Pine Barrens Tribune March 19, 2022-March 25, 2022

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March 19 - March 25, 2022

Agreement Between Woodland Fire/EMS and Woodland Twp. Approved, Released

‘EVEN GREAT PLACES NEED ATTENTION’

Municipality Agrees to Increase Quarterly Payments to $75,000, Strengthens Termination Clause in 5-Year Deal Adopted Feb. 23 That Still Awaits Key Signatures

By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer

WOODLAND—A five-year agreement between Woodland Township and the Woodland Volunteer Fire and Emergency Medical Services, Inc., has been approved by the Woodland Township Committee, with it also being released to the public through a Feb. 23 governing body meeting agenda packet.

The agreement, however, according to an Open Public Records Act (OPRA) request fulfilled by the township on March 15, was signed by Mayor William “Billy” DeGroff, but was still “unexecuted” (as Township Solicitor William Burns put it to this newspaper in a March 15 interview) because it lacked the signatures of Fire Chief Shawn Viscardi, as well as both the president and head trustee of Woodland Fire and EMS. “I have not yet received a copy with the fire department’s signatures,” wrote Township Ad m i n istrator and Clerk Mar yal ic e Maryalice Brown in a formal letter to this newspaper on March 15, responding to the OPRA request.

Burns further maintained in the interview with this newspaper, at deadline time, “Shawn just hasn’t responded yet” as to why the agreement obtained through OPRA was not yet signed.

It was not immediately clear how long the

Photo By Douglas D. Melegari

A crosswalk near the intersection of Allen and Union streets in Medford Township, used by pedestrians to access the new Medford Town Hall.

Three Residents, in Separate Cases, Plead for Action by Medford Council to Address Streets in the Municipality Where They Contend an ‘Accident Is Waiting to Happen’

By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer

MEDFORD—When Patrick Mooney moved to Medford Township some two years ago, the son of a Taunton Forge Elementary School (in Medford) teacher of 27 years said he knew he was “coming to a great place.”

“But even great places need attention,” further declared Mooney to Medford Township Council during one of its recent meetings.

Mooney is one of several residents, the others being Ruth Darlington and

Jim Shiffer, whom have made pleas to the governing body in recent months for changes to be made to improve traffic safety on streets in the municipality.

A resident of Union Street, Mooney recounted to council that he was standing at the intersection of Union and Allen streets this past fall with one of his children who had just finished taking a music lesson in Medford Village, attempting to cross the street by using a crosswalk “with plenty of signage” there, but “no fewer than 25 cars whizzed by us,” not taking notice of their

presence, and thus, “nobody stopped.”

“I say this with all due respect, but the public is being put at risk by the street right outside these doors here,” declared Mooney, standing in council’s meeting chamber at 91 Union Street, within the municipality’s Public Safety Complex.

He contended that after the incident, he suggested “a stop sign there” (turning the intersection of Allen and Union Streets into a three-way stop intersection, instead of traffic just having to stop when exiting See STREETS/ Page 10

See AGREEMENT/ Page 11

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Saturday, March 19, 2022

Indian Mills Volunteer Fire Company Marks 80th Anniversary, Highlighting ‘a Lot That Has Changed’ with Recruitment, Costs

By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer

S H A M O N G —T h e I n d i a n M i l l s Volunteer Fire Company is celebrating its 80th Anniversary, officially reaching the milestone last Thursday, March 10.

“Just think about 1942 and the incredible people who came together and created this organization,” said Shamong Mayor Timothy Gimble, wh ile presenting a proclamation during a March 1 Shamong Township Committee meeting to the Indian Mills Volunteer Fire Company in marking the anniversary. “What else was going on in 1942? World War II. Right in the middle of World War II, a group of residents decided it was time to take care of our own people, and time to stop relying on surrounding communities. And within a few weeks, they put the whole thing together, bought a truck and started it (the fire company) up.”

Gimble, in presenting the proclamation, said he “didn’t know how some people can do this as a job and have a regular job,” but that “we have to thank these people for their efforts,” in recognizing that “they commit such a big portion of their life to really support the town they believe in, and the town that they live in.”

But while firefighters gathered at the governing body meeting to celebrate and reflect on the special occasion, Fire Chief John Smith declared, “Hopefully, we can be here another 80,” with both he and Fire Company President Charlie Burgin using the opportunity to highlight how “some things don’t change, but a lot has changed”

over the last eight decades with challenges now posed by declining volunteerism and increased state requirements, as well as limited funding sources and rising costs.

“A lot of has changed in 80 years,” Burgin further declared.

It was on Feb. 12, 1942, according to Burgin, that a “motion was made to organize a fire company for Shamong Township.”

Then, on March 10, 1942, he noted, a “resolution was passed by Shamong recognizing the Indian Mills Volunteer Fire Company as the official fire company for Shamong.”

“80 years ago, when someone walked into the fire station and said they wanted to be a firefighter and asked what they have to do to become one, they (the fire officers) would have said, ‘Come on in, sit down and tell us about yourself,’” Burgin recounted. “Then (the new recruit) would have been handed a coat, boots and told, ‘When you hear a siren, jump in the back of the truck and take it with you to a call.’”

But “fast forward to today,” Burgin explained, and when someone comes into the local fire station to say they are interested in becoming a firefighter, they are now told “you need 212 hours of school or to complete Firefighter 1” and must commit to the classes “which, right now, are held over the course of a six-month period on every Saturday and Sunday,” with each session taking up a “full-day.”

“Most people can’t do that (make such a commitment),” declared Burgin, noting volunteers often work 10 to 12 hours at their full-time, regular job.

New recruits, today, according to the local See ANNIVERSARY/ Page 9

Actor in Top-grossing Movie ‘Forrest Gump,’ Following Letter, Purchases Pagers for Vincent Fire Company Valued at $30,000

By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer

SOUTHAMPTON—Gary Alan Sinise, an American actor, humanitarian, and musician, recently telephoned the chief of the Southampton Township-based Vincent Fire Company.

Yes, that’s right, the Hollywood star who is best-known for appearing on screen some 30 years ago as Lt. Dan Taylor in the popular film “Forrest Gump,” a top-grossing movie of its decade that won six Oscars.

But probably unbeknownst to many, is that Sinise, a recipient of Primetime Emmy, Golden Globe and Tony Awards, as well as four Screen Actors Guild Awards, founded the Gary Sinise Foundation, a tax-exempt public charity that provides for “First Responders Outreach,” which to date, has provided some 357 emergency relief grants to police officers, firefighters, and EMTs, as well as 1,135 first responder training grants.

That is in addition to the 11,647 pieces of essential equipment the foundation has given to first responder entities since its inception some 10 years ago.

“I had written a letter to him (Sinise) last year, asking for help and some money for some communication devices,” explained Vincent Fire Chief Scott Mitchell during a recent Southampton Township Committee meeting of the reason for Sinise’s call to him.

Sinise reportedly informed Mitchell during the telephone call that, in response to his letter, he “personally” wrote a check “straight to the vendor” for $30,000 to purchase the Vincent Fire Company some 10 new pagers “to allow its firefighters to know there is an emergency.”

According to Mitchell, the reason for needing the pagers is that “Burlington County went to a new system,” and Vincent Fire Company, “being one of the small companies in the county,” ended up in a position where it “kind of got shafted” as compatible portable

radios that are required for the system cost about $7,000 each and the entity “had only gotten eight” of them during the transition.

“The new pagers not only get a page from 911, but also tell you what is going on at an emergency scene so that we know, on the way to the firehouse, what is going on,” said Mitchell of the devices Sinise purchased. “A lot of times, firefighters are racing to get to the firehouse, and might live five miles away, and it is a prank call, or something like that, and they don’t know the call is canceled until they get there.”

Or, the local fire chief added, sometimes the situation initially reported happens to be “something worse,” and now firefighters will “be able to hear about that away from the scene to increase response,” if necessary.

Overall, according to Mitchell, having the pagers makes it a “little safer for them (the firefighters)” and between the “10 of them (pagers)” and the eight radios, “during an emergency, firefighters will be able to talk to each other.”

