Pine Barrens Tribune July 23, 2022-July 29, 2022

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Bass River Considers Idea of Instituting ‘Rent Control’ After ‘Unconscionable’ Hike Assessed to Park Residents Some Buttonwood Tenants Say They Face $300 Monthly Increase, But Others in Town Argue Landlord Has Right to Bring Rent ‘Up to Par’

By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer

BASS RIVER—The Bass River Township Board of Commissioners is considering the formation of a municipal rent control board, or the creation of some sort of a “rent-leveling ordinance,” after dozens of residents of the Buttonwood Mobile Home Park say they have been recently presented with both an “astronomical” and “unconscionable” increase in rent.

Those residents contend they are now disputing the increase in Superior Court after learning that the municipality does not have any ordinances on the books that control such increases, as is often found in townships with rental units.

But not all residents of the municipality are on board with having rent control, fearing it could both discourage investment in town and infringe on the rights of a private business owner. And the owner of the mobile home park, Louis Altobelli, in a July 19 interview with this newspaper, said he foresees that any form of rent control is “going to be a problem,” for multiple parties, including for the tenants as they would then be subject to increases based on inflation, which right now is at an all-time high, rather than what a park owner may want.

Altobelli also maintained that what he is asking his tenants to pay is “reasonable,” contending an important consideration

‘COMMITMENT TO SERVING OTHERS’

Photo Provided

Recent LRHSD Class of 2022 graduates who were recognized for volunteer service, standing beside the LRHSD Board of Education members from their respective community. Pictured clockwise from top left are Lina Neilson, Capri Mills, Meredith Waropay, and Nick Ori.

Recent Grads, Parents of Lenape Regional Recognized for Going ‘Above and Beyond’ in Volunteerism, Demonstrating Leadership Qualities That ‘Inspire Others to Make Service a Central Part of Their Lives’

By Douglas D. M elegari Staff Writer

SHAMONG—Two “special groups,” one comprising of a total of four Class of 2022 graduates, or one from each of the Lenape Regional High School District (LRHSD)’s high schools (Cherokee,

Lenape, Seneca and Shawnee), and the other consisting of four parent volunteers, or one from each of the distr ict’s institutions, were recognized at a recent LRHSD Board of Education meeting closing out the 2021-22 school year for their “above and beyond” volunteerism

in the community and “commitment to serving others.”

While “hundreds of students” in the LRHSD do volunteer work over the course of their high school careers, according to Superintendent Dr. Carol Birnbohm, and See VOLUNTEERISM/ Page 4

See RENT/ Page 5

INDEX Business Directory.....................................8

Marketplace..................................................... 10

Job Board.................................................10

Worship Guide............................................7

Local News.................................................2

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LOCAL NEWS / FEATURES

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Saturday, July 23, 2022

Pemboro Administrator, Deputy Clerk and Administrative Assistant Selections Made Following Announcements of Pending Retirements Borough Residents, Mayor Debate Responsibility for Mowing Grass Strip

By Douglas D. M elegari Staff Writer

PEMBERTON BOROUGH—As longtime Pemberton Borough Administrator Donna Mull looks forward to retirement soon (though not from public service as she now serves as a councilwoman in a nearby town and is seeking election in November), Pemberton Borough Council recently appointed a replacement, as well as made some other hiring decisions in the borough Clerk and Administrator Office to account for another anticipated retirement, as well as shifts in personnel.

Kathy Smick, who currently serves as the borough’s deputy clerk and tax collector, will move up to the municipal clerk/ administrator post, first in an acting capacity beginning on Aug. 1, in preparation for when Mull officially departs in November. She will then take over on a “permanent” basis as of Nov. 1.

According to Mull, there were six applicants for her position, four of whom were “external” and two others who were “internal.”

Smick will also begin to serve as acting municipal treasurer and acting Qualified Purchasing Agent (QPA) in August, and then become permanent in those positions as well when Mull retires.

Mull explained at a recent council meeting that the new municipal clerk/administrator will make $85,000, as well as receive another $5,000 for the treasurer role and another $3,000 for the QPA responsibilities, for a total of $93,000 annually.

Smick’s appointment to the three positions were recommended by Mull, with a council resolution that affirmed them noting that Smick has held “numerous positions” in the borough over the years, and during that time, “demonstrated her ability to provide the residents with exemplary service.”

Kim Johnson, who is currently the borough’s court administrator, will become acting deputy clerk beginning on Aug. 1, filling the vacancy that will be left behind following Smick’s promotion. Johnson will become the permanent deputy clerk on Nov. 1, following a period of training for the position.

Johnson will also officially resign her position as municipal court administrator on July 31, with Christina Booth appointed to take her place. The latter was recommended by both Mull and Municipal Court Judge Krisden McCrink as well as County Division Judge Jeanne Covert.

Joh n son w i l l a l so b e c ome t he municipality’s Planning and Zoning Board secretary and recycling coordinator when Smick moves into her new roles.

Also reportedly retiring is Deborah “Debbie” Villari, a longtime administrative assistant for the borough.

Megan Harding, who is said to come to the borough from the state with 10 years’ worth of experience, has been named acting administrative assistant as of Aug. 1, as well as acting code enforcement secretary. She too will become a permanent replacement as of Nov. 1.

Council also recently affir med the appointments of Johnson and Harding.

Two Pember ton Borough full-ti me policemen have moved on, according to Councilman Robert Brock, who oversees the police department, and as a result, council recently promoted two part-time patrolmen who were working only part-time.

However, that has left the borough police department with two part-time vacancies that “we are currently reviewing applications for,” according to Brock.

Brock revealed that one of the full-time

positions just filled had been “left open by Bill Roberts.” A grand jury last September decided not to pursue any charges against Roberts, who had responded to reports of an altercation in July 2019, which occurred in nearby Sunbury Village, and subsequently encountered a man armed with a long scythe, fatally shooting him as he reportedly advanced toward other individuals.

As for future paving priorities in town and the seeking of any available grant funding for road improvements from the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT), council recently decided that Hearthstone Boulevard be “priority number one,” followed by Pleasantview Avenue (which is off of Cedar Lane, right before the Pemberton Borough U.S. Post Office).

It was also decided by the governing body to improve Hearthstone in phases given its length and the anticipated cost, with the belief that dividing the project up in turn could lead to better chances for the borough to secure grant funding.

While some residents expressed that they felt other streets in the Hearthstone retirement com munity were in worse condition than Hearthstone Boulevard, Republican Mayor Harold Griffin explained that officials believed it was best to prioritize Hearthstone Boulevard because it is not only the “main drag” for that particular community, but also because several catch basins there have required repairs over the last three years, and need to be permanently replaced.

“It really needs to be redone,” Mull declared.

During the last couple of borough council meetings, there has been much debate over the mowing of grass strips that are located between the curbs and sidewalks.

Apparently, the borough had decided at some point to mow the strips that exist along Hanover Street.

“Can we get residents to cut their own grass so the guys (in Public Works) can stop breaking themselves to do (all) that (work) unnecessarily?” asked resident Diane Fanucci.

Griffin responded that, in fact, he wanted the Public Works Department to cut the strips “every week,” but that he has “some opposition” against doing that.

Some residents, including Fanucci, began contending that it wasn’t fair that the borough was mowing the strips on Hanover Street because as property owners elsewhere in town, they have to “cut their own grass” and the town doesn’t do it for them. They insisted that the responsibility for maintaining any strips should be that of the adjoining property owner.

