, suggested during the workshop session that the governing body purchase a 12-foot push box for the municipality’s existing backhoe, and a smaller backhoe to keep at the Public Works garage “to load salt only.”

Using the smaller backhoe for salt loading, Daniels maintained, would prevent the salt from deteriorating the elements of the larger backhoe, while the push box would allow for the municipality to plow the township building, Chatsworth firehouse and parts of

town nearby “much quicker.” The smaller backhoe could also be used to plow snow in the downtown area on days (Tuesdays and Saturdays) that the bigger backhoe is at the municipality’s transfer station.

“These are two pieces of equipment I would love to implement this year,” Daniels contended. “Just to save us man hours, and get a better job done as far as getting snow removal done at a little bit quicker of a pace, with a little bit of efficiency for us.”

Deputy Mayor Mark Herndon asked Daniels if the equipment would be new, prompting Daniels to reply that “the backhoe I want to use for salt is significantly older,” and that the push box would also be a used piece of equipment.

Municipalities, Brown pointed out, often bid for new equipment. Chief Financial Of fic er K at hy Ros m a ndo, however, maintained that she thought the older equipment could be purchased so long as it is “documented” that “we have an opportunity to buy used equipment,” and officials seek price comparisons (old versus new) that indicate it would be economical.

The township committee held off during the workshop meeting in authorizing the purchase of the used equipment until the additional information is received.

DeGroff stated that using COVID pandemic relief money to purchase the equipment was a possibility, while Brown said such funds could also be used to fund the website upgrade since it would “make it more accessible from home, and eliminate the need for people to come into the (municipal) building.”

During the Woodland com m ittee’s July 28 regular meeting, the governing body approved a “special, emergency appropriation” of $150,000 to update municipal tax maps. It then awarded a $150,000 contract to Pennoni Associates to conduct the work.

Thomas Leisse, of Pennoni, serves as the township engineer and will be performing the work. His firm was already given $10,000 earlier this year to update four tax maps to provide for a better of idea of the overall cost to do them all.

The Pine Barrens Tribune reported in 2019 that, according to Brown, Tax Assessor Dennis DeKlerk had been ordered to appear before the Burlington County Tax Board, and was told during an appearance that the township must update its tax maps in the near future.

The county, said Brown at the time, wants local officials to digitize the tax maps. However, she added that Woodland’s maps contain a number See WEBSITE/ Page 15

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Saturday, August 21, 2021

ABATEMENT (Continued from Page 3)

and reduce crime.

“The reason why the timing is good to do this now (enact the tax abatement program) is people have gotten some funds through the stimulus programs that the federal government has been doing, and the American Rescue Plan is looking to invest funds into businesses,” Hornickel declared. “So, if we really want to try and invest in our business community here in town, we should not penalize them if they want to improve their facilities. We should look for ways to try to improve their facilities and help them improve their services that they provide to the public.”

Hornickel noted that a similar abatement program had been on the township books, enacted in 1990, last amended in 2017, but it was “very limited,” and the state has since provided mechanisms “to make it more conducive for people to participate” in such programs.

“In recognizing that money currently is and will likely continue to be flowing out of Washington over the next couple of years, this is an opportunity to encourage our residents and businesses to invest in their town and buildings,” the business administrator maintained. “This (abatement program) is a mechanism for an existing business to expand without having to suffer property tax consequences for a period of five years.

“Additionally, we have some zones with vacant lands, or buildable lots, and it will create an incentive to build a new home on vacant land.”

But Councilman Paul Detrick retorted during a recent council meeting that while he “fully agrees” with tax abatements for “rehabilitating residences” and “bringing in business and commerce,” he is “against tax breaks for people who are building new

residences.”

“I don’t th i n k we ne e d monet ar y incentives to get people to come and build new residences in Pemberton, and I don’t see the reason why we have to encourage the building of new homes,” he said.

Detrick added he was “not necessarily in favor of growing the population” of the municipality, though he later clarified that “it is not the case” that he is against construction of new dwellings in the township, as some had inferred by his comments.

“Basically, it (this ordinance establishing the abatement program) says if you do any kind of developmental building in our township, you get a tax break,” Detrick maintained. “And I feel like a tax abatement ordinance’s purpose is to target them to the types of development we especially want to encourage.”

While Detrick reiterated “he doesn’t see a pressing need for new residences,” Hornickel pointed out that residents continue to ask that something be done about the former Burlington County College property, which has been vacant for several years. The business administrator then maintained potential developers of the tract would like to “develop mixed housing” there and “offer townhomes to residents,” but one deterrent has been the added cost to build in Pemberton due to Pinelands Commission regulations.

The business administrator said that potential developers for tracts, such as the former college one, will often approach the township asking for an extended Paymentin-Lieu-of-Taxes (PILOT) program, perhaps as much as for 20 years, and this ordinance would serve as an “end of discussion,” or the municipal officials would be able to state to them, “Look, we are willing to give you a five-year PILOT.” Another “theme,” Hornickel added, that he has heard from residents is that there is See ABATEMENT/ Page 15

PERMITS (Continued from Page 3)

this project between engineering fees, surveyor fees, attorney fees, and really it was not until the eve of us getting this approval that we found out about this outstanding bill,” O’Neill contended. “We are willing to work with you every way that we can. But we can’t walk into the building with $115,000.”

