Pine Barrens Tribune September 19, 2020-September 25, 2020

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Fall

E M O H& Garden 1 AGE S SE E P

Vol. 5 – No. 1 ♦

The News Leader of the Pines

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FR

EE

September 19, 2020 – September 25, 2020

‘TIME TO COME TOGETHER’

Pemberton Takes Ownership of New Lisbon Water System County Commissioner Who Opposed Sale Reveals It Was Sold for Less Than Its Value, But Colleague Calls Transaction ‘Win-Win’

By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer

Photo Provided By David Richter

David Richter, GOP candidate for the 3rd Congressional District seat.

The Burlco GOP, Which Had Dismay for ‘Outsider’ David Richter After He Entered the 3rd Congressional District Race and Proceeded to Bash Its Favorite, Kate Gibbs, Is Now Aboard His Campaign Train

By Bill Bonvie Staff Writer

MOUNT HOLLY—With less than two months remaining until Election Day 2020, the race between 3rd Congressional District Democratic incumbent Andy Kim and former Hill International CEO David Richter, his GOP challenger, has now gone into high gear with the latter having belatedly received the blessings of the Burlington County Republican Committee, whose chosen candidate in

the GOP’s July primary, former Freeholder Director Kate Gibbs, he defeated after an especially caustic war of words.

In an Aug. 24 press release, Burlington cou nt y GOP Chair man Sean Earlen e ndor s e d R icht e r, c ont e nd i ng t h at “following a hard-fought primary, it is time for us to come together as one party and work towards our common goal of defeating Andy Kim.” “I have heard from leaders across Burlington County who are ready to come

together and I look forward to fighting alongside David as we secure victories across our municipalities, take back two seats on the Freeholder Board (recently changed to Board of Commissioners) and kick Andy Kim out of Congress,” Earlen said.

T h a t d e cl a r a t io n of s u p p o r t fo r Richter was in marked contrast to the count y chair man’s previously stated See TOGETHER/ Page 9

PEMBERTON—The New Lisbon Water System is now officially in the hands of Pemberton Township.

Burlington County concluded the $800,000 sale of the over 50-year-old New Lisbon Water System to the municipality on Sept. 1, according to Business Administrator Daniel Hornickel.

“The township is now the new owner of the New Lisbon Water System,” said Hornickel during a Sept. 2 Pemberton Council meeting. “… It is very good news that the gigantic water tower, next to Imagination Kingdom (a playground at the intersection of PembertonBrowns Mills and Four Mile roads), that bears the township name, is now owned by us.”

Also previously known as the Burlington Cou nt y I nst it ut ions Water System, it comprises of four wells and well houses, the 150,000-gallon elevated water storage tank (water tower) and approximately 26,000 feet of distribution pipes, meters, hydrants and other appurtenances.

The New Lisbon Water System, according to a Sept. 1 press release provided to this newspaper by Hornickel, was constructed by Burlington County in the 1970s to service the former main campus of Burlington County College, which was located off PembertonBrowns Mills Road, and several other county facilities in the area, as well as approximately 50 homes in the New Lisbon section of the township.

“Since the closing of many county facilities, we targeted this particular facility as a potential asset for our water system,” Mayor David Patriarca told this newspaper in July. “My personal belief is that water is a tremendous See WATER/ Page 7

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

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Page 2 ♦

LOCAL NEWS / FEATURES

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Saturday, September 19, 2020

Cell Tower Planned for Presidential Lakes

The new Presidential Lakes Firehouse and Community Center.

By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer

PEMBERTON—The Pemberton Township Volunteer Fire Company has been granted permission by Pemberton Council to sublease a vacant portion of the lot that the new Presidential Lakes Firehouse and Community Center is on for construction and maintenance of a cellphone tower.

Pemberton Township Council, during a Sept.

2 virtual meeting that had no public attendance, voted unanimously to allow the fire company to sublease the external space of 703 New York Road to Valore, LLC to “construct, maintain, and repair a cell tower thereon.”

The fire company, a non-profit organization, had entered into a 30-year lease agreement for the lot with the municipality on May 6.