“I am the mayor of Pemberton Borough, and I like to see the streets nice all the time, and the easiest way to do it is to have (Public Works) do it!” Griffin asserted.

That prompted Fanucci to quip in response, “The ‘easiest’ may not be the right thing to do!”

But Griffin maintained that there has been a “big question about ownership” of the strips and that it is of his opinion that Public Works has “plenty of time to do it.”

“I want it cut by the borough, and that’s been my answer for nine years!” Griffin declared.

But Fanucci maintained “it’s not fair to the rest of residents in town.”

This newspaper has since learned from Mull that the “mayor told DPW to stop cutting it” the day after the issue was first raised.

“It has always been up to the homeowners to take care of it (the strips), but the mayor See PERSONNEL/ Page 11

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LOCAL NEWS / FEATURES

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Indian Mills Fire Company Makes Official Request to Shamong Twp. for Help in Purchasing New Pumper Expected to Cost Around $800K

Officials Work to Remove Graffiti Painted on Turtle Creek Road; Washington Mayor Speaks to U.S. Senator About PILOT Funding

Committee, Concerned with Cost, Turnaround Time and Future of Manpower, Says It Needs More Information and Requests That ‘Used Market’ Be Explored

Signage Ordered for Municipal Building, Henderson Avenue Rock Cage; Updates Given on Planned Work to Senior Center, Town Hall Furnace

By Douglas D. M elegari Staff Writer

SHAMONG—The Indian Mills Volunteer Fire Company has put in an official request to the Shamong Township Committee for financial assistance to purchase a new pumper truck to replace one that is about 20 years old, but the governing body has responded that it would like for the entity to at least explore both the possibility and feasibility of purchasing a used truck instead.

That’s because Charles Burgin, president of Indian Mills, revealed that the purchase of a new pumper truck would be around $800,000 and that it may take as long as two years to have one delivered due to a nationwide manufacturing backlog.

Additionally, there are questions about the ultimate future of local firefighting in the wake of manpower shortages in the region, though the fire company president maintained “we are doing pretty good manpower wise – we’re hanging in there.”

In fact, Burgin noted that the fire company was told there were nearly 700 such fire trucks on backorder right now, with those orders having to be filled before Indian Mills would get one.

With inflation at an all-time high and prices continuing to surge nationwide for commodities, Burgin, who tried to steer the governing body away from the idea of purchasing a used fire truck over concern that such ones would only be on the market right now due to requiring either hefty maintenance or having significant mechanical issues, urged the township committee to act on the purchase of a new one now, before the prices for a truck may rise again, as early as September.

According to Burgin in remarks during the Shamong Township Committee’s July 5 session, he was told by a vendor salesman that if an order is not placed by the end of August, the cost of a new pumper truck may increase somewhere around 6 to 7 percent, or what Burgin said would amount to some $60,000 “for nothing.”

“If you don’t sign, they are going to goose you next month?” asserted Township Committeeman Chris Zehnder in response.

“It doesn’t feel good.”

Burgin, who contended in reply that a lastminute price increase “happened to others in the area” that did not have a signed contract in place, also revealed that he could not obtain, at present, a hard list price from the salesman, which not only further concerned some members of the township committee about the credibility of the vendor, but also

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prompted Mayor Timothy Gimbel to say the governing body can’t act at the moment without it.

“C’mon, they’ve had how many weeks now?” declared Zehnder. “You have been coming here every month since February. I haven’t heard of a lot of whiffle waffling, so I don’t understand how they could not get to a price. It’s not the space shuttle! How do we know (that we should) deal with them when they can’t tell us what the final sticker price is?”

Susan Onorato, township administrator and clerk for Shamong Township, pointed out that Indian Mills was initially provided with a ballpark estimate of $850,000 for a new fire engine, with Burgin explaining that the entity “did take a lot off the list” since that time, which would probably result in the final price being somewhere below $830,000, but more likely around $800,000.

Onorato noted that Indian Mill’s current fire truck that is aging out, known as engine 2811, is currently valued at $25,000, which would result in a “trade-in credit” of $25,000 off the final list price.

“We think we can put up around $50,000,” said Burgin, noting increased fuel and supply costs were resulting in the fire company now operating with $100,000 total income. “A lot of it depends on whether or not we can get grants.”

Burgin, who added that a recent fuel bill alone came in around $600, added that Fire Chief John Smith is “working on a grant” currently and that the entity has “its fingers crossed.” However, as previously reported by this newspaper, Indian Mills has been passed over for several Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grants, in part the result of the federal agency taking into consideration a service area’s population.

Shamong is a rural municipality, though some of the most significant fires in recent years both in ter ms of wildland and structural, have occurred in the township.

Should the township, which has limited revenue sources and does not have a significant ratable base with Pinelands building restrictions in place, end up having to finance the purchase, according to Onorato, the township auditor recently advised her that there are three possibilities in order to do that.

“One is to borrow from ourselves,” she said. “The other is to do a bond anticipation note, which we can take out every 10 years.

The other is a lease purchase agreement, if they allow us to go out that far and the terms See PUMPER/ Page 6

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WA S H I N G T O N — O f fi c i a l s i n Washington Township have been working to remove graffiti that was reportedly painted on Turtle Creek Road.

While it was unclear when exactly the graffiti had been painted on the road, C. Leigh Gadd Jr., a Washington Township committeeman who also serves as the municipality’s public safety director, noted he went to the site during the Fourth of July weekend following a report about the graffiti.

“It is my understanding that it has been partially taken care of and more material will be obtained to cover the rest of it,” reported Gadd during a July 5 Washington Township Committee meeting.

Gadd noted that he first became aware of the graffiti’s existence on July 2 and looked at it the following day. The ordered material will also “cover the old” graffiti reportedly painted on the road as well.

Washington was one of several towns impacted by the Mullica River Wildfire last month, believed to be the largest one in some 15 years, burning more than 13,000 acres. It was caused by an illegal campfire.

Mayor Daniel James revealed that “the next day” he received what he referred to as “an interesting call” from U.S. Democratic Senator Cory Booker, of New Jersey.

“He wanted to know how we were doing, and if there is anything that he and his people could do for us,” said the Republican mayor of the phone call.

James said he raised the issue with the U.S. senator during the call of the township once again losing its “Green Acres funding,” or Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) funding, after it had been briefly restored last year.

The state funding is a reimbursement of sorts for Pinelands communities, like Washington, which have significant open space or land that is owned by the state, which is non-taxable.

“We talked for maybe at the most for 10 minutes, but he said he understands and would look into it for us, which means what it means,” James declared.

The Washington Township Committee has also been trying to get answers and a resolution to the Washington Township Senior Citizen lease agreement, as the municipality has been trying to move forward with repairs to the center, which has been closed for several years due to it being in disrepair.

“I have been in touch with Senator (Christopher J.) Connors’ office (of the

9th Legislative District), trying to get an answer as to what the holdup is in finalizing the lease,” reported Gadd during another Washington committee meeting last month.

“According to our understanding, it was an automatic renewal, and nobody rejected it when it ran out. But, for whatever reason, they are not getting back to me. Senator Connors reached out to their contact.”

The township was reportedly paying $1 to lease the former ranger station, which is now the township senior center, from the state.

The township committee at one point had discussed the feasibility of possibly taking over the building’s ownership so that repairs could be made to the building to allow it to reopen to the public. There has been a longstanding question about just how much repair work can be done by the municipality to a building it does not own.

“Also, the senior center is moving along with pricing for material to get that job finished, and we’re hoping much sooner rather than later,” Gadd said.

