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Vol. 6 – No. 10 ♦
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December 11 - December 17, 2021
Medford Lakes Bans Short-Term Rentals, Contending They Were Source of Complaints
BOARD-CERTIFIED CENSURE
New Law Designed in Particular to Eliminate Airbnbs and Vrbos Listed for Availability in Borough By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer
MEDFOR D LA K E S — Shor t-t e r m rentals, or the renting of dwelling units for “30 days or less,” has been prohibited in Medford Lakes Borough, a 1.2 square-mile municipality – nestled in the Pines with 22 lakes – described as “rustic” with some 1,500 homes, over 150 of which are considered log cabins. Borough Solicitor Doug Heinold, when an ordinance was introduced during Medford Lakes Borough Council’s Oct. 13 meeting to enact the ban, which subsequently passed during council’s Nov. 10 meeting, indicated that the measure was the result of a “a lot of discussion over the years” with a “particular” focus on Airbnbs (Air Mattress Bed and Breakfasts) and Vrbos (Vacation Rentals by Owners), though “not exclusive to that.” Heinold, in pointing out that there were active short-term rentals in the borough at the time of passage, maintained that “the borough never blessed” such rentals “as a permitted use,” and “this ordinance makes it clear that they are a prohibited use.” But by not having a law on the books until now, such a measure would take what has essentially been a legal activity, and by all accounts on websites that provide for rentals of Airbnbs and Vrbos, a flourishing economic activity in the borough, and shut it down.
Staff Photo
LeisureTowne sign.
A Marlton Resident Is Threatened Via Certified Letter Signed by the ‘LeisureTowne Board of Trustees’ with the Prospect of Criminal and Civil Charges for ‘Trespassing’ at One of Its Meetings to Distribute a Flyer Criticizing the Board, Although He Denies Both Any Responsibility and Ever Having Been There
By Bill Bonvie Staff Writer
SOUTHAMPTON—A 78-year-old resident of the Marlton section of Evesham Township who took part in a discussion on a social media site that involved comments about the Southampton Township-based LeisureTowne Homeowners Association’s cancellation of a 50th anniversar y observance, but who claims he has never set foot inside the privately run community, has been threatened via a certified letter from the LeisureTowne Board of Trustees with criminal and civil action for
possibly having “surreptitiously” entered a “governmental meeting” in one of its facilities for the purpose of distributing flyers critical of the board. The recipient, Robert Campbell, chose to share the letter, dated Oct. 29, with the Pine Barrens Tribune after reading a frontpage article that ran in this newspaper during the week of Nov. 27 (“‘Lost Cord’ Restored”) about some LeisureTowne homeowners having received notices ac cusi ng them of v iolati ng a r u le pertaining to firewood storage that had been modified by the board in late October without their prior knowledge.
An attorney for the board, Gregg A. Shivers, of the Cherry Hill legal firm of Hill Wallack LLP, to whom the board referred all questions pertaining to the firewood matter and who initially sent this reporter a letter defending the rule change, ended up claiming that someone had “misprinted it” and if anyone was fined as a result, all they had to do was “contact the office.” W hen subs e quently c ont acte d regarding the letter that Campbell had received, Shivers asked this newspaper See LETTER/ Page 8
See RENTALS/ Page 10
CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN
SEE PAGES 3-4
INDEX Business Directory...................................12
Local News.................................................2
Christmas Coloring Contest ����������������������5
Marketplace..................................................... 14
Christmas Countdown �������������������������������3
Worship Guide..........................................11
****ECRWSS**** LOCAL POSTAL CUSTOMER
Vincentown, NJ Permit 190
PAID Presorted Standard US Postage
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LOCAL NEWS / FEATURES
WWW.PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM
Saturday, December 11, 2021
Pinelands Regional Parents Belatedly Told of ‘Hit List’ Investigation, But Are Promptly Informed of Another in Which a Student’s Remark About Bringing a ‘Gun into School’ Resulted in Immediate Removal By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer
LITTLE EGG HARBOR—A remark reportedly uttered by a Pinelands Regional High School student that he was going to “bring a gun into school” has resulted in that student being removed from school grounds, it was announced on Dec. 6. And it came on the heels of another scare on Dec. 1 involving “rumors” that were apparently circulating amongst Pinelands Regional School District students that there was some sort of a “hit list” found at Pinelands Regional Junior High School, and that threats were made against students at both the high school and junior high school, which serve students in Bass River, Eagleswood, Tuckerton and Little Egg Harbor. A purportedly belated notification of the initial incident, however, provoked criticism of school administrators. Numerous parents, according to a plethora of online postings, only found out about the initial incident when an increased police presence was observed at the district’s schools on Dec. 2, leading to social media chatter, while others learned about it from a Dec. 2 letter addressed to “Wildcat Families” in response to many inquiries that had been made about the reason for the increased police presence that day. “There are rumors circulating around Pinelands that threats are being made against students at both the high school and junior high school,” the Dec. 2 letter acknowledges. “We have investigated this matter fully and have confirmed that these are only rumors. Police officers who are new to the Little Egg Harbor Police Department were here today to tour both schools. Thank-you to those students who brought these rumors to our attention.” Confirming that the investigation had actually occurred the previous day, however, was a Dec. 2 press release from the Little Egg Harbor Township Police Department, posted on the department’s Facebook page. “Today, the Little Egg Harbor Police Department became aware of rumors circulating on social media about a “hit list” that was allegedly found at Pinelands Regional Junior High School,” the press release stated. “After speaking with school officials today, the police department was advised that this matter was investigated yesterday by school administrators, and it was determined that it was not a hit list. “At this time, (there) is no credible threat to the school community. We would like to add that the presence of additional officers at the Pinelands Junior High School today is merely a coincidence. These officers were onsite for prescheduled School Resource Officer (SRO) training.”
