Pine Barrens Tribune Jan. 7, 2023 - January 13, 2023

‘TECHNICALLY INFEASIBLE’

By D ouglas D. M elegari Staff Writer

TABERNACLE—Authorization has been given to Tabernacle Township’s solicitor, William Burns, to “negotiate for the purpose of real property,” or to acquire, he later confirmed to this newspaper, a 20-acre parcel at 144 Carranza Road in Tabernacle, with it revealed in a special presentation held just before Christmas that officials here would

like to put a “new municipal complex” there with “everything under one roof,” as well as a new facility for the municipality’s Department of Public Works.

The authorization to negotiate the potential sale was given to Burns at the end of a Dec. 12, 2022, Tabernacle Township Committee meeting, following an executive session, with Construction and Code Enforcement Official Tom Boyd, at a subsequent presentation on Dec. 19,

2022, maintaining that it has recently been determined that it is “technically infeasible” to restore the existing, shuttered town hall into governmental offices due to a whole host of structural issues that have now also presented both logistical and regulatory issues.

However, three former township mayors who spoke out following the Dec. 19

Tabernacle Twp. Breaks From Other Area Towns by Supporting Efforts of NJDEP for Wharton Tract

Washington, Woodland Oppose State’s ‘Paid Permit System’ Plan, Joining Shamong, Medford Lakes

By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer

TABERNACLE—A township that serves as the “Gateway to the Pines” has broken away from a “number of other municipalities,” and has decided to “support” the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP)’s efforts to conduct a Visitor and Vehicle Use Survey on, and develop an access and use plan for, the Wharton State Forest, which is said to include the development of a “permitting system.”

The Tabernacle Township Committee’s decision to recently pass a resolution “in support of the NJDEP” is an exception, however, with just about every other governing body leading a town comprising the Wharton tract having recently passed resolutions “opposing” such a plan, including now Medford Lakes Borough, as well as Mullica, Shamong, Washington, Waterford, and Woodland townships.

The opposition, led by the local 8th Legislative District GOP delegation, centers around an Aug. 31, 2022, press release from the NJDEP that invited participation in the survey stating that “in considering the future of the Wharton State Forest, the State Park Service will develop a permit system for use of unimproved roads throughout the forest, modeled after the department’s experience implementing the Mobile Sport Fishing Vehicle Permit system at Island Beach State Park.”

Tabernacle Township’s Current Leaders Offer More Detail About Why the Vacated Town Hall Cannot Be Rehabbed, Reopened as a Municipal Building, Offer Plans for New Town Complex and Public Works Facility; But 3 Former Mayors Suggest Other Viable Alternatives Still Exist

Photo Provided

A sinking floor beam inside Tabernacle Town Hall being held up by wooden wedges, the latter which are showing signs of stress, including gaps and bowing.

By D ouglas D. M elegari Staff Writer

WOODLAND—The Burlington County Sheriff’s Department has agreed to conduct “unannounced, random” patrols in Woodland Township, Mayor William “Billy” DeGroff announced, following a number of complaints having been aired at recent Woodland Township Committee meetings about speeding there, particularly in and around the Village of Chatsworth, or the downtown section of the municipality.

The announcement also follows a fatal, freak accident that occurred on Sept. 24 of last year that killed three men on County Route 532, also known as ChatsworthBarnegat Road, with there having been two other fatal accidents in the rural municipality (one reported on Route 72 and the other also occurring on County Route 532) in 2022.

The New Jersey State Police traditionally conducts all regular policing activities in Woodland, outside of the New Jersey State Park Police, which is responsible for law enforcement in state forests, but according to DeGroff, the State Police currently has “limited staff.”

This newspaper previously reported that following the fatal September accident, during an October Woodland committee meeting, the governing body authorized the purchase of two solar radar feedback speed signs for $6,654.20.

Installation of those signs, according to DeGroff, was completed during the first two weeks of November, with one posted at the “north end” of the village, or on County Route 563, as one comes into town from Route 72, and the other erected on the “south end” of the village, or on County Route 563, as one comes into town from Washington and Bass River townships.

“I saw in the news that the township is purchasing some speed limit signs for the village,” said John Michael Ayers, a resident who lives on County Route 563. “I was wondering if there were any plans for (adding) additional speed bumps further down, on the southern end of town, basically near Ocean Spray.”

Michael-Ayers contended that “people are still ignoring the speed limit down here” and are “greatly exceeding” a posted speed limit of 40 mph by the cranberry company on County Route 563.

“There are families along here with children, and I think it is becoming a safety issue,” Michael-Ayers declared.

DeGroff responded that “at this time, there are no further plans for speed bumps,” and if there are any added in the future, the county would have to approve them because County Route 563 is a “county road.”

“I am hoping the speed signs will fix the problem,” the mayor declared. “There are other options we are looking at. But we will start with the speed signs and go from there. We are hoping they will get peoples’ attention, so people can see how fast they are going.”

However, another resident of County Route 563, Debbie Bowker, maintained that vehicles are flying over the existing speed bumps in town, including large trucks, and that despite her residence being some 75 feet off the roadway, the vibration from the activity is “knocking stuff off my walls.”

“As far as vehicles going over those speed bumps, we really have no control over that,” DeGroff responded. “We don’t have a police department, and the State Police have limited staff, but try to do the best that they can. It is just one of those things. We

are trying to deal with it.”

The intent of the speed bumps, the mayor explained, is to “slow it down.”

“I am hoping with the speed signs, as they approach the 30-mph speed zones, the signs will slow them down,” DeGroff added. “I don’t know what else we can do.”

Bowker, however, questioned how the signs would have any effect if there is no enforcement in town.

“Someone needs to see there is enforcement down here,” she declared, further maintaining that the State Police “doesn’t deal with Chatsworth.”

DeGroff responded that he has “met with the State Police several times,” and that they are “down staff” and have a “huge area to cover.”

“We are trying to deal with it, with what we got,” DeGroff asserted.

A few weeks after the exchange with both Michael-Ayers and Bowker, DeGroff announced that he had Township Administrator and Clerk Maryalice Brown call the Burlington County Sheriff’s Department to “see if they can possibly send some patrols to our area.”

“They were very pleased that we called,” DeGroff contended. “They will be conducting unannounced, random patrols in our town. So, hopefully, that will also help with some of the speeding.”

Brown added that she received a call from the “sheriff himself.”

“He said they were looking forward to helping out, and it would be random, and they will do what they can,” she said.

Over the last several years, there have been a number of both serious and fatal accidents at the intersection of Savoy Boulevard and Route 72 in Woodland. The intersection is currently a two-way stop intersection, with the stop signs on both sides of Savoy Boulevard, on the approach to Route 72.

Brown announced on Dec. 21, 2022, that the county has now “installed” rumble strips on both sides of Savoy Boulevard that approach Route 72. The strips, she said, have been placed both 100 and 200 feet away from each stop sign.

Additionally, Township Engineer Tom Leisse stated that the county recently confirmed that they are “on schedule” to repave Woodmansie Road in the spring. That road intersects with Savoy Boulevard.

Township Committee Rejects

By D ouglas D. M elegari Staff Writer

WASHINGTON—It is a project that the Washington Township Committee has pursued since at least 2016.

It is one that has been delayed by a Pinelands Commission and Burlington County Planning Board approval process, with the last of those approvals having finally been secured last year.

But now, a project to expand and redo the parking lot for the Washington Township Municipal Building is again on hold, this time due to the township having only received one bid for the construction work,

which Mayor Daniel James called a “little bit excessive” during a Dec. 6 Washington Township Committee meeting.

The municipal governing body then voted to reject the lone bid of $181,811 from Command Co, Inc.

“This quote exceeded the engineering estimate,” revealed Township Solicitor Tom Coleman, though he did not specify the value of the estimate.