Mitchell, in delivering Vincent Fire Company’s annual report to the Southampton Township Committee last month, noted that the entity responded to 101 fires in the region last year, 67 of which were house fires, as well as 176 “emergency medical type calls,” which “include motor vehicle collisions, rescues and helping the EMS squad out.”

Additionally, the local fire company, he said, responded to 40 incidents with “hazardous conditions,” such as gas leaks or oil slicks on the road.

Another 20 responses in 2021 were for what the agency deems as “service calls,” including some that entailed animal rescues.

Several dozen other calls were for alarm systems or “good intent (smoke alarms going off from the steam while someone is showering).”

There is a “50-50 chance” that Sinise could pay a local in-person visit to the Vincent Fire Company, with its headquarters in the Vincentown Village section of Southampton, later this year, noted Mitchell recently.

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Saturday, March 19, 2022

Former Medford Fire Chief of 13 Years Publicly Takes Issue with Township ‘Hiring from Outside’ Fire/EMS Department Mayor, Deputy Mayor Express Their Unfamiliarity with Practice; Township Manager Indicates Department is Short Officers, EMTs

Photo By Douglas D. Melegari

A street sign on Main Street in Medford asks residents interested in volunteering for the Medford Township Department of Fire and EMS to contact a telephone number.

By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer

MEDFORD—The Medford Township Department of Fire and EMS is apparently experiencing staffing woes of some sort, and in what had been apparently unbeknownst to Medford’s mayor and deputy mayor, until last month when a former fire chief and active township firefighter approached the dais with concerns, is that the township is “going outside the department for career hiring” to fill its open paid positions.

Kathy Burger, who serves as township manager, during a Feb. 1 Medford Council session, seemingly confirmed the former fire chief’s revelation, in attempting to clarify what the man was referring to in his remarks to the visibly befuddled governing body, asserting, “What is being questioned today is ‘the fact’ that we are not hiring from within because people did not meet the criteria.”

“So, we have to go outside the Medford fire department right now to hire,” Burger added.

The former fire chief and firefighter, Raymond Parker, when discussing his concerns, explained that the Medford Township Department of Fire and EMS comprises of both volunteer and career (paid) firefighters, with the volunteers assuming duties between 5 p.m. and 6 a.m. on weeknights, as well as on holidays and weekends. He indicated that some of the volunteer firefighters are “younger members who I would like to see get career positions.”

“I don’t know everyone who applied from our department for the fire and EMS positions,” said Parker, who joined the Taunton Fire Company in 1968 at only the age of 16, and was elevated to chief in 1984 at age 32, serving in the top post until 1993, and again from 2004 to 2006, prior to the reorganization of various municipal fire and EMS companies into one department.

“But I would have hoped they (anyone volunteering for the department and who put in applications) would have been hired and given the training needed to (fill the open career roles).”

Parker noted that while he is “not here representing the fire department” in his official capacity, he “did share his thoughts” with members of the department and “did get positive support” from them.

“I am disappointed with the township having to go outside the department for career hiring following a period where

hiring was anticipated to be from within the Medford fire department,” Parker declared.

Me d ford Mayor Charle s “Chuck ” Watson’s initial reply to Parker was that he would “definitely look into what you commented on” and “dig into it a little bit.”

“Some of that I am not aware of,” the mayor added. “It is not our purview (the hiring of municipal employees), but we (council) will definitely do our homework on that.”

Earlier this year, Medford council named Robert Dovi the new chief of Medford Fire and EMS, replacing veteran chief Thomas Thorn, who retired in December.

Parker pointed to Dovi, who was sitting in council’s meeting chamber, noting that individuals like the chief “were given time to get training” and “worked their way up the ranks.”

He contended that some members of Medford Fire and EMS, who worked their way up to a career position, and then some, had “served Medford residents well over last 20 years.”

“Our volunteer ranks have dwindled, as is the case in many parts of country,” Parker said. “… But Medford volunteers (by the township hiring from within) have an incentive to get career jobs here, and it may also attract new volunteers who would like a career in public safety in Medford. By going outside the department, it detracts interest from Medford.”

Parker added that “if we have hires outside of Medford” from “Woodbury to the south and Chesterfield to the north,” the firefighters on staff “may not be nearby to answer critical taskforce calls.”

Medford Deputy Mayor Frank Czekay, in response to Parker’s concerns, asked, if there was a “time limit or geographical limit” in place, or one stating how far away a firefighter serving Medford can reside.

“No,” replied Burger.

Czekay, seemingly taken aback by that response from the Medford manager, asked, “So, you can have a volunteer who lives in Brick?”

The deputy mayor appeared further taken aback when Burger replied that, “We have someone who does that right now.”

“I don’t think that is appropriate, to be honest with you,” Czekay retorted.

Bringing light to the apparent Medford Fire and EMS staffing shortages and the hiring practices of the municipality was a See HIRING/ Page 13

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Saturday, March 19, 2022

Evesham Council Votes to Support 3 Proposed Cannabis Retailers After Strong Objections Are Aired During Public Comment Period

LOCAL NEWS / FEATURES

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Browns Mills Domino’s Sustains Damage in Lunchtime Crash No Injuries Are Reported Despite Timing; Store Temporarily Closed

Persistent Critic Rebuked for Bringing Up Recent Killing at Apartment Complex; Leader of Campaign Against ‘Sober House’ Renews Call for Township Regulation

By Bill Bonvie Staff Writer

EVESHAM—Resolutions supporting the applications of a trio of prospective cannabis retailers that would like to operate within sections of the township reserved for such enterprises were approved by the Evesham Township Council at its March 9 meeting, although not without some strenuous objections from several residents, including two local teachers, who spoke during a public comment period prior to the vote.

The comments at one point led to a somewhat testy exchange after another opponent of the resolutions, Gary Warga, a persistent critic of a local cannabis ordinance that authorizes such enterprises, invoked a fatal stabbing that occurred last month at a local apartment complex, which was subsequently reported to have involved a dispute over marijuana.

Warga claimed to have had a prior encounter with the victim in which the latter had acknowledged using a high-potency form of the drug, only to have his remarks cut short by Councilman Eddie Freeman III and Mayor Jaclyn “Jackie” Veasy, both of whom warned him that the incident, which resulted in a friend of the victim having been charged with his murder, should not be discussed in a public forum because it was still under investigation.

It was Warga’s contention that forms of the recreational cannabis now available to casual users are far more potent than the marijuana in common use prior to its legalization in many venues (a view with which some experts quoted on the Internet seem to concur), creating a far greater risk of psychotic and violent behavior in certain individuals.

The passage of the resolutions, which serve as letters of support, as was pointed out by both Veasy and Township Solicitor Primo Cruz, is just one required step in an approval process that requires the licensing of each enterprise by the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC) and a green light from the township planning board, which will involve one or more additional chances for residents to be heard. The applications from the prospective retailers will also still need to be reviewed

by Township Manager Robert Corrales to ensure they are in compliance with all state and local requirements.

In the meantime, another contentious topic – the controversy caused by the revelation back in December that a house in the Woodstream neighborhood was about to be converted into a “sober living home” for

men recovering from addiction – was again raised by nearby resident Tom Ramirez, who led an earlier protest against the plan to put it there. In an appearance during the public comment session, Ramirez renewed a call for the township to address the issue and accused officials of foot-dragging on their promise to conduct “open discussions” with residents aimed at developing a plan to keep any such future facilities away from schools and neighborhoods where children might come into contact with them, although he acknowledged that would be unlikely to prevent the opening of the one in Woodstream in close proximity to the Van Zant Elementary School, which was delayed due to its having been vandalized.

The applicants for Class 5 cannabis retailer licenses are Rooted of Evesham, LLC, which has notified the council of its intent to open a cannabis dispensary at 929-931 Route 70 West; Floro Evesham, LLC, which proposes to operate another such dispensary is at 446 Route 70 West; and Sativa Wellness, LLC, which seeks to operate as a microbusiness licensee at Suite 104A Centre Boulevard.

The resolutions of support for the latter two were approved unanimously, with one council member, Deputy Mayor Heather Cooper, abstaining on the first after teachers Anthony Gallo and Kelly Jones objected to its proposed location within walking distance of their Woodstream neighborhood, not far from the proposed sober living home property.