That press release also left several parents and community members to question online why school officials didn’t involve police in the investigation of the reported hit list/threats on Dec. 1, and only told law enforcement of the incident the following day. The criticisms and questions aimed at school officials prompted Superintendent Dr. Melissa McCooley to address the “timeline” of events in her “weekly update” video that was released on Dec. 3, though judging from the online comments, it did little to quell concerns. The superintendent contended that a “rumor circulating that there was a student that had some type of list written down about some students he liked and didn’t like” was brought to the attention junior high school Principal F. Eric Pschorr “on the morning” of Dec. 1. “Mr. Pschorr investigated and informed the SRO,” McCooley maintained. “He informed me later that day.” The superintendent further claimed that “there was absolutely no threat” and “absolutely nothing of concern in the whole situation,” and that’s why the school day on Dec. 1 “had carried on as usual.” She added that an additional police car was stationed at the junior high school, and then the high school, on Dec. 2 because the district is getting “two, new Class III SROs” and those new individuals were “touring” the school buildings. And on that same day, McCooley said, she and Pschorr found themselves “fielding many texts and phone calls from parents over an array of rumors that were circulating on social media regarding an alleged incident that took place at the junior high.” “At 11:30 in the morning, Mr. (Troy) Henderson (principal) over at the high school sent information to all students in the district, in grades 7 to 12, as well as to all staff and parents letting them know there was no threat in the junior high, and a thorough investigation took place, and he also mentioned the fact of why there was an additional cop car.” Then, at 12 noon on De c. 2, the superintendent acknowledged she received a phone call from James Hawkins, chief of the Little Egg Harbor Police Department, “to tell me the police station was getting an array of phone calls as well,” prompting him to send a message as well containing “exactly what we said” (though it was the department’s message that had revealed a bit more information, including the true timeframe). The superintendent then claimed that since that time she heard from parents “that they feel more comfortable that the information comes from me” when there are investigations involving such purported threats. See INVESTIGATION/ Page 11
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Saturday, December 11, 2021
CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN
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CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN
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CHRISTMAS COLORING CONTEST
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ENTER NOW: Name:_________________________________________________ Age:___________ Parent’s Name:_________________________________________________________ Home Address:_________________________________________________________ City:__________________________________ State:_____________Zip:___________ Contact Phone:_________________________________________________________ Email:_________________________________________________________________ All fields required. Include entry form with your entry.
Contest open to those ages 3 and up. Anyone under the age of 18 years of age must obtain parent or guardian consent to enter. Previous winners of such contests are not eligible to win. Employees of the newspaper and sponsor employees are not eligible to win. Entry automatically enters individual’s name into contest. Contest entries will not be returned. Contest entries may be displayed or published in print and online by this newspaper; and become property of the newspaper. Winner will be awarded a movie basket from Zallie’s ShopRite of Medford. One entry per contest permitted. Entry form along with completed coloring panel should be mailed to Pine Barrens Tribune, Christmas Coloring Contest, P.O. Box 2402, Vincentown, NJ 08088 and postmarked by January 8, 2022, at 5 p.m. All entries must be received no later than 12 noon on January 12, 2022, and will not be returned. Incomplete entries will be disqualified. The decision of the judges is final. Winners will be notified by phone and/or email no later than January 30, 2022, and must appear in-person for award and agree to be photographed by the Pine Barrens Tribune and contest sponsor for publication. Important Deadlines: • Postmarked by January 8, 2022, at 5 p.m. • Must Be Received by 12 noon on January 12, 2022 Mail coloring page with completed entry form to: Pine Barrens Tribune | P.O. Box 2402 | Vincentown, NJ 08088
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LOCAL NEWS / FEATURES
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Murphy Proposes Replacing Two Pinelands Commission Members, Including the Chairman, with Lobbying and Wind Energy Firm Reps Environmentalists Oppose Plan, But Welcome Agreement to Ditch 3rd Swap
By Bill Bonvie Staff Writer
PEMBERTON—W h ile Democratic Governor Phil Murphy has reportedly agreed to drop one of three initial nominees to the Pinelands Commission whom Pinelands Preservation Alliance (PPA) Executive Director Carleton Montgomery had referred to as “corporate lobbyists,” the other two are still on tap to replace current members Montgomery says have proven their mettle as dedicated environmentalists – including Commission Chairman Rick Prickett. If the state senate votes to go along with Murphy, both Prickett, a retired science teacher that the governor chose to lead the 15-member commission two years ago, and D’Arcy Rohan Green, whom Montgomery in a recent blog post called “a long-time advocate for Barnegat Bay and the Pinelands,” will be dropped from the commission in favor of Davon McCurry and Laura Matos. McCurry, according to the post, is deputy head of marketing and government affairs for Orsted, a large wind energy firm that has won contracts to develop turbines off the Jersey coast, and Laura Matos is managing director and general manager of Kivvit, which Montgomery describes as “a national political lobbying and media firm whose clients include many of America’s biggest corporations and trade associations.” Paul Leaken, a spokesman for the Pinelands Commission, told the Pine Barrens Tribune on Dec. 7 that he could confirm “that we have not received any letters of resignation” from either Prickett or Green. Murphy, however, agreed following a reported meeting with a group of environmental advocates to retain another
member of the commission, Ed Lloyd, whom Montgomery referred to as “New Jersey’s most prominent environmental lawyer with decades of experience in the Pinelands” and to scrap the nomination of his proposed replacement, Elvin Montero, director of communications for the Chemistry Council of New Jersey. In a Dec. 6 email responding to this newspaper’s request for confirmation of the PPA’s allegations, a Murphy administration official said that “after collaborative talks this afternoon with Pinelands advocates, we are moving forward with two nominees to the Pinelands Commission,” and when asked to be a bit more specific, said there would be “no further comment, other than that the governor is committed to the nominations of Laura Matos and Davon McCurry.” The official also contended in the earlier email that Murphy was “committed to diversifying the commission and ensuring that its actions promote environmental justice and accountability to those most impacted by its decisions.” While the decision to retain Lloyd and drop the nomination of Montero was welcome news to the environmental groups who objected to the original set of nominations, Montgomery, in a phone interview with the Pine Barrens Tribune, maintained that his group remained opposed to simply “having Matos and McCurry replace two current commissioners who have done a good job by the environment.” “We don’t know why they picked those two individuals in particular,” Montgomery asserted. “The governor and his people say they would be good advocates for the Pinelands, but we just don’t know them, and See COMMISSION/ Page 11
Saturday, December 11, 2021
Restrictions on Outdoor Lighting, Lighting Design Standards Adopted to ‘Eliminate Egregious Lighting’ in Medford Lakes
By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer
MEDFORD LAKES —Restr ictions on outdoor lighting for Medford Lakes properties, as well as lighting design standards for any commercial site plans in the municipality, have been adopted by Medford Lakes Borough Council. Passage of two ordinances, one that implements the outdoor lighting restrictions, and the other that codifies the lighting design standards, came after a “fair amount of discussion, probably more than on any other ordinance we have had before us,” noted Borough Solicitor Doug Heinold during a recent borough council meeting. “These are prov idi ng for a b etter overall lighting plan for the municipality,” maintained Heinold of the ordinances. “The intention is to educate and be as understanding and soft with the rollout of this as possible, so that we can try to generally improve the instances that occur where there is over lighting of property, or situations where lighting is spilling over into other people’s property or in rights-of-way.” The Pine Barrens Tribune previously reported in May that borough officials were exploring restrictions and other possible measures to curb “intrusive lighting” after a complaint was received from a resident about excessive lighting on a Chicagami Trail garage that reportedly was shining into neighboring homes, according to Borough Clerk Mark McIntosh. The resident who made the complaint, Steve Baugh, had come forward during an April borough council meeting to contend that the property of concern has as many as “20 lights on all night long” that are “looking across the street at the neighbors.” Baugh had attended several other council
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meetings since April to push for passage of the outdoor lighting restrictions. “There is ‘light’ at the end of the tunnel,” quipped one of the councilmembers in response to Baugh’s persistence to see to it that the local restrictions are passed, which they finally were during a recent borough council meeting, by a 4-0 vote. The purpose of the new restrictions, according to the new law enacting them, is to “regulate outdoor lighting in a manner which encourages the conservation of energy; improves or maintains the nighttime visual environment; prevents and/or eliminates misdirected or excessive artificial light, light trespass and/or unnecessary sky glow; and protects the health, safety, security and welfare of borough residents as well as the general public.” Officials, in unveiling the new restrictions to the public, maintained they are simply to serve as a “mechanism” to “eliminate egregious lighting circumstances, but in a way that is not heavy-handed.” According to the new restrictions, any residential outdoor lighting must be “turned off or operate solely on motion sensors” between midnight and dawn each day, unless “located at the primary point of ingress or egress to a residential structure,” with a porchlight cited as an example. Additionally, no “artificial lighting” on a property can shine directly on a neighboring property, including on any porch or patio, or into any rooms of a dwelling. “Nor shall any artificial lighting be maintained or operated from any structure or land in such a manner as to be a nuisance or an annoyance to a neighboring property, or as to interfere with the physical comfort of the occupants of a neighboring property,” it is additionally stated in the new restrictions, See LIGHTING/ Page 15
Saturday, December 11, 2021
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Redevelopment Agreement Signed for Planned Age-Restricted Housing on Greenberg Farm, Designating Redeveloper and Setting PILOT Terms
Photo Provided
A draft concept plan for an age-restricted housing development planned for the Greenberg Farm, as obtained from Pemberton Township through an Open Public Records Act (OPRA) request.