Prime advised council that he thought a “waiver” would be appropriate in this situation, but cautioned that he “wanted to be clear” that council, should it ultimately provide one to the applicant, “is not starting to wave property taxes,” or making such exceptions the norm, but rather, in this particular case, “there are some equities involved here that are not necessarily the same as in other cases.”

The oversight being one of them, and the other that the applicant is not the owner of the property, or the party responsible for the real estate taxes. Rather, Security Vault Works has signed a “gross lease” with Medford Shopping Center, according to Prime, for eight parking spaces dedicated to the ATM, and will be making monthly payments.

“The original intent of the ordinance (requiring payment of property taxes prior to a zoning/construction permit being issued) was so that a property owner, who does not pay their property taxes, can’t use those taxes (funds not remitted to the municipality) for a construction project,” said Mayor Charles “Chuck” Watson. “This situation is a little different than that.”

Council voted 5-0 during its Aug. 3 meeting to grant the exception to Security Vault Works, with Councilman Bradley Denn pointing out during council’s July 20 meeting that from a “pro-business perspective,” allowing the project to move forward will help the landlord to be able to pay taxes.

♦ Page 5

“Every little but helps,” he declared.

The landlord, according to O’Neill in providing insight to council about how the shopping center fell behind on its tax payments, experienced “a lot of difficulties due to COVID,” including that a “a major tenant,” or a gym in the shopping center “was not able to conduct payments because of COVID.” Democratic Governor Phil Murphy had ordered the closure of all non-essential businesses for several months in the early days of the pandemic, and then allowed them to reopen, but at limited capacity thereafter. All businesses have since been allowed to fullyreopen, as long as social distancing protocols are maintained.

State Senator Dawn Marie Addiego, a Democrat representing the 8th Legislative District, who sponsored a bill earlier this year to provide economic recovery grants to small businesses, signed by the governor in April at another shopping center in Medford, ironically maintains an office at Medford Shopping Center, located at 176 Route 70.

A couple of attempts to reach the owner of the Medford Shopping Center, identified by tax records as Medford Center Associates, of Haddonfield, were unsuccessful as of press time. A roadside sign for the center states that it is “managed” by Medford Center Assoc., LLC, and provides a telephone number to reach the firm, but it was disconnected.

Prime noted that the township is currently “earning interest at 18 percent right now” on the outstanding taxes,” totaling “over $115,000,” and Medford Shopping Center might “ultimately go to tax sale.”

O’Neill advised council that Chase, “the ultimate user of the ATM,” had “put the landlord in default” since learning of the issue, “in an attempt to get the permit released.”

“Chase obviously wants to continue doing business in Medford,” she said. “We have been in touch to possibly do other business in Medford.”

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Jayden Migala skateboards in Medford’s Freedom Park on Aug. 19.

SKATEPARK (Continued from Page 1)

A passionate if somewhat belated opposition to that ‘game plan’, however, has recently been mounted by a growing group of much younger skateboarding buffs, some from other area towns, whose representatives have been coming forward at Medford Township Council meetings to make a case for the implementation of a “phase two” of the skatepark, which would include enlarging it, making it safer and more appealing to beginners, that they want to take priority over the building of any pickleball courts.

Although advised by Medford officials that no such second phase of the skatepark had ever been for mally proposed or introduced, the skateboarding devotees who

Photo By Douglas D. Melegari

have addressed the council have continued to refer to it as such. A petition to Medford Township, one of two being circulated in support of the proposal on Change.org that by itself had garnered 782 signatures as of Aug. 18, is even labeled “Open Second Phase of Freedom Skate Park.”

The second petition, directed to the township and its mayor, Charles “Chuck” Watson, which had another 362 signatures, is entitled “Ask Medford to complete Freedom Skate Park before adding a new pickle ball court.”

An accompanying message from Alison Clark, of Tabernacle, the originator of both petitions, states, “We want the township council and Mayor Watson … to postpone building a new pickle ball court in our skatepark before finishing over half of the park.” It also claims that over 1,324 people

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had “signed three separate petitions to get a phase two approved by the town” and that “26 children wrote letters and colored pictures” advocating further development of the skatepark, the concrete construction of which replaced a reportedly much larger wooden course several years ago.

Clark, appearing before the council during the public comment session of a recent meeting, maintained that three shops on Main Street had agreed to sell a book about the skate park the children had illustrated, and that her group “would be more than happy to use those funds to go towards the park.” She also claimed she has created murals for various businesses, especially during the pandemic, and that she would be “very happy to do a mural of choice” at the park on a nonstick surface that “couldn’t be graffitied over.”

A friend of Clark’s, Finn Mears, of Shamong, added that the supporters of an expanded park had the help and backing of a company “that does fundraising for skateparks all the time” on the Internet and that the amount of encouragement it had received from area residents showed that “we have the support needed to finish the skatepark without an immense cost to the taxpayers.”