Township Engineer Kevin Dixon agreed with the mayor’s choice of words to describe the offer, adding that he believed it “might be in our best interest to think twice” about

See PARKING/ Page 13

Bass River, in Reversal, Will Now Allow Cannabis Retailer in Township Mayor Says Any Such Future Enterprise Will Be Put Along Route 9 Corridor

By D ouglas D. M elegari Staff Writer

BASS RIVER—The Bass River Township Board of Commissioners, in a reversal, has decided to now allow for a Class 5 cannabis business to operate in the township, or a cannabis retailer.

A recently enacted ordinance allowing for the change specifies that only one cannabis retailer will be allowed in the municipality.

The commissioners, in August 2021, as previously reported by this newspaper, ahead of a state deadline to decide whether or not to permit any of the six classes of cannabis businesses, had previously decided to “allow for all of the cannabis classes, except for retail.”

Cannabis cultivators are considered Class 1, cannabis manufacturers are considered Class 2, cannabis wholesalers are considered Class 3, cannabis distributors are classified as Class 4 and cannabis delivery services are considered Class 6.

Following the state deadline, which has since passed, a municipality can “opt in” at any time to permit any of the licensing classes to operate, but cannot “opt out” for a five-year period once a decision is made to allow for any particular class(es).

The recent, unanimous decision of the three-member Bass River board was an about face of sorts from even just June of last year, when Commissioner Nicholas Capriglione expressed “some concerns” he had about allowing for cannabis retailers in Bass River, including “location.”

“My biggest concern is I believe we are the only town (that would have this) without an actual police presence, or police department,” he said at the time, pointing out that Bass River receives its policing from

the New Jersey State Police.

Capriglione also pointed out that Route 9, or the township’s business district, has NJ Transit bus stops, and expressed concern that any customers of a potential cannabis retailer in town could arrive there by bus.

“Someone could get on the bus, get off in New Gretna, and see how vulnerable and open it is here,” he said. “They could see what an easy, soft target it is going to be. … I don’t know how comfortable people are going to be when a quantity of people are (traversing) up and down the street, waiting for buses.”

Capriglione, also the township’s director of Public Safety, also pointed out in June of last year, when discussing the potential for allowing cannabis retailers, that there had been recent break-ins in town, as well as an increase in drug overdose responses.

“In my opinion, I believe Bass River has its share of drug issues,” Capriglione declared. “I am afraid something like this would encourage it, and certainly not stop it, or do what we need to do to solve the problem. No one person would want more money for the town (than me); however, safety has to be premiere.”

Capriglione called for more “research” to be done prior to any vote.

However, the majority of residents attending that well-attended meeting in the small town expressed their support for allowing cannabis retailers, pointing to the potential revenue it could generate for the municipality through a two percent allowable tax, and how it could also increase traffic to the downtown corridor.

Several residents also disagreed with

NJ

File Photo

The current parking lot of the Washington Township Municipal Building.

Washington

Lone Bid to Expand, Redo Municipal Parking Lot with Mayor Calling Offer a ‘Little Bit Excessive’

Municipality Intends to Go Out to Bid Second Time and ‘Solicit’ Contractors, and If That Fails, Says It’s Open to Negotiating, Possibly Even Merging Projects

By D ouglas D. M elegari Staff Writer

MEDFORD—The historic Tomlinson House, or Jonathan Haines House, built in 1760, believed to be the first home in what is now called Medford Village, and one of its “oldest homes in the township,” and which has been in the hands of Medford Township for the past five years, will be put up for sale by Medford Township Council.

Council unanimously passed an ordinance putting the residence up for sale during its Dec. 20, 2022, meeting, with Township Manager and Clerk Kathy Burger informing this newspaper on Jan. 5 that the property has not yet been listed for sale.

“This is selling the old Tomlinson House that is in front of the municipal building,” said Medford Mayor Charles “Chuck” Watson of the ordinance approved last month.

According to the township’s public records, the current size of the lot at 51 Union Street is 0.801 acres, after it was subdivided to make way for the grounds that now comprise the township’s new combination town hall/library municipal building at 49 Union Street.

Previously, the Tomlinson House sat on a 3.27-acre lot, with approximately 2.418 acres taken away through the subdivision process for the current town hall lot, according to the township’s public records.

It wasn’t immediately clear when exactly the lots were subdivided.

Medford Township, according to other public records, previously purchased the 3.27-acre lot, prior to it being subdivided, for $580,000 in May 2018.

The Dec. 19 ordinance notes that the township recently received a $400,000 appraisal for 51 Union Street, with the Tomlinson House comprising four bedrooms and three full bathrooms, and the dwelling itself about 3,000 square feet.

Council, according to the ordinance, has agreed to an “as-is” sale of the single-family residence, setting the minimum purchase price at $400,000 “based on the appraisal of the property.”

The council has been meeting behind closed doors for months, in part, to discuss the potential sale of the property, executive session meeting minutes obtained by this newspaper indicate, but the details of those discussions about the topic are all redacted as of press time.

When the township first revealed its wish to purchase the Tomlinson House parcel

with the intent to build a new town hall and library, there was immediate concern about the eventual fate of the historic residence.

“The Tomlinson House is not going to be torn down,” Watson vowed in 2018. “It is going to stay the way it is.”

At the time, when the township arrived at settlement of the Tomlinson House through “eminent domain,” according to the township’s public records, there was a tenant, “pursuant to a written lease with the prior owner,” still occupying the home. The township “took title to the property subject to the prior lease,” with Watson telling a concerned Union Street man that the municipality would be acting as “landlords.”

“And you are going to stay the landlords?” the man asked.

Watson replied, “not necessarily” and that “we may ultimately have a use for that building.”

“That has yet to be seen,” the mayor said. “I mean we actually talked to some of our volunteer organizations, and one of them, we met over there, and it is not going to work out for them. I would like to find a use for it and have the township to continue to own it.”

However, he added, that “for the time being, we don’t want the house to be empty, because that is the worst thing that could happen with vandalism, etc.,” and “whether an organization can use it, or whether it remains a residential property, remains to be seen.”

The mayor, in 2018, declared there are a “multitude of options” for the Tomlinson House, including that “we could subdivide it off the property and sell it as a residential home,” with Township Solicitor Timothy Prime at the time vowing it “won’t be knocked down” and that “it will have a use.”

Now, according to the Dec. 19 ordinance, “the (subdivided) property, with the existing single-family residence, is not needed for public use,” and “is not needed for any public purpose.”

“As we said way back when, we weren’t going to tear it down and are actually going to put some restrictions on this to maintain the historic accuracy to it, to a certain degree,” said Watson, on Dec. 20, 2022, in very limited public remarks about the plan to sell the home.

When this newspaper later queried Burger about what if any restrictions would be placed on the sale, and what they would

PEMBERTON TOWNSHIP BAGGED LEAF COLLECTION

Bagged leaves and pine needles must be placed at the edge of the road between Saturday and 6:00AM of the first collection date in your area.

Please note that if you set your bags at the road prior to Saturday you may be subject to a local fine

Grass and trash must NOT be mixed in with leaves and pine needles.

Please place your bags along the edge of the road upside down, with the tied end facing down. This will help prevent rain from leaking into the bags

Each bag shall weigh 30 lbs or less. We will not collect bags that exceed 30 lbs

Once the leaf collection crew has been through your area, they will not be authorized to return to your area for leaf collection

If you miss the collection period in your area, you may deliver your leaves and pine needles to the Public Works Yard

COLLECTION DATES

LEAVES MUST BE CURBSIDE FIRST DAY OF COLLECTION IN YOUR AREA

.