In other news, this newspaper previously reported that Superstorm Sandy caused “big cracks” to develop in a retaining wall close to River Road and Henderson Avenue, by a “public access” area for the Mullica River. A resident earlier this year pointed out that a rock cage built there “is completely broken” with its “wires all rusty” and “laying everywhere.” Additionally, a “big gap,” that resident maintained, has developed “taking earth from my property.”

According to Gadd, Deputy Mayor Paul Seybold “took care of the issues with sharp edges around the rock cage.” The township, he noted, has also “ordered a warning sign letting people know there are rocks under the water.”

As of July 5, Township Clerk Karen Bacon reported that the sign has been ordered and is “in process.”

James, meanwhile, has maintained “we need stop signs” at the two entrances to the municipal building.

“When pulling out of here, there are no stop signs, so if there is an incident, that could be problem down the road,” James explained. “We need to put one on each end.

That way someone can’t come back and say, ‘Oh, there were no stop signs.’”

Bacon and Township Engineer Kevin Dixon, last month, advised the mayor that an ordinance would need to be passed making the stop signs official, otherwise they are “not enforceable.”

“It is a problem waiting to happen, so we need to start moving forward with See PILOT/ Page 11

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LOCAL NEWS / FEATURES

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Photo Provided

Honored parent volunteers Abbie Friedman, Suzanne Fryer, Denise Sunbury, and Jennifer Yocum, who are pictured clockwise from top left.

VOLUNTEERISM (Continued from Page 1)

volunteering “has really become a culture” in the district, the four youth honored during the school board’s Volunteer Appreciation Night, what has become an annual exercise, “go above and beyond in volunteerism for their school or for their community,” giving back to their community more than just “once or twice.”

The youth awarded for their volunteer service are Lina Neilson, who just graduated from Lenape; Capri Mills, who just earned her high school diploma from Shawnee; Nicholas Ori, who just advanced from Cherokee; and Meredith Waropay, who just became a graduate of Seneca.

“These four students are being singled out because of their enormous commitment and dedication towards service and volunteerism in their schools and communities, and also for demonstrating really great leadership (qualities) that truly inspire others to make service a central part of their lives,” declared Birnbohm upon the four being given their awards, in addition to a $250 scholarship from Goodwill Industries.

Lina Neilson, Lenape Graduate: Neilson, according to a district press release, has served as a coach for Mount Laurel Field Hockey’s youth program, a role she has taken on since her freshman year of high school.

In videotaped remarks played during the board meeting, Neilson explained that she ended up coaching the sport with a friend

and has loved being able to share her “love for the sport” with local youth, in addition to having come to “love these kids.”

“It really opened my eyes up to their experiences,” she said. “It means much to me that they have someone to look forward to seeing. … It is such an amazing interaction.”

As someone who played field hockey at Lenape, Neilson said it was rewarding to see the youth she coached “come out to watch our games.”

Additionally, according to the press release, Neilson has served as a volunteer helper and leader during Lenape’s Adaptive PE classes where she brought “an energy and enthusiasm that is infectious in each lesson.”

She also volunteered during the LRHSD Wii Tournament.

“Despite her busy schedule, Lina finds time to give back to the community, often giving up her weekends to do so,” it was noted in the press release.

According to Lenape Principal Tony Cattani, Neilson has received an academic and athletic scholarship for field hockey and will study speech pathology in college.

Capri Mills, Shawnee Graduate: Mills, during the course of her Shawnee career, has donated thousands of books to impoverished communities as well as to atrisk adults and teenagers, according to the press release. Those efforts, according to one man in videotaped remarks, have revealed her to be “empathetic.”

Some of the books have gone to high school dropouts, while others have gone to school children in Philadelphia who may have limited access to books. Others have been sent abroad, including to Afghanistan.

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It’s estimated she collected more than 3,000 books in total to be donated. Later this year, Mills plans to coordinate a book drive for a women’s shelter.

“Capri Mills epitomizes what it means to volunteer,” it was noted in the press release.

“During her years at Shawnee, Capri has volunteered hundreds of hours to her community and to surrounding communities.

Capri really is a young person unlike many – a person who values the education and happiness of others as much as herself.”

Mills is also said to be an avid reader as well as an already successful author who wrote and published in 2021 the novel, “Shore Blood.”

“Regardless of Capri’s activities or volunteerism, Capri is a leader and has consistently exhibited resolve, dedication and commitment throughout all of her academic and personal endeavors,” it was maintained in the press release.

According to Shawnee Principal Matthew Campbell, Mills plans to study neuroscience in college.

“I volunteered really my whole life in a variety of things, including at hospitals, care centers, and animal centers,” said Mills in videotaped remarks. “Volunteering makes me feel good, but it also helps people.”

Nick Ori, Cherokee Graduate: According to Ori in videotaped remarks, since he was just 10-year-old, “volunteering has been a huge part of my life.”

A steadfast advocate for individuals with specials needs, Ori has been volunteering with Tackling Life’s Challenges (TLC) of South Jersey for the past eight years. The organization, according to the district press release, ensures people with disabilities are provided an opportunity to experience feelings of wellbeing, accomplishment, friendship, and inclusion.

On multiple days, each and every week, Ori is a coach for the TLC Hurricanes, a Burlington County training program preparing athletes for the Special Olympics of New Jersey.

“Nick has always focused on students with disabilities, but focusing on what they can do, not what they can’t do,” said one woman in videotaped remarks.

Ori explained that helping those with special needs is a cause that is near and dear to his heart because his own brother has special needs, and didn’t get the chance to be on a sports team while attending Cherokee.

“It is an amazing feeling to be with kids, and being able to help them feel included,” said Ori, who has even had an opportunity to present to Congressman Andy Kim, of New Jersey’s 3rd Congressional District, about how his volunteer work has changed the Cherokee community and why funding for Special Olympic programs is important.

Ori, according to the press release, was invited to be a guest panelist and speaker at the premiere screening of Comcast’s

documentary, “The R Word,” where he spoke about the impact of “hurtful words” on those living with cognitive disabilities.

“Nick also cont acte d ou r d istr ict Transition to Adulthood Program (TAP) teacher, Mrs. Maloney, with the idea of starting a unified basketball team and social club,” it was noted in the press release. “Together, they petitioned a grant and were awarded funds for uniforms and transportation; hence the Chief’s United program was born!”

Ac c ord i ng to C heroke e pr i nc ip a l Donna Charlesworth, Ori plans to pursue biomedical engineering in college. It was also noted during the awards ceremony that he plans to use his degree “to create opportunity for students with disabilities.”

Meredith Waropay, Seneca Graduate: Community service, she said in videotaped remarks, has not only run in her family, but “shaped who I am” as well as “taught me life lessons.”

She explained that she began volunteering for the non-profit organization, Color A Smile, when she saw an ad on social media “looking for drawings.”

Color A Smile “distributes cheerful drawings” to senior citizens, troops overseas, and “anyone else in need of a smile,” according to the district press release, with thousands of new drawings sent each month to the people on the organization’s mailing list.

After a few weeks of sending in drawings, the director of Color A Smile reportedly asked Waropay to become a designer for the organization.

“Since then, I’ve made 25 drawings,” Waropay noted. “It’s been a great thing to do during the pandemic, when many people felt isolated.”

Waropay, du r i ng the Coronav i r us pandemic lockdown, said she “saw people struggle” and decided to become a tutor to help her classmates in need.

According to Seneca principal Brad Bauer, Waropay will be pursuing marketing and communications in college and is considering double majoring in graphic design as well.