Watson, however, who said at an earlier session that he “didn’t even know there was such a thing as a phase two” and asked whether “anyone else ever heard of it,” attempted at a subsequent meeting last month to temper the enthusiasm of its advocates with a lecture on the logistics of turning such a proposal into reality.

Noting that the skatepark that currently exists was built with grants (from the Bu rl i ng ton Cou nt y Mu n ic ipa l Park Development Grant Program), the mayor explained that the township doesn’t have funds set aside to do any engineering and that “it would be a long process before we could ever get to a phase two.”

“It’s not like, hey, while we’re doing

pickleball courts, let’s expand the park,” Watson declared. “We can certainly consider it in our future budgets and grant notices, but I don’t want you to think we’re going to say, ‘yeah, next month let’s do the park, and we’re going to start it with the pickleball’, because that is just not feasible.”

Watson further advised the skatepark expansion backers that they are “not going to raise enough money to be able to do the whole thing” and that the township would “have to get engineering and stuff done on our side.

“We can have a future discussion about it, but I don’t want to set you up thinking that next month you’re going to come here and we’re going to say, ‘Yes, we’re going to expand it’,” the mayor added.

Skatepark expansion advocates, however, have remained determined to convince whoever might be listening that what is good for the skatepark is also good for the township and, indeed the entire region.

Mears, for example, maintained that improving it “will have a lot of benefits for the community,” among them “eliminating loitering and street skateboarding around the shops of Medford’s Main Street and beyond.” It would also “provide more space for different levels of skateboarding to make sure that all of those who want to participate can, and will be safe while they do it,” he said.

Another individual who spoke at the Aug. 2 meeting contended that most of the obstacles the skatepark currently contains were built for intermediate skaters, discouraging younger children with little or no skateboarding experience from learning the sport. The reason that is important, he asserted, is that skateboarding “is now being seen in an entirely new light – it is no longer being looked at by parents and kids as an outcast punk sport but as a respected Olympic sport,” and “this new perspective is inspiring an entire new generation of kids who want to start skateboarding so they See SKATEPARK/ Page 15

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Page 8 ♦

LOCAL NEWS / FEATURES

Photo By Douglas D. Melegari

Trooper Ryan Cotta speaks with concerned Washington Township residents during a town hall-style meeting on Aug. 3.

RACING

(Continued from Page 1) is done to remediate the situation.

T he “const ant, dai ly str ugg le” of d isorderly c onduct by motor ists on Washington roadways, including speeding, street racing, and road rage, as well as unlicensed golf carts and a dune buggy in traffic lanes, is “actually, worse than what you heard,” declared Washington Engineer Kevin Dixon, also a certified traffic engineer, to New Jersey State Police Tuckerton station’s Trooper Ryan Cotta, during an Aug. 3 Washington committee meeting.

The State Trooper was dispatched to the meeting, in a somewhat unprecedented move, after Mayor Daniel James called the Tuckerton station to make pleas for help, and relay complaints, as well as his own observations. The State Trooper, with his notebook in hand, conducted a town hallstyle session with concerned citizens and stakeholders to find out exactly what was happening in town, and where.

Cotta, who was presented with a petition from township residents asking for increased police presence and enforcement in town, began the session by stating, “I know Washington Township to almost be a quiet area” and “from what I understand

WWW.PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM from the call base, it is relatively low,” but ended it about a half-hour later, after hearing countless accounts of purported lawbreaking on roads in town, by asserting, “From what I have heard, it sounds a little out of hand – a little ridiculous at this point.”

“This shouldn’t be happening, period,” the State Trooper declared.

And Cotta was only presented during the session with the descriptions of what was taking place on municipal roads, with James and Township Emergency Management Coordinator David Simpson reportedly raising what has been occurring on the Mullica River, including jet skis and other watercraft making a splash at speeds of upwards of 100 mph and disobeying no-wake zones; as well as individuals hosting rambunctious parties late into the night with blaring music, so loud that it disturbs the peace of those living on the riverfront, in several phone calls made to the Marine Services Bureau of the state police, U.S. Coast Guard and New Jersey State Park Police.

Now, after the residents and officials have made a splash themselves – for help – several of the enforcement agencies, according to James, are reportedly in discussions to launch enforcement details to bring things back under control, and it appears from this newspaper’s recent observation of the Mullica, along with reports from others, stepped-up enforcement might well be underway.

“The New Jersey State Police Tuckerton Station is aware of the complaints of unsafe vehicle operation in Washington Township, Burlington County and will deploy additional patrols that will target aggressive drivers, and to deter unsafe boating operations,” said Sgt. Philip Curry, a spokesman for the New Jersey State Police, in an Aug. 16 statement to this newspaper.

“And to ensure the safety of everyone utilizing the Mullica River, the New Jersey State Police Marine Services Bureau will be patrolling the waterway for the remainder of the boating season.”

In July, James contended during a Washington committee meeting that the “marine police” make a trip up the Mullica River about “once a year.”

This newspaper, however, observed on the early evening of Aug. 6 a State Trooper in a marked boat patrolling the waterway, in the vicinity of the Green Bank Bridge, and Ski Beach, where locals say the rambunctious partying occurs.