East side of East Lakeshore Drive to North Whitesbogs Road This area includes east side of East Lakeshore Dr., Hanover Boulevard, North Lakeshore Dr., South Lakeshore Drive and Ridge Rd

Pemberton Township Municipal Building west to Route 206, Fort Dix Boundary to Magnolia Road. This area includes Lake Valley Acres, Oak Pines, Birmingham, Sunbury Village and Johnson Court

Juliustown Road east to west side of East Lakeshore Drive. This area includes Juliustown Rd., Trenton Rd., Pemberton Blvd., Evergreen Blvd., Clubhouse Rd to Broadway, West Lakeshore Drive, and west side of East Lakeshore Drive AREA

Pemberton Township Municipal Building east to Juliustown Road. This area includes Lakehurst Road (from Juliustown Road to Junction Road), Blueberry Manor, Oak Ridge Estates, Rancocas Lane, Junction Road, Ridgeview Avenue, Mt. Misery Road, Springfield Road, Four Mile Road, and New Lisbon Area.

Sicklerville Man Dies After Striking Divider for Red Lion Circle, Tree; Fireman Working Traffic Control for Incident Struck in Second Crash

Southampton Mayor Reports Firefighter Treated and Released, Will Be OK

By D ouglas D. M elegari Staff Writer

SOUTHAMPTON—A first responder was injured while assisting with traffic control for a fatal crash that occurred in the early morning hours of Dec. 29 at the Red Lion Circle in Southampton Township, reported New Jersey State Police.

A Sicklerville man died in the crash at the circle, with Southampton Township Mayor Michael Mikulski updating the public on the condition of the injured Hampton Lakes Volunteer Fire Company firefighter during a Jan. 3 Southampton Township Committee meeting, reporting that the first responder, hit by a vehicle at the intersection of New Road and Route 70, “has been treated and released from the hospital.”

According to Sgt. Philip Curry, a spokesman for the state police, the fatal crash occurred at the circle, where Routes 206 and 70 meet, at 3:45 a.m. on Dec. 29.

A preliminary investigation, he said, revealed that a Toyota Avalon passenger car was traveling south on Route 206, and as it entered the circle, “it ran over the circle’s divider, ran off the roadway and struck a traffic-controlled device and a tree.”

The impact of the crash, Curry noted, caused fatal injuries to the driver, Jason

Gray, 46, of Sicklerville.

State police reportedly closed the circle to conduct a crash investigation there, with one of the closure points the intersection of New Road and Route 70. It was there that a second crash occurred when a vehicle “struck an ambulance and a firefighter who were in the area assisting with traffic control for the fatal crash,” according to Curry.

“The firefighter sustained non-lifethreatening injuries and was treated by EMS,” Curry reported. “The crashes remain under investigation.”

Mikulski said the firefighter is “OK” and “suffered no broken bones,” but that the incident serves as an “example of how dangerous it is – what these guys are doing.”

“They were stopped at New Road with a vehicle parked across the road to block traffic, because the accident was at the circle and they brought in a helicopter in, etc.” Mikulski said. “And someone just drove right into the truck and never slowed down. Thankfully, he was not struck by the vehicle (that caused the initial impact), but when the (parked) vehicle was struck, it hit him. We are all thankful no other cars were coming.”

According to KYW-TV, or CBS 3, in Philadelphia, the driver involved in the second crash remained at the scene.

By D ouglas D. M elegari Staff Writer

TABERNACLE—A New Year’s Eve day three-vehicle, violent collision in Tabernacle Township involving a Kia, GMC and Toyota at the intersection of Oak Shade Road and Medford Lakes-Tabernacle Road (also known as County Route 532) has left an Atco woman dead.

Stefanie Wilson, 37, of Atco, the operator of the Toyota, was killed as a result of the impact of the crash.

According to New Jersey State Police Spokesman Sgt. Philip Curry, the Dec. 31 crash occurred around 1:22 p.m.

A preliminary investigation, he said, revealed that a Kia Optima was traveling north on Oak Shade Road, while a GMC Yukon was traveling east on County Route 532.

Meanwhile, a Toyota 4Runner was traveling west on County Route 532.

“Within the intersection of Oak Shade Road and County Route 532, the left front of the Kia collided with the right rear of the GMC,” Curry said. “The Kia subsequently struck a curb, ran off the road, and struck a utility pole anchor. The GMC overturned, crossed the centerline, struck the Toyota, ran off the road to the left, struck a mailbox, and struck a garbage can. The Toyota subsequently ran off the road to the right and impacted a tree.”

The driver of the GMC, according to Curry, sustained minor injuries, while the driver of the Kia was not injured. Their identities were not released by the state police.

Curry noted the crash remains under investigation. Since the incident, several residents have renewed their calls for the “dangerous intersection” to be addressed, vowing to once again take their concerns to the Tabernacle Township Committee.

By D ouglas D. M elegari Staff Writer

MEDFORD LAKES—A new, annual tradition will be coming to Medford Lakes Borough beginning this May, with Medford Lakes Borough Council agreeing to hold “Medford Lakes Day” on the first Sunday of every May moving forward.

It will be an occasion, as proposed by Deputy Mayor William Fields, to “start off spring the right way,” comprising “local businesses, local vendors and Medford Lakes volunteer organizations.”

Fields envisions organizations such as the Medford Lakes Garden Club, Medford Lakes Colony Club, as well as local Scout troops, lining Trading Post Way, or the

borough’s downtown district.

The councilman pointed out that Medford Lakes is “all about community” and the occasion will serve as a way to “give back” to the local community.

It will also serve to celebrate the incorporation of Medford Lakes, which he pointed out occurred back on May 17, 1939.

“It is a good way to come out and get to know more about the town, and get involved,” Fields declared.

As part of the occasion, Medford Lakes officials will also be awarding its Community Service Award, which will be named after the borough’s late mayor, Robert D. Hanold Jr., who passed away on Jan. 12, 2021, following a four-year battle with a rare neuroendocrine cancer.

Violent Three-Vehicle Collision in Tabernacle Leaves Woman Dead

presentation held at Seneca High School, Rick Franzen (also known locally as “Piney Rick”), Joseph Barton, and Stephen Lee IV, suggested that there are other viable options that should be more thoroughly explored for a new town hall.

That included a suggestion backed by Barton (after having initially been provided by another attendee, Jason Litowitz) to potentially seize the old Tabernacle schoolhouse, also previously known as the former Sequoia Alternative Program Building, through “eminent domain,” or, as suggested by Franzen, make an offer to its current owner, Friends of Cyrus II, that the enterprise can’t refuse, such as “give them $500,000 more than they paid for it” back in June 2021.

It might be a better alternative, it was suggested by the former town leaders, than potentially millions of dollars being spent to construct a new municipal complex, on top of any sale price that there would be for a parcel, in addition to any costs associated with potentially rehabilitating the existing town hall.

It was revealed during the Dec. 19 presentation that the current Tabernacle committee does intend to rehabilitate the existing town hall, all in addition to the new construction planned for 144 Carranza Road, including relocating the building potentially some 300 feet away from the nearby road. The relocation plan also would come with re-landscaping the existing town hall lot to provide for a “Village Greene” for future township functions.

Several new details were presented during the Dec. 19 presentation about what kind of

structural issues led Boyd and a structural engineer to declare the existing town hall unsafe for occupancy, which was vacated on May 1 of last year, with the township’s offices currently temporarily housed in three construction trailers combined into one, positioned next to the existing town hall.

But noticeably absent from the special presentation was any discussion of cost estimates for constructing a new municipal complex, or a timeline of completion for all of the intended projects, as some attendees later inquired about during public comment.

Burns, also the township’s public information officer, on Jan. 3, when asked by this newspaper if there were any project cost estimates, replied, “not with respect to the municipal building,” and when queried about any timetable, responded, “no, there is not a specific timetable.”