“Meredith reminds me of what Arthur Ashe (the late American professional tennis player who won three Grand Slam singles titles) once said, ‘Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can,’” said one woman in videotaped remarks. “Meaning, during the pandemic, when the kids were home, Meredith was making all these volunteer opportunities happen – tutoring, and helping Color A Smile.

She used what she had at the time and created something special.”

The parent volunteers recognized for their service are Abbie Friedman (Lenape), Suzanne Fryer (Shawnee), Jennifer Yocum (Cherokee), and Denise Sunbury (Seneca).

“These individuals selflessly give their time and energy in support of others,” See VOLUNTEERISM/ Page 9

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RENT

(Continued from Page 1) is that he did not raise the rent for the last three-and-a-half years, including during the course of the more than two-year Coronavirus pandemic, pointing out he was not only somewhat curtailed from doing so, but also subjected to a pandemic-related, mandatory state eviction moratorium (one he said devastated the industry by putting a lot of landlords out of business). The new monthly rent for Buttonwood, he maintained, totals essentially what it would have been had he done incremental increases during that same timeframe.

He also described a situation where he took over a park three-and-a-half years ago that was in both disrepair and in foreclosure, and has been making “constant repairs” since that time, which he says costs him money, in addition to facing rising costs for things such as a trash pickup, the result of inflation, which he “can’t continue to absorb.”

About half of the park, Altobelli contended, is content with the increase, while the other half is not. And the landlord told this newspaper of the half that is not, several of those tenants had already been not paying their rent or were failing to upkeep their mobile homes.

According to Buttonwood resident Jamie Forand, who moved to the mobile home park on Leektown Road three years ago and has been spearheading a movement to both seek relief from the planned increase this year and have the township put in place control mechanisms in time for possible future increases, some tenants of Buttonwood are currently paying under $400 a month in rent, while others, like her, are paying some $500 a month.

But all the tenants of Buttonwood, she maintained, received notification on April 1 that their rent was to rise to $801 beginning May 1. Dozens of tenants, who have packed the last three commissioners’ meetings, have provided similar figures.

Altobelli later confirmed that he is indeed asking for $801 to be paid monthly by his tenants, and acknowledged the majority of his tenants were paying somewhere between $500 and $550 per month before the increase.

“It’s people choosing whether to put food on their table or a roof over their head,” declared Forand of the increase.

Forand further maintained it “is out of left field” and “while she understands the principles behind running a business,” what is proposed, she declared, “is not right, not fair and not just.”

In fact, a number of tenants have contended that with the proposed end-rate that is slated to be applied across the board, several of those who live in the mobile home park are facing a $300 monthly increase in rent.

“It just can’t go up $300 per person,” some of the anguished tenants blurted from their

seats, in pointing to the detrimental impact such an increase would likely have on those who live there.

According to Forand, “everyone is going to get the same end rate,” but with some people paying different rates now, some would get a 60 percent increase, while others face a 75 percent hike.

“Our landowner decided he wanted to raise rent to an unconscionable rent increase,” she said. “Had there already been a rent control board, or a rent-leveling ordinance in place, he would not be able to do this. A lot of our residents are elderly, or on disability, and cannot afford this increase.”

Several tenants, according to Forand and Township Solicitor JoAnne O’Connor, are now currently before Judge John E. Harrington, with a hearing reportedly tentatively scheduled for July 28. Altobelli confirmed to this newspaper that some people who refuse to pay have now been served with eviction notices.

But if the landlord happens to be successful or the judge dismisses the complaints, Forand warned the commissioners that “these people are going to lose their homes, they are not going to be able to afford to stay, and are not going to be able to move anywhere else.”

But while O’Connor expressed her optimism that Harrington is a “fair” judge and that “he gets stuff done,” Forand said she and the other tenants “can’t keep having to go to court every year” to offset additional increases, in asking for the township’s help to apply controls.

“Otherwise, we are going to have to go to court again,” she said. “We are asking that we don’t have to go to court for the rest of our lives. We don’t know if he is going to pick and choose, or try to file for some evictions.

We really don’t know what he is going to do.

But it is just going to be a recurrent issue, year after year, and what is it going to be next time, $500?”

Forand maintained that she and the others who live in Buttonwood would simply be happy if the commissioners established a rent control board, or a rent-leveling ordinance “eight months from now.”

“Because, in all seriousness, it could come down to you having 35 homeless residents in your town,” Forand declared. “That’s not a joke. We are truly asking you for your help.”

It’s not that the residents of Buttonwood, according to Forand, “are saying they don’t want to pay an increase,” recognizing inflation and rising costs, as well as the need for infrastructure improvements in their community, but they are asking “for a fair, reasonable increase.” She added that “from my research, most places can’t do more than a 10 percent increase at a time” and that “comparable mobile home communities are paying what we currently pay or less.”

One man who appeared before the commissioners in support of the Buttonwood residents, who agreed what is proposed is “unconscionable,” said that he lives in a mobile

home park in Barnegat Township, where any rent increases are capped at 8 percent annually, and that he is paying significantly less than what is proposed in Buttonwood, yet enjoys amenities the Bass River mobile home park community purportedly doesn’t have such as a swimming pool and clubhouse.

Some longtime residents of Buttonwood noted that all other rent increases that they can recall have been in the range of $5 to $15, except for one time that there was a $50 increase. Some of the longest running tenants recalled when their monthly rent was only $60 or $90.

According to Forand, the rent is supposed to be for “water, septic, trash and recycle, electric to your trailer and maintenance of roads,” but several residents maintained the mobile home park lacks basic amenities, has unimproved roads, and that there has been known and ongoing trouble with the park’s water, electric and septic systems. Some pointed out the mobile home park doesn’t even have a sign for it and also lacks street lighting.

One resident maintained the landlord, when he purchased the mobile home park, “knew the septic systems had to be fixed, and the water lines had to be fixed,” while Bass River Mayor Deborah Buzby-Cope said “we know he has done some improvements.”

Altobelli, when asked about the necessity of the increase and the possibility that some may lose their homes, told this newspaper that “in some strange way I saved a lot of these people from becoming homeless.” That’s because, he contended, when he purchased Buttonwood around 2019, the lot was in foreclosure and “people won’t have a place to live if it goes into foreclosure.”

“The property was an eyesore when I got it,” the landlord declared, maintaining there were giant potholes in the park’s roads, several abandoned trailers, and even vacant trailers that had burned down in fires. One lot, he added, had 15 to 20 cars “piled up” on it, and “looked like a junkyard.”

Upon taking over the park, he noted, he took out two full dumpsters of discarded, junk tires, as well as “demoed four trailers.”

“At the end of the day, it costs money to fix things up,” Altobelli maintained.

The prior owner, he alleged, did not fix things, until something broke.

“The previous owner had to get rid of it (the park), because the property was in foreclosure and he couldn’t make money with it because of the rate he was charging,” Altobelli said.

But since assuming the park, to prevent the property from falling into foreclosure again, Altobelli said he’s been fixing it up. That includes installing a new water treatment plant, “spending $15,000 on the roads alone,” hiring two people to do maintenance full time, and renting or purchasing equipment to do the maintenance.

He also pointed to the water having to be tested to meet environmental standards, and having to employ three people “to handle the GUTTER

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water,” including a licensed well operator, a laboratory tester, and another person who “handles the paperwork.”

Some people, he maintained, are “ignorant” of the reality, thinking “everything is for free,” such as the water. His sewer system costs, he maintained, have nearly “doubled” because of inflation.