“We cannot advocate for drug-free school zones, sober living and a DARE program for our children while at the same time planting a cannabis distributor at their doorsteps,” Gallo declared. “These businesses belong strictly in industrial or commercial areas that are not in proximity to children or schools, such as is done in places like Colorado.”

Jones, noting that a police officer who has visited her 5th grade class every week always calls the “first drug the worst drug,” said she was already upset about the prospect of the sober living home opening in her neighborhood and doesn’t know “what to tell my kids.”

“I implore you to put it (the proposed cannabis retail facility) in an industrial area,” she told the council members.

But speaking out most forcefully was Warga, who said he was opposed to all three resolutions, and reminded the council of conclusions he had previously cited, which he claimed came from a 2017 “unbiased study” from the National Academy of Medicine, See CANNABIS/ Page 15

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A vehicle traveled through the parking lot of the Domino’s in Browns Mills on March 10 and struck the front of the building.

By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer

PEMBERTON—A Domino’s pizzeria that overlooks Mirror Lake in the Browns Mills section of Pemberton Township, at the intersection of Clubhouse and Lakehurst roads as well as Notebook Avenue and Lakehurst Road, has been temporarily closed while it undergoes structural repairs following a vehicle driving through the front of the establishment on the afternoon of March 10.

Despite the incident occurring during lunchti me, m iraculously no one was reported to have been injured inside the pizzeria.

T h e Pe mb e r t on Tow n s h ip Pol i c e Department was called to the crash scene at 100 Lakehurst Road around 12:53 p.m.

According to Pemberton Township Police Department Chief Jay Watters, arriving officers found a 2013 Hyundai Tucson inside of the establishment and that everyone had exited the premises.

A subsequent pol ic e i nvestigation reportedly determined that a 56-year-old man who was operating the Hyundai “lost control” while passing through the area of Noteboom Avenue and Lakehurst Road, and then “left the roadway” and “traveled

through the parking lot of the Domino’s and struck the front of the building which was occupied by employees at the time.”

One of the employees was struck by a counter that was moved by the impact, according to the police chief, but did not suffer any reported injuries.

The operator of the vehicle, who police did not identify, was also uninjured and refused medical treatment at the scene.

The Pemberton Township building inspector, Watters noted, responded to the crash scene and determined that the structure was unsafe and could not be occupied.

Aerial news helicopter views of the pizzeria, as well as ground footage, showed not only broken glass and doors in the front of the structure from the impact of the crash, but also cracks in the building’s exterior wall.

A call to Domino’s on March 16 revealed that the Browns Mills establishment was still closed. Calls were being transferred to a nearby location in Cookstown. A popular delivery driver for the Browns Mills location posted on Facebook letting his customers know that “our store is waiting on the township for approval to repair it.”

“I hope to serve you again soon,” he added.

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Auction of Bass River Elementary Concludes at 62 Bids Placed with Highest Offer from Lakewood Resident, But Sale Postponed Reason for Postponement Not Discussed, But Resident Calls It ‘Good Idea’ So That the ‘Town May Possibly Be Able to Do Something with the School’

Bass River Elementary School.

By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer

BASS RIVER—Any potential sale of the former Bass River Elementary School has been postponed until at least May. The Bass River Board of Education, during its March 16 meeting held inside the former school that has been shuttered since the 202021 school year, voted 3-0 to table a measure that would have allowed a sale to go through.

The more than 23,000 square-foot building at 11 North Maple Avenue, a both historic and iconic building in the center of Bass River Township’s New Gretna commercial district that is considered one of the town’s largest facilities, as well as the 4.15 acres it is situated on, was listed for sale by auction on GovDeals, an online liquidity services marketplace for government-owned property, for a minimum bid of $400,000.

The property was appraised for $690,000.

After 62 bids at $3,000 increments were placed between 11:50 a.m. on March 10 and

Photo By Douglas D. Melegari

3:26 p.m. on March 11, with the highest bid placed of $757,500, the auction concluded on March 11 at 3:30 p.m.

A review of the bid history by this newspaper indicated there were three bidders, with partially redacted usernames of c****3, m*****o, and e*****m.

All three bidders engaged in a bidding war, but m*****o dropped out of the bidding war when the bids reached $580,000.

As c****3 and e*****m battled it out, bids were placed between the two parties every couple of minutes for about the last two hours of the auction. e*****m ended up placing the highest bid of $757,500.

The auction listing had noted that the Bass River Board of Education would be meeting on March 16 to “approve/decline the highest bid.”

School Board Member Tom “Tommy” Williams made the initial motion to table See AUCTION/ Page 14

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Saturday, March 19, 2022

Retail Dietitians to Mark National Nutrition Month by Offering Free Health and Wellness Trends Education Session on March 29 MEDFORD—ShopRite of Medford has Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDN) on staff to assist customers with their health and wellness.

T he s e profe s siona l ly t r a i ne d a nd credentialed experts provide many services for the store’s customers, including an upcoming “Health & Wellness Education Session” on Tuesday, March 29 at 7 p.m.

The session will be held virtually and will review the latest nutrition news and products. Topics covered include Gut Health, Sustainability, On-the-go Snacking, and more.

In addition to offering education sessions like this, the in-store dietitians offer free personalized nutrition counseling, wellness workshops, kid’s nutrition cook-alongs, health-focused shopping tours, and more.

“We have many customers who follow specific diets due to lifestyle or health concerns,” said Adrienne Olah, RDN, an in-store dietitian who has been with the store for seven years. “I enjoy helping them choose foods that check the boxes of their dietary concerns, whether it is through a consultation or a walk through the store helping them choose appropriate food.”

Olah and fellow in-store RDN, Claire Rudden, cover 10 Zallie-Somerset stores located in the South Jersey area.

“The ease of holding virtual events like the upcoming Wellness Trends session allows us to reach many customers in all of our market areas,” Rudden declared. “Past events that have been offered were a Holiday Snack Board class, Grown Up Lunchboxes How-To, and many themed Growing Chef Cook-Alongs for children aged 5 to 10.

Customers interested in working with the dietitians can send an inquiry through the

Photo Provided

Zallie-Somerset stores Registered Dietitian Nutritionists Claire Rudden and Adrienne Olah (right). company’s website, zalliesfreshkitchen.com, under the “Health & Wellness” tab.

“Our consultations are offered free of charge, as are many of our programs,” Olah noted. “It is part of our commitment to the health and well-being of the community. We also are available to speak to community groups and have worked with many scout troops in the area.”

Those interested in the Health & Wellness Trend session should email Claire Rudden at Claire.rudden@wakefern.com .

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Fire Detected by Alarm Engulfs Home on Sandtown Road

Photo By Union Fire Company #1

A blaze engulfs a home on Sandtown Road in Medford on March 13.

MEDFORD—A home on Sandtown Road in Medford Township was completely engulfed in flames on March 13, as a video taken by the Medford Lakes Fire Department and later uploaded on Facebook portrayed, as well as still photographs posted on the Facebook page of Union Fire Company #1.

It was noted in a statement about the conflagration later posted on the Medford Township Police Department’s Facebook page that the blaze at 22 Sandtown Road was reported around 5:08 p.m. when the homeowner “was alerted by an activated fire alarm, which later revealed an active fire inside the residence.”

The homeow ner, ac cordi ng to the statement, was able to evacuate the home,

“but not before she sustained smoke inhalation” that required hospitalization at Virtua Hospital in Mount Holly. Her identity was not released by police.

“As a result of the coordinated effort, the fire was later extinguished without further injuries,” it was noted in the statement.

A spokesman for Medford Police could not be immediately reached for comment on this story, and the number of alarms the blaze reached was not released, nor was it said if the homeowner has been released yet from the hospital.

“The cause of the fire is still currently under i nvestigation by the Medford Township Fire Department,” according to the online statement.

Medford UMC Becomes New Home for Pinelands Garden Club MEDFORD—The Pinelands Garden Club of Medford held their first meeting in their new home at Medford United Methodist Church on Hartford Road in Medford Township.

