Pine Barrens Tribune March 2, 2024-March 8, 2024

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ANOTHER BELOVED LOCAL EATERY IS FACED WITH BEING REPLACED

The Medport, a Decades-Old Eating and Gathering Venue for Residents of Medford and Neighboring Municipalities, Is the Latest Such Landmark to Be Threatened with Extinction, Much to Its Customers’ Consternation —Only Now by a Plan to Raze and Replace It with a Chipotle Mexican Grill

By Bill Bonvie Staff Writer

Photo Provided By Google

MEDFORD—The Medport Diner off Route 70 in Medford Township could be the poster child for the kind of eatery that everybody loves but is now threatened with extinction—only this time to make room for another small-box fast-food establishment of the type that is increasingly being cloned throughout the country.

To a Pine Barrens Tribune reporter on a visit to the diner on a rainy Tuesday evening, it soon became apparent why this four-decade old local landmark enjoys such popularity among area residents, and why so many of them are now distressed enough at the prospect of its demise that hundreds have already signed an online petition aimed at somehow keeping the diner from being replaced by a Chipotle Mexican Grill, along with a couple of yet to-be-identified retail outlets in a small proposed strip center.

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LOCAL NEWS / FEATURES

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Pemberton Business Administrator ‘Limitedly’ Breaks His Silence on How He, Pemberton Police Handled Allegation Against Mayor Administrator Now Responds That Reporting Parties Declined to Come Forward After Rec Director Charges in Suit That When She Reported Allegation That Mayor Made Advances Towards Minor, to Her ‘Disappointment, No Action Was Takenʼ NEW PATIENT

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Pemberton Township Mayor Jack Tompkins (left) and Business Administrator Daniel Hornickel (right).

By Douglas D. M elegari Staff Writer

PEMBERTON—Pemberton Township Business Adm inistrator and Polic e Director Daniel Hornickel has now “limitedly” broken his silence on a claim in a lawsuit recently filed by Recreation Director Nichole Pittman charging that she had reported last July an alleged incident of “inappropriate sexual advances”

by Republican Mayor Jack Tompkins towards a “minor” employee working for her department (a purported incident that had been relayed to her), but that to her “disappointment, no action was taken.”

“My top priority is and always has been to look out for the best interests of Pemberton Township, its residents and its employees,” wrote Hornickel to this newspaper on Feb. 23 in responding to this newspaper’s coverage last week of the lawsuit and investigation, which both commenced this past December.

“Allegations of misconduct brought to me are immediately addressed, and all the more urgently where a minor is involved.”

Hornickel said that it was on July 19, 2023, when Pittman “visited my office to report an alleged interaction between the mayor and a minor member of Ms. Pittman’s seasonal staff, that purportedly transpired at a worksite on July 14, 2023.”

“The minor’s mother, also a township employee, reported the incident on behalf of her daughter,” Hornickel explained. “Upon hearing her report, I directed Ms. Pittman to provide me with a written report. Upon receipt of same, I immediately brought it to the Police Department.”

The police, according to Hornickel, “initiated an administrative investigation, per established policy.”

“The employee and her minor daughter declined to participate in the investigation

and no w itnesses came for ward to provide information about the report,” Hornickel said. “In due course, the Police Department closed the matter.”

Hornickel (who was brought back to the administrator’s post by Tompkins in 2023 after having reportedly been let go by previous Democratic Mayor David Patriarca following an election loss in November 2022) maintained to this newspaper on Feb. 23 that the “mayor was not privy to any of this.”

“At all times, Pemberton Township Administration and the Police Department promptly and diligently followed established policy,” he said. “Beyond that, we are not able to comment on the active litigation and look forward to its resolution.”

Hornickel’s statement to the Pine Barrens Tribune came just mere hours after a story was published by the newspaper about the allegations and lawsuit (which includes additional sexual harassment and inappropriate behavior allegations against the current mayor), as well as an ensuing, ongoing investigation ordered by council.

Pittman, in the suit, alleges, in part, an “employee, on behalf of her minor daughter, who was also an employee of Defendant Pemberton’s concession stand,” reported that “Defendant Tompkins made inappropriate sexual advances to her minor daughter and asked her to take a ride with him to a private beach to be alone.”

On July 19, Pittman wrote to Hornickel and the township Human Resources official that, “On Friday, July 14, it was brought to my attention that our seasonal employee (redacted) had an encounter with Mayor Thompkins (sic) on Thursday, July 13. Mayor Tompkins apparently stated inappropriate comments during his visit to the concession stand. Mayor Tompkins also

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LOCAL NEWS / FEATURES ♦ Page 3

New Pinelands Regional Board Member Stephanie Johnson Named as Both Subject, Source of Complaints Made to School Ethics Panel Administrators Cite Profane Remarks She Reportedly Made After Meeting While She Accuses Board President Bonicky of Harassing, Intimidating Her

Pinelands Regional Board Member Stephanie Johnson.

By Bill Bonvie Staff Writer

LITTLE EGG HARBOR— A formal complaint containing several allegations of misconduct against a newly elected member of the Pinelands Regional Board of Education has been filed by the district’s two top administrative officials with the New

Photo By Nick Weissman

Jersey School Ethics Commission, following complaints filed with the commission by the same board member against the president and vice president of the board.

The submission of the “school ethics complaint” against Board Member See ETHICS/ Page 8

Officials Optimistic Browns Mills Shopping Center Construction Will Start This Summer, After Soil Contamination Remediated, Certificate of Filing Application Filed with Pinelands Commission Developer Trying for Fast-Food Restaurant and Grocery Store, Official Discloses; Separate Project Downtown Reportedly Draws Interest from ‘National Retailer’

By Douglas D. M elegari Staff Writer

PEMBERTON—Soil contamination at the dilapidated Browns Mills Shopping Center has purportedly been remediated, and construction on a new center could begin as early as this summer, Pemberton Township GOP Mayor Jack Tompkins and Business Administrator Daniel Hornickel, maintained during a trio of Pemberton Township Council meetings on Jan. 17, Feb. 8, and Feb. 22.

The revelations came amid public pressure for the township to finally develop the center (after almost three-decades have passed since an initial effort to do so), and pleas from locals being hit hard by inflation for there to be a second grocery store option in town (with the latest rendition for the planned redevelopment including plans for a grocery store).

“We are working very diligently with New Horizons, which is redeveloping the old Acme Plaza or Browns Mills Shopping Center,” Tompkins told a concerned resident on Feb. 22, after that resident presented a long list of described needs for the municipality, including Amenities and Shopping Options. “The developer went in, found out there had been a dry

cleaner there and there was chemical contamination. They tested it. There was very little there, but there was still a trace of it. So, they knocked three buildings down so that they could scoop that soil out and put in new, fresh soil that wasn’t contaminated.”

Democratic Council President Paul Detrick, in the wake of council facing an indignant resident during its Feb. 8 session about the lack of progress to redevelop the center, among other lots, responded that “with respect to the old Acme shopping center, the point is we have a developer, under contract, who is working.”

“They had some contamination, and they had to worry about some remediation, and that place has been ripped down and is OK now,” said Detrick of the three buildings torn down. “Next year, we should see a lot of progress there.”

Hornickel, during that session, after Detrick spoke out, added, “Hopefully, by summer,” and then reported that the project is “pending a filing with the Pinelands Commission to be redeveloped.”