The fire company does not have to pay the township any rent so long as it remains a nonprofit organization engaged in the provision of firefighting and emergency services on behalf of township residents.

A grand opening for the firehouse occurred on June 27.

Photo By Andy Milone

Cellphone service throughout the Presidential Lakes neighborhood, and surrounding area, is currently poor, with wireless callers reporting that their calls are dropped frequently due to the weak signal.

“This agreement will give them (the fire company) the opportunity to put a cell tower in Presidential Lakes, which is much needed,” said Mayor David Patriarca. “It will also bring in revenue to the fire company. All the money that comes into the fire company is less money that we have to pay to the fire department here in the township to fund that service.”

Business Administrator Daniel Hornickel told this newspaper on Sept. 14 that, from his understanding, the fire company is still negotiating the terms of the lease with Valore.

“I do not believe that instrument has been finalized or signed,” he said. “The township isn’t part of those negotiations, though we may review the sublease to ensure it is consistent with the lease agreement between the township and volunteer fire company for the Presidential Lakes Firehouse.”

Mayor Apologizes for ‘Miscommunication,’ That Led to Cancellation Notice for Meeting

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By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer

WASHINGTON—Daniel James, mayor of Washington Township, has publicly apologized for what he called a “miscommunication” that he claimed led to the municipal clerk informing this newspaper that an Aug. 4 Washington Township Committee meeting had been “canceled” due a loss of power from Tropical Storm Isaias, all as officials convened the meeting, only informing this newspaper of its occurrence some six days later.

James, however, stood by the decision to hold the meeting just hours after the tropical storm struck, contending that a generator powered the lights and fans inside town hall, and he knew the roads were cleared of fallen trees because he helped to remove them.

JAMES The Washington Township Committee, during its Sept. 1 meeting, however, acted de novo on August’s agenda items, re-voting on See MEETING/ Page 6

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LOCAL NEWS / FEATURES

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Washington Petitions Board of Public Utilities to Have Verizon Expand Broadband Coverage

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By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer

WA SH I NGTON —T he Tow n sh ip of Washington has decided to join a “legal battle,” as Mayor Daniel James put it, though it is not a lawsuit per se, against Verizon over purportedly unavailable broadband service in parts of the rural municipality, pointing to a stipulation from a past settlement that the town says required the utility to provide broadband service to the entire municipality.

Washington, part of census tract (an area roughly equivalent to a neighborhood established by the Bureau of Census for analyzing populations) 7047, has joined together with another municipality (Alloway Township) and Cumberland County to pursue a declaratory ruling from the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) that would require Verizon to “meet its obligation” and “commit to a complete and entire build out” in “census tracts” that are without complete broadband service.

In 2015, a total of 17 towns, mostly in rural areas of the state, with the majority in Cumberland County, complained in petitions to the NJBPU about phone service issues and no, or poor, internet connectivity, according to John Carr, counsel for Cumberland County.

Verizon, as a result of the filings, reached a settlement agreement with the state in 2017, agreeing to fix its copper lines with an emphasis on customers who complain at least three times in a year. DSL internet service (technology that uses telephone lines to deliver internet service) was also expanded to some homes, but all were outside of Burlington County.

Verizon, however, was not obligated to expand its high-speed Fios service.

Washington Township Solicitor Tom Coleman, in an Aug. 13 email to Theodore E. Baker, then-assistant county counsel to Cumberland County, directed the County of

Cumberland’s counsel to submit a petition on behalf of the municipality, which Carr later told this newspaper appealed to the NJBPU for enforcement of the settlement.

Washington, Carr said, is one of the 17 towns associated with the 2015 settlement agreement. Carr has since taken over the matter for Baker, who retired last Friday, according to Cumberland County officials.

“The township has reviewed a copy of the petition as it relates to Washington Township and we are comfortable with the same,” wrote Coleman in the correspondence, obtained by this newspaper through an Open Public Records Act (OPRA) request. “Please feel free to submit the same on behalf of the township. Our next meeting is on Sept. 1, and at that meeting we will be adopting a resolution confirming our participation.”