By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer
PE M B E RT ON — Fo l l o w i n g t h e September approval of a redevelopment plan for three lots, totaling some 153-acres, that comprise the Greenberg Farm, which abuts both North Pemberton and Arneys Mount roads, Pemberton Township Council during its Oct. 6 meeting approved a redevelopment agreement for an age-restricted housing development on the farm. Pemberton Township entered into the agreement with K. Hovnanian at Rancocas Creek, LLC, according to a council meeting agenda provided to the public. The executed agreement was provided to this newspaper on Nov. 12 through an Open Public Records Act (OPRA) request. “If council decides to approve the redevelopment agreement tonight, the redeveloper would then go to the Planning Board and present a plan to them for their consideration, consistent with the re development plan,” said Busi ne s s Administrator Daniel Hornickel just prior to the council approval of the agreement, which passed 4-0 with Councilman Donovan Gardner (a friend of the Greenberg family) abstaining. Details about the “age restrictions” would be available to the public “when the developer files (a site plan) with the planning board,” Hornickel noted in response to a question from Councilman Jason Allen. As far as the highlights of the agreement, Hornickel later told this newspaper that it “allows for the construction of up to 354 age-restricted homes, of which 40 will be set aside as affordable housing units.” “The proposed development will include a community garden and a small dog park,” the township business administrator added. During a September public hearing on the redevelopment plan, concerns were raised by two members of the public about water retention and drainage issues already occurring on, as well as in the vicinity of, the former dairy cattle farm, which township officials acknowledged was occurring. In addition, the two individuals expressed concern that a nearby airport and roadways would be adversely impacted by any development. Township Solicitor Andrew “Andy” Bayer, in response, had contended that a redevelopment agreement would give the municipality the flexibility needed to ask a redeveloper how it would deal with things
such as site drainage, “and flush out the details.” Hornickel, when asked by this newspaper if the residents’ concerns about the airport, roads and the drainage were addressed, and how, in the agreement, replied, “we haven’t imposed any conditions pertaining to the airport, road or drainage in the redevelopment agreement.” “The township adopted the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP)’s newer, stricter stormwater management rules in April and the roadway issues are the county’s, as the county owns North Pemberton Road,” Hornickel added. “The county and township planning boards, respectively, will address the draining and roadway matters and consider any concerns about the airport.” The redevelopment agreement obtained by th is newspaper indicates that K. Hovnanian at Rancocas Creek, LLC has been designated as the “redeveloper” for the project, which maintains offices in Edison. “The township and redeveloper both desire and anticipate that the project will consist of a for sale, active-adult residential redevelopment of up to 354 dwellings on approximately 153 acres, to create a culturally rich and economically vibrant new neighborhood,” the redevelopment agreement states. “It is envisioned that the project will create a much-needed, agerestricted community for the residents of Pemberton.” The redeveloper, it is noted in the document, has agreed to “create an agerestricted project” at the Greenberg Farm that is “aesthetically pleasing and will spark revitalization and substantial investment in this area of the township.” The redevelopment plan passed back in September essentially effectuated new zoning for the far m. Under the redevelopment agreement, the township has agreed to not change the farm’s zoning for 30 years, unless there is a change in state law that the township is required to conform to. Additionally, the township has agreed to have its planning board review any of the redeveloper’s land use applications “on an accelerated basis.” The redeveloper, according to the terms of the agreement, can split the project into as many as eight different phases. In order to satisfy the state’s affordable housing requirements, the redeveloper has See HOUSING/ Page 14
LOCAL NEWS / FEATURES
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PUBLIC NOTICE JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst (JB MDL), in coordination with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 2 and New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), has initiated a five-year review of existing decision documents and ongoing environmental cleanup activities at the following five JB MDL-Dix Area sites: Sanitary Landfill (LF010), EPIC-8 Landfill (LF017), 4300/4400 Area (SS005B), Magazine-1 Area (SS007), and New Egypt Armory (TU026). The Dix Area of JB MDL was formerly known as Fort Dix. The five-year review will be conducted pursuant to Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act §121 (c). The purpose of the five-year review is to assess whether remedial actions performed at the Dix Area sites continue to be protective of human health and the environment. The methods, findings, and conclusions of the review will be documented in a Five-Year Review Report. The report will identify any issues found during the review and propose recommendations to address them. The final report will be made public in May 2023. Relevant environmental documents, including prior Five-Year Review Reports, are available for review at the Burlington County Library, 5 Pioneer Boulevard, Westampton, New Jersey and electronically at https://ar.afcec-cloud.af.mil/. Anyone with questions or information that can help the review team assess remedial actions is encouraged to contact Remediation Program Manager James Richman at (609) 754-2267 or james.richman.1@us.af. mil. Interested parties may also contact the Joint Base Public Affairs Office at (609) 754-2104 or 87.abw.pa@us.af.mil for more information.