“They submitted to the Pinelands Commission at the end of November, and See CONSTRUCTION/ Page 10

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LOCAL NEWS / FEATURES

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Councilwoman Calls for ‘Rehabilitation Standards’ in Pemberton Boro Following Purported Instances of Blowing Paint Chips, Downed Wires Council, However, Decides to First Have Municipal Solicitor Review Codebook to See if Municipality Already Has ‘Tools’ at Its Disposal to Handle Such Matters

By Douglas D. M elegari Staff Writer

PEMBERTON BOROUGH—The recent, and in some cases, ongoing rehabilitation of some properties in Pemberton Borough has led a borough councilwoman to call for the development of “rehabilitation standards” in the municipal code to address safety, waste removal and aesthetics during such projects.

“There has been a lot of rehabbing going on in Pemberton Borough, as everyone is aware, and all to the good,” said Councilwoman Diane Fanucci during a Feb. 20 Pemberton Borough Council session. “However, there has been lots of rehabbers who don’t ‘contain the mess,’ and it goes into other people’s properties, in the street, and could be, in some cases, unsafe.”

At one recent project site, downed wires were left behind following purported rehabilitation work, Fanucci said, with the wires “down on the ground and sidewalk.”

“They weren’t electrical lines, but cable lines that a child could have yanked on, and could have pulled down the electrical wire, which would not have been a good outcome,” Fanucci said.

The counci lwoman recounted an episode where material was removed from the side of a house being rehabbed and particles “went everywhere,” including on properties that are on the other side of the street. A resident complained about the circumstances, she maintained.

“I have been bringing it up for a long time now, but we need some kind of standard for any kind of a rehab, whether it be done by a company or private individual, so all of it is contained,” Fanucci contended. “One of the most glaring examples was, of course, the sandblasting of the paint on the Baptist church, and there are still paint chips on the ground everywhere, and that have gone into the storm sewers.”

Fanucci, in describing another instance where a dumpster was brought in for a project site, contended that when the rehabbers were finished, they “left trash all over the place” and “didn’t finish cleaning it up.” Any standards,

www.pinebarrenstribune.com

she contended, should address “anything flying around” as that “could be dangerous.”

“As far as I am concerned, most properties should be temporarily fenced in for liability safety for the borough – just in case, because you never know,” Fanucci declared.

The councilwoman made a motion to “create an ordinance to create standards for rehabbing properties in the borough.”

Council President Terry Jerome, however, inquired if the borough code already has standards in it for rehabilitation, possibly any that come down from the state Department of Community Affairs (DCA).

Boroug h Sol ic itor Dav id S erl i n responded that any standards would come from the municipality, but that as far as what the current municipal code dictates for rehabilitations, if there is anything, “I have not looked at in a long time.”

But in pointing to the issues that Fanucci described, Serlin contended, “It sounds as if it is an enforcement issue.”

“Certainly, I could speak to the code enforcement person to see what he recommends, because he is dealing with it daily,” said Serlin, adding he is certain any complaints that have been received, have been investigated by code enforcement, and noting that the types of issues raised could be considered simply a “nuisance” under municipal code, which the borough already has the ability to address.

Fanucci, who disputed the notion that such issues merely amount to a “nuisance,” maintained she looked back at the ordinances and code language available on the borough’s website, dated as far back as 2010, and didn’t see anything addressing rehabilitation or titled “nuisance,” but does not know if something setting rehabilitation standards were adopted before that time. She noted she is not claiming that complaints haven’t been investigated, but that her mission entails “stopping it from starting.”

“I know when he (the code enforcement officer) was made aware, he went out and talked to the people and the issues were taken See STANDARDS/ Page 10

@PineBarrensNews

Saturday, March 2, 2024

Pemberton Mayor’s Zoning Board Choice Shot Down in Bipartisan, Unanimous Council Vote, But Not Before He Strongly Pushes Back Republicans and Democrats Come Together to Question Why Mayor Is Not Moving Up Alternates or Reappointing Individual on Board for Three Years

By Douglas D. M elegari Staff Writer

PEMBERTON— GOP Mayor Jack Tompkins’ choice for the Pemberton Township Zoning Board was shot down in a bipartisan, unanimous vote during a Feb. 22 council session.

Tompkins, as he did a couple sessions ago, moved to appoint resident James Boland to the township Zoning Board on Feb. 22. But the mayor’s appointments require council consent before they become official.

As was the case previously, members of council questioned why Lise Mainor, who has been on the Zoning Board and term expired on Dec. 31, 2023, as well as current alternate Rachel Delgado-Simmons, as well as another alternate, Scott Leonard, are not the first in line for the mayor’s appointments to fill two vacancies, given they already have experience on the board and have been active participants in the meetings.

“Going along with what Councilwoman (Elisabeth) McCartney said last time, Lise Mainor and Rachel Delgado-Simmons have been on the board for a while, so why are you coming in and putting Mr. Boland in there as a permanent member, and not an alternate?” asked Democratic Councilman Donovan Gardner, with there also an open alternative seat. “I for one have been on council for eight years, and personally I would not recommend James Boland to be on the zoning board, just from the way he treats the office staff and has conducted himself in here.”

Boland, as previously reported by this newspaper, got into several clashes with the council when it was under absoluteDemocratic control.

“For me, personally, I don’t think he is a good fit,” Gardner continued. “And plus, these two other members who have been on here for a while, why let them wait again?

They want to serve, especially Lise (Mainor).”

But the issue, it turned out, despite some of what Gardner had to say, is not even a matter along party lines.

Republican Councilman Dan Dewey

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declared that he doesn’t believe it is fair for two alternates, who have been in their positions for over two years, to not be moved up to the regular voting member slots, in also pointing out Mainor held her seat for the last three years.

If Tompkins wants Boland to serve, Dewey contended, he should be appointed to the open alternate slot, first.

“It’s the fair thing to do,” Dewey declared.

Democratic Council President Paul Detrick said his “concern” is that the last time Tompkins attempted to appoint Boland, the resolution doing so listed three names to fill the vacancies, but now, before the council on Feb. 22, is a resolution just listing Boland.

“We have, I think, three vacancies,” Detrick said. “Why are we only doing one this time? I don’t want to leave the zoning board short.”

But Tompkins replied, “The zoning board is short (members),” pointing out the public body had to cancel a meeting in February because, “It didn’t have a quorum.”

“They couldn’t even open the meeting because they didn’t have a quorum,” Tompkins emphasized.

The mayor maintained that the reason the resolution only lists Boland’s name is because the day after the initial resolution was “denied” by council (the resolution died for lack of motion), he left for vacation and since returning, he has “not had a chance to talk to the other individuals.”

“That is the primary reason Mr. Boland is on the list tonight,” Tompkins said. “I am hoping to reach out to the other two individuals later on and get them on (the agenda) for the next council meeting to be appointed.”

Tompkins further maintained in a “blunt” manner, as he put it, “It is the mayor’s appointment with consent.”

“It is not council’s appointment!” the mayor declared. “It is my authority to appoint!”

But Gardner, who has gotten into past clashes with Tompkins, retorted, “Right, See ZONING/ Page 7

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Plan to Rehabilitate Jones Farm Storage Barn ‘Dies for Lack of Motion’ with Pemberton Council, in Bipartisan Decision, Instead Rejecting Bids

By Douglas D. M elegari Staff Writer

PEMBERTON—A plan devised by the administration of Republican Pemberton Township Mayor Jack Tompkins to rehabilitate, following a fire, the red-colored Jones Farm Storage Barn that is used by the Sewer and Water divisions of the Public Works Department, is officially dead it appears, after continued public pushback and a unanimous, bipartisan set of Feb. 22 decisions of Pemberton Township Council.