The Washington Township Committee, during its Sept. 1 meeting, “reaffirmed its par ticipation” in a “NJ BPU appeal with Cumberland County’s Counsel,” by unanimously passing the resolution.

The Washington Township Committee, by reaffirming its participation in the NJBPU appeal, authorized the County of Cumberland’s counsel to pursue the petition to the NJBPU on its behalf.

“We are in a legal battle with Verizon and the NJBPU to get better service,” Mayor Daniel James told meeting attendees after the resolution was passed. “We are taking legal action. There is a group that got together and filed complaints with the NJBPU. This is augmenting what we have been trying to do for the past two years.”

Since this newspaper began publishing in 2016, Washington residents, on occasion have taken to public comment sessions at Washington Township Committee meetings See VERIZON/ Page 6

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LOCAL NEWS / FEATURES

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Suspected Mold Outbreak Prompts District to Begin School Year with Remote Learning

By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer

WASHINGTON—K-8 students in the Mullica Township School District, which serves Washington Township, have begun the school year on a remote learning schedule, not because of the Coronavirus pandemic, but because of a suspected mold outbreak.

“Elements of what appears to be surface mold” was discovered at the end of August while district officials were distributing Chromebooks to students, for use during what was supposed to be a hybrid learning schedule with a combination of both in-person and remote learning due to the pandemic.

The hybrid learning plan is now on hold until at least Oct. 12.

“As a result, the distribution of Chromebooks was stopped, Chromebooks were returned to school, and the district solicited the services of a professional cleaning contractor

(AllRisk) to thoroughly clean and disinfect the Chromebooks,” wrote Superintendent Andrew Weber in a letter to parents. “The services of Epic Environmental were engaged to begin testing areas of the building. Time is needed to thoroughly test the building, obtain results, and implement the necessary cleaning/remediation protocols if surface mold is confirmed.”

Karen Gfroehrer, business administrator for the district, told this newspaper Sept. 14 that the Chromebooks, once cleaned and certified that they were safe by AllRisk, were disseminated to students again just in time for the first day of remote learning classes on Sept. 14.

Weber, in the letter to parents, said the reason for reversing course and beginning the school year remotely, in light of the suspected mold discovery, was simple: “more time is needed to ensure the health and well-being of our See MOLD/ Page 11

Pinelands Commission Gives Green Light to Creation of New Park in Medford Lakes

By Andy Milone Staff Writer

MEDFORD LAKES—The New Jersey Pinelands Commission gave final approval Sept. 11 to the creation of a new park at Ballinger Lake in Medford Lakes Borough that will include a dock, walking path and educational wildlife displays.

Details about the anticipated timeline were shared a couple days beforehand at a Medford Lakes Borough Council meeting, when Borough Manager Dr. Robert Burton first announced

that the project was being recommended for final approval to the commission.

Noting that he expected the work to commence in October, and weather permitting, to be completed by mid-to-late November, Burton called the project “very exciting.” He added that the project had been put out to bid on Sept. 10.

The public notice states that bids will be opened at 10 a.m. Sept. 18.

See PARK/ Page 5

PRSD, LEHSD Shared Superintendent Seeks Five-Year Contract Extension

By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer

LITTLE EGG HARBOR—Dr. Melissa McCooley, in her fifth year as superintendent of the Little Egg Harbor School District (LEHSD), who is sharing her chief school administrator services with the Pinelands Regional School District (PRSD) through a 2018 shared service agreement, is asking for a five-year contract extension in both districts.

McCooley, who told this newspaper that she has a year and a half left on her contract with the PRSD, after beginning to provide her services to the regional district in late May of 2018, and signed a five-year agreement in July 2017 with the LEHSD, said she is seeking a five-year extension in both districts at the same time “due to the fact that it is a shared agreement.”

“Dr. McCooley has stated that she wants to extend her contract to ensure the district effectively manages this pandemic, and so we can complete the numerous initiatives that were started prior to COVID,” PRSD and LEHSD Business Administrator Nick Brown told this newspaper of the reason McCooley is looking ahead to her future in the PRSD. “The continuity in administrative leadership is something Pinelands has not had in a very long time and she has expressed her desire to demonstrate her dedication to the district.”