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LOCAL NEWS / FEATURES
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Medford Lakes Decides to Bond for New Multi-Purpose Truck After Experience with Brush Truck’s Engine Failure in Summer By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer
MEDFORD LAKES—After a scare over the summer when the borough’s a 2005 Peterbilt brush truck suffered an engine failure, and the municipality learned that replacement parts were potentially scarce and any new truck could take a year or more to obtain due to global supply chain issues resulting from the impacts of the Coronavirus pandemic, Medford Lakes Borough Council, at the urging of borough administration, has decided to bond for a new “multi-purpose truck.” That new truck, according to Borough Manager Dr. Robert Burton, would not only be capable of picking up brush, but also have “interchangeable parts” allowing it to be used “for other items,” including hauling the borough’s bulk trash and sludge. “Luckily,” however, the borough was able to get its 2005 brush truck “fixed right away” during the summer, but “when something like that breaks down, you’re in a real jam,” said Burton of the lessons learned from the summertime experience. “If I learned anything, I waited too long for a trash truck and I am not making that mistake again,” vowed Burton during one of several recent council meeting discussions on the matter. “You don’t wait until something is broken, and you have to order it and it takes a year to get it.” The Pine Barrens Tribune previously reported that several municipalities have been advised that specialty vehicles, such as fire trucks and trash trucks, are currently expected to take a year or more to be delivered once they are ordered, the result of the supply chain issues. “You can’t just go down to 7-11 to buy one,” Burton asserted. And residents, he said, notice when “bulk trash is sitting there” or “leaf pickup was missed.” He is now of the philosophy that there should be a backup for “major pieces of equipment,” especially those that are used to provide essential services and have aged, like the brush truck, which is a 2005 Peterbilt model. “In order to provide quality service to the residents, we need to spend some money,” Burton asserted. “… We should have a backup, so when things like this happen, we are not dead in the water.” The borough intends to acquire a 2022 Peterbilt multi-purpose truck that is estimated to cost $285,000, with borough council agreeing on Dec. 1 to fund the acquisition through a $2 million bond originally taken out in 2001 (Borough Clerk Mark McIntosh later explained to this newspaper on Dec. 6 that there was some unspent money left in the bond that was
still on the books, “and for whatever reason was not used for its original purpose,” and the borough, facing those circumstances, could either cancel the bond, return the money, and use/take out another bond, or just simply amend the original 2001 bond for new purchases [with it choosing to do the latter]). McIntosh pointed out to this newspaper that the “borough pays down its own debt” and does “self-financing of its bonds,” and in doing so, of the $285,000 estimated total cost for the multi-purpose truck noted in the amended bond, a $100,000 down payment is “coming from our wastewater operating budget” as the vehicle will be used a “third of a time” by the wastewater treatment plant “since they now have a sludge press.” The rest, he said, “is coming from the bond ordinance itself, or funds assigned to the Department of Public Works (DPW).” “(The late) Mayor (Bob) Hanold had been talking about a new brush truck for a couple years, and we said we didn’t have the money,” recounted Burton during a recent council meeting. “In hindsight, I should have tried to make the money available.” Joe Aromando, a borough councilman from 1998 to 2002, who often asks critical questions at borough council meetings and has tried numerous times to regain a seat on borough council, recently asked during a governing body meeting why it had invested money to repair the 2005 brush truck. “My concern with that 15-year-old truck is that everything else is either fantastic, and it was well worth spending that kind of money on an engine to keep it going for another 10 years, or we will get nickel and dimed because then we are going to hear the ‘hydraulics are bad, the hose leaks and this stuff is worn out,’ and the thing will just sit there where we just wasted money,” Aromando said. Aromando pressed borough officials as to what type of “assurances” they received that the $29,435 engine repair, authorized by borough council through an emergency procurement, was worth-while where “you didn’t waste money.” “So, there is no guarantee the truck won’t blow up tomorrow,” Burton replied. “Because it is a truck. The transmission could blow tomorrow, as it is not under warranty. While the motor is under warranty for a certain period of time, the axle could break. The drivetrain could go. I can’t give you any guarantees.” However, the borough manager contended that the brush truck is “meticulously maintained” and that its “fluids are changed on a regular basis.” He added that the borough Department of Public Work now has a hydraulic machine and is able to do See TRUCK/ Page 9
Saturday, December 11, 2021
Pemberton Man Charged in Murder of 18-Year-Old, Shooting of Woman and Toddler, All in Willingboro PE M B E RT ON — A 19 -y e a r- o l d Pemberton Township man has been charged in both the fatal shooting of an 18-year-old and a separate shooting incident that injured a young woman and a toddler, both of which occurred in Willingboro Township last April, according to joint announcements by Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina and Willingboro Township Acting Public Safety Director Captain Ian Bucs. The suspect, Sylas Young, 19, of the Sunbury Village section of Pemberton Township, is facing a number of charges, including first-degree murder, in the April 22 killing of Yahsinn Robinson, a senior at Willingboro High School, who police said was struck by gunfire multiple times outside his home. He is also charged with four counts of aggravated assault in the shooting a week later of a 24-year-old woman and a two-year-old who were inside another home
LETTER
(Continued from Page 1) to put its questions to the board in writing and email them to him. However, on Dec. 6, a few days after being sent a list of ten such questions, he emailed back a one-paragraph response making it clear that neither he nor the board had any intentions of answering those queries or relating their side of the story in the media. The letter that Campbell received, which is written on the stationery of the LeisureTowne Association, Inc., with its address and logo, and signed “Very truly yours, LEISURETOWNE BOARD OF TRUSTEES,” begins “Dear Mr. Campbell: I attach a copy of the flyer you apparently left for LEISURETOWNE management at our Oct. 26, 2021, Open Board Meeting.” (Since the letter does not bear the signature of any particular person, however, there is no indication of the identity of the individual referred to as “I.”) “We are shocked and appalled that you would invade the private and restricted confines of a LeisureTowne Open Board Meeting and leave such a flyer, the contents of which are incendiary, disruptive, in poor taste and – frankly – none of your business,” the writer then contends. “Since you do not reside in this community and pay nothing towards its fees for management, maintenance, security or preservation, you do not have any right whatsoever to surreptitiously enter – uninvited – a restricted LeisureTowne-only governmental meeting held pursuant to NJ law and leave documents addressing its management and/ or administration.”