And the State Trooper manning the boat was seen steering it close to the beachfront of Ski Beach, appearing to engage those on the beach, mostly teenagers and young adults, who had gathered in groups by 6:30 p.m.

The beach, according to locals, is a private one amid wetlands, accessed by watercraft, and has grown over time with trees and vegetation reportedly removed last year by beachgoers to allow for more space.

As for the situation that has purportedly

Saturday, August 21, 2021

been playing out on Washington roads, as Dixon put it to Cotta, the descriptions that were offered to him by residents on the evening of Aug. 3 might be so incredible in some respects that a “psychiatrist” might call those giving them “crazy,” but those providing the accounts are “not exaggerating,” and actually, “I would say what you heard from these residents, multiply it by two.”

“I can tell you from the testimony that you just heard from these citizens, they were reserved in their testimony, and they held back on their testimony, presumably to be polite, as these people always are,” asserted Dixon to Cotta.

Sarah Camillo, who lives on River Road in the Lower Bank section of Washington, and presented Cotta with the petition, declared that what she observes during her daily biking and walking throughout town, “is just unbelievable.”

Two motorcycles, she said, were also captured on her son’s camera, just days before the Aug. 3 meeting, passing a vehicle, not only in a no passing zone on River Road, but at a sharp bend located near the River Road Clam House.

In a second, unrelated incident, she contended, a neighbor found herself involved in a case of road rage for simply doing the speed limit on River Road.

“I had a neighbor on River Road, who lives only a couple houses up from me, panicked, because a car was tailgating her and her husband, with their children in their van, from the (Lower Bank) bridge all the way to their home, honking non-stop because they were doing the speed limit,” Camillo contended.

The couple, she added, became so scared what might happen next, they decided not to pull into their driveway, but to drive elsewhere.

In yet another incident, Camillo told the State Trooper, her sister, also a River Road resident, “watched two motorcycles pass on a double-yellow line.”

“And where they had digital speed signs, down by the river in a 30-mph zone, I watched a car clock 44 mph, heading into the bend at the river,” Camillo told Cotta.

The sharp bend by the clam house, she pointed out, has become a particular trouble spot, where “just the other morning, within 30 minutes of each other,” two vehicles went into it, “lost control, and then swerved,” but despite that, then “floored it.”

One duck, she said, was also recently killed, and another maimed, by speeding motorists as they traveled River Road, which runs alongside the Mullica River.

“OK, I know, it is only ducks, but is it going to be my granddaughter next?”

Camillo asked. “I am sick of it! … And I am telling you right now, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays is the worst! I am tired of all this because all the (digital

speed) signs, speed limit signs and digital reminders – it does not do anything unless it is enforced! The only way it can be enforced is by you guys (State Troopers). “… I am pleading, and begging. I have been hit almost a couple times. There is no shoulder on most of it (River Road). We need to do something, because I don’t want to see someone killed. And I am sure you (Cotta) do not want to see your granddaughter, friends, or neighbors killed.”

Several Washington residents and officials have said since May that the situation in town is the result of seldom police presence, with the mayor pointing out that the Tuckerton station is short-staffed.

“This type of feedback comes a long way,” said Cotta in response to Camillo. “We need to hear this type of feedback in order to be proactive. If it goes unreported, we have no knowledge (of what is occurring).

“Most of our car squads are eight to 10 men, and we cover about four different towns within a small area. But in order for us to be proactive, and to also stop what is going on in this town, we need to hear (the details) from you guys to stop all of this in its tracks before someone actually does get killed or hurt.”

Camillo noted that an unlicensed dune buggy has also been traversing the roads in the area, while Deputy Mayor Paul Seybold informed the State Trooper that he has “heard rumors of golf carts wandering out” of a local campground and being driven on “township and county roads,” despite being “unregistered and unlicensed.” James has also mentioned the golf cart situation a few times now since May. Washington Resident Lisa Downs, meanwhile, called on Cotta to also increase patrols on County Route 542, where she reported that “if you are going no less than 60 mph, you are being tailgated.” The speed limit on County Route 542, in most areas, is 50 mph.

And another Washington resident pointed out that not only has she seen ducks killed on River Road in Lower Bank, but also geese and cats.

“And I don’t want to see it be a person next,” she declared, maintaining that some of the biggest offenders of the speed limit are UPS and FedEx drivers.

A man, who agreed with the accounts of wildlife being hit by speeding motorists on River Road in Lower Bank, noted that he has observed motorists passing “on the double-yellow line in the dark,” too, as well as “a very large box truck flying down the road.”

Another Washington resident, from Bulltown Road, clearly fed-up with the situation, questioned why the speed limits throughout the municipality can’t be lowered so that the State Troopers can “have a lot more leverage to throw them (the offenders) See RACING/ Page 11

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the Mullica each summer), with a small municipal staff, has taken charge of digital speed signs the municipality recently purchased, charging their batteries when they die, and moving them around to different places in the community.