The PRSD had been without a permanent superintendent since Dr. Robert Blake resigned as the regional district’s superintendent in June 2016. Dr. Maryann Banks served as PRSD’s interim superintendent in the wake of Blake’s departure, but could only serve in the role for a maximum of two years as a retired superintendent from another district.

Banks stayed in the PRSD during the 2016-17 school year and for part of the 2017-18 school

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Dr. Melissa McCooley, shared superintendent of the Little Egg Harbor and Pinelands Regional school districts. year before resigning in December 2017 for medical reasons amidst a construction debacle involving improper asbestos roofing removal.

Dr. Cheryl Stevenson then served as the regional district’s acting and interim superintendent up until McCooley took the helm.

A public hearing and vote by the Pinelands Regional Board of Education on McCooley’s contract extension request had been scheduled for a special meeting that was held on Aug. 26, but the superintendent began that meeting by explaining that the item had been “pulled from the agenda” for “personal reasons.”

McCooley then disavowed social media postings made in local social media groups ahead of the scheduled hearing that she See CONTRACT/ Page 5

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LOCAL NEWS / FEATURES

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CONTRACT (Continued from Page 4)

Photo By Andy Milone

The plot of land neighboring Ballinger Lake, and the Medford Lakes Municipal Building, where a park with a pier is to be constructed.

PARK

(Continued from Page 4) The Pinelands Commission’s staff made the recommendation to approve the proposed park after reviewing a public development application filed by the municipality for consistency, ensuring that it met all the standards of the commission’s Comprehensive Management Plan (CMP) associated with land use, wetlands, and vegetation management within the Pinelands Regional Growth Area.

T he proposed park, which is to be constructed on nearly half an acre of land adjacent to the municipal offices at 1 Cabin Circle Dr ive, will include a fou r-foot wide walking path spanning 175 feet and an 18-foot-long lakefront pier, according to the commission application, obtained by this newspaper. These two features will be accompanied by native landscaping, as well as interpretive signs geared toward educating visitors on the native species.

“Interpretive signs will provide visitors to the park a learning experience to identify the surrounding wildlife and vegetation,” states the application, submitted by Environmental Resolutions, Inc. (ERI) on behalf of the

borough. “Permeable pavers will provide a walkway through the park. A bench at the dock and picnic tables are other amenities to be provided. A fence will be constructed between the proposed park and an improved sideway. Trash and recycling containers are proposed. An extensive landscape plan will provide beauty and shade. This site will be accessible (to the public).”

The application also specifies that three trees, a fence and existing asphalt sidewalk are slated to be removed.

Burton told this newspaper that the project will cost approximately $90,000 and will be facilitated entirely through grant funding awarded as part of the Burlington County Municipal Park Development Program. There will thus be no impact on the municipal budget, he contended.

The borough manager said he believes the new landmark will likely be called “Ballinger Park,” but the official name is not yet finalized.

The project was approved subject to five conditions listed in a public application report, one of which requires that appropriate measures be “taken during construction to preclude sedimentation from entering wetlands.”

See PARK/ Page 15

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contended misrepresented her current salary, before launching into a lengthy list of what she contended were district “accomplishments” under her leadership.

McCooley later told this newspaper that her contract is anticipated to be revised on Oct. 30.

The superintendent has taken some heat in the mostly socially conservative communities that the PRSD serves for volunteering the regional district to participate in a pilot LGBTQ-inclusive curriculum program.

The vote on the superintendent’s contract would occur just days before Election Day in November, in which several Pinelands Regional Board of Education members and one Little Egg Harbor Board of Education member is being challenged for open seats.

This newspaper learned recently from sources familiar with the negotiations that some area church leaders, especially from the evangelical Christian community, which would like to see the LGBTQ curriculum dispensed entirely, have reportedly thrown their support behind at least some of the candidates running for open seats. These sources contended that the superintendent is now purportedly concerned about her future with the two school districts if the potential new leadership takes hold.