in Willingboro, both of whom were treated at Cooper University Hospital in Camden. Also charged as an accomplice in Robinson’s killing was Kavon Carter, 24, of Pemberton, who faces several first-degree offenses, including conspiracy to commit murder. An investigation revealed that both shootings stemmed from a long-running dispute between Young and his associates from Pemberton Township and residents of the Buck i ng ham Park s e ction of Willingboro. Robinson, who was returning home from his part-time job when killed, was reportedly not involved in the conflict. The Prosecutor’s Office will prepare the case for presentation to a grand jury for possible indictment of both suspects, who were served with warrants while being held in Burlington County Jail in Mount Holly on unrelated charges. The letter, however, next indicates that it had not yet been clearly established that Campbell was actually at the meeting, noting, “We are presently reviewing our closed-circuit surveillance records to establish your presence in our facility” and that “in the event that we establish digital evidence that you did, in fact, enter LeisureTowne’s Open Board Meeting with intent to deposit your flyer, we will forthwith consult with our legal counsel about filing trespassing charges – criminal and civil— against you. “If you arranged for someone else to deposit this communication in our building,” it adds, “we will consider harassment charges against all involved. We know you also have a presence on social media and will investigate same thoroughly for any LeisureTowne-related items you have posted.” The flyer to which the letter refers, which Campbell attached, does indeed bear his name at the top, along with the location “Kings Grant,” the section of Marlton where he lives. But that information, he noted, along with the wording on the flyer, all appeared on his social media Nextdoor post and could have been “cut and pasted” by anybody. In fact, the contents of the flyer, when compared to Campbell’s Nextdoor post, proved to be an exact replica, even to the presence of a lower-case ‘z’ at the top after “Kings Grant.” The posting in question was part of a thread that focused on the cancellation of a planned LeisureTowne 50th anniversary observance in October. C a m p b e l l’s c o nt r i b ut i o n t o t h at discussion, which was duplicated in the See LETTER/ Page 9
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dictator, and I understand the rules are strictly enforced by an equaling dictatorial board. “The belief that this sort of thing preserves property values is simply not true. In fact, it has the opposite effect. Not many people would consciously choose to live under subjective unreasonable rules like LT (LeisureTowne) has. The more it becomes known that LT is such a place, more people will choose to buy elsewhere. “So perhaps the celebration flopped because people feel living in LT is nothing to celebrate, or it could be that the management
company is incapable of planning social events, or it could be a combination of both. In any case, the people of LT need to organize and win control of the board. Then they can amend the bylaws and write new reasonable rules and hire a more competent management company.” The board representative who wrote the letter to Campbell, however, followed the threat of legal action by advising him that those “philosophies and assessments are not appreciated here,” and that his “anecdotal observations about cancellation of LeisureTowne events for cause serve no
positive purpose whatsoever.” Apparently then referring to the board, the writer went on to contend that “we can only conclude you are harboring some imponderable and strange grudge against this community for reasons that are a mystery to everyone but you” but that “LeisureTowne is not interested in your commentary.” “If we wanted outside opinions about our community, we would solicit them in a professional and worthwhile manner for our own internal ‘resident only’ reasons,” the letter continues. “Going forward, we would ask that you stay off LeisureTowne facilities and exercise some personal restraint in venting your seriously uninformed and illtempered opinions.” The letter concluded, “Please be guided accordingly.” In sharing the letter with this newspaper, however, Campbell indicated he wasn’t even aware of the location of LeisureTowne when he wrote the post on the Nextdoor website and could hardly have crashed one of its meetings to distribute a flyer but was simply giving his response to comments made by others who took part in the online discussion based on his own personal experience with a homeowners association. As for the alleged flyer, Campbell told the Pine Barrens Tribune, “I had nothing to do with its creation and the first time I saw it was when it was attached to the threatening letter they sent me.” He added that when he called the number of the LeisureTowne Homeowners Association on the letterhead, he found himself speaking with a representative of an independent property management company whom he described as being “very confrontational” on the phone, asking him, “Do you want us to believe that you don’t know anything about this?” He said that he then requested to speak with her supervisor, but she refused to either connect him with or See LETTER/ Page 15
nothing else would cost as much as the new motor did, and such trucks are $300,000. “I did not want to spend that kind of money,” maintained Burton of the emergency engine repair. “If we had a new truck, I probably would not have wanted to spend money.” However, as Burton pointed out, the borough did not have a new truck in its possession or readily available to it over the summer. Aromando, however, also rec ently questioned why borough officials are in such a “big hurry” to obtain the new multi-purpose truck, questioning an initial funding tactic that ultimately was canceled. “Can’t we survive until the next budget?” he asked.
Burton responded that there is “almost a year lead time on this” and “we want to get it in the works, so we are not waiting two years for it,” pointing out that the borough traditionally doesn’t approve its budget until sometime in March. The two men, in recent months, have also wrangled over how to finance the new multipurpose truck and over whether the borough has a fleet maintenance replacement program. Aromando contended the latter was in place during his time in office “that way we don’t have aging and older pieces of equipment.” (McIntosh later told this newspaper that there used to be a fleet replacement program guide that the borough managers would refer to that contained details such
as the ages of each municipal vehicle and when they would likely reach the end of their useful life, and believed that was what Aromando was referring to, and currently it is his assumption that each borough department has a list that is “internal to the their department” of their vehicles and equipment, showing when items such as any air filters or ladders need to be changed.) During the course of those council meeting interactions, Aromando again put the question to Burton, “why have the engine rebuilt” on the 2005 Peterbilt? “Because it blew up!” Burton retorted. “We could hire a couple more DPW guys and push the truck around town. That would probably be cheaper.”
Photo Provided
Letter sent to a Marlton resident signed the “LeisureTowne Board of Trustees.”
LETTER
(Continued from Page 8) flyer allegedly left at the meeting, appeared as follows: “I’m an outsider, as I don’t live in Leisuretown (sic). But I’ve seen a lot of posts from very unhappy people complaining about heavy handed governance by the HOA (Homeowners Association). I was curious, so I read the governing documents and rules. I have never seen anything like it. It looks like they were written by a controlling
TRUCK
(Continued from Page 8) 70 percent of hydraulic repairs in-house. “If the transmission goes, we would get it replaced,” Burton maintained. “But there is nothing on the body or drive train of the vehicle that would indicate it is going to break down. Having said that, could it break down tomorrow? The most honest answer I can give you is that we needed a truck, so I had to get the motor replaced.” In the event that the transmission on the brush truck does fail, Burton said, he still would probably have that replaced too as “it is cheaper to put in that kind of repair” as
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A “lakefront charming log cabin” in Medford Lakes listed for short-term rent on Airbnb, Inc.’s website.