“Because the prior owner didn’t take care of anything, an enormous amount of work had to be done, to be caught up with everything,” Altobelli said. “I couldn’t get by without doing anything. If everything stayed the same way, I’d probably be in foreclosure and couldn’t survive myself. If I didn’t fix up the property and raise the rent up, I’d be in foreclosure. At end of the day, I had no choice.

“Some of these people you can’t talk to, and are not approachable, and don’t want change at all. They’d be fine with garbage all over place, with things in not acceptable condition.

But there are those in the park who want things nice, and a respectable place to live.”

The residents of Buttonwood protesting the increase – who point out they own their mobile homes, but rent the land that they sit on from the landlord – have solicited the help in recent weeks of Joseph Sullivan, who is the executive director of the Manufacturing Homeowners Association of New Jersey, and also is a member of the Manufacturing Housing Consensus Committee for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Sullivan, who also is a former member of a rent control board in the state, said that given the size of Bass River Township (a rural community with a population of just over 1,000 residents), he didn’t think “a rentleveling board is something that you would be interested in.”

But he said the commissioners could simply pass an ordinance stating that a manufactured home park “couldn’t raise their rents above, let’s say 4 percent a year” or one that sets a cap. Another possibility, he said, is that the commissioners could pass a law that would permit a home park landlord to only raise their rents according to the Consumer Price Index (or CPI) and real estate values.

“You could put your business administrator, or township clerk in charge,” Sullivan explained. “You don’t need a separate board or attorney. The bigger towns, of course, can afford to do it that way (create a rent control board), but here, I’m not sure you want to do that.”

A cap, he maintained, is “completely legal” and “has been done in many towns.”

“And many towns don’t have a (rent control) board either, they just do it through their business administrator,” Sullivan added.

O’Connor, however, said that “whenever I was involved with CPI increases and leveling for a board,” there was a “separate attorney” in place as well as a “separate financial consultant.” The Bass River See RENT/ Page 6

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(Continued from Page 3) are favorable enough.”

Onorato added that she believed the “last vehicle” financed by the municipality was done through a bond anticipation note.

Township Solicitor Doug Heinold, when asked about the advisability of a lease purchase agreement, responded that “it tends to be not the best long-term financial option.”

Burgin asked how quickly any one of those funding mechanisms could move forward, to which Onorato pointed out that if the township committee decides to bond for a new fire truck, a bond ordinance would have to be passed, which would take two committee meetings (to allow for both introduction and second reading as well as a required advertising window). The township administrator added that she believed “borrowing ourselves” could also require state approval.

“Like Chris says, we can’t do anything until we see what it (the final quote) says,” Gimbel said. “I am amazed that a guy selling an $800,000 asset can’t get you a quote.”

Burgin further elaborated that “the last price we had is $830,000” but that since that time “we did take things off the table – considerably expensive things.”

The fire company president maintained that $800,000 for a new fire truck is considered “cheap” in the realm of things, pointing out that the “prices are ridiculous” right now with neighboring Tabernacle Township, for example, just paying over

RENT

(Continued from Page 5) attorney expressed her concern that without having a separate attorney and financial consultant, such matters could come before the commissioners or her.

“Usually, in a bigger town, that (creating a rent control board) is the way we do it,” Sullivan said. “But in the town of Gloucester, for example, it was done through a business administrator. It is slightly unusual not to have a separate board, but I think in towns that are small, you can (do without one).”

In Gloucester Township, he noted, the business administrator there “administers the ordinance” and “sets the cap,” essentially “approving or disapproving the rent.” The business administrator there, he maintained, also “functions as a board.”

“The traditional way, of course, is to have a board with a lawyer and accountant,” Sullivan said. “But there are ways of doing it and saving resources. And, of course, that cost can be passed on to the park owner – any cost to administrate the ordinance.”

O’Connor retorted that the cost passed on to the park owner could then possibly be passed on to the tenants, but Sullivan reiterated to the Bass River attorney that any increase at that point could not exceed any cap that is put in place.

Sullivan appeared before the commissioners on May 2. During a subsequent commissioners’ meeting on June 6, O’Connor said she did “some additional research” and learned of “some interesting developments.”

“As far as creating a rent control board, if that is the way the township decides it would like to go, there are a couple of options,” O’Connor explained. “They could appoint an administrator who would be like a first line (of defense), where any complaints go to that administrator, and then the administrator could issue a decision. Then, if either party is unhappy, it could then go directly to a rent control board as an appeal,

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Saturday, July 23, 2022

$900,000 for a new fire truck.

With a potential two-year wait time for a new fire truck, the Shamong mayor asked, “Can we even get to two years with what we have?”

Burgin noted that the fire truck Indian Mills plans to retire only has some 15,000 miles on it, but that there is a National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) requirement that fire trucks must be retired after 20 years.

While the fire company could choose to ignore that guidance, if in the event something were to happen as a result of not following the guidance, it could result in “big problems,” according to the fire company president.

A second fire engine maintained by the fire company is a 2012 model, Burgin explained, pointing out that in 10 years, that too will need to be replaced.

“What does the used truck market look like?” Gimbel asked. “If we are having to sit there through a 600 or 700-truck backlog … I am trying to do the ‘big picture’ math on this.”

While Burgin surmised that there are probably “a lot out there,” the township would “really not be gaining anything” by moving in that direction because what is on the market, he contended, “is so old.”

“New trucks on the market are not a whole lot cheaper, and the first thing that comes to mind is, ‘Why is it there?’” Burgin added.

“Fire companies don’t generally get rid of good trucks.”

But Committeeman Brian Woods, who in his day job manages the legislative office for 8th District Senator Jean Stanfield and Assemblymen Michael Torrissi Jr. and Brandon Umba, maintained he “wouldn’t

discount the used market just because of ‘why,’” contending there some towns out there that “aren’t fiscally responsible” and “use things quicker” and “shell money out” for new things such as a fire truck, with no regard for “raising taxes.”

“It’s a good thing to explore (used truck market), I think,” Woods declared.

Burgin believed a used fire truck could be somewhere in the range of $500,000 to $600,000, but there would still be possible “expenses” to replace older items as required

by NFPA, such as tires, which must be replaced every seven years, which would cost about $10,000. Another fire company representative explained how some used fire trucks may require generator replacement, which is “expensive.”

Although the township might end up “saving a little bit” of money with a used purchase, according to Burgin, “if you buy a 10-year-old truck for a used cost, in 10 years from now you will two trucks that you are going to have to replace,” with the 2012 engine due for replacement at that time.

This newspaper previously reported how some local municipalities have been exploring regionalization in the wake of declining volunteerism and manpower, as well as rising costs. Shamong, last year, had Tabernacle Rescue take over emergency squad services in town from Indian Mills.

“We don’t know what 10 years looks like around here, in this area, and we have talked about the future of what firefighting looks like,” Gimbel said.

In response to that remark by the Shamong mayor, Burgin quipped, “we are doing pretty good manpower wise – we’re hanging in there.” However, the fire company president

acknowledged that “during the day” fire companies throughout the area are having staffing problems (as members are at work and there is a 20-person requirement when there is a house fire).

“OK, look, we’ll do whatever we can to help,” Gimbel vowed. “But, number one, we can’t do anything right now because we don’t have a quote, but also we now have to look into what we would do to fund this and have that all lined up.

“But, also, look into the used marked – and I don’t know what that is … also look at the real math … and the time it will take … is it better to get a used truck in 30 to 60 days compared to two to two-and-a-half years from now?”