These same sources contended that the Aug. 26 special board meeting was held in such a manner to discourage public comment in opposition to McCooley’s contract extension in the PRSD. Officials changed the longtime venue for PRSD meetings from the Pinelands Regional Junior High School Media Center to Pinelands Regional Senior High School Media Center, with the change taking effect for the special meeting.

A legal notice was placed in the Press of Atlantic City in advance of the meeting

♦ Page 5

announcing the location change, but according to accounts, including published ones in the Sandpaper, many planning to attend the Aug. 26 meeting were apparently unaware of the change, and reported to the junior high school.

While the regional district’s legal obligation to announce the change in the meeting location of the Pinelands Regional Board of Education appeared to be satisfied, with a legal notice affidavit later provided to this newspaper by Brown, a reporter for the Sandpaper pointed out during the public comment portion of the Aug. 26 meeting that most people don’t read legal notices to learn of announcements regarding the times and place of such meetings.

McCooley replied to the reporter that the new meeting location was also on the Pinelands Regional Board of Education’s meeting agenda released in advance of the special meeting.

The reporter for the Sandpaper, who was on scene for the special meeting, noted in his published report that some who went to the high school were told there was no meeting being held there, and that the only open entrance to the school was in the extreme back of the building. This was consistent with the other accounts that were provided to this newspaper.

McCooley, when asked about these charges, told this newspaper that the meeting at the high school was advertised over 30 days in advance, and that during the night of the special meeting, the front door was not in use because part of the building’s floor was being waxed in preparation for the opening of the school. She also pointed out that the reporter for the area newspaper “attended” the Aug. 26 meeting (though that reporter pointed out that he himself went to the junior high school before finding the assembly in the high school).

The superintendent contended that all Pinelands Regional Board of Education See CONTRACT/ Page 10

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LOCAL NEWS / FEATURES

VERIZON (Continued from Page 3)

to complain about phone service outages, noise on the telephone lines, or the unavailability of high-speed internet access.

James, during the Sept. 1 Washington Township Committee meeting, offered to testify as a witness in the petition that is now before the NJBPU, contending that a couple of days after Tropical Storm Isaias passed through state in August, he had no phone or internet service at his house for 10 days.

“The township’s concern at this point seems to be that Verizon is balking at building out broadband in the entire census tract and that the township needs to have assurance that its residents and newly arriving residents will be able to take advantage of the BFRR Stipulation (a new broadband request process known as a bonafide retail request),” wrote Theodore E. Baker, assistant county counsel to Cumberland County, in another email obtained by this newspaper through an OPRA request, summarizing the Washington petition.

Washington Township, in the petition filed with the NJBPU on Aug. 19, points to the Coronavirus pandemic resulting in a greater urgency for residents to have broadband access.

Washington elementary and middle school students attend the Mullica Township School District, which started the school year Sept. 14 with all remote learning (due to a mold issue, see separate story). On Oct. 12, it is anticipated students will start a hybrid learning schedule (due to the pandemic), in which classes are held in-person two days a week, and remotely three days per week.

Once some form of in-person classes resume, remote/virtual learning is available from the school district as a full-time option, as mandated by the New Jersey Department of Education.

“The township alleges that the inability to compel Verizon to provide service to more than just the 35 customers who qualified under the BFRR Stipulation would be tantamount to a denial of service to a rural area that is greatly in need of up to date broadband service on behalf of its residents, particularly children who are forced during a pandemic crisis to learn remotely from school and yet be without sufficient internet access or infrastructure to allow them to capably and effectively receive a thorough and efficient education,” a portion of the petition states. “As a result of Verizon’s denial of its obligations, the school children of Washington Township and census tract 7047 would be deprived of their state constitutional right to a thorough and efficient education: NJ Const. Art. VIII § 4.”

Karen Gfroehrer, business administrator of the Mullica Township School District, told this newspaper on the first day of classes for township elementary and middle school children that she was working with a family from Washington to get internet access provided to them.

While she did not have a figure immediately available as to how many Washington school families currently do not have internet access, she said she is aware of several students who reside in the municipality using their parent’s cellphones as mobile hotspots to gain access to the internet.

WWW.PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM “Parents are depending on their mobile phones as hotspots (due to the lack of available high-speed internet cables), but when the parents are at work, it is an issue,” Gfroehrer said.