He told Cotta that the signs have had “varying degrees of success,” but that “a major problem” is that motorists will slow down when they see their speed displayed, only to “hammer on the gas” once they go past the signs, due to a lack of enforcement.

“No one here is exaggerating one bit,” In-Person Services declared Gadd, who during the Washington committee’s July meeting, maintained that being held after there was “so much (speeding) activity,” the Labor Day at batteries for the digital speed signs, “died in 18 Mill St. 8:15 am | 9:30 am | half the time” of what is normal (the signs 11:00 am | Vincentown, NJ 08088 were set to activate and show speeds only Facebook Live when a motorist is speeding). follow us on Worship: Sundays 10 a.m.

Cotta, in concludingfacebook.com/MedfordUMC that the situation was 609-859-2299 a “little bit out of hand” and “ridiculous,” told those attending the Aug. 3 Washington committee meeting that he would write a report and submit it to the commander of 2 Hartford Road | Medford NJ 08055 medfordumc.org | 609/654-8111 the Tuckerton station of the state police. He info@medfordumc.org could not, however, answer questions posed by residents as to whether State Troopers I Am That I Am can hide in residential driveways, about what tactics might be used to gain control Ministries, Inc. of the situation or commit to returning to All Are Welcome! the governing body’s chambers in September Sunday Worship Se ervice at 11:30 a.m. to provide a progress report.

Pastors Florence and “Tactics are definitely being discussed,” Russell Webberr Cotta said. “How are we going to do it? That 50 Burrs Mill Roadd, is the big question right now. We are trying to Southampton, NJ 08088 figure it out so that we can actually stop this 609 - 847- 4848 – and to actually try to lessen infractions.” www.iamthatiamministriesinnc.com Dixon, who maintained that he doesn’t think the situation will be brought under Bible Sttudy control unless there is enforcement, noted m.

7 p.m that he “observed there are not a lot of hiding Wednessday places.” He offered to tour the area with the state police, and potentially work with the township’s Public Works Department to create “a couple areas to pull over people.”

“If you don’t trap them, you are not “It is not like they don’t know,” he said and tell us we don’t own the river,” the man going to catch them,” Dixon maintained. said. “It is a frenzy.” of his conversation with the marine police.

“As soon as they see a Troop car, they will Green Bank State Park, adjacent to the “They pull up the river, everything calms slow down. Can you get them with radar?

Mullica, with a staircase to a bulkhead down, and as soon as they leave, it is the I don’t know the answer to that, but you overhang providing a view of Ski Beach and wild west once again. They realize this. They might want to see strategic locations where the Green Bank Bridge, Kramer alleged, is know about Ski Beach. They know about enforcement can take place. It is going to also being used by teenagers, including those nobody slowing down in the no wake zones. be hard to hide. There are not a lot of pull who are underage, to transport cases of beer They realize the problems we are having. over, or blind spots. So, where people are and coolers to partygoers on the Mullica, And they are going to try to step up patrols really winding it up, I am wondering how who are using Ski Beach. on the river. and where enforcement might take place?”

“We need help in the park, patrolling “Somebody is going to be killed on that Dixon also noted that he believes certain it,” he said. “They are running down the river. On weekends, it is just unbelievable.” sections of the municipality, particularly stairs – running down with coolers on their The situation on the Mullica and Ski River Road, meet the state’s “statutory shoulders, with cases of beer and jumping Beach was described in detail by township criteria” for a 25-mph speed limit zone, but over the bulkhead.” officials, and two residents, James Kramer are currently posted at higher speeds.

Kramer also contended that he witnessed and Susan Dunphey, whose Washington James pointed out that the county sets “four fights” on the river in front of his home, on River Road in Green Bank, is the speed limits on county roads, but that house, where those fighting were “throwing nearest Ski Beach, which is on the Atlantic local officials are “starting now” to work bottles” at each other, including beer and County side of the river. on the problem and “will continue to move water bottles.

“What is going on there the past two forward,” including lobbying the county Dunphey pointed out that watercraft are years, especially this year, is out of control,” to lower the speed limit in parts of the “racing” underneath both the Lower Bank Kramer said. “It is nuts. The speeding. municipality. and Green Bank bridges, with her and the The music, which is so loud on Saturdays Cotta urged everyone to “document and Washington mayor expressing agreement and Sundays, it is blasting us out of our document” the issues being experienced to “that it is only a matter of time” before properties. Nobody wants to sit outside create a “paper trail,” and that the “more someone is killed. Kramer pointed out that anymore, and be in their backyards having you document,” “the more you create a a person was already “knocked out” after BBQs, because people are racing by at 100 paper trail,” and “the more and more you colliding with another watercraft and was mph. … The volume of wave runners, jet reach out to us” – the “more we will be down “pulled out of the water before he drowned.” skis and boats flying through there every here” and “the more likely something can “The speed is unbelievable!” the other two minutes … is insane.” transpire.” homeowner said. “It is just crazy!”