A resolution, carried from a fiery Jan. 17 session, to award a $194,422 contract to Joseph Porretta Builders, Inc., for roof reconstruction of the barn at 151 Fort Dix Road, died for a lack of motion, failing to garner support from any of the three Democrats and two Republicans on the five-member council.

But before it died, however, a resident asserted in seeing the resolution’s reappearance on a council agenda, “I am confused, I thought we were going to table it and find a better way to spend our insurance money!”

During the Jan. 17 session, several farmers had slammed the proposal, contending a new barn could be built for significantly less money, and maintaining that the height of the roof would not allow for vehicles to pass through easily.

B u s i n e s s Ad m i n i s t r a t o r D a n i e l

Hornickel had previously explained that the planned work not only would include roof repairs, but efforts to raise the height of one door to allow work vehicles to get into the barn, used to store piping and materials for the division, once part of the now-defunct Pemberton Township Municipal Utilities Authority (PTMUA).

Hornickel, in response to the pushback, had also maintained that the township has to use certain contractors to be in compliance with state law.

On Feb. 22, instead of council approving the contract, it approved a second resolution on its agenda, or one that “rejects all bids for Contract No. PT-13-2023 seeking (a) contractor for barn renovations.”

The rejection was unanimous.

When some councilmembers previously raised the prospect of a steel building as an alternative, Hornickel listed a number of reasons that it may not be practical (as detailed in a previous story in the Pine Barrens Tribune), including that it may not be capable of holding solar panels, is suspectable to damage from tossed rocks and may jeopardize the insurance claim payout.

When Democratic Councilwoman Elisabeth McCartney asked Hornickel on Feb. 22 what is the plan now for the barn, in light of the contract not being awarded to Joseph Porretta Builders, Hornickel replied, “We would issue a bid for a steel building – a pole barn.”

Pemberton Twp. Reaches $42K Settlement with NJDEP Over Violations at the Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant, Now Believed Resolved

By Douglas D. M elegari Staff Writer

P E M B E RT O N —T h e To w n s h i p of Pemberton has reached a $42,000 settlement with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) for “minor permit violations” involving the municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Pemberton Township Council gave township officials its consent to proceed with the settlement during a Feb. 22 session, with council also approving a second measure “authorizing final closeout of the contract awarded to Allied Construction Group, for the construction of a new aeration piping system, in the total amount of $191,752.50.”

When Republican Councilman Dan Dewey asked if the latter measure was related to the “fine,” Business Administrator Daniel Hornickel responded, “This is the capital improvement that extinguishes a portion of those violations for the high ammonia rates.”

In further explaining the “problem,” Hornickel said the township “had an underground aeration piping system that was faulty.”

“It was never maintained by the former Pemberton Township Municipal Utilities Authority (PTMUA),” Hornickel charged.

“When it rained out there, the whole campus was bubbling because of all the holes in the aeration system piping.”

The business administrator contended that “instead of ripping up the entire Wastewater Treatment Plant, we worked with our engineers to design an overhead solution, which makes it easier to maintain the piping and spot problems.”

“This is the conclusion of that contract,

which installed all the new overhead aeration piping and new bubble diffusers in all the aeration tanks,” Hornickel added.

Democratic Councilman Donovan Gardner noted that if one “wants to see the issues” with the bubbling, there is a video on the YouTube that the township prepared (and previously showed following the controversial dissolution of the PTMUA), and that it shows the “damages” over at the sewer plant.

“Even on a day it was not raining, there was water, between the concrete, just coming up,” Gardner said. “So, this is going to alleviate that problem.”

He added it would also avert one having to dig up the piping to fix an issue.

The rest of the violations not cured by the new aeration system were cured, according to Hornickel, by a UV disinfection system adjustment agreed to by the manufacturer after a “year-long fight” and “trying two or three adjustments that failed.”

“So, we don’t expect to have these violations carrying into the future,” Hornickel declared.

When Democratic Council President Paul Detrick asserted, “We think we may have it right, now,” Hornickel responded, “We may have had a reading over the threshold, but the monthly averages have not exceeded our permit limitations.”

Gardner concluded the matter by wanting to give a “shout out” to the NJDEP, because, as he explained, the agency is supposed to have fined the township “daily” until the problems were fully resolved, but saw that the township was taking corrective action, and stopped, so long as that process was in progress.

Hornickel, in turn, thanked council for approving the contract back in the summer of 2022 to “stem the bleeding.”

LOCAL NEWS / FEATURES ♦ Page 5

PEMBERTON TOWNSHIP

BAGGED LEAF COLLECTION

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2024 COLLECTION DATES LEAVES MUST BE CURBSIDE FIRST DAY OF COLLECTION IN YOUR AREA.

AREA 1 – BEGINNING APRIL 2

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

AREA 2 – BEGINNING APRIL 8

East side of East Lakeshore Drive to North Whitesbogs Road.

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

AREA 3 – BEGINNING APRIL 15

Juliustown Road east to west side of East Lakeshore Drive.

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

AREA 4 – BEGINNING APRIL 22 Lakehurst Road (from Junction Road to Route 70) and Country Lakes.

AREA 5 – BEGINNING APRIL 29 Pemberton Township Municipal Building east to Juliustown Road. This area includes Lakehurst Road (from Juliustown Road to Junction Road), Blueberry Manor, Oak Ridge Estates, Rancocas Lane, Junction Road, Ridgeview Avenue, Mt. Misery Road, Springfield Road, Four Mile Road, and New Lisbon Area.

AREA 6 – BEGINNING MAY 6

Rt. 70, City Line Road, North & South Branch Road, Pasadena Road, Presidential Lakes, and Whispering Pines.

QUESTIONS? – CALL PUBLIC WORKS 609-894-7968 www.pemberton-twp.com

Page 6

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LOCAL NEWS / FEATURES

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Flooring Purchased to Allow Pemberton’s BMIA Building to Reopen by ‘End of March’ with French Drain Installed to Alleviate Leak Issue

By Douglas D. M elegari Staff Writer

PEMBERTON—A flooring proposal was approved during a Feb. 22 Pemberton Township Council meeting that officials hop e w i l l al low the Brow ns Mi l ls I mprove ment A s so c iat ion (BMI A) Building to re-open by the end of March, following an extended closure.

Council, in a 5-0 vote, authorized the purchase of $20,880 worth of flooring from Father & Son Flooring.

The BMIA building was shuttered last October due to reports of the floor buckling and a suspected leak underneath it, though officials at the time did not know the source of the leak.

The project to fix the flooring, as previously reported by this newspaper, was delayed after chaos unfolded at two October council sessions, first with a vote put off due to exceeded capacity in council chambers resulting from another issue, and then because of a council disagreement about taking out a bond to fund this and other projects.

But after swift public backlash, council

ultimately approved the bond during an early November session.

“Public Works is going to do some prep to the floor – they have to do some sealing first,” Business Administrator Daniel Hornickel explained during the Feb. 22 session. “They are also constructing a French drain over at the BMIA building to alleviate some problems we had over there. Then, Father & Son will come in and they will install the flooring.”

Hor nickel added that the chosen laminate “is more resistant to water than the old-style laminate that came apart.”

Democratic Councilman Donovan Gardner asked Hornickel if he had any idea how long the BMIA Building would be closed, to which the business administrator responded, “If council approves this tonight, we hope to re-open it by the end of March.”

The business administrator noted that the township had “blocked off” one from making reservations to use the facility from January to March “because we didn’t have approval” and “were looking at the options.”