Foundation Deterioration

Boyd began the Dec. 19 presentation by showing attendees a few pictures from the existing town hall, among them a beam “directly supporting the first floor, as well as the second floor,” or “what the floor joist sits on,” which is said to be located in the basement of the facility.

“There is significant deterioration in this beam here,” Boyd declared. “You’ll also notice, or see, cracking throughout the entire beam. This indicates stressors are being placed on the beam, which is approximately 150 years old.”

Boyd also presented a picture of a handicap entrance ramp for the existing town hall that is on the Medford LakesTabernacle Road (County Route 532) side of the building, asserting, “notice the significant foundation deterioration.”

The building, he said, sits about 5 feet off the shoulder of the road, the latter “which has been built up over the years,” and the

road design is leading to “significant water runoff” that is “infiltrating” the foundation.

The construction and code enforcement official then showed a picture from the basement of the existing town hall, depicting “rubble and stone laying on the floor,” maintaining there is “nothing holding anything together” anymore.

The water infiltration that is occurring, Boyd explained, is “causing the foundation walls to compress” as well as the foundation walls to “bow inwards.”

Officials, he noted, had tried to temporarily reinforce the floor joist in the basement to “strengthen it” by using wooden blocks (also known as wedges), but “the problem is the nails are poking out of that floor joist” with “nothing” that those boards can be attached to.

“Thus, in theory, it is free floating,” Boyd explained. “This flooring system is no longer able to safely support the load that is in that building.”

What would have to happen, according to Boyd, to rectify these structural deficiencies, is the “floor would have to be replaced with a new foundation,” the latter either comprising “concrete block” or “concrete wall.”

However, he noted, replacing the foundation in the building’s current location would not address the underlying cause of the current issues, which is the water infiltration, and even if “damp proofing” is attempted, “because of the layout of the road, you will still have significant water penetration” into the building.

“The floor cannot safely support the folks in there,” Boyd declared. “That is the determination of Michael Beach, the structural engineer, which I happen to agree with.”

He added that in addition to the issues with the foundation and floor beams, “investigative holes” found that the

existing town hall’s staircases “need to be reinforced” and that the “newer ones are not properly attached,” and that while the attic of the building comprises “very beautiful construction,” the design of the “old timbers” in it is such that they are “not appropriate for today’s standards” because they “won’t prevent uplift.”

Code Requirements Kick In

According to Boyd, when a governmental building is “evacuated,” under the state law (which has more stringent requirements for governmental buildings due to public use), in order to reoccupy it, the structure must be up to code. (Evacuation wasn’t a choice, he pointed out, after Beach gave the township two, three-month extensions to occupy the building, but would not agree to a third given its deteriorating condition.)

But the existing town hall, as a two-story building, he pointed out, lacks numerous code requirements, including a fire sprinkler system, an elevator, an elevator room and a commercial HVAC system with air exchanges, for example. It also requires twice as many toilets and other bathroom fixtures for the prescribed occupancy, Boyd contended.

Instead, it only has a stair lift and staircase to gain second floor access, for example. And an elevator, under state law, must be large enough to accommodate a stretcher, Boyd pointed out.

But the biggest obstacles making it “technically infeasible” to restore the existing town hall into governmental offices, he maintained, has to do with septic system requirements.

Making for “double the toilets,” the code enforcement official explained, would “trigger replacement of the septic system” because “every indication is the current one

A floor beam inside Tabernacle Town Hall that has sunk two inches below where it should be.

A floor inside Tabernacle Town Hall that has become off-level due to sinking, with this particular room about four inches off level.

Photos Provided A floor beam with cracks.

would

Adding all of these needs, according to Boyd, would call for an addition.

However, an addition to town hall, he explained, would trigger “stormwater management conditions” that have to be met due to any new construction requiring a certain set aside of impervious soil, and because most of the property already comprises asphalt and stone crushed by Public Works, there is “no room” to install an upgraded septic system on the existing town hall parcel of 2.25 acres. Additionally, another code requirement is that a septic system has to be 100 feet away from a well, and the municipality’s existing well is only some 65 feet away from the existing septic system.

“Thus, we have no room to put on an addition of any size, as well as the requirement of upgrading the septic system,” Boyd said. “Because the minimum acreage (to allow for required impervious soil coverage) is 3.2 acres, and the parcel is only 2.25 acres.

“Basically, it would be technically infeasible to do any type of addition, or any type of improvement, to the septic system and it would be finically irresponsible to investigate further. When we found out we needed to add bathroom facilities, and it was determined by an engineer that we don’t have room for a septic system, we stopped any further investigation for the building to be utilized for what it was utilized for in the past.”

Initially, the township, according to Boyd,

was looking at somewhere around $1.6 million to rehabilitate town hall to return to its current use, should it have been feasible. But that figure “increased” to around $3 million, he maintained, “as we discovered things that had to be done.” And in recent weeks, he said, “better fixed estimates” now show the cost of rehabilitation being somewhere around $5 million, and “that is the cost when we found it was infeasible to build an addition.”

Boyd also said that the rehabilitation figures do not reflect “unknowns,” pointing out “we did not tear apart the ceiling between first and second floors” to investigate the “structural supports” there, for example.

New Municipal Complex

According to Tabernacle Township Administrator and Clerk Maryalice Brown, while the municipal staff currently occupies the construction trailers, “this is not a permanent solution because of lack of meeting rooms, storage, security, etc.”

She maintained that of some 13 municipal properties, the only place where building a new municipal complex could theoretically happen is on the grounds of the township’s former dump, which is on Oakshade Road. However, she contended, “it is not feasible due to possible soil contamination issues.”

That led the township committee, Brown said, to explore “privately-owned” properties in town, however, there is only one zone in the entire municipality where construction of a new municipal building is permitted without the need for variances, which is the “Pinelands Village Zone.”

Several property owners were approached, she maintained, in this zone, but did not want to sell their land. And the Tabernacle schoolhouse, she said, was not considered a viable option given there was an “agreement of sale” for it in place back on June 3, 2021.

Therefore, she said, in light of the fact that the one requirement is “acreage” as you “cannot put a municipal complex on a small lot,” the township committee took a closer look at 144 Carranza Road, which the owner, reportedly “the Russo family,” is said to be actually interested in selling. Brown called the parcel a “viable alternative” due to its 20-acre size, “clear space,” and that it is “close to the town center.”

“We are in negotiations with the property owner to purchase the 20-acre property,” Brown declared. “That would allow us to build a town hall, and house DPW all in one area. … And the environmental contamination report on it came back clear.”

While it is envisioned by the township committee and officials that any new municipal complex will allow the “current needs” of the town to be “under one roof, instead of in various buildings,” and will have the “ability to provide more efficient services to residents,” as well as “allow space for community organizations to meet,” and provide for “passive recreation, such as walking trails,” according to both Brown and Boyd, a “concept plan” still has to be created by the township engineer.

“We are in discussions with the township engineer to develop a concept plan, not only for town hall, but for a new DPW facility, as well as improving the town center, now to be referred to as the ‘Tabernacle Village Greene,’” Brown declared.

Tabernacle Village Greene

One question that had been unanswered since officials in late 2021 announced that the existing town hall had to be shuttered is what will become of the existing building, which many locals consider to be a historical building.

While members of the Tabernacle committee were present for the Dec. 19 special presentation, which was technically a Tabernacle committee meeting, Boyd and Brown conducted the presentation, with the members of the governing body not making any remarks, except for Mayor Samuel Moore III, who thanked attendees for coming and wished everyone a Merry Christmas.

Brown, in pointing out that Tabernacle Town Hall was built in 1875, said it is “not listed on the national historical registry,” but Boyd acknowledged “it is a building of historical value.”