Additionally, the signal for cellphone service in Washington is weak to non-existent in several areas.

Gfroehrer added that some families who don’t have internet cables in their area are using satellite internet services from Dish TV or DirectTV. Neighboring Shamong Township’s governing body, on June 2, passed a resolution stating that it was “desirous of assisting and cooperating with other public entities and state officials to pursue a petition before the NJBPU to enact regulations requiring a 100 percent rate of aerial line high-speed internet accessibility in each individual municipality throughout the State of New Jersey.”

In addition to pointing out that “not having access to aerial line high-speed internet service is a plight on students, reducing their educational opportunities and ability to learn in a modern world,” Shamong’s resolution notes that “not having access to aerial line high-speed internet has the potential to shut down all functions of government by denying essential employees and elected officials from the ability to work, communicate, distribute information, conduct meetings and perform the other requirements of a functioning government through remote capabilities.”

Democratic Governor Phil Murphy, during a Sept. 14 Coronavirus press briefing, told a reporter for this newspaper that “it should not be acceptable to anybody” that in the 21st Century there are parts of the state still without internet access.

“Or anywhere in America,” the governor added.

Murphy pointed out that his administration recently designated $54 million in Coronavirus relief funding to address “both device purchases and internet connectivity” in the state.

Murphy added that he was interested in learning more about some of the towns that have been impacted by the lack of internet access, and asked the reporter for this newspaper to connect with Daniel Bryan, his senior advisor for communications.

“I am not happy at all with the existence of any digital divide—rural, urban or suburban,” the governor said. “Period. On the other hand, having said that, I think if you look at what we are doing right now—not necessarily the state that we inherited, we inherited something that was unacceptable and it was obviously overwhelming exacerbated by homeschooling, remote learning and the pandemic—but I don’t think in that context, any state is doing as much as we are doing right now to close that.”

Murphy warned however that closing the digital divide “isn’t going to be resolved overnight.”

Peter Peretzman, a NJBPU spokesman, told this newspaper Washington’s petition is “under review.” Spokespersons for Verizon did not return messages seeking comment on this story. Coleman said he would have to receive the permission of his client (Washington) to talk with this newspaper, but did not respond by press time.

Reporter Andy Milone contributed to this story.

Saturday, September 19, 2020

MEETING (Continued from Page 2)

an ordinance and resolutions from the prior meeting, along with repeating the reports that were purportedly offered the month before.

The rare maneuver, which allows public bodies to correct any alleged violations of the Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA), was carried out after Walter Luers, a prominent attorney who advocates for open government and is president of the New Jersey Foundation for Open Government (NJFOG), in a report published by this newspaper, called the governing body’s August meeting “unlawful” due to Township Clerk Kathleen D. Hoffman putting the cancellation notice in writing.

Any action taken by a public body at a meeting, which does not conform with the provisions of the Open Public Meetings Act “shall be voidable in a proceeding in lieu of prerogative writ in the Superior Court,” according to state statute, and any person who knowingly violates the meetings act can be fined, unless the public body takes corrective or remedial action by “acting de novo.”

Despite multiple attempts by this newspaper to learn what took place during the Aug. 4 meeting, officials had previously refused to disclose what occurred by deadline time, Aug. 20.

Hoffman, who had promised to provide a recording of the Aug. 4 proceedings, later told this newspaper that there “is no recording due to no internet” and declined to provide draft minutes. She replied, “I’ll have to get back to you,” when asked to provide a run-down of what occurred at the Aug. 4 meeting, and later forwarded a text message from Township Solicitor Tom Coleman, who wrote that he didn’t know what this reporter “found so unusual about what transpired at the Aug. 4 meeting,” and directing Hoffman not to release

the draft minutes to this reporter, or any other requestor.

“Since there were some questions raised about the last meeting, the first three items on tonight’s agenda are the three items that we had during the last meeting,” said James during the commencement of the Sept. 1 meeting, which was delayed by five minutes as the municipality’s recorder failed—later attributed to “computer/software issues.”