Burgin, in response, said “we can take a look at it (the used market),” but cautioned that there might be a used, but newer fire truck available from the city, but that it most likely would be “beat to death.” Still, the mayor maintained the parties have to look at what is “financially the path of least resistance – timewise and cost effectiveness” and asked the fire company president to come back to the governing body with two different used trucks for sale and prices.

“I think bigger towns and cities get a lot of state funding, and you might just get lucky that they spent money on a new engine just because they’d love to have it,” Woods said.

Zehnder called looking into the price of used fire trucks a “good exercise” – one that officials “could at least say, ‘We left no rock unturned.’”

“I don’t know what’s out there,” Burgin said. “We will take a look.”

and then if that was done, and someone is still unhappy, the next appeal would go to Superior Court.”

Another option, according to the Bass River solicitor, is that “it just can be done with a rent control board,” and any complaint would go straight to the board, “and then any appeal would be taken right to Superior Court.”

Both of those possible, aforementioned opt ion s , sh e c ont e nd e d , t a ke s t h e commissioners and township attorney “out of the picture.”

“The ordinance can be revised to include what can and cannot be passed through to the tenants in the way of a rent increase,” O’Connor said. “A formula would have to be followed. What happens is if someone files a complaint, the board or administrator would determine what (increase) is needed. We would need to employ a financial specialist to help us, and what would happen is the person filing a claim would have to establish an escrow account for payment for that, or if the board felt an attorney is needed, the same thing can happen.”

Any ordinance, according to the Bass River attorney, could also “layout the rules and regulations” for any rent increases, as well as for increases required for “any type of capital improvements.” It could also establish a process for tenants to come forward with hardship claims.

“It (establishing the rent controls) is something that can be done,” O’Connor declared. “It is really up to the commissioners as to how they would like to proceed.”

O’Connor maintained that any such law, which would limit a landlord to being able to raise rent to no more than once a year, “can be limited to mobile homes,” but could also be more encompassing to include singlefamily dwelling units or apartment complexes.

Buzby-Cope noted that the municipality has one apartment complex in the township.

And any such hike in rent, O’Connor added, would primarily be based on the CPI, unless there was a tax increase to also consider.

“It (passing rent controls) is something that

can be done,” she reiterated.

Commissioner Nicholas Capriglione pointed to the importance of making sure that any rent control ordinance is done properly to avoid challenges. However, while the commissioners have subtly indicated they might be in favor of entertaining such a law further, there has been no hard promise given to date that they will pass one, nor has any action in that regard been taken as of yet.

Still, Forand thanked the commissioners and O’Connor for researching the issue, maintaining “that is what we wanted” amid “exhaustion, fear and uncertainty,” with the latter over their ability to be able to “stay in their homes” or “put food on our tables.”

Altobelli, when asked by this newspaper whether he would be in support of any of the possibilities O’Connor outlined, first noted he lives in a town that has a rent control board.

“It is going to be a problem,” he declared.

“You have to go through a lot of stuff with it so that what you do does not discriminate against people.”

And not only that, he maintained, “it does not really do much” for the tenants, but rather also can be a problem for them.

“If you look at today, inflation is 10 percent,” he said. “So, if the rent is $801 now, you’ll get an $80 rent increase.”

He also maintained there are other ways to bring about relief to his tenants.

Altobelli pointed out that Bass River now charges a lot fee of $21 (which he alleged wasn’t being paid by the previous park owners), or what he called “just another revenue source,” in addition to “not officially recognizing mobile home parks” for trash pickup. The latter, he maintained, means that instead of mobile home park residents being simply allowed to take their trash to the municipal dump, he has to pay a trash hauler to come in to pick up trash. If Bass River wants to provide relief to his tenants, he contended they can do away with the lot fee and allow Buttonwood residents to use the dump that those who own property in town have access to. In turn, he would stop

charging them for trash, for example.

He figured by the town just doing those two things, it could allow him to decrease rent by some $121. Trash hauling, he pointed out, is currently costing him somewhere around $10,000 a year and the firm “just raised the price” on him. He recounted a conversation he had with the hauler where that person just paid $6.50 a gallon for diesel fuel.

“If you want to help, maybe you could do something with the trash,” he said in an appeal to O’Connor and the commissioners. “Open up the dump to our residents. I don’t think it is fair that if you ‘own’ a house, you can go to the dump in town, but if you rent in a mobile home park, you can’t.”

In further detailing the trash predicament, Altobelli explained that there are not any other haulers that will come to Bass River, and that given the layout of the area, the current one coming from Toms River “doesn’t have 10 other mobile home parks in a row to stop at” before coming to Buttonwood. That, he said, drives up the cost as the hauler “has to drive out” without picking up any other business along the way.

Cape May County, he said, where he owns his other mobile home park, “charges less of a lot fee and picks up trash.”

“Why does the landlord have to take it on the chin, when the government body can help them?” asked the somewhat frustrated landlord. “The town could take care of it on their end. Why is it that the individual seems to be the one who always gets hurt – the small businessman who is trying to make a living?”

According to O’Connor during the commissioners’ July 11 meeting, Sullivan has since provided the municipality with sample rent control ordinances for its consideration.

As became evident during the latest commissioners’ meeting, however, not all residents, including some regular meeting attendees, were in favor of the township forming a rent control board or passing a rent-leveling ordinance.

While resident Howard “Howie” Rothschild See RENT/ Page 9

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Saturday, July 23, 2022

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♦ Page 7

‘Several Persons of Interest’ Sought for Setting Off Fireworks at Evesboro-Downs Park, Which Resulted in Trash Can Fire

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“Several persons of interest” police want to talk to about an illegal fireworks incident.

EVESHAM—Police in Evesham Township say a group of individuals are wanted for a “crime” after setting fireworks off at Evesboro-Downs park, which reportedly resulted in a trash can catching on fire.

“Several persons of interest” were caught on camera emerging from a white vehicle around the time of the incident, police said, while “several persons of interest” arrived

at the park on bicycles at the time. follow us on Police released a still image from the facebook.com/MedfordUMC recording and asked that “if anyone has any information about this crime,” to please call them.

The trash can was burned/damaged prior to police arrival, authorities told this newspaper, and there was no active fire upon arrival of the investigating officer.

BASS RIVER—New Jersey State Police are investigating several vehicle burglaries that occurred in recent months in the New Gretna section of Bass River Township.

Only some details about the burglaries have been revealed by various State Troopers assigned to the Tuckerton Barracks who have attended recent Bass River Board of Commissioners meetings, but revealed the existence of the investigation, as well as by Commissioner Nicholas Capriglione, the township’s director of public safety.

But the township, according to one trooper, “has been getting hit pretty bad” with the burglaries occurring between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m.

“Multiple steps,” he said, were taken at the end of April “in regard to that.” However, there have reportedly been additional incidents since that time.

“I don’t know what they are looking for,” the trooper reported. “But they seem to be grabbing things from T-Ball gear to change, but are leaving cash behind.”

Whoever is responsible, he noted, grabbed a backpack in one incident, as well as searched through vehicle consoles. Additionally, authorities reportedly learned that New Jersey Transit buses were not running in the area at the time of the incidents.

The initial incidents were reported to have occurred in the area of Adams Avenue and River Drive, in New Gretna, according to

the one trooper. But Capriglione reported that some incidents have also occurred along Route 9, “near a hairdresser” in town.

“The detectives at the station are currently investigating,” said another trooper when asked this month for an update.

One resident, who said she was the person to initially phone police about what was happening, expressed her frustration that every time she calls the barracks for an update, she is told her questions about the status of the investigation can’t be answered.