RENTALS
(Continued from Page 1) Just how much of an economic blow this would present to such local renters, however, could not be immediately ascertained by this newspaper, as either contact information was unavailable or they declined to comment for this story. The Pine Barrens Tribune reported in March 2017 that several borough residents had come forward to speak out against the increasing number of Airbnbs or bed and breakfast guest houses cropping up in the community. Cited in their complaints at the time was noise, lack of fire safety, lack of “hotel guest” insurance, property damage and decreasing property values in neighborhoods where these short-term lodging rentals are allowed to exist. Heinold, at the time, advised that council must be “smart and level-headed” before passing any ordinance(s) banning Airbnbs because any litigation could be cost prohibitive to the borough. He pointed out that cities like New York and San Francisco are tied up in litigation with the Airbnb Corporation, and that if such big cities that have vast resources are not able to come up with successful ways to regulate Airbnbs, small towns like Medford Lakes would not have a chance. Joe Aromando, an outspoken borough resident, who often participates in borough council meetings and was a one-time borough councilman, raised the issue of short-term rentals during borough council meetings in June and August of this year, however, wanting to know “where things stand.” “This is not a good thing,” said Aromando of short-term rentals. “I don’t want to see
these people renting these houses short-term until the town fathers say this is what we want. I don’t want to be around something like that; if I did, I would have moved to the shore.” Heinold, in response, maintained that he was “doing research to see what the developments of the law has been over the last year and-a-half to two years.” While the borough council members did not reply to Aromando’s remarks, in September of this year, Heinold requested that the governing body convene a closed session so that he can discuss with it “recent issues regarding short-term rentals.” What followed was the Oct. 13 introduction of the short-term rentals’ prohibition. And although Aromando had been the only one to make public remarks about the matter during recent borough council meetings, Borough Clerk Mark J. McIntosh told this newspaper on Dec. 6 that “it wasn’t so much Aromando” who had forced the issue, but rather the borough has been receiving complaints from the owners of properties which neighbor short-term rentals. The complaints, the borough clerk noted, have been “two-fold,” some raising “noise issues, people coming and going and stuff like that,” while others have pointed to the listings for available short-term rentals in the borough mentioning that there are nearby beaches and lakes available for swimming, as well as the dwellings being within walking distance of Camp Ockanickon (now known as YMCA of the Pines). In elaborating on why the statements contained in some the rental advertisements are of a concern to some, McIntosh said that all recreational areas within the borough are owned and operated by the Medford Lakes Colony Club, with use open to members and their guests only, with any guest having to be accompanied at all times by a member. The
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camp, he pointed out, is private property. Heinold, in noting that there was at one time “a lot of concern over the authority and legality” of regulating short-term rentals maintained during Oct. 13 council meeting remarks that now “that has kind of” dissipated and “towns have been able to enforce their ordinances and not face litigation.” “I can’t assure you that you won’t (be challenged),” replied Heinold when asked by Councilman William Fields about the possibility of “civil lawsuits” from existing renters who might claim they are “grandfathered.” The borough solicitor added in response to the councilman that he “also can’t assure you that if challenged, there will not be issues that you won’t have to defend.” “But I think you have a good precedent at this point for the authorities to regulate uses, and in particular, the authority to regulate short-term rentals, primarily because of the negative impacts that are associated with temporary use and high turnover,” maintained Heinold to the council. The borough solicitor noted that he “knows that there have been resident complaints” about short-term rentals in the municipality and that “we reference our own experience with that as a basis for the authority to act in this instance,” calling that “important” to do in passing the ordinance. The ordinance, obtained by this newspaper, states that “the borough’s experience, as well as common experiences” have resulted in a “conclusion” that “short term rentals frequently result in a public nuisance, noise complaints, sanitation issues, overcrowding and illegal parking within the residential neighborhoods of the borough.” Short-term rentals, the new law states, are “frequently associated” with “overcrowding, excessive noise, unruly behavior, obscene language, littering, parking of vehicles
Saturday, December 11, 2021 on lawns, blocking of r ights-of-way, public urination, sanitation issues, poor maintenance of property and grounds, and violation of trash collection ordinances.” The measure goes on to describe that such rentals are comparable to “illegal, defacto hotels, motels, boarding houses and other commercial enterprises,” noting that those aforementioned uses are “in violation” of the borough’s zoning ordinance and other codes. “And it is also based not just in our zon i ng author ity, but i n ou r pol ic e power authority, because of the negative implications associated with short term rentals,” maintained Heinold of any claims that are made about existing rentals being grandfathered. “We are not relying just on zoning, but also relying on police power, and police power typically doesn’t grandfather anything … you’re making the activity quasi-criminal, subject to a municipal court violation.” In calling the new borough law a “pretty straight-forward ordinance,” Heinold said it was “essentially an amalgamation of what I thought were the best examples from towns north of us.” He explained that New York City “took aggressive action” against Airbnbs, prompting individuals to turn to surrounding jurisdictions, including in North Jersey, which resulted in “pressure” that led to those communities “banning short-term rentals of varying degrees.” Some jurisdictions in North Jersey, he pointed out, consider when a dwelling unit is only rented for “60-days” or less to be a “short-term rental.” “Some towns have gotten more aggressive with that number,” Heinold pointed out. “But I think if somebody is spending more than a month in a house, they are kind of living there, and would want to get along with people, and are probably not heading See RENTALS/ Page 13
An interior view of a log cabin in Medford Lakes listed on Airbnb, Inc.’s website.
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they don’t have the history of Pinelands work that Rick Prickett and D’Arcy Green have.” There are, however, ways that those individuals could be brought on board, according to the PPA head, without weakening the agency’s mission of protecting the Pinelands Reserve from the threats posed by development and pollution. These include placing them in other available seats that are now vacant, replacing a commissioner who he claimed “hardly ever shows up and has done little to protect the Pinelands” (although he declined to name that member) or by confirming two individuals who were previously nominated by Murphy, Theresa Lettman and Jennifer Coffey, both of whom he called “proven environmental advocates.” “In other words, you can either change where the newest people fit in, or you can get two of your pending nominees confirmed or a combination of these two things, so that the total package is stronger than where we
INVESTIGATION (Continued from Page 2)
“And I have no problem doing that,” the superintendent declared. “So, in the future, I will ensure that if there are rumors circulating and parents are feeling uneasy, staff are uneasy as well as students, I will make sure that I am the one that gets the message out.” And that next message came only a couple days later, on Dec. 6, when “Wildcat Families” were informed that “this morning, a student at the high school was overheard telling other students he was going to bring a gun into school.” “The student was immediately removed from class, searched and removed from school grounds,” the message stated. “We are not taking this incident lightly. Any students
AD HOTLINE: (609) 801-2392 are today,” Montgomery explained. “There is room to both keep your existing people or add your pending nominees who have a track record, and still add two new people like those whom the governor has nominated.” But “‘proven’ is the key word here” when it comes to choosing members of the Pinelands Commission, he added. The Pinelands Commission’s 15-member board consists of seven members who are appointed by the governor, one member appointed by each of the seven Pinelands counties, and one member appointed by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior. The gubernatorial appointees are subject to the review and consent of the state Senate. Commission members serve staggered, three-year terms and are uncompensated for their service. Both Prickett and Green are currently serving in terms that expired several years ago, as is Lloyd, but that, according tous on follow Montgomery, is a “normal” state of affairs on facebook.com/MedfordUMC the commission, where members can remain in their slots following the expiration of their terms until such time as they are replaced by new nominees who are confirmed by the state Senate. who make comments like this will be sent for a psychiatric evaluation and immediately removed from school. Thank-you to the staff members for their quick response.” McCooley, in her video, noted that the next meeting of the Pinelands Regional Board of Education is scheduled for Dec. 14 and that childcare will now be offered to those who wish to attend (some had previously complained they couldn’t attend in-person due to childcare obligations) and email her in advance. She also made mention of an uptick in Coronavirus cases confirmed in the district, maintaining that the Ocean County Health Department is providing guidance as to whether to “shut down a classroom or a wing.” “We do not want to have to shut the school down,” McCooley asserted. “So, we are doing the best we can in that respect.”