According to a press release from the organization, the pandemic necessitated the club leaving its former meeting location at Medford Leas.

“The excellent meeting space at the church makes this an exciting venue for our monthly meetings,” said Amelia Furno, president of the club for the past four years. “The church has been very welcoming. Throughout the restrictions of the pandemic, our members found creative ways to continue to move forward with our meetings, education, and networking, remaining active in beautifying our community in a variety of activities.”

The first club meeting at the church included a presentation on seeds and seedlings, which entailed a demonstration on how making a gallon jug greenhouse can give you a head start to planting.

There was also a discussion about growing from seeds using the “greenhouse” as well as proper soil types and ideal temperatures for germination.

Members of the club will be “contributing their skills and joy of gardening” by helping to “maintain and beautify” the grounds of the church, an agreement that was called a “win-win” in the press release.

“I am thrilled with our new partnership,” declared Barbara Gardner, a member of both the club and the church. “Our church is very community-minded and welcomes all.

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years, and we host Cub and Girl Scout groups, a H.O.P.E. grief support group, a “Music Together” group through the Conservatory of Musical Arts as well as regular Red Cross blood drives.”

Established in 1971, the Pinelands Garden Club of Medford is a community club of 75 members who share their knowledge and love of gardening, promote civic beautification, and aid in the protection of the Pinelands through community service, educational programs, and special events.

The members maintain town gardens, award one to two $1,500 yearly scholarships to high school graduates, offer hands-on garden therapy at Medford Care Center, and celebrate Veterans’ Day annually at the Blue Star Memorial Byway, as well as educate Medford school students about the uses of herbs during the 18th century, methods of planting trees on Arbor Day, and use of native plants for pollinators.

Each year the club holds a plant sale in May to share gardening tips with the community.

A floral design program hosted by the club on April 11 will be presented by Jane Bersche, National Garden Club Master Judge and a club member. Socialization begins at 9:30 a.m. and the program starts at 10 a.m.

“I am so grateful to our members for all they achieved during this trying time and I am looking forward to joining with our members to continue to bring the joy of gardening and friendship to people who value gardening,” Furno said. “The members and I are thrilled that our roots are still here.”

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fire company president, must also be trained in blood pathogens, CPR, and forest fire technique.

And then, when all of that is completed, “we give you a pager.”

“20 years from now, we’ll be looking at 100 years,” Burgin added. “I’m optimistic we’ll still be in business. They (the state lawmakers and regulators) don’t make it any easier, obviously.”

To that end, Sm ith asser ted, “the recruitment standards are really killing us” with recruitment now “really hard,” with Burgin expressing his fear the situation may only get worse with now “talk about also requiring physicals.”

“They are chasing us (volunteers) away,” Burgin declared.

Burgin noted that the “training that we do is exactly the same as for a career firefighter.”

“But they do it (training) for a living,” the local fire company president said of the difference. “They are paid to do it (training) while on duty. We do it (training) as volunteers.”

The local call volume, Burgin maintained, doesn’t currently justify having a paid crew in Shamong.

“The state doesn’t want us to be in the business anymore,” Burgin declared. “They want paid fire (entities). That is fine – but do they want to write us checks?”

Henry Wright was named the first fire chief

of the Indian Mills Volunteer Fire Company, serving until 1969, according to Burgin.

A 24 -foot-by 24 -foot cinder block building, which still stands today, next to the current fire station on Willow Grove Road, was the first building to house the local fire company.

“The first operating budget was $2,000,” Burgin noted. “The first fire truck was used and purchased for $1,200 on March 5, 1942.”

But in comparing the fire truck cost from 1942 to today, Burgin pointed out a “fire truck, right now, is running at least $800,000,” with neighboring Tabernacle Township looking at a possible new fire truck that is somewhere in the ballpark of $911,000, according to a report he cited.

A “new fire truck,” Burgin said, is a “big ticket item” the Indian Mills Volunteer Fire Company is also in need of soon, with him indicating the local fire company will need the assistance of Shamong and its governing body in helping to fund the future acquisition.

“We put together a committee just last week, and we are going to start looking,” Burgin said. “The cost today, and how quickly it continues to go up, is just unbelievable. On average, it has gone up $25,000 a year.”

And it is not just the cost of vehicles that have gone up over the years, according to Burgin, but also “turnout gear,” or the specialized equipment that protects firefighters from injuries, such as burns and smoke inhalation, also referred to as Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

Because the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) mandates replacement of

such gear every 10 years, Burgin explained, the Indian Mills company is overdue for new PPE and is now beginning to order “some of it,” thanks, in part, to receiving a matching grant from the New Jersey Forest Fire Service, but the fire company president observed that “just the pants and coats alone, today, are $3,000.” A new pair of gloves now runs near $100, he noted, while a new helmet now costs about $300.

The supply chain issues impacting the world currently are also having an impact on the Indian Mills Volunteer Fire Company, with the purchasing of essential items further in advance of a looming deadline becoming a necessity, and thus comes the need to secure the availability of funds sooner.

“It used to be six to eight weeks to get gear, now it takes six months,” Burgin pointed out.

And because it may take as long as two years for a new fire truck to be delivered, the Indian Mills Volunteer Fire Company, he said, is especially eager to begin putting a spec together for a new fire truck, with it taking about six to nine months to do so.

While the Indian Mills Volunteer Fire Company is “looking to buy it (a new fire truck) two to three years down the road,” given the current inflation, Burgin cautioned that what the cost “is going to be in three years – I have no idea, but it is going to be a big chunk of change.”

Gimble, following the remarks of both Burgin and Smith, in which the latter noted the local fire company responded to “five really bad working fires” last year, in addition

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to hundreds of other emergencies and calls, with volunteers racking up 1,318-man hours as well as 1,246 hours in training, including by partaking in some 632 drills, declared, “We all know they take this for granted when you live in Marlton and Moorestown (which employ paid firefighters).”

Gimble added that he believes there are “a lot of people who don’t know who we are” and he is “trying to figure out how to get more younger people involved.”

“If you have a son or daughter, or know somebody else who can spend some time to commit to something like this, even if it is our fire police – get involved,” Gimble said. “At end of the day, I don’t know what 20 years from now looks like for our town, from a fire perspective. But I want to have all kinds of dialogue to figure out how we can keep going forward with you guys.

We’re here to support you, and I can tell you everyone on this committee is committed to doing everything we can … and we will.

I appreciate you coming and having the conversation with us.”

Meanwhile, Smith pointed out that virtually all the “bad fires” last year had one thing in common – “empty fire extinguishers” observed tossed on the ground, outside the affected buildings, in which homeowners had reportedly tried to put the blazes out themselves before dialing 911. The fire chief is pleading with the public to “call us first” as soon as any active fire is suspected at their home or business as every second counts in preventing a conflagration from spreading throughout an entire structure.

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The intersection of Jennings Road and Route 70, which residents of a nearby retirement community say is poorly lit at night.

STREETS

(Continued from Page 1) Allen Street), but a township official told him, “Nobody put a stop sign there in 100 years, and they are unlikely to do it now.”

“But that is before we erected a community hub across the street from the elementary school,” Mooney pointed out.

The Union Street resident was referencing Medford Town Hall, a new combination municipal building and library at 49 Union Street (just down the road from the public safety complex), which just had its grand opening, catty-corner from the intersection of Allen and Union streets, with the former street the main accessway for Milton H. Allen Elementary School.

“I am asking for your help to make Union Street a safe place for my children to walk and play,” Mooney said. “This is a smalltown section of Medford with Freedom Park (across the street from the public safety complex) at one end, and Main Street at the other, and in-between you have Allen Elementary and the brand-new, beautiful town hall and library.”

Mooney pointed out that there are a total of seven crosswalks “in this less than one mile section of town” because the area has “a lot of foot traffic,” including “children who walk to school in great numbers.”

After further inquiry to town officials, Mooney told council he learned that a traffic study was last performed on Union Street in 2019.

“If I asked you how many cars drive down Union Street every day, I suspect you would underestimate,” Mooney said.

The results of the 2019 study, he said, reportedly showed that an average of “5,318 cars go down Union Street each day” with “most vehicles traveling at a speed of 37 mph.”