Renters Beware: Scammers Purportedly Are Going into Vacant Homes Not Belonging to Them, Changing Locks, Then Fraudulently Leasing Them At Least Two Incidents Occurred in Pemberton Township During February, According to Mayor, in Urging One to Transact with Only Reputable Realtors

By Douglas D. M elegari Staff Writer

PEMBERTON — Re nt er s b ewa re, Pemberton Township GOP Mayor Jack Tompkins is warning.

According to Tompkins during a Feb. 22 Pemberton Township Council meeting, the township has received two “concerning” reports in recent weeks of renters renting what they thought was a home for rent through a legitimate transaction, but in actuality, it turning out to have been a scammer renting them a home that actually doesn’t belong to them.

“There are some folks, who are not very nice people, who are finding empty houses within the town, and they are somehow getting into the houses and changing the locks,” explained Tompkins of how the scam works. “They are going in, cleaning them up a little bit, and then they are

advertising these empty properties for rent.”

Tompkins noted that the scammers are then “getting people to sign leases” and “get their deposit and first month’s rent” via “bankcards,” with the unsuspecting renters reportedly asked to “text” the numbers that are on their cards to an individual.

“It just screams something is not right,” Tompkins declared. “But people think it is a true realtor doing a lease for rental properties.”

The first know n such incident in Pemberton, according to the mayor, occurred about a “week-and-a-half” prior to the Feb. 22 council session, and then a second incident was learned about on the day of the council session.

“So, it is happening,” Tompkins said.

“If you talk to your friends, try to pass the word on that if they are looking for something to rent or lease, to make sure they are using a reputable realtor.”

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Quality of Life Issues Reportedly Being Addressed in Browns Mills with Resident Proclaiming She Is ‘So Happy’ to See It Happening New Police Chief Said to Be Addressing Panhandling, Loitering at Wawa Store While Partnering with Community Development on Neglected Shopping Carts B y D ouglas D. M elegari Staff Writer

PEM BERTON —W h at h a d b e e n described last September as “rampant hom e l e s s n e s s” a nd t h e pu r p or t e d panhandling that came along with it at the Brow ns Mills Wawa store in Pemberton Township has reportedly gotten better, both Republican Mayor Jack Tompkins and a township resident observed during a pair of February Pemberton Township Council meetings.

Tompkins, during a Feb. 8 council session, noted he recently “stopped

by Wawa in Brow ns Mills” and “it has its good days and bad days” with “sometimes” still panhandlers around the premises.

“I had a conversation with the Police Department,” Tompkins proclaimed.

“They did focus on Wawa, and they are continuing to focus on it, to the point that when you are walking into Wawa, you do not have to worry about being asked for spare change and cigarettes.”

The manager who had come to a September council session concerned

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a b ou t t h e s it u a t i o n o f “r a m p a nt homelessness” in and around his store is “real happy,” Tompkins contended.

“He wa s h appy w it h ou r p ol i c e department, and what our town is doing there,” Tompkins declared. “He had high expectations. Things are looking a little bit better in that section of town.”

During a subsequent Feb. 22 council meeting, resident Michelle For man praised newly-installed Police Chief Jonathan Glass for the job he and his department are doing at the Wawa store of concern.

“The police came up there as I pulled in, and everybody fled,” recounted Forman of a recent visit to the store. “You know who I am talking about – the people who aren’t supposed to be loitering.”

Forman maintained that the store manager later told her that he is “‘so happy with Chief Glass – that he is a young police officer, and he really wants to do a good job.’”

“They are helping him so much at the See QUALITY/ Page 13

New Trash Collection Routes to be Unveiled for Pemberton Township with Hauler Now Leasing ‘Newer Trucks’ in Awaiting Brand-New Ones Other Changes Include Bulk Waste Pick-Up Occurring Once Per Week, by Zone; Administrator: Purported Illegal Dumping on Two Roads Reported to State DEP

By Douglas D. M elegari Staff Writer

PEMBERTON—Progress has been made, according to Pemberton Township Business Administrator Daniel Hornickel, to alleviate trash collection issues in the municipality, reportedly primarily oc cu r r i ng as a re su lt of a pr ivate contractor’s failing fleet of aging trucks.

According to Hornickel, a private meeting was held on Feb. 19 between the township and its trash hauler, Seaside Waste.

“As you have probably seen, they have two newer trash trucks now collecting trash in the town,” Hornickel said. “They

are white and say ‘Premiere’ on the side.

Currently, the trash company is leasing them, and they are waiting for the delivery of two brand-new trucks at the end of March, or beginning of April, which will be assigned to Pemberton Township.”

The business administrator previously detailed ongoing negotiations to have some of the contractor’s trucks stored in town and a possible maintenance agreement with the Department of Public Works.

Republican Mayor Jack Tompkins previously announced that the firm is

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Three-Year, $660K Planned Project by Pemberton Administration to Overhaul Pemberton Sports Complex Receives Council Support

By Douglas D. M elegari Staff Writer

PEMBERTON—A plan to overhaul the Pemberton Township Sports Complex on Pemberton-Browns Mills Road has been revealed by the administration of Pemberton Township GOP Mayor Jack Tompkins, with this plan appearing to have bipartisan backing of Pemberton Township Council.

Council, in a 5-0 vote on Feb. 22, authorized the township to apply for grant funding through the New Jersey Department of Com munity Affairs (DCA)’s Local Recreation Improvement Program, to help fund the project at 559 Pemberton-Browns Mills Road.

“We are seeking to re-invest in the fields of the complex,” Business Administrator Daniel Hornickel explained. “The fields themselves are well past their useful lives. In fact, leag ues are hav ing a difficult time attracting teams from out of the township to play there, based on the condition of the fields.”

The local Little League, according to Hornickel, has been “doing its best” to try to maintain the fields, “but it is time for the infields to be dug up and re-done.”

The fencing, he noted, is “damaged” and

“doesn’t look good.”

“It doesn’t represent us well,” Hornickel contended.

The business administrator explained that the township would like to “rehabilitate all the fields over there” at the complex.

“We would like to make improvements to the stormwater drainage,” he said. “We would like to pour some concrete footings for the bleachers over there.”

The project, according to Hornickel, would take about three years to complete and is an “approximately $660,000 investment, which will complement the sports field lighting we are having installed.”

(A s prev iou sly re p or t e d by t h is newspaper, council recently approved a $1.2 million project [heavily reliant on a grant and loan] to enhance the lighting.)

The business administrator noted that the first phase of the project is a nt ic ip at e d to c ost $250,0 0 0, a nd therefore, the township is applying to the DCA for $100,000.

Republican Councilman Joshua Ward, who has built a reputation of being a fiscal conservative on the council with recent decisions and remarks, expressed support for the project.

See COMPLEX/ Page 13

Quartet of Ordinances to Prevent ‘Proliferation of Large Warehouses’ Receives Bipartisan, Unanimous Approval from Pemberton Council Measures Are in Response to Consternation Caused by Warehouse Boom in Town That Led to GOP Sweeping Previous Election, Outcry at Meetings

By Douglas D. M elegari Staff Writer

PEMBERTON—A quartet of ordinances amending various redevelopment plans (or what amounts to previously adopted zoning ordinances) to prevent the “proliferation of large warehouses” in Pemberton Township were passed unanimously by Pemberton Township Council during its Feb. 22 session.

“The idea was to identify and define what usages of warehouses are allowed,” said Republican Councilman Joshua Ward, with the ordinances, in part, breaking down the specific types of warehouses allowed in various parts of the community, as opposed to just a general warehouse definition. “…

We want to surgically define what you are going to allow, as well as what you are not going to allow. It alleviates the ambiguity by defining what you are talking about.”