In the meantime, residents have been asked by the state police to “please lock your cars at night” and “if anyone sees anything on camera, please report it to us.”

All of this also led to a revelation that the cameras at the municipal building – which is located in downtown New Gretna – are not recording, but are operable.

Local officials were pressed by some residents for an answer as to why they are not recording, with one woman even expressing her opinion that by them not recording, it makes them essentially inoperable. Mayor Deborah Buzby-Cope replied that “I’ll get back to you on that.”

“It’s a great question,” she added. “They were going to, then we had issues with a couple cameras. … It is something that we had been trying to get done. We had them going, and then we had issues with different camera people.”

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Work to Begin on Jackson Road Bridge in Medford Twp.

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M EDFOR D — Fo l l ow i ng a d e l ay, Burlington County will be making repairs to Jackson Road Bridge over Birchwood Lake in Medford Township starting next month, according to the Burlington County Engineer’s Office.

The work is anticipated to take several months to complete.

A lt houg h t he Bu rl i ng ton C ou nt y Engineer’s Office completed the bridge design for the repairs earlier this year, work could not commence until the major utility lines were relocated and several environmental permits needed to lower the lake were obtained, according to a press release from Burlington County.

Construction materials were also difficult to procure, the county said.

“A lot of hurdles had to be cleared for these repairs to get underway, but we’ve

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managed to overcome those challenges and are relieved to be able to get started,” said Burlington County Commissioner Deputy Director Tom Pullion, the county Board of Commissioners’ liaison to the Department of Public Works. “We are hopeful that reconstruction will go smoothly, and we will be able to get this bridge reopened soon.”

The bridge was closed in November of last year after an inspection revealed unsafe conditions to its wood structure.

The bridge load was immediately reduced to a 6-ton maximum to keep the span open to passenger vehicles, but non-compliance prompted the Engineer’s Office to order the bridge closed indefinitely until repairs are made.

T he br idge prev iou sly u nder we nt significant repairs in 2004 following damage from an historic July flood.

Page 8

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said he “feels for these people,” as he put it, “what is good for the goose is good for the gander.” He also maintained that as a property owner in town, he is not entitled to “tax control,” and that “if taxes go up, I have to pay it.” (Though O’Connor maintained “there is an appeal process for taxes.”)

VOLUNTEERISM (Continued from Page 4)

said Bi r nboh m i n a st at e ment. “We know that they do not seek, nor expect, recognition for their service, but we are honored to highlight their efforts and accomplishments. Their leadership helps strengthen our district’s culture of civic engagement, because they inspire others to follow in their footsteps and incorporate service into their everyday lives.”

Abbie Friedman, Lenape Parent Honoree: Cattani said that at Lenape, students and staff are asked to “care and try every day,” and that he “cannot think of a better model” who embodies the meaning of that ask than Friedman, who has four boys, including three currently in high school, as well as a 5-year-old.

Friedman is the “driving force,” he maintained, behind the Lenape’s boys’ soccer, wrestling and baseball booster clubs.

“Abbie c a re s ab out prov id i ng a n out st a nd i ng exp er ie nc e for st ude nt athletes at all levels of those programs both on and off the fields,” he said. “She tries to always come up with unique and fun ways of celebrating student-athlete accomplishments and providing ways to connect teammates with each other and the community. Abbie works tirelessly in accomplishing the missions of the booster clubs she serves. All the banquets, banners, gear, snacks, dinners and much more that so many of our student athletes enjoy would not be possible without Abbie.”

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“I don’t really know that rent control is the answer for the township, for getting rent (under) control,” he maintained. “It is really bad business. I wouldn’t buy a piece of property here and think about renting it out because the township is going to tell me what I can charge for rent. And if I am renter, I would come to the township and say, ‘Hey, they got rent control up there. I want rent control on my house rental.’”

Rothschild pointed out that Bass River, “a small town” starved for ratables with

the “Pinelands Commission on our backs” restricting development, has been “trying to find people to come in here to purchase property and who want to use it as a rental piece,” and maintained that the formation of any rent control board “is bad for our township” and “for business.”

“It should be a personal fight with the owner as a businessman,” Rothschild declared. “…

We have a hard time attracting folks to come here to do business. And one business around here is rental homes, and when there is rent control, that would deter people from buying a house here in Bass River, compared to (neighboring) Little Egg Harbor that doesn’t have rent control.”

A business owner, he maintained, “is running a business” and has a right to charge what he or she feels is “fair market value,” and “if there are other parks around charging less, maybe you need to move your modular home somewhere else.”

But Forand responded that “if you Google how many townships in the State of New Jersey do have a ‘rent control board,’ you will see this is not a new thing” and “this is something to try and protect people like us from people who are trying to take advantage of the disadvantaged.”

“My apologies you don’t have a ‘tax

control,’ but there are people in here seeing unconscionable 75 percent rate increases out of nowhere,” Forand added. “So, if the township can do something to protect its residents that is not unheard of, with 65 to 75 percent of municipalities having this in place, I am not sure why this is a problem.”

Resident Leo Assur pointed to his fear, however, that “this could spread to other avenues and other areas” and that “applying this across the board could discourage investing.” People, he said, who “want to invest will avoid areas that have rent control” because, to them, “it is another step where government is sticking their nose under the tent to see what private individuals are doing.”

“It is nice to be able to control prices,” he said. “I’d like to have ‘gas control’ and ‘tax control.’ … But I just am seeing this slipping into other things, where you are going to start controlling prices. … We got Pinelands, you put rent control on top of it – we have a blighted town already, we are going to have more blight in this town, in my opinion.”

He added that he felt “on one hand we are trying to control the free market,” but that “nobody is holding anybody at that trailer park to live there.” But Forand maintained, See RENT/ Page 11

Suzanne Fryer, Shawnee Parent Honoree: Campbell, in pointing out that the youngest of Fryer’s three boys graduated Shawnee in 2015, said to “keep that in mind” as he explained that Fryer serves as the current president of the school’s Project Graduation Committee.

Project Graduation, he elaborated, is a “culminating” event held on the night of graduation for graduating seniors so that they remain alcohol and drug free in celebrating the occasion. The function first launched in 1997, he said, and “in the 24 years it has existed, there has not been one drug or alcohol related incident on that night,” with the event “keeping students safe.”

“Suzanne has been involved since 2007, and with her youngest son having graduated in 2015, the fact that for the last seven years she has been doing this without children at Shawnee, that in itself is impressive,” Campbell declared.

He further described Fryer as a “front person” for the event, noting that she not only does a great job in getting parents involved, but also in finding sponsors.

“Every student walks out that night with a prize, and no one goes home empty handed,” Campbell said. “She also has been instrumental in earning (the initiatives’) nonprofit status. It was an arduous process.”

Jenn Yocum, Cherokee Parent Honoree: According to Charlesworth, the motto at Cherokee, is “‘One town, one tribe,”’ and “those of us who say it, believe it because of the efforts of those like Jenn.”

Almost 12 years ago, she explained, Yocum, a mother to two daughters, along

with another area mother, created field hockey teams for the Marlton Rec Council.

“The two of them are credited with prog re s s for field ho ckey i n tow n,” Charlesworth maintained. “The two moms met wanting their daughters to play a sport that there wasn’t a team for.”

Yocum, whose one daughter just graduated from Cherokee, according to Charlesworth, “devoted countless hours” during the past 12 years of her child’s academic career. She has served as president of the school’s Field Hockey Booster Club and vice president of Cherokee’s Project Graduation.

