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Vol. 6 – No. 6 ♦
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The News Leader of the Pines
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November 13 - November 19, 2021
Southampton Deputy Mayor Asserts Trash Privatization is ‘Dead Issue’ After Mayor Reveals ‘No Bids’ Received
HIGH DEMAND FOR ‘ON-DEMAND’ OPENINGS
But Top Leader Does Not Rule Out Possible ‘Rebid’ By Governing Body Despite Twp. Administrator Getting Release About Privatization Troubles By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer
S OU T H A M P T ON —T h e i d e a o f privatizing Southampton Township’s trash hauling service—one that has been tossed around before by the Southampton Township Committee, but then died, only to re-emerge this year, in part, because ageing equipment the township Department of Public Works (DPW) uses to perform the service has broken down on several occasions—is one that is now “dead,” declared Southampton Deputy Mayor Ronald Heston during an Oct. 20 forum in the municipality’s largest community, LeisureTowne. However, a not her me mb er of t he Southampton committee, who is also in a leadership position on the governing body, spoke about the topic in less certain terms a day prior to Heston’s declaration, despite the Southampton administrator being in receipt of a Sept. 29 press release issued by another Burlington County town describing substantial troubles involving privatization of trash hauling, and the bidding process surrounding it. Heston’s remarks came just one day after Southampton Mayor Michael Mikulski announced at an Oct. 19 Southampton Township Committee meeting that bids were officially “opened” for the advertised and proposed “Southampton - Springfield CP Solid Waste Collection Program,” in which
Photo By Douglas D. Melegari
A boat waits for the Green Bank Bridge’s drawspan to lift on Aug. 6 so that it can continue moving upstream, toward Mullica Township.
Atlantic County’s Request to U.S. Coast Guard Asking for ‘Timed Openings’ of the Green Bank Bridge on the Hour and Half-Hour in the Summer, to Replace Decades-Old ‘On-Demand Openings,’ is Tossed Following Backlash That Any Reduction Would Trap Area Boaters, Have Impact on Mullica’s Economy County Board Also Commits to Leaving Bridge Upright During Future Malfunctions of a Week or Less, Prompting Concern from BurlCo Town; Mullica Offers to Assist Washington in Patrolling Mullica River
By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer
WA SH I NGT ON — Fa c i n g fi e r c e backlash from watercraft operators who traverse the Mullica River, as well as from some local public safety officials and the ow ners of residenc es and commercial establishments located along
the waterway (particularly those located upstream of the Green Bank Bridge in Mullica Township, Atlantic County), officials from Atlantic County have now committed to maintaining “on-demand” openings for the drawbridge each year from May through September, scrapping an apparent request made to the U.S.
Coast Guard over the summer asking for the implementation of “timed openings” on the hour and half-hour. Had that request been granted, it would have been a departure from the reportedly decades-old norm. Additionally, the Atlantic County See BRIDGE/ Page 8
See TRASH/ Page 11
CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN
PAGE 3-4
INDEX Business Directory..........12
Local News........................2
Christmas Countdown.......3
Marketplace........................14
Job Board........................16
Worship Guide.................11
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