Ward noted the amendments give the township Planning Board a better idea of what might be considered “conditional uses,” or “not allowed or allowed.”

T he ord i na nc e s a lso a me nd t he maximum impervious soil coverage, maximum building height, and maximum lot sizes that are permitted, and as was explained by officials, mostly lowers the values to discourage large warehouse developers from coming to town (in See QUARTET/ Page 15

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asked (redacted) if she would like to take a ride with him to Presidential Lakes Beach – that he needed to check on something there. She stated, ‘absolutely not.’

“This is (redacted)’s second season with us. After speaking with her parent, they do not wish to pursue this any further due to being fearful of retaliation from the mayor since her parent is also an employee of the township. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me.”

This newspaper reported last week that it had learned through obtained public records that Hornickel forwarded the matter to Lt. Jason Gant, of Pemberton Police, on July 19, but that the lieutenant did not return this newspaper’s request for comment on the status of any investigation.

The story noted that when this newspaper had reached out to Police Chief Jonathan Glass, a Tompkins’ appointee, for comment on the status of any investigation on the purported incident involving a minor, the inquiry was apparently referred to Hornickel, who had declined to comment, citing the active litigation.

Hornickel, a named defendant in the suit (in addition to Tompkins and the township), was given several opportunities by this newspaper to comment over a more than two-month period before the story published, but had declined to do so, contending to this newspaper at one point that a lawyer representing the township “will respond to the accusations listed in the complaint through the judicial process.”

The township Clerk’s Office ultimately told this newspaper, in response to an Open Public Records Act (OPRA) request, that, “Please be advised that no police report exists which is responsive to your request.”

ZONING

(Continued from Page 4) and we approve your appointments and that is what we are discussing right now!”

“There are two people that are on there right now, waiting,” Gardner said. “And if I recall, that is why it was tabled or not approved last time, because some of us up here thought it was unfair for Lise Mainor and Rachel Delgado-Simmons to be pushed back again for one person.”

Gardner added he finds it odd that

LOCAL NEWS / FEATURES ♦ Page 7 Two officials had described to this newspaper that there is no police complaint for the incident.

Various Pemberton Township sources reported to this newspaper that there has been swift, immediate blowback in the wake of the story.

The Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office, which maintains a Major Crimes Unit – Special Victims Section, also did not return an inquiry about the matter, and it is still unclear whether the Pemberton matter had ever been referred to the county prosecutor for an investigation or procedural review, given the claim not only involves a minor, but also the mayor, who makes appointments to the local police force.

Last week, this newspaper reported on how several employees are reportedly fearful of retaliation in coming forward for the council investigation. It also published accounts pertaining to a second lawsuit, and the circumstances surrounding it, including an account of alleged retaliation.

One of the officials, requesting continued anonymity, who described to this newspaper that there is no police complaint involving the Tompkins matter, when read back Hornickel’s latest response, contended that while he understands that an “investigation can’t be done unless you have a cooperating person” by police, the alleged incident is reported to have happened “on township time.”

“You are going to tell me you are not going to do an investigation, besides the police?” the unnamed official said of what happened, or lack thereof, between July and November, before council decided to launch an investigation in the wake of Pittman’s suit in December, further contending that the township has launched “full-blown investigations” previously into employees over far less serious matters, and maintaining that Tompkins is a township employee, on township payroll.

Tompkins reached out to Boland after returning from vacation, but not the other contenders, who already have been or are members of the zoning board.

“Those are the first people who should have been contacted!” Gardner declared.

Mainor, who Gardner maintained is a “good person,” and as a regular voting member, “should have been reached out to first,” and “not Mr. Boland, who, in my opinion, I don’t believe should even be an alternate!”

McCartney, in also responding to the mayor, said she “understands it is your appointment,” but it is “our responsibility just to have an understanding of that.”

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Mount Holly’s St. Patrick’s Parade to Celebrate Its 20th Anniversary For the Pine Barrens Tribune

MOUNT HOLLY—The Burlington County St. Patrick’s Parade Committee h a s a n nou nc e d t he r et u r n of t he much-awaited St. Patrick’s Parade on Saturday March 2, marking its 20th anniversary celebration.

The parade, a tradition in Mount Holly, will kick off at 1 p.m., starting at the Fairgrounds Plaza, 500 High Street, and winding its way down the length of High Street. There will be a reviewing stand stationed at the corner of High and Washington streets.

This year, the parade is set to be the largest ever, with nearly 1,500 marchers from various community groups, including two Mummers string Bands, six pipe bands, 10 Irish bands and an array of floats and contingents representing police, fire departments, community organizations and Irish cultural groups.

Leading the parade down the street as g rand marshal is Nick Sch rade, a dedicated volunteer of the parade committee for the past decade.

According to the parade committee, Schrade’s commitment to the parade’s success has been “exemplary,” and his leadership is “emblematic of the spirit of the community and celebration that defines the event.”

The parade will feature Miss Saint Patrick, Abigail Loughlin, who secured the title through a competition and was awarded a $1,000 scholarship. Loughlin will be prominently featured on a float near the front of the parade, representing the youth and future of the Irish community.

“The St. Patrick’s parade is one of the events that residents of Mount Holly Township look forward to each year,” declared Mount Holly Special Eve nt s Coord i nator R ich Di folc o.

ETHICS

(Continued from Page 3) Stephanie Johnson, which was signed by both Pinelands Regional Superintendent Dr. Melissa McCooley and Assistant Superintendent Gina Frasca, is dated Feb. 12, the same day as the last meeting of the Pinelands Regional board, which was devoted largely to reactions to an episode that occurred at the previous meeting when an argument between Johnson and School Board President Jeffrey Bonicky escalated following the session’s adjournment into a reportedly lewd outburst by the former.

A recording of the exchange, purportedly made by Frasca, was then somehow emailed to the district’s entire student body, allegedly originating from Johnson’s email account, with a subsequent investigation by an information technologies firm finding no evidence of the account having been maliciously compromised. Johnson, in a statement at the Feb. 12 meeting, denied having intentionally sent out the email at issue to the district’s junior and senior high population, although she took responsibility for the occurrence. She also declined to apologize for anything she said.

Two weeks prior to the complaints being filed by the administrators, however, on Jan. 28, Johnson herself made separate

“We have a great line-up of events and activities for residents of all ages from the Independence Celebration to our Summer Camp to the Car Show here in town, and the parade is definitely one of the best. This event showcases what is best about our town, that all of our cultures can come together in harmony.”

Following the parade, attendees are invited to an Irish Festival located at the corner of High and Washington streets.

Inside a heated tent, attendees will enjoy performances by several Irish bands, culminating with the world-renowned Derek Warfield & The Young Wolfe Tones all the way from Ireland. The festival promises to be a lively celebration of Irish culture and camaraderie.

“For two decades, our parade has been a vibrant celebration of Ir ish heritage and culture,” said Jim Logue, president of the Burlington County St. Patrick’s Parade Committee. “We are thrilled to commemorate this special m i le stone w ith ou r neig hbors and friends in Mount Holly.”

The Burlington County St. Patrick’s Parade Committee, a non-profit local organization, oversees the parade and various events throughout the year, fostering a sense of pride and belonging within the community.

“The Burlington Co. St. Patrick’s Parade holds a special place in the heart of our community,” said Mount Holly Mayor Chris Banks in echoing Logue’s sentiments. “It brings us together to celebrate our shared heritage and the spirit of unity that defines Mount Holly.

I look forward to another memorable parade and festival.”