Dunphey maintained that it is “not nice “Hopefully, that gives you some sort of Gadd told the homeowners that he music being played,” or being “blasted” by comfort,” Cotta told the residents. “sympathized” with them because “I hear partygoers, but often “rap music,” and that James, who noted he was “surprised” that it” and “it is just unbearable.” However, he “one boat even had a dance floor.” the Tuckerton station sent a representative said the township “can’t regulate the noises” “They even have a website where they to Washington’s meeting, called Cotta’s in the middle of the river, and is reliant on post pictures of these crazy people,” she appearance “a start,” declaring, “We are the police for enforcement, despite “how maintained. making some progress.” ungodly it is out there.”

Kramer, who later told this newspaper that The Washington mayor, after Cotta “It is just a matter of time before somebody he has even seen “complete bar boats with left the Washington Township Municipal gets killed,” Gadd reiterated. giant speakers” traversing the river, told the Building, noted in his report that in addition James said if the marine police “just show Washington committee that the beach has to talking with the Tuckerton station of up a couple times a day,” while the state park “gotten bigger and bigger” as he “saw people the state police, he spoke with a sergeant police watch Green Bank State Park, he cutting trees last year to make it bigger.” of the Marine Services Bureau of the state believes it would make a difference.

“They curse, and when we tell them to police, and “they know of the problem we See RACING/ Page 13 are having on the river.” slow down, they give us the middle finger,

Trinity Episcopal Church

Photo By Douglas D. Melegari

Lower Bank resident Sarah Camillo pleads for increased law enforcement patrols in Washington Township.

RACING

(Continued from Page 8) in jail or something.”

“I am afraid someone is going to get killed,” the man added. “I pull out onto County Route 542, at Bulltown Road, and see no one coming. By the time I get to Belhaven Lake Resort, people are on my tail, trying to push me off the road! Route 542 is a disgrace! They are going 75 to 80 mph, at least. It is only a matter of time before somebody gets killed. It is bad.”

The Pine Barrens Tribune reported last week that a Franklinville man had died after an early morning, July 8 accident on County Route 542 in Washington, in which he “lost control of his Ford Mustang” and “ran off the road to the right, striking several small trees and one large tree,” according to state police. The cause of the accident, however, remains under investigation.

“To my knowledge, there is a traffic detail being put into place by my station commander,” Cotta told the concerned residents on Aug. 3. “When that is going to be implemented, I am not entirely sure. But, for right now, patrols are going to be increased right in this area for the time being.

“Your concerns are our concerns. We don’t want to see anyone get hurt.”

Washington Committeeman C. Leigh Gadd, Jr. pointed out to Cotta that there are two River Roads in the municipality, with the other being in the Green Bank section of town, and that speeding on the latter is “out of control.”

After Jeannette Depiero, Gadd’s neighbor, described to Cotta that “she is afraid to cross the street” in front of her home, which is River Road in Green Bank, Gadd asserted, “There is no exaggeration there, when she tells you it is unsafe to cross the road.”

“It literally is a double-yellow line road, and around the bend, I have seen pickup trucks racing side-by-side, going towards County Route 542, toward Belhaven – one in each lane (of travel), racing around that bend, at speeds in excess of 70 mph,” said Gadd, who is reported to have been a polic e detective w ith the Absecon Police Department, to Cotta. “That is no exaggeration. It is a hazard zone.”

Gadd, in the remote community with a population of just over 700 people (though thousands visit campgrounds in town and

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RACING

(Continued from Page 11) Gadd suggested that the homeowners also reach out to Egg Harbor City to see if that municipality has a nuisance ordinance.

“It is going to have to start with the property itself and its owners – code enforcement,” he declared.

Various officials with Egg Harbor City, when reached for comment on this story, told this newspaper that they believed the beach actually fell in the jurisdiction of Mullica Township, or had never heard of it before.

A secretary with the Mullica Township Police Department, “Gabby,” who works under Chief of Police Brian Zeck, told this newspaper that the beach “is under our jurisdiction,” but pointed out that it is not accessible by vehicle.

“There is no road to it,” she said. “I am not sure that area is patrolled by us.”

Mullica Township Police, she told this newspaper, do not have a boat to conduct patrols.

Kimberly Johnson, township clerk for Mullica, pointed out that since the municipal police department does not have a boat, she “would think the marine police are in charge of all boaters.” She maintained that Ski Beach, “has been there at least 30 something years.”

“To my recollection, we have not received anything (as far as recent complaints),”

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Johnson told this newspaper.

She added that from “the best I can decipher by looking at Google maps, and the tax maps,” it is owned by a local family.

The Mullica clerk also pointed out to this newspaper that there is a Facebook page for Ski Beach. The page contains photos of many families and groups of people having a fun day in the sun on the beach, as recently as this past weekend, including some who are middle-aged. There is, however, one photo of a bag of empty beer cans tied to a tree branch.

Meg Steeb, city clerk for Egg Harbor City, who lives in the vicinity of the Mullica, told this newspaper of her recent observation that signs have been added in the area advising “to pick up your trash.”

Dunphey, a 30-year resident, noted that Ski Beach used to be a place where families took their children to teach them how to jet ski, but contended it is “now party central,” while Kramer maintained that many of the watercraft operators are unlicensed and “somebody needs to check them out.”