Officials eventually proceeded with the Sept. 1 meeting, and Hoffman and Coleman resorted to handwritten notes for the minutes, as a backup recorder was said to be unavailable.

The first item on the Sept. 1 meeting agenda was the first reading of an ordinance that would require that any applications for a zoning permit be made on forms provided by the township clerk, and submitted to the municipal zoning officer with a $75 fee. The item was introduced by a 3-0 vote.

The next item, a resolution, which passed unanimously, permitted Burlington County Central Communications to continue answering 911 calls on behalf of the town for the next five years.

The third item was also a resolution, allowing for the execution of a “reimbursement ag reement ” bet ween Wash i ng ton a nd Southampton townships.

As previously reported by this newspaper, Hoffman, also the township clerk and administrator for Southampton Township, at a July Washington Committee meeting, requested that Washington continue to share with Southampton in paying some of the costs for her work cellphone. She indicated that she was displeased that some Washington officials had questioned the arrangement, which had apparently been taking place, without a formal agreement, for quite some time.

“With all due respect, in the past, in prior practice, Washington Township has reimbursed See MEETING/ Page 7

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LOCAL NEWS / FEATURES

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MEETING (Continued from Page 6)

Photo By Andy Milone

A water tower at the intersection of Pemberton-Browns Mills and Four Mile roads, which is associated with the New Lisbon Water System.

WATER

(Continued from Page 1) asset, a basic need for a community that should be controlled by the community.�

The municipality plans to eventually interconnect the water system with two other township water systems to ensure reliability of all its systems.

The sale agreement, obtained by this newspaper, stipulated that the buyer shall assume “all liabilities, obligations and undertakings� of the seller “pertaining to, or arising from, the water system� from and after the closing date.

Hornickel, during the Sept. 2 council meeting, noted that township officials will be meeting with Adams Rehmann & Heggan Associates’ (ARH) water engineering experts in the coming weeks to begin planning for a “rehabilitation� of the New Lisbon Water System “using grants and loans.� “The short-term goal is to take ownership of it and bring it up to our standards, and bring it up to how we operate our other systems,� said Patriarca previously, noting that the municipality had received a grant ($1,171,600) and loan ($1,464,500) from the Pinelands Commission’s Pinelands Infrastructure Trust Fund for the water system improvements.

Hornickel, shortly after the Burlington County Board of Commissioners voted 4-1 on July 8 to approve the sale of the New Lisbon Water System, called the system’s wells “very robust� and declared that they “have the capacity to produce a lot of water.� “In fact, there is one well the county drilled in 2010 that isn’t being used,� he said. “So, we have the potential to use a water source that is not even being used.�

Patriarca previously said the township first became interested in acquiring the New Lisbon system a few years ago when the municipality was reconditioning one of two wells that are part of the Lake Valley Water System. “ O n e of t h e wel l s w a s d ow n fo r reconditioning, and then we had to consider what would happen if something happened to the other well,� Patriarca said. “We would not have had water for that entire community.�

The mayor said the township determined that purchasing the New Lisbon system to interconnect it with the Lake Valley system, and eventually interconnecting with a third system, “or creating a loop system,� was the best option to “safeguard against� the Lake Valley community (and also the Oak Pines community) from losing water. “If you lose that well, you are in a pickle,� said Patriarca in July.

Using a water supply already established that has the “capability of producing more than enough water in area that it is in,� and then drawing from that system to assist another area “just makes sense,� rather than drilling a new well, Patriarca contended.

The “mid-term goal,� as the mayor put it, is to interconnect the New Lisbon system with Lake Valley system. Then, once that is completed,

the township is hoping to interconnect the New Lisbon system to the Browns Mills Water System. “One of our long-term goals with this system is to interconnect our Browns Mills system to our Pemberton system, which we are strengthening now with the northside water system that we have been building,� Patriarca said. “By acquiring this system, which is centrally located between both systems, it gives us the potential down the line to interconnect these systems to provide redundancy and safeguard our water supply to all our residents. “So, if one area of town happens to have a supply issue, we can still fulfill that demand by a matter of changing a few valves and the direction of water flow from another area, and continue to provide safe water to all our residents.�

Hornickel, during a recent council meeting, added that the typography of the area adds to the benefit of interconnecting the New Lisbon system, as it is located uphill from the Browns Mills section of the township. “So, having a water tank in a high location allows the water to pretty easily flow downhill to where you need it, and then in the other direction, we may need a pump station, but still the pressure of that tank is in a very strategic location for us,� he said.