For more information about the parade and festival or become involved please visit www.mounthollyparade.com . complaints to the ethics panel against Bonicky, whom she accused of intimidating, harassing and berating her at the Jan. 22 school board meeting, and Board Vice President August Daleo, whom she charged had intruded himself on a “residents only” campaign event at a senior community where he did not belong and accused her publicly of being a “liar,” among other things.

In their complaint to the ethics panel, McCooley and Frasca cited both the episode that followed the meeting on Jan. 22, which ended up in the student emails, and Johnson’s purportedly having improperly participated in an executive session involving a harassment, intimidation and bullying (HIB) hearing in December.

In her exchange with Bonicky, the complaint asserts, “Ms. Johnson began to scream and use foul language in front of students,” and after the meeting “had to be ended” as a result, “encouraged members of the public to stay, listen and record.”

The complaint also charges that Johnson forwarded what is described as a “confidential communique” that Frasca had intended for the Board of Education regarding her “serious concerns” about Johnson’s conduct during the session, which included a “transcript and audio of her using profanity,” and sent it to all the staff members and students of the district.

See ETHICS/ Page 15

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EATERY

(Continued from Page 1) lemon butter wine sauce—was as good as any found at far pricier establishments, the ser vice efficient and polite, the atmosphere cheerful and convivial. Its voluminous menu also offers a wide variety of culinary choices and comfort foods, ranging from burgers, sandwiches, salads, wraps and paninis to pasta, poultry and seafood entrees, with something to appeal to virtually everyone’s taste buds and preferences.

Confirmation of just how sorely all this will be missed by customers should it be supplanted by a fast-food establishment was provided in casual interviews with a number of those patrons, a few of whom expressed bewilderment at why the Chipotle at issue simply couldn’t be erected at a number of vacant commercial locations rather than at the spot now occupied by the Medport Diner, which one described as being “like an institution that has been here forever.”

That point was also made by a couple residents who spoke up during the public comment period of a Feb. 21 Medford Township Zoning Board of Adjustment meeting, at which the would-be redeveloper of the property was granted a conditional variance to dispense with a 1,500-footrequired distance between fast-food outlets (a nearby Popeyes falling within that restriction), in order to set the stage for the prospective Chipotle and mini-strip mall, should a site plan for those entities next be brought before the board.

“There are seven storefronts in the Acme Plaza that are completely empty,” observed one of those in attendance, Connor Patrick Falls. “Why doesn’t Chipotle move there?”

Louise Dribben, of adjacent Evesham Township who attended the session, also noted that while she had no problem with “the concept of redeveloping the area,” she felt the board had “lost sight of the people in the community” and neighboring towns, who regularly patronize the Medport, especially given all the vacant commercial sites nearby and in light of the Red Lion Diner in nearby Southampton Township having abruptly closed up shop last year.

When Board Chair man Salvatore Cocivera, responded “Ma’am, I appreciate this,” but that “the diner is the one selling their business,” Dribben replied, “I understand that they want to sell, money

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talks, ratables talk,” but questioned why “another fast-food place” would have to occupy the site when there are so many retail vacancies.

“Everybody in Evesham is concerned,” she added.

However, neither the current ownership of the diner nor the status of the plans for it moving forward could be accurately determined by this newspaper’s deadline time, despite queries put out to a number of parties and officials involved. Available public records indicate only that the property is owned by Pandora HC LLC of Mount Holly, a six-year-old New Jersey domestic limited liability company whose registered agent is Saban Pamuk (who appears to be associated with the Pandora Diner in Springfield), Bok Reality Company having been its previous owner.

After first being told that the diner’s owner would be arriving at the Medport within a certain time frame on the morning of Feb. 28, a reporter was then informed that he had already come and gone and was asked to stop calling, as “the owner is not interested in sharing information for whatever you’re writing.”

The original proposal presented to the zoning board, which was carried over from a Jan. 24 meeting, noted that J & J Development Group, LLC, 122 East Route 70… was “seeking D(3) Conditional Use Variance approvals to permit the demolition of the existing building and on-site improvements and construction of a 13,905 square-foot multi-tenant shopping center that includes a 2,400 square-foot quick-service/fast food restaurant with pick-up window only.”

The only thing that was actually sought, though, and ended up being unanimously approved, despite a request from Gary Zangerle, an attorney for an adjacent commercial property, for an additional postponement to evaluate the information submitted, was simply the conditional use variance that allowed for the aforementioned restaurant to be built despite being within 1,500 feet of another fast-food outlet.

That approval was granted to the applicant after John Corak, a consulting engineer, testified that the proposed restaurant’s drive-through window (where pre-existing orders would simply be delivered) would not significantly impact traffic flow in the area.

Other aspects of any prospective planning for it, including demolition of the existing diner, have yet to be reviewed, much less given a green light.

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But even should whatever plan is submitted to the zoning board end up being rejected, ”a denial at the next stage doesn’t necessarily kill the conditional use variance,” maintained CherylLynne Walters, an attorney with Nehmad, David & Goldstein, who represented the potential developers at the board meeting.

“The applicant still has the ability to come back with a more conforming style plan that meets your standards,” she told the board.

Also putting in an appearance before

the zoning board (which made very few mentions of the diner prior to the public portion of the meeting) was Jonathan Baske, a regional construction manager for the Chipotle chain, who described it as having a “fast-casual user designation” (although the township simply classifies it as a fast-food establishment) that “diverts about 50 percent of its sit-down eating through its pickup window.”

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What remains of the Browns Mills Shopping Center following contamination remediation.

CONSTRUCTION (Continued from Page 3)

the Pinelands Commission responded at the end of December,” Hornickel revealed.

“The Pinelands Commission has 30 days to review. We are expecting for them to get a Certificate of Filing from the Pinelands Commission, hopefully by early March, and then they can file an application with the Planning Board to redevelop the old Acme shopping center.”

On Feb. 22, once the resident who came forward during that session described “the limited amenities and shopping options,” in town, particularly that “the lack of diverse grocery stores hinders our residents’ quality of life,” Tompkins responded that the Pinelands Commission

STANDARDS (Continued from Page 4)

care of,” revealed Mayor Bonnie Haines, causing Fanucci to respond, “… Eventually.”

“But again, my purpose is to keep them (the issues) from happening in the first place, and to keep the burden off the code enforcement officer from having to do these things,” Fanucci declared.

Serlin asked Fanucci if she was suggesting the council enact fencing requirements, and she responded by maintaining there are “certain” projects where fencing is “appropriate,” including the instance where “four wires were hanging down for a while.”

“I am out there all the time, and see all of this up close and personal,” Fanucci maintained. “I am thinking liability – about a child, or somebody else. Why should the neighbors have to put up with what they have to put up with?”

In describing a recent project at the end of Hough Street, Fanucci declared, “I would be going ballistic” with how the property was kept during the work, with the purported mess “there for weeks and weeks.”

“It was finally cleaned yesterday, but it took three weeks,” Fanucci said. “As far as I am concerned, that is not good, and not acceptable. Why make everything look ugly the whole time when it is not necessary?”

Haines asked for a roll call vote on Fanucci’s motion. Councilman Nick Conner was the first name called, but stopped short of voting, asking, “Can we get further information to decide?”

Conner initially suggested tabling the item to allow Serlin an opportunity to review

“has a week left” to address the developer’s application and declared, “We are hoping everything is good.”

“The next step is for them to go to the Planning Board so that they can start construction, hopefully in June or July,” Tompkins said.

The last rendition of a concept plan for the tract included the possibility of a convenience store, such as a Wawa.