“The township committee never wanted this building to be razed,” Boyd declared. “It is the township committee’s desire, if possible, to repurpose the existing municipal building.”

William J. Sprague, Jr. was appointed to the Tabernacle Township Committee at the very end of the township committee’s November 2022 regular meeting, with him only having attended one full meeting on Dec. 12 of last year prior to the presentation. Sprague, who replaced Nancy McGinnis

on the governing body after she had resigned following a move to neighboring Southampton, was elected in November to a full, three-year committee term beginning this January.

According to Boyd on Dec. 19, he had a “discussion with Mr. Sprague” and it was “mainly his idea” to “take that building and move it approximately 300 feet” from its current spot. The building, the construction and code enforcement official maintained, will have to be lifted anyway to allow for a “new foundation to be created.”

“It will find a new home, in the same area – but in a much better location,” declared Boyd, noting it will either be placed on a concrete slab or have a crawl space, but no basement (which would greatly reduce the chances of the facility sinking in combination with steel beams versus the wooden ones at present).

This newspaper previously reported that the existing town hall’s second floor has long served as the Tabernacle committee’s meeting chambers, and that the structural engineer determined last year that even in the event that the existing town hall is rehabilitated, the second floor is not rated to hold the occupancy allowed for a meeting.

“We have a problem,” Boyd told those gathered for the Dec. 19 special presentation. “The second floor is not be able to be utilized by public.”

However, according to Boyd, the “New Jersey Construction Code requires all government buildings to have full access to every floor,” an additional reason why the existing town hall cannot be reopened as a center for local governmental operations.

But in the event of rehabilitating the existing town hall, and only opening the first floor for limited public use, it would negate the need for the aforementioned code requirement upgrades. He suggested the second floor be considered “attic space” and house things such as HVAC units.

“It would be cordoned off so only service personnel go in there,” Boyd stated.

By not having an operational second floor and having a first floor with limited occupancy, “It would also negate the necessity of adding additional bathrooms because of the occupancy load decrease,” Boyd said.

Meanwhile, according to Brown, the if the existing town hall is moved some 300 feet off Medford Lakes-Tabernacle Road, it could allow for increased green space and a landscape redesign for a gazebo and memorial, as well as potentially the addition of an “amphitheater.”

“There would be much more green space, and it would be more enjoyable, and remove us from the traffic,” she said of holding events, such as summer concerts, at the existing town hall parcel, which is where events such as the Memorial Day

Photo Provided

A foundation panel “falling off the wall.”

HALL

from Page 8)

and Christmas Tree lighting ceremonies are held annually.

The moving of town hall potentially some 300 feet from the road, Boyd declared, “gives us a lot more options.”

“The township committee has come into agreement that it is a wonderful thing to go with,” Boyd declared. “It is preserving Tabernacle.”

But again, officials said they were awaiting a concept plan for this as well. Officials told attendees to check back in the spring, when they plan to have and present any concept plans for the possible projects. They vowed another special presentation would be held at that time.

The Public Has a Lot to Say Brown revealed that the Tabernacle committee has now received an appraisal for 144 Carranza Road. Burns later told this newspaper that “just for the farmland, it came in well over $500,000 – in fact I know it was well over $500,000.”.

The township administrator and clerk also told attendees on Dec. 19 that an “agreement for 144 Carranza Road was reached and signed, so we do have a potential contract,” but that it has “not yet been settled.”

Minutes released from a Tabernacle committee executive session from Sept. 26, recently posted to the municipal website, state that “the administrator received a signed contract with Mr. Russo for $500,000.”

“The contract is expressly conditioned on the township receiving government approvals for property use and development, and that if the township cannot obtain governmental approvals for development, the township may cancel the contract,” it is added in the minutes.

During about 20 minutes or so of public comment following the Dec. 19 presentation, several individuals came to the microphone to express their belief that there are other

less costly options for resolving the “crisis” of not having a town hall currently, rather than building a new municipal complex.

Also sparking some debate was an earlier remark from Brown that officials looked at the “Sequoia alternative school” and it was determined to be “too late in the game at this point” because “by now it is October of 2021” (when the structural engineer’s report came back) and it was “determined the school was already under contract.”

Resident and local transparency advocate Fran Brooks called it “revisionist history,” pointing out that Lee and former Committeeman Joseph Yates, IV, were actively pursuing a potential purchase and reconfiguration of the alternative school several years back, but that two members of the present day committee, Moore and Deputy Mayor Kim Brown, “voted ‘no’ to purchase the school.”

“Your ‘no’ vote saddled the taxpayers of this town with millions of dollars of debt,” Fran Brooks declared. “You (Moore) should be ashamed of your decision making! Ms. Brown should be ashamed of her decision making! There was at least a quorum with Mr. Lee and Mr. Yates, who were supportive of purchasing Sequoia. To talk about it as if it was not available – it is not even a misunderstanding, it is a reinterpretation of history!”

Fran Brooks further maintained the alternative school building was “in perfect shape” and “needed little work for municipal use,” with the “property large enough for Public Works.”

“Instead we are going to be paying millions of dollars because you couldn’t make a proper decision!” Fran Brooks asserted. “It is really shameful! What else is there to say?!”

Litowitz, the first public speaker of the evening, also maintained that the “characterization of what happened with Sequoia was not accurate,” telling the Tabernacle committee to “defer” to former mayors Lee and Barton.

“Speaking of Sequoia, I am not a fan of ‘eminent domain,’ but that is an option

available to you,” declared Litowitz, maintaining that the governing body should have an idea of the purchase price given that the facility was only sold back in 2021. Litowitz maintained that he took away from the presentation that all repairs could be done to the Tabernacle Town Hall, except for the septic system, and suggested that another possibility is for the township committee to potentially negotiate with Holy Eucharist Catholic Church (whose lot is next to the existing town hall) to lease or purchase a portion of their “huge” piece of land to expand the Tabernacle town hall parcel to accommodate a larger septic tank.

“It is not going to affect their Christmas lights because the tank is going to be underground,” he quipped.

The resident pointed to ongoing inflation and “people hurting financially” in “today’s environment,” and because of that, “I don’t think this is the right time to build a whole new facility that, frankly, I don’t see a need for.”

“I can’t support the loans it is going to take,” Litowitz added. “Certainly not when people are struggling.”

Minutes released from a Tabernacle committee executive session from Nov. 21, 2022, indicate there was a closed door discussion about the potential purchase of property for a municipal complex and new Public Works facility in which the township’s chief financial officer, Rodney Haines, reportedly “explained we have sufficient funds available to borrow.”

At that time, Kim Brown was said to have pointed out that the Tabernacle Township School District “just passed a $12 million referendum that residents are going to be facing,” which led to a “discussion” amongst the governing body on whether to “do both town hall and Public Works at the same time.”

“The consensus of the committee was to get estimates on a new Public Works facility at 144 Carranza Road,” it is added in the minutes. “CFO Haines suggested the clerk get an estimate on what it will cost to clean up existing Public Works facilities if (there is a) move.”

Mark LeMire, the head of the local GOP organization (with the Tabernacle committee being all Republican), called Litowitz points “valid,” and then pressed officials for a “timeline as to what you are looking at.”

“Give us a sense, from a timing standpoint, of building a new facility or renovating the existing one – is it going to be two years, five years or 10 years (from now)?”

Previously, as reported by this newspaper, when the township previously looked into purchasing Sequoia, there had been a discussion about possibly tapping into the local school district’s septic system.

Franzen pointed out “he had not heard it discussed” on Dec. 19 about “the possibility

of a septic system over at the school.”

“I know when we looked at this issue about five or six years ago, and I met with school officials when I was involved as mayor, we talked about tying into the school’s septic system and it was a real possibility at the time. Unless something has changed, that still might be an availability.”