“That is still 7 mph over the posted speed limit,” Mooney observed. “I was told this all checks out, but that means over 800 cars a day are driving down this street at 40 mph or faster.”

The speeding, Mooney contended, is “occurring during the day when our (the community’s) children are out there playing.”

The reason, Mooney maintained, that he believes that “nobody noticed” he and his son trying to cross at the crosswalk at Allen and Union streets is because the motorists

“were going too fast to notice us.”

“My neighbor’s house was hit by a truck,” Mooney said. “I have seen parked cars get destroyed. And I’ve only been here for two years.”

Because of all of this, the Union Street resident maintained, his kids are “not allowed on the sidewalk” anymore.

“I am not an unreasonable worrywart, but I know an unsafe situation when I see it,” Mooney declared. “Personally, I don’t know why this one-mile stretch of road isn’t posted at 25 mph, being it is a school zone and there is a difference of 15 seconds from Freedom Park to Main Street.”

Mayor Charles “Chuck” Watson, in response, noted that he had a “conversation with the chief” about the traffic situation on Union Street.

“I think the chief and I both agree that once the library gets up and running, it probably is time to do another traffic study to see what has to be done with potentially some signage, and to look at what the speeds are there.”

Regarding Mooney’s observation that “enforcement” is also needed in the area and that “at least 800 candidates (who are speeding) are just asking to receive a message that would bring in a little revenue for the town,” Watson asserted to Mooney that the “chief heard what you said.”

“I have heard what you said, and we will minimally look into getting (a new) study done in the near future,” Watson vowed.

During another recent Medford council session, Darlington, who is a resident of Heritage at Medford, a retirement community put in off Jennings Road some eight years ago with 228 homes, housing approximately 400 residents, declared, “I am here to represent all the old people, myself included.”

Darlington called for a “lamp” to be placed at the intersection of Jones Road and Route 70.

“We are having a very, very difficult time driving east on Route 70, making a left-hand turn onto Jennings Road,” said Darlington of the reason why the residents of Heritage would like improved lighting at the intersection. “It is a very difficult turn to make, even in broad daylight, but at nighttime, it is very difficult to see.”

Several neig hbors, Darl i ng ton maintained, have told her that when they have attempted to make a left-hand turn onto Jennings Road from the eastbound lane

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of Route 70 at night, they wind up doing it from the opposite lane of travel because “they can’t see where they are going” due to the poor illumination of the intersection.

“And we are here to see if we can get a lamp – not a streetlight or traffic light – but a lamp to illuminate that area,” Darlington asserted.

According to statistics Darlington claimed to have found online, at age 60, “you need three times more light than at age 20” to see where you are going while driving.

“And that is at age 60, and I am almost 80,” Darlington said. “I probably need five times more light than I did at age 20.”

The intersection of Jennings Road and Route 70, which is adjacent to Sharps Run Plaza and an Acme supermarket, Darlington pointed out, has “342 more cars” coming out of it than “eight years ago” because of the building of the retirement community, which sits directly behind the supermarket.

Watson told the residents that “there is a pretty big right-of-way there (at the intersection of Route 70 and Jennings Road)” belonging to the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT), and therefore, Darlington’s request needs to most likely be made to the state.

The township, he added, has long requested to put signage there, but claimed the state has refused to allow it because of it being their right-of-way, and thus, in this matter, he thinks the authority to enhance the lighting at the intersection rests with the state.

“Dark roads contribute to fatalities,” Darlington said. “There are a lot of accidents that occur with older people because lighting is not sufficient. We are asking for a lamp near the intersection of Jennings Road and Route 70.”

After another resident, Joe Rich, maintained it is “very, very dark” at Jennings Road and Route 70 at nighttime with it being “an accident waiting to happen,” and also reported that “half my neighbors say when they make that left turn, they are already over on the right lane,” Watson said he would check with the municipal engineer to see if anything can be done to improve the lighting at the intersection (with one person noting there is a standard street light near the intersection).

“I’ll find out what the process is to have one put there,” Watson vowed.

Township Manager Kathy Burger, in a March 15 email to this newspaper, contended that since Darlington’s appearance before council, “it was discovered that three streetlights in the area of Jennings Road were out and the utility company has been advised of same.”

“We are waiting to see if the lights being replaced helps the situation before looking into adding a lamp,” Burger added.

As for the Union Street traffic matter raised by Mooney, the township manager said it has been “deferred to the Chief of Police (Arthur “Art” Waterman).”

This newspaper, in paying a site visit to the area this past Tuesday, also noticed that the surface of Union Street near town hall was quite

rough with both potholes and deep cracks.

The third traffic matter, raised numerous times to council in the past by Shiffer, involves reports of vehicles speeding down Taunton Boulevard, where he lives, along with observations of excess truck traffic on the county road.

According to a letter penned by Shiffer to the Pine Barrens Tribune this past week, a recent road closure in the area is now posing “a new challenge,” resulting in a “barrage of heavy-duty construction vehicles” using Taunton Boulevard to make their way “to and from” construction sites (for affordable housing) in the northern part of Medford.

Shiffer maintained in his letter that the construction vehicles using Taunton Boulevard have “no regard for the posted speed limit of 30 mph,” in addition to now causing damage to the foundations of homes in the area (from purported vibration).

“Si nc e October 26, 2020, we have petitioned the local and county authorities to implement a sustainable solution to this issue, yet it continues to worsen,” Shiffer declared. “While the local authorities try, by increasing patrols and collecting data, these efforts remain spotty and ineffective at controlling the day and night speeding.

“Although the residents recognize that Taunton Boulevard is a primary access route to points north and south, we also recognize that incessant speeding creates a safety hazard for all, and has a tremendous impact on our quality of life.”

Shiffer pointed to a “recent analysis by local authorities” that he claimed showed that “on average” some “384 vehicles travel down Taunton Boulevard in excess of 45 mph every single day, or one vehicle exceeding 45 mph every 3.75 minutes, 24 hours per day.”

“We have suggested speed bumps, weight restrictions, dynamic signage, additional crosswalks, and speed traps with unmarked police vehicles, all of which have been shot down as viable remedies for one reason or another,” Shiffer wrote.

Shiffer contended “action” by council, to put pressure on county leaders for a “permanent solution,” is needed.

“Take the energy and resources telling us that ‘trucks just sound like they are going fast,’ and how we’re wrong, and put that energy into some productive solutions,” Shiffer declared.

“The townships’ own data collection supports the definitive need for action!”

But Burger told this newspaper on March 15 that “funds are being budgeted for two dynamic speed signs to be placed on Taunton Boulevard.”

“The county will also be paying for a portion of the signs and installing same,” she added.

“Police continue to run enforcement details.”

In regards to the issue Mooney is facing on Union Street, which is a municipal street, the resident said he is “asking you (council) to act in good faith for the protection of the community at large” and “asking you to protect your neighbors.”

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(Continued from Page 1)

emergency services entity’s officers would be given to sign the document that was formally approved last month by the Woodland committee.

While Township Solicitor William Burns, in announcing on Feb. 15 (along with Mayor William “Billy” DeGroff) that a “firehouse agreement” had been reached between the two parties, stated that “inclusive” of it is that “we are purchasing items that are critical for the health and safety of the township,” on behalf of Woodland Fire and EMS, including a Lucas device (chest compression system) and Stryker power stretcher to “protect our first responders while loading and unloading patients,” the written agreement actually contains no promises by the municipality to do so.

Nor is there a written guarantee by the township to purchase the entity a new ambulance and/or fire truck, though Burns on Feb. 15 previously noted that, “There was also significant discussion (during negotiations) on the cost, as well as the terms and conditions associated with the potential purchase of additional safety equipment being a fire truck and ambulance.”

Rather, the township has agreed in writing to increase its quarterly payments to Woodland Fire and EMS, from $60,000 to $75,000, so long as “50 percent of the funds received” are used for the “purchase of fire equipment, materials and supplies.”

“When the fire company proposes to purchase equipment, supplies, or materials that are valued at $5,000 or more, it shall submit a purchase request order to the Woodland Township fire chief prior to any such purchase, for the approval of the fire chief and the township committee,” it is stipulated in the agreement.