The resident who was indignant on Feb. 8, at one point declared, “You are missing a $2.5 million Wawa!”

“Nothing is being done after a yearand-a half!” he declared, with that being about the approximate time since the latest concept plan was publicly presented for the shopping center tract.

Hornickel, on Jan. 17, when officials were first asked about the shopping the borough code to see if there are already “tools” at the borough’s disposal to contend with such issues. Councilman Steven Fenster asked if Fanucci’s motion could be modified to “ask Mr. Serlin to investigate.”

Conner then made a motion “for Mr. Serlin to investigate further whether we have the tools to do this already, without the need for any new ordinance, and then, if we don’t, then, yes,” or to have a rehabilitation standards ordinance created.

The motion passed unanimously.

Otherwise, the meeting featured an announcement that a longtime dilapidated house of concern at the corner of Antis and Hanover streets is “up for sale” and a concern from Councilwoman Melissa Tettemer about the Pemberton Borough U.S. Post Office, contending mail delivery is “just awful” with days of undelivered mail or mail going to the wrong address, and pointing to social media where local residents are having to post in search of their packages.

Serlin advised that any mail delivery complaints should be filed on the U.S. Postal Service’s website.

What was billed by Haines as a “trial” run in January, continued with the regular February council meeting, with the public comment section moved to the beginning of each session, rather than at the end, no longer giving meeting participants a chance to comment on borough business that unfolds during the meetings.

One man tried to raise an issue that came to his mind at the end of the Feb. 20 meeting, but was firmly told “no” by Haines, who has been in the mayoral post for two months now, with her adding that the time for public comment had already passed.

center project’s status, responded that he believes the final outcome will include a “convenience store with pumps, a grocery store where the old Acme was, and a 12,000 square-foot building towards the back.”

“And I also believe they will be asking to put in a popular fast-food restaurant,” Hornickel revealed. “I believe the Dairy Queen (one of the last stores to remain in the current Browns Mills Shopping Center) will relocate there.”

But Detrick cautioned that, “I don’t think most of that is in a contract and a definite at this point.”

And as of Feb. 22, Tompkins said, “the hope is to get a grocery store in there.”

“That is the hope,” Tompkins said.

“Nothing, as far as I know, has been signed yet. But we are working on it.

Unfortunately, it does take time, but we

Saturday, March 2, 2024 are working with people on it.”

Council, on Feb. 8, also caught grief from the indignant resident about its longtime intentions for redeveloping Juliustown Road, at one point asking, “When are you going to do it, it’s been over 40 years?!” He demanded for officials to work to bring either a “Wendys, Arby’s, KFC, Chickfil-A, or Red Lobster” to town.

Following an executive session on Feb. 8 to discuss “property between Juliustown and Trenton roads,” council unanimously “conditionally designated” Franklin Land Associates, LLC, of Tennessee, as the redeveloper of “Block 553 and Block 554 properties,” which are between Juliustown and Trenton roads.

According to a copy of a resolution later obtained by this newspaper, Franklin Land is a “national company experienced in commercial and retail development, having successfully developed properties in several states” and is “pursuing the purchase” to “construct a project on behalf of a growing national retailer.”

What retailer that is, however, has not yet been disclosed.

It is also noted in the resolution that the firm has submitted a Jan. 23 letter of intent seeking to enter into a redevelopment agreement for the land, which is in the “Browns Mills Town Center Redevelopment Area,” as first designated back in 1995, agreeing to purchase the land for $1,250,000.

The resolution authorizes township officials to negotiate a purchase agreement and procure two appraisals to establish a fair market purchase price.

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(Continued from Page 6) “currently procuring 13 new garbage trucks to address deficient collection equipment.”

Council, in January, as previously reported by this newspaper, awarded a new contract to Seaside Waste in the amount of $4,527,303, from April 1 to March 31, 2027.

Seaside Waste was the lone bidder, and the bid amount reflected a substantial increase.

Additionally, trash collection, through the new arrangement, will be reduced to one day a week, from two days per week.

While a bid to bring trash collection in-house fell apart after an administrative oversight and council inaction over an attempted procurement of trash trucks (though it was later acknowledged that any switch likely could not have happened as quickly as had been originally anticipated), at council sessions earlier this year and town hall meetings, a desire has been expressed to further explore the option for three years from now.

Council, during its Feb. 22 meeting, introduced an ordinance amending the township code titled, “Solid Waste,” with the intent “to establish a Utility.”

Details were not immediately disclosed, however, with Hornickel later telling this newspaper, “For the Solid Waste Utility, I’ll have more on that next week when the

ordinance is scheduled for public hearing and perhaps voted for adoption.”

Hornickel, during a Feb. 22 pronouncement about the trash collection developments, noted that on March 1, “new routes” will be “finalized” and posted on the township website and social media channels “to try to give residents as much notice as possible.”

Bulk pick-up has been a sticking point with residents after the township briefly changed its policy to charge for pick-up and call ahead. The policy was ultimately suspended.

Now, according to Hornickel, “bulk pickup will be one day a week and by zone.”

“So, whoever is on Mondays, will have it on the first Mondays of the month,” Hornickel said. “Whoever is Tuesday, and so on, and whoever is Thursday and Friday, will get it on back-to-back days.”

Since the bulk pick-up charge policy had gone into effect, residents reported increased instances of illegal dumping.

Hornickel, in addressing that issue, said that the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) has been contacted about “illegal dumping that has been reported to us along Upper Mill Road and Turkey Buzzard Bridge Road.”

“And we have posted how to contact the NJDEP by email and telephone, and the hotlines for illegal dumping in the state forest,” Hornickel said.

MARCH

EVENT CALENDAR ♦ Page 11

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Page 12 ♦

WORSHIP GUIDE

EATERY

(Continued from Page 9) But if any agreement has already been made regarding the disposition of the property, as some sources who don’t wish to be quoted have suggested, it apparently hadn’t discouraged some 640 area residents as of the evening of Feb. 28. from putting their names on the online petition posted at Change.org, and directed to Pandora HC LLC, J&J Developers, and the zoning board by an individual named Lindsay Cogan.

“Medport Diner is more than just a place to eat; it is a community staple that holds countless memories for many of us,” the petition reads. “This iconic local business is always packed with patrons, demonstrating its value and importance to our community. “

WWW.PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM However, it continues, “the plan to demolish this beloved diner and replace it with retail space and a Chipotle … would not only erase an integral part of our town's history but also pose potential harm to locally owned businesses by introducing yet another chain establishment. Medford thrives on the strength and uniqueness of its local businesses. By replacing Medport Diner with another chain restaurant, we risk diluting this unique economic ecosystem that supports our town.

“I urge you to consider the impact this decision will have on our community's identity and economy. Let's preserve what makes Medford special— its vibrant local businesses like the Medport Diner,” the petitioner maintains.

Residents are then asked to “please sign this petition if you believe in preserving

Saturday, March 2, 2024

local establishments that contribute significantly towards shaping our town’s character and economy.”

Similar sentiments were voiced in interviews with patrons of the diner, one of whom contended that “there are tons of other places” where a Chipotle could go, pointing out that “a Rite-Aid just closed down the street” and another customer who asserted that “there are already too many of these kinds of places,” referring to fast-food franchises.

Still others lamented the anticipated loss of a familiar setting where they have gotten used to dining for decades and where they regularly get together with friends, particularly on weekends (the diner’s slogan, in fact, is “Meet You There”), and where they regularly enjoy breakfast or favorite specialty dishes like onion or turkey soup.