(This newspaper later observed in township committee meeting minutes from June 14, 2021, session that the Tabernacle “Board of Education said they did not want to expand the system at this time.”)

Franzen, on Dec. 19, also asked if two properties were looked at in the targeted zone, including one he said is now “abandoned” after the owner “died a year or so ago.”

“And it was also my understanding five years ago, when I was mayor, that the dump could be capped, or could be dug out to provide for a site for the Public Works Department,” he revealed. “Maybe it is not a possibility, but I know it was thoroughly discussed some time ago.”

In “another thing,” Franzen asked the Tabernacle committee if they would “consider asking the Friends of Cyrus whether they are interested in selling the old school building.”

“I don’t know how it is going for them in that spot,” he said. “Make a phone call and say, ‘We’ll give you $500,000 more than you paid for it.’”

The former mayor noted that might be a better option than paying “$3 million or something.”

Barton, who followed Franzen, called on the Tabernacle committee to create a subcommittee of “former leaders of this town” to “advise you of how to move forward this project.”

“We heard you talk about some of the sites you looked at (privately-owned parcels), but I didn’t hear you talk about ‘eminent domain’ to acquire some of those sites,” asserted Barton, maintaining the current site the Tabernacle committee is seriously entertaining acquiring is going to be “blinded from the public” (due to a purported 75-foot road frontage) and actually will end up requiring variances because it is not in compliance with the township’s ordinances.

The former mayor maintained “there are other sites” that can be utilized for what the Tabernacle committee would like to accomplish.

And then when Barton began to raise the idea of the Tabernacle committee putting such projects out to a public vote via a bond referendum, Brown advised that his two minutes to speak during public comment expired, with the former mayor having been previously cut off from speaking about the town hall after his two minutes expired during a prior virtual meeting,

(Continued

Photo Provided Tabernacle leaders gather during a Dec. 19 presentation at Seneca High School to explain that it is “technically infeasible” to repair Tabernacle Town Hall, while also discussing future plans for the existing municipal building, a new municipal complex and Village Greene.

“Permits would be issued for vehicle use of designated safe and legal routes identified through input received from the Visitor Use Survey and future stakeholder meetings through early 2023,” the press release continued. “The development of a permit system will enhance the State Park Police’s ability to assess vehicle use and protect sensitive resources throughout the forest.”

The cost to obtain the Island Beach permit is reportedly $195, which has raised concern that a similar fee would be assessed for any permit for the Wharton tract.

Tabernacle Committeeman Robert Sunbury, who initially proposed the Tabernacle committee resolution to support the NJDEP’s efforts during a November Tabernacle committee meeting, after having heard from local John Druding earlier in the meeting, who urged the governing body to do just the opposite, maintained that he spoke to NJDEP representatives for over an hour to learn more about the proposal rather than “listening to the panic rumor mongering of certain special interest groups.”

“I was told if a permit system is determined to be of use to addressing the issues, it may not even have any fee whatsoever, especially in getting started,” Sunbury maintained.

The NJDEP, since 2015, as well as certain environmental advocacy organizations, have alleged that off-road vehicles, in particular, are causing extensive damage to environmentally sensitive areas of the forests.

In making the case that such a permit system is needed for the Wharton, the NJDEP emphasized in its August press release that the agency lists 43 animals in the state forest as “threatened or endangered,” including the Pine Barrens tree frog, timber rattlesnake and pine snake.

The state forest, it is noted in the press release, also “boasts some 750 species of plants,” including wild orchids, sedges, grasses and insect-eating plants. Rare plants in the Wharton, the release pointed out, include the bog asphodel, swamp pink and Pine Barrens gentian. The predominant trees are the pitch pine, various oak species, and Atlantic white cedar.

Sunbury, who declared that he “takes this matter seriously and spends a lot of time in the state forest enjoying the trails, hiking, biking, canoeing, kayaking and all kinds of good things, as well as camping,” maintained that after having discussions with the NJDEP, the permit system would simply “just make sure vehicles are appropriately equipped to use those roads (in the forest) versus a Volkswagen” as well as ensure “public safety.”

“I am fully for what the NJDEP is doing,” Sunbury asserted. “I have even put a resolution together to that effect, in support of the NJDEP’s efforts to understand how all park

users recreate in the Wharton State Forest, and to develop a new map of the Wharton State Forest, which identifies sensitive areas and designates motorized routes off the highway roads.”

Sunbury, contrary to his counterparts in neighboring Shamong Township, maintained that the NJDEP’s survey effort is “creating a transparent, open process” to “ensure a safe and responsible use of the Wharton State Forest by all persons.”

“This will enable the NJDEP to, a., promote and support responsible recreation, b., facilitate open public input in education, c., support more effective and efficient use of law enforcement resources, d., allow for more strategic use of the limited maintenance resources for the parks and roads, and, e., improve public safety for the recreational motorists, as well as area residents because this ties into the New Jersey Forest Fire Service (NJFFS) and make sure our forest firefighters can get out where they need to, to fight forest fires, do prescribed burns and fight any fires in our township,” said Sunbury in urging his Tabernacle committee colleagues to pass the resolution.

Committeeman Mark Hartman “seconded” the motion to approve the Tabernacle resolution, declaring “Bob had many good points,” and that “it is just a survey.”

“So, let’s see what the survey says,” Hartman added.

Samuel “Sammy” Moore, a Tabernacle committeeman who served as Tabernacle’s mayor at the time the Tabernacle committee’s resolution in support of the NJDEP was passed, and who acknowledged he has been “part of the Wharton tract for a very long time,” having previously been a local fire warden for the NJFFS, which is an entity of the NJDEP, recounted how back in 2015 the NJDEP “first proposed” the “development of a map” for the forest.

“I remember the public outcry that there was no transparency and the NJDEP was just doing this,” Moore said. “As far as I know right now, that is what this survey was for. ‘Nothing is on the table, nothing is off the table,’ is what I was told. The survey just speaks like a vote in an election.’”

Moore announced that he would be meeting with the NJDEP soon to further discuss the plan, but as for the information that is currently circulating, “it is just a fish story that gets bigger,” as far as he is concerned, “until I hear it from the NJDEP.”

Given that the resolution was a last-minute addition to the Tabernacle committee agenda, and not part of a prepared agenda packet, and that it had not been apparently seen by Tabernacle Solicitor William Burns, as well as there actually was some information put out there by the NJDEP that it would like to establish a permitting system, there appeared to be some confusion on what it was exactly that the Tabernacle committee was voting to approve.

Burns asked if it was a “resolution,” and after Sunbury replied that it was, he asked the committeeman to clarify the “title.” While Moore initially replied he believed it was only a “resolution supporting the ‘survey,’” Sunbury followed, answering, a “resolution in support of the ‘NJDEP.’”

The Tabernacle resolution passed by a 3-1 vote, with Kim Brown, a committeewoman serving as the township’s deputy mayor at the time, maintaining she would “prefer to wait until after a meeting with the NJDEP” before arriving at a decision.

“I think we are putting the cart before the horse at this time,” Brown declared. “Until I have all the facts, I don’t feel comfortable supporting it.”

Druding, at the start of the Tabernacle committee meeting, noted that back in 2015, when the NJDEP “without warning closed half of the roads in Wharton” because of concerns, the decision generated “immense pushback from the public.” Ultimately, state officials reversed course.

“Waterford, Shamong, Medford Lakes and Mullica have all passed resolutions opposed to this,” Druding noted. “Given Tabernacle serves as the ‘Gateway to the Pines,’ I would like for the committee to entertain a similar resolution. It seems like it would be a political slam dunk for the committee.”

Medford Lakes Borough Council, also in November, passed its resolution, which according to Medford Lakes Mayor Dr. Gary Miller, “expresses opposition to any paid driving permits in the Wharton State Forest.”