Additionally, the township has agreed to provide Woodland Fire and EMS, and its members, with worker’s compensation, auto comprehensive and collision (limited to township-owned vehicles), property and casualty, and public official’s insurance coverage (with Brown noting, in a response to a question, that the firefighters were already covered by worker’s compensation through the municipality’s participation in the Joint Insurance Fund (JIF), and that by being covered, they are still not considered township employees).

“There are no other agreements, promises, warranties or conditions regarding the funding or providing of firefighting and emergency medical services between the township and the fire company other than those set forth in this agreement,” the terms and conditions of the five-year agreement state.

However, despite what is on paper, the Woodland committee still appears poised to potentially provide Woodland Fire and EMS

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with a new ambulance and fire truck, something that DeGroff, along with other municipal officials, has previously contended the entity is need of having, pointing out the fire and EMS company currently doesn’t have a water tender and its ambulance fleet is beyond its useful life.

During the Feb. 23 Woodland committee’s workshop session, DeGroff asked who was “on the call.” After learning that no members of the public were attending the workshop session, the mayor revealed, “The firehouse is looking at a tender.”

Brown, however, interrupted DeGroff, reminding him the session was “being recorded.”

Please join us for A regular meeting of the Woodland In-Person Services committee immediately followed the Feb. 23 18 Mill St. workshop session it held, in which resident Vincentown, NJ 08088 8:15 am | 9:30 am | Terry Sheerin asked during public comment 11:00 am | or via Worship: Sundays 10 a.m. if any new fire truck acquired would either Facebook Live be a “tanker or ladder truck.” follow us on 609-859-2299 facebook.com/MedfordUMC “I think they have identified several Transportation Available different apparatuses,” Burns replied.

Call 609-859-2883 “One of the apparatuses the fire company is looking at would be a tanker, the other would be a tender, and the other would be 2 Hartford Road | Medford NJ 08055 medfordumc.org | 609/654-8111 more of an attack truck.” info@medfordumc.org Burns, in the March 15 interview with this newspaper, who is now, as of this week, I Am That I Am with the law firm, Kalavruzos, Mumola, Hartman, Lento & Duff, LLC, charged Ministries, Inc. with overseeing its Toms River location All Are Welcome! (the Woodland committee, after emerging Sunday Worship Se ervice at 11:30 a.m. from its Feb. 15 executive session, not only Pastors Florence and announced the agreement had been arrived Russell Webberr at, but also approved a motion allowing 50 Burrs Mill Roadd, Burns to remain in his township post while Southampton, NJ 08088 affiliated with the new law firm), explained 609 - 847- 4848 that while the purchase of a new ambulance www.iamthatiamministriesinnc.com and fire truck is not contained within the Bible Sttudy provisions of the agreement, “the equipment m.

7 p.m is either going to be directly purchased Wednessday by the fire department or it is going to be purchased directly by the township.”

“So, it doesn’t need to go in any agreement because it would just be a direct purchase from one or the other,” said Burns, pointing She noted that there had been a request from about Brown’s statement, clarified, “That is out the title of any new vehicles would belong not what is happening.” the university for the Woodland committee to the municipality.

“What is happening is they have earmarked to waive a $250 application fee.

Howeve r, t he mu n i c ip a l s ol i c itor the funds received from parade permits and “Especially now, since (you are) turning recognized that $75,000 quarterly payments such, and they are still going into the general all the (parade permit application) funds to Woodland Fire and EMS is probably budget, but it is being used to offset the increase over to the fire department, and it is not not going to get the entity “very far” in in contributions to the fire department – the revenue to the township, it is a donation to purchasing an ambulance or fire truck, $75,000,” said Burns in further clarifying the the fire department – if you don’t want to given the high cost of such vehicles (with township clerk’s remarks. waive it you, you don’t have to,” advised new fire trucks now running as much as He emphasized “the fire department” Brown to the township committee. $900,000 or higher), and thus it would be is “not getting $75,000 ‘plus.’” Use of the Though the written agreement also makes reliant on additional municipal support to word “donation” by Brown was incorrect, no mention of parade permit fees being make such purchases. Something like that the township solicitor acknowledged. turned over to Woodland Fire and EMS power stretcher, he added, probably could be The Pine Barrens Tribune previously as a donation, the township committee purchased with the funds the municipality reported that Viscardi stated during an sought more information on whether provides to the entity.

October 2019 Woodland committee meeting the organization requesting the waiver is Brown, during the Feb. 23 workshop that “five to six actual members are left of considered a non-profit entity because it did s e s sion, not e d she had re c eive d a n local volunteers.” not want to make an exception otherwise application from an organization affiliated Then, as also previously reported by this because of how it would impact the township’s with Stockton University for a township newspaper, “most, if not all” the members ability to donate the application fee. parade permit, which would give permission See AGREEMENT/ Page 13 to the university to hold an upcoming event.

Burns, however, when asked on March 15

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AGREEMENT (Continued from Page 11)

of Woodland Fire and EMS resigned from the entity (though at least some have since rescinded their resignations) during the Fourth of July 2021 holiday weekend, which led to the discussions of creating an agreement between the municipality and Woodland Fire and EMS after Woodland became reliant on mutual aid for a time, leaving residents concerned given the proximity of surrounding communities’ firehouses and EMS stations.

Following the summertime incident, a “membership drive” was then held in which it was subsequently announced that three new members were recruited to join Woodland Fire and EMS. “How many (members) currently exist in the fire company,” asked Sheerin during the Feb. 23 regular Woodland committee meeting. “I know we had three going through the academy. Is there a date when they will graduate so they will be able to help the department out?”

DeGroff replied that he “wished Shawn (Viscardi) was here (attending the meeting),” but that, “I believe one of them (the new recruits) dropped out.”

Deputy Mayor Mark Herndon then c on fi r me d , “O ne of t he m defi n it ely

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(Continued from Page 4) draft ordinance that Burger asked council to introduce during its Feb. 1 session, indicating its passage was emergent because she was “short nine officers.”

The draft ordinance, according to an explanation of it appearing on the municipality’s website, adds or deletes items that are “mainly related to certifications and requirements for consideration of hiring of paid personnel.”

In further explaining the purpose of

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dropped out.”

“It is like a constant change in the numbers – the membership,” DeGroff added. “I do believe one did drop out, but they seem to be making the calls. And Shawn seems to be happy with the progress, and we are happy with the progress of the fire department and EMS.” According to the agreement, “the fire company, and its members, while engaged in firefighting and emergency services and other activities, shall be under the direction, sup er v ision and control of the duly authorized officers or officials designated by the township” and the “fire company agrees to expend its best efforts rendering emergency services to the township.”

Additionally, it states “all firefighting materials, supplies and vehicles shall be the sole property of the township.”

“In the event that the fire company dissolves, or at any time is no longer capable of providing firefighting or emergency medical services, any and all interest the fire company may have in land or property shall be transferred to the township,” it is noted in agreement.

The agreement, according to another stipulation in it, can be “terminated by either party, at any time, with or without cause,” upon 30 days’ written notice by either the township or fire chief of the fire company.

In the event the fire company is the one to terminate the agreement by giving 30

days’ notice, “it shall continue to provide firefighting and emergency medical services to the township pursuant to the terms of this agreement up to an additional 120 days after the township’s receipt of notice of termination from the fire company.”

The new agreement can be renewed for an additional five-year term in writing, and if there is no intent to renew it, it shall remain in effect, according to another clause, until the township’s budget for the following fiscal year is adopted.

Last year’s mass resignations also led to questions being asked about the entity’s finances.

Herndon ultimately noted Woodland Fire and EMS needed a bookkeeper, with the township committee this past January deciding to have an audit of the entity performed, with Burns claiming it was being done to ensure compliance with the state and federal regulations surrounding Coronavirus pandemic funds, along with others.

But the new agreement stipulates that it is “specifically understood and agreed by the parties that the township may conduct an audit of the fire company, performed by an auditor of the township’s choosing, at the township’s cost.”