Worship Guide

One long-ti me reg ular customer, Charles Woodhull, a former Medford Township fire chief who was at a booth with his wife Donna, recalled how the diner had acquired its name, which he said was the result of a bureaucratic mistake four decades ago.

Somehow, Woodhull maintained, the name ”Medford” had gotten misspelled in the original planning documents. But whereas township officials, upon realizing the error, had simply wanted to correct it, the owner at the time flatly refused, and decided to keep the mistaken name “Medport.”

Which, no doubt, is the same sort of decision-making many residents are now hoping against hope will now be engaged in by those who are empowered to decide the fate of beloved eateries for the Medport Diner itself.

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MARKETPLACE ♦ Page 13

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(Continued from Page 6) Wawa, that is why you haven’t seen the store manager back here,” Forman contended. “Things are going so well there, and I wanted to let you know that I am so happy to see that happen. …

COMPLEX

(Continued from Page 7) “I was talking with some people from the Little League Association, and the fields they are working on, and the sheds, are dilapidated,” Ward said. “And I feel bad.”

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I feel like it is being cleaned up. I am so happy.”

Meanwh i le, at an earl ier counci l session, Business Administrator Daniel Hor n ickel, who i s a l so t he p ol ic e director, reported that the store manager of the Browns Mills Acme has reportedly been warned about making sure store shopping carts aren’t removed from the

store premises and then neglected.

According to Hornickel, Glass “has been partnering with our Community Development department to get the police and com munity development officials to work together to do various en forc ement campaig ns dow ntow n, including the removal of all shopping carts from Juliustown Road.”

“They took all the shopping carts back to Acme, and talked to the manager, and said, ‘This is your responsibility,’” Hornickel maintained. “After that, they are going to start cracking down.”

Hornickel also alluded to further “site-specific enforcement” planned for Browns Mills, “which may come out at a future meeting.”

Ward said he hoped some help could be given to purchase the league a new storage shed or at least put a new door on an existing one.

“The flag poles are defi n itely an issue,” Ward said. “Maybe the Veteran’s Committee could help them out with the flag poles, because they were missing

cranks or what have you.”

Councilman Dan Dewey, a second Republican serving on council, noted that the league is in need of batting cages, and inquired whether some additional grants could be secured for them.

Hornickel responded that it is “very likely” that the township can secure grant

funding for them and that he would “talk to Public Works about batting cages for another phase.”

Ward, in noting “there are a bunch of other things” that need addressing at the complex, contended that “whatever help we can give these folks, I am all for it,” as “it goes to benefit our kids in the community.”

Page 14 ♦

BUSINESS DIRECTORY

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BUSINESS DIRECTORY ♦ Page 15

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(Continued from Page 7) some cases, the maximum impervious soil coverage has been reduced to as low as 40 percent, for example).

As another example, in several zones, the maximum lot size is now 5 acres, and according to GOP Mayor Jack Tompkins, that would most likely deter a developer from wanting to build a cold storage facility in town as that person would typically seek a “larger, higher building.”

“So, if it is limited to a 5-acre lot, it won’t give them the return that they are looking for,” Tompkins said.

Resident Michelle Forman said she is “against” cold storage warehouses because

ETHICS

(Continued from Page 8) “This email became a gross distraction to the learning environment at Pinelands,” according to the complaint.

McCooley and Frasca also allege that Johnson violated the Code of Ethics for school board members by reading a statement

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“they would pull a great deal of electricity.”

T he ord i nanc e s also mostly increase the required buffer between any warehouse and residential areas.

Democratic Councilman Donova n G a rd n e r, however, pointed out that in regard to applicants already before the Planning Board, b e c aus e of the state’s Time of Decision Keith Abrams Lic# 1283 Law, “you can’t change it” on them, meaning they are grandfathered under the current zoning.

The new zoning adopted Feb. 22 will take effect 21 days after advertisement.

Readers can visit https://www.pembertontwp.com/government/minutes_ordinances/ ordinances.php#outer-2042 to view the ordinances in more detail (as there are very specific requirements for various areas in town that are too detailed and complex to get into for purposes of this article).

Previously, Ward cautioned that the quartet of ordinances under consideration will not “shut out warehouses entirely.”

Resident Mark Thomas contended that it was in 2006 “when things began to change in terms of planning, zoning and redevelopment plans.” He recalled some 460 acres being “put in this category that allowed for any kind of a warehouse,” and in asking how many of

those acres are now seeing such development, received a reply from Business Administrator Daniel Hornickel that “for the Route 206 corridor, the total there is somewhere around 150 acres, between all the tracts in the pipeline (there are additional areas of town where warehousing is permitted).”

“My feeling is the barn door was opened to 460 acres being lost, and this (the quartet of ordinances) tries to shut the barn door, but leaves the door open 12 feet,” declared Thomas, noting additional farmland will likely still be lost despite passage of the measures.

The passage of the ordinances came amid continued backlash over warehouse development in the township, with as many as nine additional warehouses reportedly in the pipeline, in addition to a 509,038 square-foot warehouse recently built. The warehouse boom is widely believed to have propelled Republicans in office in 2021 (and subsequently seated in 2022), in a town that had been under absolute-Democratic control for a longtime before that.

Resident America Phillips, during a Feb. 22 public hearing on the four ordinances, blasted those responsible for having allowed the warehouse developers to come into town.

“Why in the world did we go along with and approve any permits for a warehouse in Pemberton Township?” she asked.

The massive warehouse was built in the Birmingham section of the municipality, along with several in the pipeline currently targeting that community. Phillips called

such development the “worst thing” one can do “to a beautiful, little development,” which she maintained Birmingham is, and contended it was only chosen because it has “all the land for the farmers over there.”

Phillips recounted that her late partner had told her once, while they were on a trip in North Jersey, “Hon, you see all those big warehouses there – I hear a rumor it is coming to you guys.”

“Unfortunately, he passed away before he could see what this township did,” she declared.

She further maintained of the previous township administration and council, “I’d like to know, if someone could come to me before I die, and tell me who gave you permission to destroy the town.”

“We are farmlands,” she continued. “We are forests. We don’t need dispensaries here, or warehouses here!”

Phillips, a regular council meeting attendee, added, “I pray every single day before I go to bed, that every single warehouse closes down in this township, and you say ‘no.’”

“We don’t need these!” she concluded, with council voting to approve all four ordinances in a bipartisan, 5-0 vote.

Democratic Council President Paul Detrick noted that what was before the council on Feb. 22 is just the “first” round of changes, with a Planning Board letter, following the public body’s required review having taken place, suggesting additional “technical and general recommendations” to be added down the line.

as a private citizen (not yet having been sworn in) on behalf of the victim at the December HIB hearing after having been reportedly advised by legal counsel to recuse herself due to her being a “conflicted” party by virtue of having been named in one of the cases.

The complainants therefore “request that the School Ethics Commission find and determine that (Johnson) has violated the School Ethics Act” and “be subject

to such penalty as provided by the Act.” By way of background, the complaint briefly notes that McCooley had previously recommended Johnson’s termination as a paraprofessional with the Little Egg Harbor School District, of which McCooley was then in charge, that the district board of education had acted on that recommendation, and that Johnson had then filed a lawsuit over the matter which “ultimately resulted in a

settlement agreement.”

“Ms. Johnson is now a conflicted member of the Board of Education,” the complaint contends.

Not discussed in the complaint is an online petition that Johnson and her husband, Christopher, circulated in an attempt to have McCooley removed from her position prior to Johnson’s having been elected to a vacant seat on the school board last November.

Page 16 ♦

LOCAL NEWS / FEATURES

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