“It is resurrecting a plan that was defeated a couple years back,” contended Miller at the time of the Medford Lakes Council action. “We think it impedes the residents from having full access to the state forest. It is something we don’t agree with, and we are not alone with this. A number of other municipalities have been passing resolutions in opposition of this plan.”

Since Druding’s remarks to the Tabernacle committee, the governing bodies of both Washington and Woodland townships have also passed resolutions, with the Woodland committee’s resolution titled “Expressing opposition to the proposal of permits in Wharton Forest,” and Washington’s resolution titled, “Opposition of any paid driving permits in Wharton State Park.”

The Woodland committee resolution followed a meeting held between Woodland officials and the NJDEP.

“What I got out of the meeting is it looks like they are going to move forward with permitting in Wharton,” said Woodland Mayor William “Billy” DeGroff, also currently a local firefighter for the NJFFS. “And I expressed my concerns about that – about our residents and most of our town being owned by the state. It didn’t seem fair that we should have to pay to ride in ‘our’ forests. After all, we have a lot of people who hunt and fish in our town. We already pay a lot of money for hunting licenses, permits, and of course, our tax money, and

taxes are already high. So, we felt we shouldn’t have to pay.”

DeGroff said that during the meeting between Woodland officials and the NJDEP, he “brought up” that the agency should instead “possibly do more enforcement” to curb the issues.

“And their response was that they, ‘Usually can’t catch the violators and they are gone by the time that they get there,’” DeGroff contended.

The Woodland mayor said he told the NJDEP officials that it will end up that “lawful people will pay for the permits,” while the “unlawful people will continue to destroy our woods.”

“And they really didn’t have an answer for it,” DeGroff maintained.

Like his counterparts in Shamong, DeGroff expressed his belief that “Wharton is only the beginning.” The release from the NJDEP lends some credence to that remark by noting “these efforts to define safe and legal vehicle access routes on Wharton’s improved and unimproved roads will serve as the model for protection of other state-managed lands throughout the Pinelands.”

“I think you will see it go to the Brendan T. Byrne and Bass River (State Forests) in the future,” DeGroff declared. “So, therefore, that is why we are having a resolution against permits.”

Before the Woodland resolution came up for a vote on Nov. 16 (as well as other business), however, the Woodland mayor excused himself from the meeting, citing another obligation he had to fulfill. It passed 2-0, with Deputy Mayor Mark Herndon and Committeewoman Donna Mull supporting it.

Washington Township’s committee approved its resolution on Dec. 6.

“Wharton wants to have an off-road permitting system similar to the one they have at Island State Park for beach permits,” said Washington Mayor Daniel James. “I got together with the committee and we don’t feel it is appropriate or necessary for them to do that.”

The Washington leader teased a forthcoming meeting that Washington officials also plan to have with the NJDEP, and declared that Washington officials will “let them know we are not happy about it.”

“We are opposing paid driving permits in Wharton State Park,” he said.

Caryn Shinske, a spokeswoman for the NJDEP, when asked for an update on the survey’s findings and if any recommendations have been made from them, responded on Jan. 3, “At this time, the department is compiling all comments received on the Wharton proposal and is in the process of developing the next presentation, during which the results of the recent online Visitor and Vehicle Use Survey will be announced.”

She added that a second stakeholder meeting is tentatively anticipated for early February.

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with the digital platform tool used by the township’s mayor providing the option to mute an individual’s microphone (which was utilized during that prior session).

But meeting in-person, with this being the first such face-to-face Tabernacle committee session with the public since March 2020, is different, as the governing body soon learned, with Barton undeterred from speaking, and attendees shouting, “Let him speak!”

“I would hope you put forward a bond referendum so that the voters have a chance to take a look at this,” Barton declared. “I am happy you are going to try to save town hall, but at what cost? What is the cost of this whole project?”

This newspaper previously reported that when Committeeman Mark Hartman was appointed to the township committee (later elected to an unexpired term in November), one of his first requests was to reduce public comment from three minutes to two, which was non-unanimously adopted.

“Mr. Hartman said the public doesn’t have much to say after two minutes,” Stuart Brooks declared. “Well, tonight I think you have seen that we do. The problem is you don’t discuss things. You don’t have any discussions. … I heard tonight that final determinations have been made, you are looking at options and you are still in discussions. ‘You hear us.’ Well, I attended all your meetings of the last 15 months and I never would have known that.”

Stuart Brooks, husband to Fran, shared a similar sentiment offered by Barton that the governing body has done a “good job

at getting information, but a terrible job at releasing it,” calling the Dec. 19 presentation an “enormous data dump” and questioning when the discussions occurred referenced during the presentation, maintaining that he believed some of the revealed things could not be found in the governing body’s prior meeting minutes.

Fran Brooks added that, “I guess we should be appreciative that you are finally disseminating some information, rather than spending all your time in executive session, hiding information.”

Another “mayor emeritus” breaking his silence is Lee, who did so at the very end of the Dec. 19 special presentation, after recognizing that both emeritus’s Barton and Franzen were also in attendance at the presentation.

“I think it is important to take some of their comments, specifically Mayor Barton’s regarding using some of the resources in the audience for moving forward, (to heart),” Lee declared. “Any major project that has ever been done in Tabernacle, whether it be the middle school, etc., there has always been a large piece of history and public comment and the public’s support to get something done.

“… I am not volunteering for this job, but I will tell you I spent an awful lot of time working on this project and I am disappointed and embarrassed at the fact that we have to go through this process at this time. They made an awful lot of efforts, and these gentleman behind me were part of that, to get us out of this mess, or prevent this mess.”

In “moving forward” from it, Lee further declared that the fact that he, Barton, Franzen and Litowitz “all agree on the same thing and direction should say something to you – that should speak volumes to you.”

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PARKING

the project’s engineering to “see if better bids can be obtained.”

“It is a little bit expensive,” said Dixon of the lone bid.

In fact, according to James, the amount proposed to complete the project is “as much money” to redo the entire length of Old Church Road in the township, which is another project the township committee is actively pursuing.

“It is a little bit excessive,” declared the mayor of the bid for the municipal parking lot. “So, we are going to send the bid back out and see if we can get something in reality.”

Coleman explained that under state law, the township committee can “bid the project out” at least one additional time, “and if we are still exceeding the engineer’s estimate, then we can start negotiating with contractors.”

“We will target some contractors and solicit them to participate by contacting them directly,” said Dixon of a potential second round of bidding. “Typically, an advertisement draws them in, as it did on Old Church Road. We will make some phone calls and try to drum up some interest on bids.”

Soliciting contractors during a bidding process, the engineer maintained, is a “normal practice.”

“Then, if we can’t get anything reasonable, we can solicit quotations,” Dixon said.

The township engineer suggested that in preparing for a second go-around, the township committee should “look at the bids and some of the amenities, and the costs of those amenities, and make value judgements as to whether to go a different way.”

It boils down to a “policy decision by the committee,” which the engineer noted, “has cost ramifications.”

According to a published legal notice that sought bids by Dec. 1, 2022, the “scope of work” was to consist of “constructing nine

paved parking spaces with approximately 200 square yards of hot mix asphalt” and “the construction of other site amenities, including flag poles, lighting and a park bench.”

James, during the Dec. 6, 2022, Washington committee meeting, inquired of the engineer his thoughts as to why the municipal parking lot project was initially appearing to be “so expensive.”

“We didn’t have any takers,” Dixon replied. “While it surprised us a little bit, it is a small job, so some higher-end, larger contractors probably took a pass on it.”

The lowest bidder for the first and second phases of a project to repave Old Church Road, Dixon pointed out, wanted $91 a ton, whereas the parking lot bid came in at $400 a ton.