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RENTALS
(Continued from Page 10) out every night.” The borough solicitor added that those living somewhere for more than 30 days probably would “take care to not cause a commotion at 4 o’clock in the morning and those kinds of things.” A “trend” of short-term rentals being offered, as the borough solicitor put it, has now extended down into Atlantic, Ocean and Monmouth counties, causing some municipalities there to act. In the borough, he said, “there is not a huge swath of property owners we are impacting” by passing the local prohibition, maintaining there is a “very small number” of short-term rentals, and while there may be one or two more such places from when the issue was first raised before borough council in 2017, the figure “has not really changed significantly in the past few years.” “The good news is that we don’t have that many of them,” Heinold maintained. “… When this goes into effect, essentially we will notify those property owners to give them some time to come in compliance and see what their response is to it. But I am very confident New Jersey law (allows) municipalities to regulate their usage if they feel it is in their best interest of public safety and overall welfare of the community.” The ordinance also states that the borough wishes to deter the “cyber-social proliferation of any owner renting his or her residential dwelling units on various websites,” including through “newspapers, magazines, flyers, handbills, pamphlets, commercials, radio, direct mail, internet websites, text (messaging) or electronic messages.”
However, despite making it “unlawful to advertise, solicit or promote by any means” short-term rentals available in the borough, the Pine Barrens Tribune found on Dec. 5 a short-term rental available in the borough, listed on Airbnb, Inc.’s website, including one which advertises a “lovely lakefront log cabin” overlooking Mirror Lake #3 with three bedrooms, four beds and two baths, which the renter notes can accommodate up to seven guests. “Be our guest at this cozy lakefront, charming log cabin in Medford Lakes, surrounded by nature with all the comforts of home,” the listing states. “There is fun for everyone, at any time of the year! Perfect for a family, friends, business trip, or wedding party.” The listing notes that Leon E. Todd developed Medford Lakes as a “summer vacation com munity” in 1927 and it had since evolved from a “very popular summer destination” to a place where homeowners added amenities for “yearround enjoyment,” turning it into a “small, traditional community.” “It started as a resort with a unique concept, all construction would be out of logs,” the listing notes. “This is one of the earliest log cabins on Chippewa Trail, on Mirror Lake #3, and here at this lovely lodge you will definitely feel like you are on vacation every day!” The individual who listed the log cabin had posted in Facebook groups throughout South Jersey in October that she “just opened the calendar for January through March bookings,” starting at $310 a night, asking those who see her posts, “Are you interested in a long weekend getaway?”, “Do you need a play to stay for a wedding or for business purposes?”, “Working remotely and you want a change of scenery?”, “Or do you know someone that needs a short - long term stay?”, before urging interested parties
to “check out our cozy lakefront charming log cabin in Medford Lakes, NJ surrounded by nature with all the comforts of home.” Council, in passing the ordinance, did not make mention of the likely economic impacts it would have for the renters. However, Heinold maintained that “as with everything we do, we are going to try to work with property owners to help them get in compliance,” and that the borough would “give people some time to get into compliance.” Bookings already made, according to Mayor Thomas Cranston, would be addressed “individually with each property owner,” contending the ordinance is worded in such a way that it “gives them some lead time.” Heinold, when Aromando had pointed out the number of Airbnbs operating locally, emphasized “we haven’t given any permit or an allowance to anybody.” While a phone number for the “host” could not be located as of press time and a Facebook message was not returned as of this newspaper’s deadline time, the “cohost” of the listing, who is also an area realtor and the mother of the host, declined to comment on-the-record for this story when reached by this newspaper. However, the pair renting the log cabin have a 5-star rating on Airbnb, Inc.’s website, with customers noting that the dwelling unit is the “most perfect place ever”, “it’s so much prettier in person”, and that “we had a relaxing stay in this cabin for a weekend … loved the setup and location right on the lake.” One customer calls the “host” a “dream host” who is “very responsive, caring and helpful,” and notes that the area the rental is in “is amazingly quaint - right out of a hallmark movie!” Another individual who reportedly has online listings for short-term rentals in the borough, who was put in touch with this
newspaper by the co-host, ultimately decided against issuing a statement for this story. Another Airbnb, Inc. website listing located by this newspaper on Dec. 5 advertises availability for a home on Upper Aetna Lake in Medford Lakes, “at Catt’s Cove,” and calls the borough’s 22 lakes “picturesque,” noting the municipality is “famous for the red cedar log homes.” That listing, according to the website, was being offered for “$152 per night” by a “superhost,” or one that is considered “experienced” and “highly rated,” and is “committed to providing great stays for guests,” with one customer who left a review noting that what was being offered was a “beautiful and spacious” Airbnb in a “spectacular setting” that is “situated in a private cove where you can enjoy wildlife and lush vegetation.” Another customer called it “one of the best Airbnb experiences I’ve had,” noting that “I will definitely be returning to enjoy the peaceful, beautiful surroundings of Catt’s Cove again.” A telephone number or other contact information for the superhost could not be immediately located by this newspaper. However, despite those glowing online reviews of two of the Airbnbs in the borough, and about the area itself, from visitors, Aromando maintained in council meeting remarks prior to the prohibition’s creation and passage that Airbnbs are “places operating in violation of existing codes in town,” and that “the people who moved here (to Medford Lakes), I don’t think, bargained for a house next to them doing this type of activity.” He pointed out there was one comment on a listing for the borough that asked, “Can we book a party of 50?” “People pay a lot of taxes,” he maintained. “If they wanted to have a hotel next to them, they could have moved to the ocean(front).”