“The fire company will fully comply with the audit and provide any and all requested documents,” it is further stipulated in the agreement.

Additionally, the agreement requires of the fire and EMS company to “submit monthly financial statements” to the township clerk “no later than 7 days prior to the township’s monthly meetings,” and to provide the municipality with a copy of its annual “IRS Form 990 or Charitable Organizational Financial Statement” filed with the federal government.

“The fire company shall provide the tow nsh ip w ith a c omplet e fi nanc ial statement of the previous year’s finances at the township’s January monthly meetings,” states another provision of the agreement.

Viscardi, according to a Facebook posting from the Joint Base Mcguire-Dix-Lakehurst (JBMDL) Fire Department, retired in February from his regular full-time job with the federal agency.

He was publicly thanked in the online posting by the JBMDL fire department for his “outstanding dedication” from “February 2002 to February 2022,” with a notation that “he will be missed.” The Feb. 28 posting solicited some 73 comments of congratulations, including from Jerry Conaty, tasked by the Woodland committee with performing this year’s fire company audit “not to exceed $7,500.”

Viscardi, for now, apparently still remains in his volunteer capacity for Woodland with his name still listed on township meeting agendas for serving as municipal fire chief.

the draft ordinance, Burger said there is currently no lieutenant in the department, following Dovi’s promotion, and she would like to “make a deputy chief” post.

“There are new hires happening, and this will help facilitate that,” said Watson in his explanation of the measure, prior to Parker’s remarks.

But after the former fire chief spoke, members of council, along with Township Solicitor Timothy Prime, voiced their confusion about the concern they heard, esp ecially sinc e the draft ordinanc e apparently contained a stipulation that one “still has to be active with Medford Fire for

two years” before being considered for any township career firefighting position.

Burger, however, pointed to another portion of the apparent provision referencing a state statute, which enables the township to hire someone for a career position who worked for “another (fire or ems department) or has prior fire and EMS experience.”

“Why don’t we hold this (ordinance), mayor,” Prime said. “I know you (Burger) want to get this done, but we have to straighten this out.”

Czekay asserted that he believed a “restriction” should be added to the ordinance to offer any career positions to “volunteers

first, assuming they meet the criteria.”

Watson, however, replied that he believed Burger’s “point” is that the township’s current volunteers, “which I am not aware of who, or how, don’t meet the criteria.”

Burger confir med that the mayor’s summary was “correct.”

“Do we offer them training to meet the criteria?” Czekay asked.

The Medford manager replied that the “problem” is that the township “does not know when the classes will be held” or if the volunteer firefighters will pass them.

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AUCTION

(Continued from Page 6) “item number 16” on the Bass River school board’s March 16 agenda, “a resolution to accept the highest bid.” Carol Bitzberger seconded William’s motion.

“That is a motion to table it until the board’s next regular meeting of May 3,” noted Stephen Edelstein, a solicitor representing the Bass River school board in the absence of its regular attorney, Paul Kalac.

The motion was then approved by Williams and Bitzberger, as well as School Board Vice President Kevin Foder, who was leading the meeting in the absence of School Board President Bonnie Adams.

According to the draft resolution published on an agenda distributed to the meeting attendees, “when the auction closed on or about March 11, 2022, Eli Blech (‘Mr. Blech’), of Lakewood, New Jersey, was the highest bidder for the Bass River Elementary School Property, with a final bid of $757,500.”

The draft resolution contained a statement, “the board wishes to accept Mr. Blech’s final bid of $757,500.”

“Respectfully, the board, at the advice of counsel, won’t comment on the sale of the school building tonight because that item was tabled,” Business Administrator Nick Brown declared.

Williams, during board forum, in thanking “residents for coming out concerned about the sale of the building,” maintained that there “are things we have to resolve” and “things we have to do.”

This newspaper previously reported that a group of residents recently approached the Bass River Board of Commissioners about authorizing Bass River Township to purchase the school building, believing it is “quite an

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(Continued from Page 13) answer EMS calls if I don’t have EMTs!” Burger declared.

Czekay, however, in further pressing the issue, asked if anyone who is currently qualified for the paid positions have had “the opportunity” to go to the classes when they are offered.

“Some of these people had years to attend it!” quipped Burger in reply, with Czekay, reacting to the town manager’s response, pointing out he was simply asking a question.

Burger said she would be happy to “discuss

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asset for the town to have.”

Since that time, as noted in previous published accounts by this newspaper, the commissioners have maintained they have been waiting over a year for answers to questions they claim they previously asked of school officials regarding the remediation of purported environmental issues on the school property.

But Brown, upon reading this newspaper’s report on the commissioners’ claims, has contended they were previously provided with a “binder” containing that information, in addition to claiming what was said by the township governing body was “not accurate.”

At a Bass River Board of Commissioners meeting earlier this month, Mayor Deborah Buzby-Cope revealed that she has since spoken to Brown and that the township would be putting everything in writing, but indicated there would be further dialogue with the school district. It was also noted that Commissioner Nicholas Capriglione had resent questions at the request of Brown, who said last month that the “door is not shut” and that “if anything comes up, we will talk to them (the commissioners).”

When Buzby-Cope earlier this month was asked point-blank by Foder if the township was interested in purchasing the school, she replied that it depended on what the anticipated answers from school officials would reveal is the extent of any required remediation.

“I am pleased to see the board has tabled the selling of the school until you find out more information,” said Resident Leo Assur to the Bass River school board and its professionals on March 15. “I think it is a good idea so that the town may possibly be able to do something with the school instead of selling it to a third party.”

Since the beginning of the year, the Bass River school board has had a vacancy.

The Bass River school board intended to fill it last month, but had received no

applications.

After re-advertising for the opening, the Bass River school board reportedly received only one application from Karl Swanseen.

The Bass River school board interviewed Swanseen briefly, and after a two-minute executive session, he was appointed to the board.

Given the timing of the appointment later in the March 16 session, Swanseen did not have an opportunity to vote on the motion to table the sale of the school building, but based on the motion’s approval, will now have a say in any future decision regarding the sale of the school.

Brown announced on March 16 that the Bass River school board has “four candidates” for the post of business administrator, which he intends to vacate in May after the Pinelands Regional Board of Education controversially terminated in January a shared services agreement for business office services with the Bass River Township School District, with Brown later contending it was the result of tragic events in his personal life.

Dur ing the Bass River school board’s March 16 session, the business administrator called the applicants for his position “interesting” and noted that, in his “cursory review,” he was “pleased with the qualifications of those candidates.”

“I just want to encourage the board, in the interest of time, to make it a priority in the next couple of weeks to schedule interviews and make a selection from those candidates so you can appoint somebody to take over this role on May 3,” Brown said.

Both he and Assistant Business Administrator Jonathan Yates (the latter leaving as well when the termination officially commences), also employees of the Little Egg Harbor School District where Bass River students now attend through a send-receive relationship, noted that they have prepared a preliminary 2022-23 school year, $1.9 million general fund budget for the

the issue further under ‘personnel’ in executive session,” with Watson noting he “doesn’t have a problem” with council moving forward to introduce the draft ordinance.

“That’s fine,” Burger asserted. “But I don’t see any language that needs to be clarified!”

The draft ordinance was unanimously introduced, with Watson noting a second reading and public hearing would take place on Feb. 15. However, council’s Feb. 15, March 1 and March 15 sessions came and went without the measure appearing on the agenda for a second reading and public hearing.

Meeting minutes for the Feb. 1 executive session have since been released by Medford council, with a number of things recorded as being said during the closed session, revolving

around “personnel,” redacted (blackened out).

Burger, in a March 15 email to this newspaper, when asked for a status update on the ordinance at issue, replied, “It has not been decided when the draft ordinance will be added to an agenda.”

When asked just how many firefighters and EMTs Medford Fire and EMS is short, the Medford manager replied, “The township is currently in the process of hiring for two firefighters and at least one EMT.” “The firefighters are being hired outside of the township,” Burger confirmed. “There were no firefighters within the township who met the qualifications.”

What those qualifications are wasn’t immediately clear.