“I would rather have them (the enforcement agencies) come out and patrol it (the river) a little bit more, than have them come out to investigate a death, or a drowning,” James asserted.

During the Aug. 3 Washington committee meeting, James said that in addition to reaching out to the New Jersey State Police, he spoke to a lieutenant of the New Jersey State Park Police (which maintains a division headquarters next to the Washington Township Municipal Building and only a mile away from the Green

Bank riverfront of the Mullica).

He said the lieutenant had agreed to step up patrols on Washington roadways, and “were listening” when he “told them jet skis are out of control, boaters are out of control, and the noise is unbelievable,” pointing out that the state park police also have a boat for patrolling area waterways.

“She said she would try to start getting some park police on the river, hopefully during the weekends, but any day of the week,” James contended. “Everything is really busy any day of the week. Whenever the tide is high, it is busy. She said she would get together with staff and set down some kind of program to try to help us out with our policing.”

Meanwhile, Simpson pointed out on Aug. 3 that he had reached out to the Philadelphia port of the U.S. Coast Guard, and was told, “if they were to come up here, it would take them away from where they are normally supposed to be operating, and then you would have a delay in response (there).” But Simpson added he had since been told “state police presence (on the river) has been more up here lately.”

This newspaper, on Aug. 6, observed a handful of individuals, mostly teenagers and young adults, gathered on Ski Beach, with loud music being played. Several jet skis were seen speeding at times, making huge splashes. When the state police patrol was in the area, much of that jet ski activity diminished, but as soon as the State Trooper went out of sight, it started back up again.

Appearing to temper things, however, was

the reduced openings of the Green Bank Bridge (due to mechanical issues), which had been, at the time, only opening four times a day, compared to a nearly constant occurrence prior to the first week of August. Repairs to the bridge were continuing, with more openings expected to be added to a daily schedule.

An Atlantic County spokeswoman told this newspaper last week that the reduced bridge openings were unrelated to the issues on the Mullica River.

Regarding both the issues on the land and water, James maintained both during the July and August Washington committee meetings that town officials are not going to go away with their demands for more enforcement, “because we all know the squeaky wheel gets the oil.”

In addition to the aforementioned problems, Seybold pointed out that nonresidents are continuing to use a landing/ beach near the Lower Bank Bridge/River Road Clam House, which is for resident use only, and that code enforcement was continuing to issue citations to violators.

Additionally, he said, some people were already misusing a recycling dumpster recently placed in the municipality to assist residents with disposal of recyclables, including an individual(s) who placed a propane tank inside the dumpster. He warned that should misuse of the recycling dumpster continue, the municipality may have to restrict its access.

During the Aug. 3 Washington committee meeting, Gadd was appointed Washington’s director of public safety.

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Saturday, August 21, 2021

SKATEPARK

he was “not sure budgetarily when it will be.”

But he added, “There is some stuff in there for you guys. We’ll have to look at the budget to see if it will happen this year or next year.

We have to talk about it, but I think that is the direction we are going to go.”

Burger noted during the latest council session that she had also taken a tour of the park and asked that the weeds be managed.

Both Finn and Clark, who also appeared briefly at the session, indicated that they and their friends were ready and willing to participate in any such cleanup efforts.

However, according to Burger, no steps have yet been taken beyond the statements made at council meetings (at least as of August 18, this newspaper’s deadline) by the skatepark advocacy group to formally set in motion the kind of expansion it has been so adamant about wanting done.

“I have not received any petition from anyone,” she told the Pine Barrens Tribune. “ Where they came up with this phase two, I don’t know. The township has never had a phase two planned for the skatepark.”

Simply speaking at meetings, Burger pointed out, is not the way to go about getting something considered as part of the budgetary process.

“They can send me an email, a letter, whatever way they choose to do it and say what they’re looking for,” Burger maintained. “It would then get discussed when the township begins compiling budget information, in the fall.”

She added that anyone can participate in budget meetings, which are typically held in February or March.

Burger also contended that the planned pickleball courts will not be encroaching on the skatepark area, but are being planned for a section of the park adjacent to it.

(Continued from Page 6)

can one day compete on that Olympic stage.”

By contrast, pickleball, which is popular mainly in the U.S., is, according to online descriptions, far from being a form of Olympic competition – that is, unless events like the 2021 Arkansas Senior Olympic Pickleball Tournament are included in that designation.

The skatepark is also envisioned by some of those who have been addressing council as becoming a sort of magnet for skateboarders from throughout the area, with one person maintaining that it could be a welcoming environment where participants in the sport “from across New Jersey can come,” and another individual referring to it as “probably the largest and best skate park in the Northeast” during the time it was a wooden facility and declaring, “Let’s make Freedom Skate Park great again.”

An indication that the steady stream of comments may have struck a conciliatory chord with township officials finally came at the last council meeting on Aug. 18 when Finn came forward to ask if there was anything skatepark supporters could do to move the prospect of upgrading the park along any faster.