Beyond Cherokee, Yocum has served on multiple district committees, most recently the Bond Referendum Committee and the Middle States Committee.

“I t h i n k le a d e r sh ip i s ‘s e r v i c e,’” Charlesworth declared. “‘Service’ is to help, to inspire, to motivate, and to leave things better than how you found them. That statement defines Jenn, selfless in her service to our community at Cherokee, and we’re proud to have her in our town, leading our tribe for Cherokee pride.”

Denise Sunbury, Seneca Parent Honoree: Most rec ently, Bauer pointed out, Sunbury has taken over the planning for a Robotics Tournament held at Seneca, which he maintained is a “daunting task in itself.”

But Sunbury, he noted, makes sure that the hundreds of volunteers for the event, held over the course of three days, have breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as are properly checked in for the function.

It is “exhausting work” that she helps accomplish, Bauer declared.

For regular robotics competitions and events, Sunbury is at the school every Saturday preparing lunches for participants, Bauer noted. Additionally, he pointed out that she organizes the Southampton Schools’ STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Night that Seneca’s robotics program participates in, doing a live robot demonstration and presentation.

In recognition of her efforts, Sunbury was also recently awarded with the first-ever Mid-Atlantic Robotics Volunteer of the Year award, the school principal noted.

Sunbury, in addition to her involvement with robotics, according to the Seneca principal, has been involved in the Seneca Eagle Band Parents Association for nine years, with each of her children “being standout members of our ensembles.” She currently serves as the association’s vice president, according to Bauer, but has served as past president and home competition chair.

Sunbury, he declared, is “the glue that holds it together.”

“Three advisors summed it (Sunbury’s service) up in about the same way, she’s been such an integral part of the program, and even though there is an old saying, ‘everyone is replaceable,’ after her youngest graduates, she is not going to be replaceable,” Bauer asserted.

Birnbohm, in thanking the four parents for their “mission of lifelong dedication to service,” maintained they “enhanced all of the student experiences.”

“As your child’s ‘first teacher,’ your actions are giving lessons to your teens that extend well beyond the classroom,” the superintendent declared.

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RENT

(Continued from Page 9) “We are a captive audience,” with it being rather hard to move mobile homes and there being limited other places in the Pinelands to place them at.

Another regular resident in the audience said the landlord purchased Buttonwood “as a business” to “make a profit,” and maintained he has a right to bring the rent “up to par.” That resident also took issue with the township being able to tell a business what it should charge for products and services, maintaining that forming a rent control board would be no different than if the town went over to a restaurant and told the establishment what it could charge for beer all because someone complained about the prices.

“You are talking about people, who live in this park, who are disabled,” said one Buttonwood resident who goes by the name of “John,” in response to the opposition.

“They live on a fixed income. Now, I don’t know about anybody else in here, but I’d be damned if I want to see someone homeless.”

Another woman, also from Buttonwood, called on those who are currently against rent control “to have some compassion.”

O’Connor, also in response to some of the opposition, which resulted in some tense moments where the mayor had to slam the gavel down to regain control of the meeting, clarified that a rent control board “does not control rent,” but rather “rental increases” and that “if someone comes into town, you have a negotiation ability with a landlord.”

“The township is not going to say you have to start your rent at ‘X’ amount of dollars,” the Bass River solicitor contended. “What it avoids is the 75, 80 to 90 percent increase from year-to-year.”

AD HOTLINE: (609) 801-2392 or SALES@PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM “They (the residents of Buttonwood) have the right to live without astronomical increases,” further maintained O’Connor, with Forand adding, “especially people who have lived there for 40 plus years.”

Altobelli, however, told this newspaper “if the town takes that position” of potentially adopting some form rent control, “there sure will be litigation.”

“We are going to fight over it,” he declared.

“It is not fair at all.”

He put another question to this reporter as well in conveying his point, asking, “Where in the state of New Jersey can you live for just $801 per month?”

The $801 monthly rent at Buttonwood, he maintained, “includes everything – including trash removal and snow removal” and “the tenants don’t pay the taxes.” He pointed out the “state rate” for just a motel room “with no kitchen” is $1,600, and asserted that therefore, “$801 is pretty reasonable, I think.”

Also of note, Altobelli said, is that “everybody (tenants) got all kinds of grant money from the state” during the pandemic, as well as “stimulus money from state” and that there are a programs available for those truly hard strapped for money.

He also maintained that in a sense he felt he was being held to a “double standard” as a businessman, whereas a moratorium was not placed on tax increases during the pandemic, pointing out he had to pay several tax increases not only in the town where he lives, but also where he maintains his other mobile home park. The landlord also had a similar concern to that of Assur, asking this reporter, “Are you going to also have rent control for houses?

Where do you limit it to?”

“Well, guess what, you can’t run towns without raising taxes,” Altobelli said. “I am in the same boat. I had to carry all these people through the pandemic, and at the end of the day, local towns still asked for their taxes.”

PERSONNEL (Continued from Page 2)

thought it was a nice thing to do if the main roads got cut,” Mull added. “Obviously, people think otherwise.”

At a council meeting last month following what was referred to as a “contentious debate” about the strips, Councilman Nick Conner pointed to the condition of the playground area in the municipal park, which raised the issue of mowing the strips all over again.

“I have a child who loves to play down there, and I won’t take him to our own park because it looks atrocious. It is overgrown with weeds, almost as tall as he is, and he is 3 years old. I think we should be able to weed the playground and make it halfway presentable for someone to play on.”

W h i l e St e ve n Fe n s t e r, a fo r m e r Democratic borough councilman who is running this year to reclaim a seat on the currently all-Republican council, facing a GOP challenge from Fanucci (a close friend and neighbor) and resident Stewart Thompson, said that he realized the mowing of strips was a “contentious issue” at a previous meeting, he was “going to bring

PILOT

(Continued from Page 3) whatever that takes,” James told the officials in response.

Bacon, on July 5, noted she has “worked on getting stop signs” and “they are ordered for the municipal driveway.”

James has teased over the last couple of months that he is working on updating numerous township ordinances, pointing

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it up again” because of “what Mr. Conner said about the park.”

“Apparently, our Public Works people have time to mow private properties on Hanover Street, which a lot of us in the public don’t think is a good use of our money,” Fenster declared. “They have plenty of time for that, but can’t weed whack the park with that time. I submit again that we don’t mow private property on taxpayer money, and if we do mow some, we mow all.”

Mull told this newspaper last week that “we no longer mow the strip” and that the park is “mowed weekly.”

“The problem is the weeds inside the playground area,” she explained. “We are doing our best to keep up with the weeds, but we are waiting on the county to repair the drainage problem with Hanover Street due to the new engineering design. When it rains, all the water jumps our sidewalk and washes out all of the playground mulch and expedites the weed growth in that area.

According to the county, they are waiting for supplies to come in to make the repairs.”

Mull, appointed in May to the Woodland Township Committee to fill a vacancy, is running for a three-year term on the Woodland governing body, where she plans to focus at least some of her energy upon retirement from the borough. out that “a lot of that stuff hasn’t been looked at since the 70s.” Changes to the codebook are forthcoming, he advised.

Meanwhile, Seybold said he has reached out to a contractor to evaluate the furnace for the municipal building and to “put something in that is a little more efficient.” He said the municipality is “trying to save some money on fuel oil” due to rising costs, pointing out that it is a “pretty big consumption down there.”

“We want to get rid of that dinosaur that is in the basement,” the deputy mayor declared.

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