Photo By Douglas D. Melegari

Karl Swanseen is appointed on March 16 to fill a vacancy on the Bass River Board of Education, with the timing now giving him the opportunity to decide any future transaction of the school property.

Photo By Douglas D. Melegari

Assistant Business Administrator Jonathan Yates (left) and Business Administrator Nick Brown, who intend to leave their posts with the Bass River Township School District in May. Bass River district that “responsibly” includes the operating costs for the former school since a sale hasn’t gone through yet, but that should such a transaction occur relatively soon, there will likely be a sizable surplus “next year, delivered back to residents.”

Late last year, the then-council passed an ordinance that now requires township firefighters to have “EMT certification,” in addition to “increasing the number of firefighters in the event the township is approved for a grant.”

“If we are short an EMT on an (ambulance) rig, we can substitute with a firefighter,” said Burger on Dec. 7, 2021, of the primary reason for the municipality now requiring the certification.

However, over the last few months, a number of “volunteers” having been approved by council to ser ve on the township’s EMS squad, including one person on March 1 and four people on March 15.

Saturday, March 19, 2022

CANNABIS

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(Continued from Page 5)

that “cannabis use is likely to increase the risk of developing schizophrenia and other psychosis,” with “the higher the use, the greater the risk.”

He then recounted how last summer, while he was eating a take-out lunch in his car in the parking lot of the Olympus Apartments in Marlton, he had observed two young men talking next to a pickup truck, and that one had approached him and asked if he was interested in solar energy. When he replied that he supported it, but couldn’t use it, the conversation had turned to other topics, such as local politics, in which the young man said he would like to become involved.

When Warga mentioned that he was going to a township council meeting, where cannabis had been discussed, and that while he supported medical marijuana, he opposed the sale of recreational cannabis to the general public, the young man, who gave his name as Thomas Pierson (later identified as a solar energy salesman and book author), asked why, and Warga had replied that he had researched the subject and found that the use of high-potency cannabis could result in a certain percentage of users engaging in “violent, psychotic behavior.”

According to Warga, when Pierson responded that he both supported retail cannabis and used it, “I asked him what potency he used, and was utterly shocked when I heard his reply,” which Warga claimed was that the cannabis he used contained “90 percent THC” (the main psychoactive compound in cannabis that produces a “high”).

At the time, Warga said, he had never heard of cannabis with such “ultra-high potency.”

Upon researching it, however, he found it “does exist, but not in plant form, which generally goes no higher than 25 percent.

Warga described it as “a very new version of cannabis,” an extract or concentrate form only available in the last 20 years.

“I thought to myself, ‘Oh no, this young man is playing with fire—he is a ticking time bomb if the medical reports I’ve read are true,” Warga said.

Warga added he never again encountered Pierson but recognized his name as the victim in a “violent, bloody homicide right here in Marlton at the Olympus Apartments on Feb. 5,” (for which Pierson’s friend, Donovan Hollingsworth, was charged after also having allegedly stabbed Pierson’s dog, Django, to death in a stairwell, and reportedly claimed the fatal altercation was over marijuana).

It was at that point in Warga’s narrative that Freeman, an attorney, asked for a “point of order,” noting that “this is an ongoing investigation, not something we should be discussing here at the council meeting,” and when Warga protested that the incident had already been reported in the

media, Freeman responded that “the causes of that incident have not been identified and have not been reported.”

Warga then proceeded to argue with Freeman that what he was relating was “public knowledge” and that he would be glad to talk to anyone who wanted to hear about his encounter with Pierson, to which Freeman replied, “I appreciate your comments concerning the interactions that you had with him, but anything concerning his death or concerning that incident should not be discussed.”

At that point, Veasy entered the discussion by commenting, “Mr. Warga, you’re trying to make a correlation that we cannot comment on,” and when Warga replied he was merely stating his opinion and didn’t know all the details or “what the autopsy showed,” the mayor said that in any event, his time was up, and that he had only 20 seconds left.

Warga then insisted on using those seconds to express the hope that “somebody here will help support this minority group (of people who may be badly affected by cannabis), because they need your help and they should not be ignored.”

But that wasn’t his last word on the topic, because later on, during an additional public comment period, he came forward to conclude his remarks by pointing out that “this is not a court of law, this is a public open township meeting,” and said he hoped he would be allowed to speak for five minutes without being stopped “because of some legal technicality.” He went on to maintain that he should be able to provide “any anecdotal evidence I want,” which is “based on a true experience I had in one conversation” and would be “glad to talk to any policeman or detective to give them any information they want to help resolve this violent crime.”

Wa rg a c onclude d h i s p ole m i c by contending that the ultra-potent versions of marijuana now available, which are referred to by terms like “shatter” or “the crack cocaine of cannabis” can provide “a much higher high, much faster high and a much longer high,” and in further warning about its potential effects, declared, “You haven’t even seen the worst … wait till the stores open and it is more widely available.”

The three proposed enterprises, if given final approval by both the state and the township, would fill three of the five slots currently open for cannabis retail operations in Evesham under the terms of the ordinance adopted by the council back in August of 2021. Passage of that ordinance followed approval a year earlier of the possession and recreational use of marijuana by New Jersey voters and the passage by the state Legislature of enabling legislation to legalize recreational cannabis and licensing of cannabis businesses, which was signed into law by Democratic Governor Phil Murphy.

A subsequent ordinance adopted by the council last December set licensing fees for enterprises engaged in the cultivation,

manufacturing, wholesaling, retailing, distribution and delivery of cannabis products at $5,500, but allowed that figure to be halved for those designated by the CRC as micro-businesses.

Back in January, the council gave preliminary approval to the first business enabled by those ordinances to apply for permission to open in the township, the Culture Cannabis Club, which plans to establish a cannabis cultivation facility in an industrial zone on Stow Road.

In answering another resident who also said he didn’t consider the proposed location for Rooted of Evesham near Woodstream an “appropriate one,” Cruz pointed out that the supporting resolutions are merely one step, albeit a necessary one, in a complex approval process for any cannabis business that involves meeting both state and local requirements in addition to its just being in a designated zone.

“It is not like you can just go and do it,” he said, noting that the planning board review in itself is one that involves an “army of professionals” who are going through things and “testing these different elements.”

Veasy agreed, contending that she appreciated all the feedback from the public, and that all five members of the council “had reviewed the zoning map many times before we even got to the point where we were last August to move forward” and had come up with “a very thoughtful ordinance.”

“We’re hoping that as we deliberate over each cannabis retailer that comes before us, and has to then go to the planning board and has to then go to the state, that each one of those steps gets to the point where it is a cannabis location that is proper for us here in Evesham,” the mayor said.

She added the township is currently in the position of “setting the standard” for towns in the area when it comes to the operation of cannabis enterprises.

While there to try to regain momentum

LOCAL NEWS / FEATURES

♦ Page 15

for establishing restrictions on sober living homes, Ramirez said he also fully supported the people who had showed up to speak out against having a cannabis retailer in the Woodstream neighborhood and opposed the “further degradation” that would bring.

As for his own campaign, he maintained, “We’ve had few updates from township officials.”

“The only change is that those of us who opposed the location of the sober home on Monmouth Green, including myself, have been the target of police questioning and are fearful of being wrongly accused of the vandalism that occurred there,” Ramirez said. “This is in addition to being demonized on social media by our own neighbors who have different opinions.”

Ramirez then asked that a series of community meetings be set up to talk through such matters as whether Egg Harbor City’s ordinance regarding sober living facilities can be replicated for Evesham, as well as to have Corrales update residents on the review he had previously indicated he would undertake of possible ways to regulate them.

“This is promising, but again no specifics or timelines are ever provided, so I am not sure if this is just said to shut me up and my neighbors up in hopes that we will give up and go away,” he remarked. “This is not an unreasonable request. You asked that we hold you accountable, and this will allow for that.”

Addressing his remarks at the end of the meeting, Veasy maintained that “planning and figuring out how things fit into our community … can take a lot of time,“ particularly when it involves land use and changes in the master plan, and that “it is not that easy to take one planning element from one town and put it into another town.”

But the mayor added that she wished to encourage the idea of holding a community meeting on the subject, and that the township “should get that on the books.”

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