“The committee did the right thing, and we will take another look at it in terms of scope and bidders,” Dixon declared. “It would be done in the spring anyway as the asphalt plants are shutting down. So, it is not really costing us any more time.”

He noted that right now is a “pretty good time to go out to bid” because contractors look to “line up their work for the year.”

Barbara Cavileer, wife of former township committeeman Barry Cavileer, who helped spearhead the project back when he was on the governing body, asked if in the event the bids come over the engineer’s estimates again, whether the township could negotiate with the contractor chosen to resurface Old Church Road to see if the projects could somehow be merged together.

“As was discussed a little bit earlier, Local Public Contracts Law requires us to go out to bid at least twice,” Dixon replied. “If unsuccessful, we could then solicit quotations and perhaps fold it into the work we are already doing this spring and negotiate a deal to do the parking lot.”

Cavileer, who in the past has expressed her frustration with the pace of projects in town such as this one, quipped, “it has only been seven years.”

“I want it done before he dies!” she declared, soliciting some laughter amongst attendees. “Hang in there Barry!”

CANNABIS

Capriglione that a cannabis retailer would further contribute to the drug or crime problem, with comments made such as a “heroin high and marijuana high are two different things,” “I have never heard of anyone overdosing on marijuana,” “people don’t get desperate for marijuana fixes,” “it is not on par with drinking alcohol, in which you can turn violent, and we already give out three liquor licenses,” and unlike alcoholics, those smoking pot “tend to be peaceful people.”

As for Capriglione’s main point of contention about Bass River having a lack of a police department, one man attending that meeting claimed to have established cannabis businesses throughout the country, and pointed to a town in Maine where he put one “that did not have a police department, but also relied on the state police.”

“One of the things that convinced that town to move ahead with it, is some of the other towns around it said ‘no,’” the man said. “… Everybody is going to sell weed 30 years from now. There will be weed stores everywhere. It is time for Bass River to get ahead of the game.”

The town in Maine, according to the man, “had next to no problems” from the cannabis retailer and urged Bass River officials to get in contact with that municipality.

Another man, actively pursuing cultivation of cannabis in Bass River, pointed out that a cannabis business can generate some $2 million a month in revenue, and with a two percent tax placed on transactions, it could result in $40,000 in monthly revenue to the town.

By the end of that session, Capriglione said he understood the potential for added revenue, and he “certainly didn’t say ‘no’” to allowing for a cannabis retailer in Bass River, but only wanted to see more research on the impact that such enterprises have on towns without a police force.

“This ordinance will allow one cannabis

retail business within the township,” said Township Solicitor JoAnne I. O’Connor in presenting it for a second reading and public hearing. “A couple years ago, already, the township allowed all the other businesses, but was cautious on whether or not to allow a retail establishment. The commissioners, however, heard from a lot of people in the township that they would like to see that.”

Instead of hard data being presented, however, Bass River Mayor Deborah BuzbyCope described her late September visit to the closest existing dispensary to New Gretna, which is currently in Egg Harbor Township.

“You could smell it outside, but not a lot, and I guess it depends on how the wind blows,” she recounted of her experience.

“There was a line out the door of probably about 15 people. There were a lot of out of state tags in the parking lot, I noticed.”

Of note, the Bass River mayor said, is that there was “security at the door” and one is asked to present identification.

The mayor described “people coming in and out,” and that she had an opportunity to speak to an individual “waiting there” for an Uber “to come pick them up.”

“I had made the comment that ‘some people say this is a gateway drug,’ and he said, ‘no, not at all,’” Buzby-Cope reported back to the commissioners, noting that an individual who worked at the dispensary maintained there are “a lot of misconceptions.”

The Bass River mayor added that the worker also attested that “loitering” and people “hanging out around the building” is simply “not the case.”

Buzby-Cope recounted that she “sat in my car for a few minutes” and “watched the parking lot to see how it was” at the establishment. She described observing “tons of cameras” as well as “a couple of doors to get into the place.”

“I asked about crime in the area, and they said, if anything it is less since they have been there,” maintained Buzby-Cope, noting she was “surprised” to have learned

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the Egg Harbor establishment has been in its current location for six years now.

The Bass River mayor, who a few months earlier contended there were “pros and cons” to allowing for cannabis retailers in Bass River, pointed to “all this fentanyl coming across border,” noting that it is unregulated, but in the case of cannabis retailers in New Jersey, “the government is regulating where you are buying stuff from.”

Previously, Buzby-Cope said she spoke to both the mayors of Belmar and Philipsburg, and from those discussions, ascertained that the “main pros” of such enterprises are that the “buildings are going to have cameras” and be secured “like Fort Knox,” that they brought in some revenue and shoppers to areas, and “also you get two percent for the town.”

“On the downside, being on Route 9, for folks that have to come in on public service, they might be here for a little while, while waiting for the next bus,” she said. “Some folks get uncomfortable with people hanging out, and there is not a lot to do in a small town.”

Bass River Deputy Mayor Louis Bourguignon, following Buzby-Cope’s description of events from her visit to the Egg Harbor dispensary, declared, “My

thought is, if we are going to do it, do it first, or another town will do it – do it now, or don’t do it at all.”

The ordinance then passed by a 3-0 vote.

One Bass River resident inquired about where a cannabis retailer would be permitted to be in the township.

“It would have to go in the Route 9 corridor, where highway-commercial type businesses are allowed for retail purposes,” Buzby-Cope replied.

Another question posed to the Bass River mayor asked if any specific location has been proposed for such a retailer, to which she replied, “not yet.”

O’Connor pointed out that the township is in the process of reworking its zoning ordinance, in coordination with the Pinelands Commission, and that the commission has “asked the township to step back” from putting cannabis regulations in it until the other zoning regulations are decided.

“It really has not been decided,” she added. “We don’t have a potential business entity (yet that has approached the township) to get licensed (for retail).”

O’Connor, in response to another question from a Bass River resident, revealed that in addition to the “percentage of tariff,” the commissioners are requiring a “major cannabis retailer” to pay the municipality $10,000 for an annual license to operate, while a “microbusiness” would have to pay $5,000 annually.

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exactly entail, while not responding to the question with any statement, she sent this newspaper a copy of the ordinance.

In that ordinance, it states that the “statute provides that the invitation to bid ‘may’ also impose restrictions on the use to be made of such real property, including demolition, repair or construction of

buildings and structures,” and that in this case, “the sale of the property ‘shall’ be subject to an Historical Preservation Deed Restriction providing for the preservation and protection of the exterior of the existing single-family residence.”

It wasn’t immediately clear what happened to the existing tenant or what is the current condition of the building, with questions in that regard posed by this newspaper going unanswered by Burger as of press time.

However, this newspaper, in recently visiting the home on a couple of occasions,

found it appearing to be vacant, and also at least in somewhat of a state of disrepair, with the front gutters, for example, loose and hanging down.

A historic marker in front of the home, referring to it as the Johnathan Haines House, states “the home was built in 1760, the first in what is now called Medford Village,” adding that an addition was built in 1820 by “the grandson, also named Johnathan.”

The home, as noted in the Dec. 19 ordinance, is a “brick Colonial farmhouse,

“believed to be one of the oldest in the township,” and at one time served as “the residence/law office” of a longtime Medford mayor, Ephraim Tomlinson II.

At the time of Watson stating in 2018 that he would like to “find a use for it,” the mayor noted that he remembered a member of the Tomlinson family “plowing my street when I was a kid” and contended his father was “pretty good friends” with that family member.

“I think that (home) brings history to the town,” the current mayor said in May 2018.

A portion of the gutter for the Tomlinson House.

Photos By Douglas D. Melegari

The side of the Jonathan Haines House closest to the municipal building.