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HOUSING
(Continued from Page 7) agreed to construct 40 “affordable homes” on the site, the document notes. Pemberton Township, as reported by this newspaper last week, has agreed to supply the development with water service, initially using nearby Pemberton Borough’s water supply, with the intent to extend its own water infrastructure to the site as funding permits. It is also noted in the agreement that the redeveloper “shall obtain approval for and grant to the township a 70 foot by 70-foot permanent easement” for an “existing water well” on the site, as well as for a “future” 20 foot by 20 foot “well house to be located
therein.” There is also to be a 15-foot-wide access roadway from the project’s “southwest cul-de-sac to the permanent easement.” The redeveloper has agreed to apply to the NJDEP for a “Diversion Permit” to hook any built homes directly to the township’s sewer system. However, in the event that permit is denied, the redeveloper has agreed to build a “pump station” for the development at its own expense, with it only having to pay the municipality half of the standard connection fees in that situation. The township and its agents have been granted access to the property during the project as long as “72 hours advance notice” is provided to the redeveloper. One of the final paragraphs of the redevelopment agreement notes that “the redeveloper and the township” agree that it is “contingent upon” a “tax abatement
agreement” that is pursuant to the state’s “five-year exemption and abatement law.” An ordinance, the document states, is to be passed by the township council authorizing a “five-year tax abatement and exemption agreement with the redeveloper commencing pro rata, as of the date of each Certificate of Occupancy for each of the residential units sold.” “The five-year tax abatement and exemption
agreement for the land developed with residential units will be for the ultimate end user (residential purchaser) of the property to pay to the township commencing on the transfer of title to the ultimate end user (residential purchaser) – a Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) in accordance with the fiveyear Tax Abatement Program,” the 47-page redevelopment agreement states.
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LIGHTING (Continued from Page 6)
which also disallow “objectionable glare” from being “transmitted” to a neighboring property. Any lights that are “directly facing” a neighboring property “shall be shielded,” the new restrictions state, which emphasize that “in no instance will glare be permitted” from a “light source” that is facing a dwelling. Additionally, “any kind of illumination” along a property line must not exceed 0.2 foot-candle, with a “foot-candle” defined by the borough as “the amount of light from one candle at one foot from the source of the light.” The new restrictions also requires that all “outdoor parking areas, driveways, pedestrian ways and walks” be illuminated only using “full cut-off luminaries.” Additionally, it states that all outdoor light poles and/or luminaries for properties other than those zoned for, or containing, a single family dwelling, “shall be no closer than 7 feet to the side and rear lot lines and no closer than 22 feet to a front lot line, except that in no case shall a light pole and/or luminaire be located within 25 feet of a residentially-zoned or residentially used property.” A variety of “allowable mounting heights for outdoor light fixtures” for non-residential sites are set through the new restrictions,
LETTER
(Continued from Page 9) identify that individual. Among the things that this newspaper wanted to find out from the Board of Trustees by submitting its list of questions, using attorney Shivers as an intermediary and at his request,
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with the ultimate allowable height dependent on the specific circumstances. However, there is a provision allowing for “no height limitation” if the lighting is “capped or focused such that the bulb is not visible from any property line”, “is at an angle of 45 degrees or less to the ground” and has a “0 foot-candle reading at all property lines.” The new law pertaining to the restrictions also sets a variety of requirements for any foundations or support structures of outdoor commercial lighting. Joe A romando, a for mer boroug h councilman and regular council meeting attendee, at a borough council meeting prior to the ordinance’s passage, noted that there is “really a lot here that somebody has to meet with lighting” and inquired whether there is “the necessity to do this.” He pointed out that any violation of the lighting restrictions would most likely occur at night, when borough offices are closed, and contended that the borough’s code enforcement officer was just “having trouble keeping up” with enforcement matters during the day. “I don’t see how they can stay on top of this,” Aromando maintained. Baugh, during another council session, asked, “Who is qualified to determine if there is a violation?” Borough Manager Dr. Robert Burton replied that the borough’s code enforcement officer will be trained by the municipal engineer and “will
acquire appropriate equipment to measure the light output.” He noted that residents should call the borough hall to report a violation, which will then be investigated by the code enforcement officer, and in that person’s absence, McIntosh or himself. “The engineer has a device that measures light as it comes off somebody’s property, which determines whether it is deemed excessive,” Burton explained. “It is almost like a decibel meter. It is not expensive equipment.” McIntosh clarified that borough hall would handle “minor issues” involving lighting, but that if “somebody’s showing off rocket lights during the night” causing a major problem, residents should call borough police. “This is more of making sure light is not spilling out of a property, and ensuring shielding and things like that,” said Burton of the new restrictions, which exempt all municipal and Medford Lakes Colony Club properties. The second ordinance, also passed by a 4-0 vote recently, sets lighting design standards for commercial applications under the borough’s land development code. The standards include that sharp cutofftype luminaries are recommended as the best approach for parking areas, the use of highpressure sodium luminaries is encouraged, and general illumination of the exterior of buildings, including roofs, is not permitted unless approved by the borough’s Zoning and Planning Boards. The lighting design standards also set
recommended foot-candles at ground level for commercial uses, and detail how all lighting should be mounted. “This is the second element of our lighting provision,” said Heinold of the second ordinance setting the lighting design standards. “This will have extremely limited application, because it only comes into play on site-plan applications that are commercial in nature. Because we have such a narrow commercial section of the borough, and it is presently fully constructed, this would only come into play on some amendment … or get triggered under a site-plan review.” Though the borough’s commercial district is now fully constructed, Heinold recounted a 1997 fire that had burned down the Lucky 7 Restaurant and Ice Cream Parlor at Stokes and Medford Lakes-Tabernacle roads, with the current P.J. Whelihan’s Pub + Restaurant ultimately built in its place. So, having to use the standards, he maintained, is “conceivable at some point in time.” The borough solicitor pointed out that it is “unusual for a municipality to not have lighting standards,” and that is why the borough engineer recommended them for incorporation into borough code. “I recognize this would have a very limited application in Medford Lakes … but I don’t see a downside to including it,” Heinold concluded.
were who actually wrote the letter to Campbell, whether the board had approved it before it was sent, as it does other communications, whether any evidence of Campbell’s presence at the meeting was uncovered by security cameras, whether the police were ever called in, and whether the board was, in fact, contemplating filing a criminal or civil complaint, as the letter indicated it might do.
But rather than respond to those queries, Shivers’ message from the board, consisted of a terse one-paragraph reply: “The Board of Trustees has a fiduciary duty to the members of the association and if members of the community have questions about the board’s actions, there is a proper forum for doing so,” the message said. “This board is committed to transparency to its members and elects to
communicate with them directly rather than through the media so that the message and facts are not distorted (innocently or intentionally). Therefore, neither the board nor I will be providing a response to your questions.” In speaking with this newspaper on Dec. 7, Campbell said he had heard nothing further from the LeisureTowne Board of Trustees since receiving the certified letter.
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