Watson, this time attending a council meeting remotely, replied that he had spoken with the township manager (Kathy Burger) about it, and “you know either when the pickleball courts go in and it is feasible or sometime after that, we are going to try to resurface or top the existing asphalt that is there that you use.” He also noted that the township would look into installing “some rails or obstacles for skateboards,” although

DEMOED

us?”, and if there was a reason why the municipality was doing the remediation/ demolition at its own expense.

DeGroff, in reply, had maintained he was “trying to think of how to recoup our money,” but conceded it would be a tall order, and that, “we tried selling it, and nobody seems interested in it,” because of the “unsafe” condition of the home. Burns added that the “township was trying to market it,” but that the reality is “the lot is not big enough to develop” and called it “a tough piece of property.”

Brown, earlier this year, noted that “once the hazardous condition is cleared up, we will be able to list (the property) for sale.” There is no word on whether officials will now actually put the piece of property up for sale.

Real estate listings online still market the “four-bed, one-bath, 1602 square-foot single family home built in 1874” for sale, despite it no longer standing, noting that the residence last “sold on May 15, 2019” (prior to the municipal takeover).

(Continued from Page 2)

Brown, shortly thereafter, acknowledged at a committee meeting that the municipality inherited a remediation/demolition project that is “a lot bigger than any of us realized,” pointing out the “entire structure needs to be treated as if it has asbestos” and that ultimately, whoever the contractor is who will be tasked with the remediation, will have to “get approval from the New Jersey Department of Labor for a wet demo and abatement.”

“Considering there is a resident right next door, we can’t take a chance of doing something that is not appropriate,” said Leisse following the admission from Brown.

Mayor William “Billy” DeGroff, in 2019, pointed out that when the property was condemned by the township, it became the township’s liability. But since those remarks from the mayor, some residents have posed questions such as, “Why does this fall on GUTTER

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of problems and are dated 1959.

The committee, in late 2019, began discourse about whether to just digitize the tax maps to meet the county requirements, or fix the problems at the same time. The initial inclination of the committee was that it made sense to “do things the right way” and address the issues while the maps are being digitized.

However, it was noted that doing so could be costly and time consuming, with a number of deeds potentially having to be pulled.

RABIES

(Continued from Page 4) All bites should be reported, she noted, to public health officials, and those living in Atlantic County are urged to call the Atlantic County Division of Public Health at 609-645-5971 if they were bitten.

The Atlantic County Animal Shelter will also be holding a free rabies vaccination clinic for dogs and cats each month. The next scheduled clinic is Sunday, Aug. 15, 9 a.m. to 12 noon, for cats only, by appointment.

Appointments can be made online at www.

ABATEMENT (Continued from Page 5)

no retirement community in Pemberton, and that there are limited amenities in existing developments such as clubhouses, and the hope is that by incentivizing new housing on vacant lands, perhaps these things can come about.

The bottom-line, Hornickel indicated, is that there are some parcels around town that “we are trying to generate some interest in” and it is otherwise “very difficult to attract an investment” without such programs as the abatement one, which Mayor David Patriarca pointed out “mirrors the state statute” as far as what a town is allowed to offer.

“We are trying to address intractable tracts,” Hornickel declared.

Detrick, however, maintained tax breaks should be for “specific things we would like to see” and that “we should save our tax benefits for commercial development, for example, because we really need that.”

Councilwoman Elisabeth McCartney

♦ Page 15

Brown had also suggested that the committee consider overlaying its zoning on top of the tax maps. She contended that the current zoning maps are horrible. Some of the maps, according to Brown, are “ink on canvas.”

During a Jan. 27 Woodland committee meeting, Brown noted that the county “did not really give us a drop-dead date” to complete the tax map revisions.

Brown noted during the July 28 regular meeting that the “special, emergency appropriation” of $150,000 for the tax map updates allows the municipality to “spread the cost out over five years,” a move that officials previously expressed would most likely offset a tax hike. aclink.org/animalshelter. A clinic was held for dogs earlier this month.

“Dogs and cats that receive an initial rabies vaccination are not considered immunized until 28 days after the vaccine has been administered, therefore it is strongly recommended that any animal newly vaccinated or those too young to receive the vaccine (less than three months) should not be left outdoors unattended,” Gilmore pointed out. “Situations have arisen where pet owners have left unvaccinated or newly vaccinated pets outdoors where they have sustained exposures to known or suspected rabid animals, resulting in euthanasia, or four to six months of strict confinement.” pointed out that there is currently a “fair amount of empty houses” in Pemberton.

“Perhaps we should be focused on people rehabbing them, and that might solve the problem, as opposed to building something new,” she asserted.

But Township Solicitor Andrew “Andy” Bayer pointed out that there has been “no rush of applications for new housing” in Pemberton as of late, and that “targeting” of incentives is what council has already been doing through the “redevelopment law process.” He maintained that council could “consider a PILOT in conformance with this ordinance, or something different.”

After Councilman Jason Allen weighed in by contending “overall, I do think this does benefit the township” and “does entice,” council voted 4-1 to offer the abatement program through 2026.

Detrick cast the lone dissenting vote.

Council President Gaye Bur ton and McCartney voted in favor of the program, but only after long pauses when their name was called in a roll call vote, signifying some reluctance to do so on their part.

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