Meanwhile, according to Patriarca in July, the township is also exploring interconnecting the new northside system to nearby Pemberton Borough’s system at some point. “It would make sense for us to maintain a connection to Pemberton Borough because that system would be a backup to Pemberton Borough and vice versa,� Patriarca said. “Right now, their backup system is an American Water system, the former Sunbury Village Water System.�

Patriarca stressed the importance of planning and designing interconnections in advance to “create a level of redundancy.�

Council appropriated $1,470,000 for improvements to its water systems through a bond ordinance, and authorized the issuance of $1,399,875 in bond notes during its May 20 meeting. $840,000 was appropriated through that bond ordinance for the purchase of the New Lisbon system, while $104,000 was appropriated through it for the development of the new water system. The bond ordinance also called for $180,000 to be allocated for well and tank upgrades, including to the Beech Street Water Tank.

The New Lisbon Water System was the only water system that the county had in its possession, according to both township and county officials.

This newspaper, through an Open Public Records Act (OPRA) request recently fulfilled, learned that Burlington County Board of Commissioners Deputy Director Tom Pullion was the lone commissioner to vote July 8 against the sale of the New Lisbon Water System to Pemberton.

Pullion, on Sept. 13, told this newspaper that the only reason he cast the dissenting See WATER/ Page 14

Southampton Township for expenses, for example, like the cellphone,â€? Hoffman said. “Instead of having two cellphones, half the cost (of one) was paid by Southampton, and the other was paid by Washington. And also, my CEUs and conferences (were reimbursed), so I can keep up with the requirements for municipal clerk. “This has been the case for ten years‌ ever since I have been here. We pay Southampton, we reimburse Southampton.â€?

Coleman, at the time, said something “should probably be memorialized� and there should be a “simple agreement between municipalities.�

James replied that it was the concern of Chief Financial Officer Kristin Manning that there was no documentation on file. “This is an execution of agreement for training and license fees,� said James at the Sept. 1 Washington Committee meeting, right before the governing body voted 3-0 to pass the resolution allowing for the execution of the agreement. “Does that pretty much cover it?�

Hoffman replied, “Yes.�

However, an Open Public Records Act (OPRA) request revealed that Washington Township, deemed “the recipient,� agrees to pay “the provider,� Southampton Township, 50 percent of all cellular phone expenses incurred by the “shared employee� for “official government purposes,� in addition to the reimbursements for training and license fees. “The shared employee shall provide copies of all cellular phone bills and charges to both recipient and provider on a monthly basis,� the agreement states. “(The) recipient shall issue payment of the agreed-upon amount within 30 days of the payment due date for each bill.�

Hoff man is a f ull-time employee in Southampton, and works mostly Tuesday and

♌ Page 7

Thursday evenings, from about 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., in Washington.

Karen Bacon, Washington Township’s deputy township clerk, provided a copy of the Aug. 4 Washington Township Committee meeting minutes to this newspaper the day after the Sept. 1 Washington committee meeting, in response to an OPRA request.

The minutes indicate that Committeeman C. Leigh Gadd Jr. had requested in August to table the resolution related to the reimbursement agreement until the Sept. 1 meeting so that he could have additional time to review it. The minutes indicate that it was tabled at the time, 3-0. “I am sorry for the miscommunication,� said James on Sept. 1, referring to the August meeting cancellation mishap. “It was not intentional. We did not do it intentionally. We had electric—the fans worked, the windows were open, so it was not hot in here. We had running water. I could see no reason to not have the meeting.�

Hoffman, in informing this newspaper that the meeting had been canceled on Aug. 4, said it was because “we can’t have a meeting without power.� Coleman, in the text message Hoffman had forwarded to this newspaper, described of the circumstances that it was a “miracle� that officials were able to still hold the meeting that evening. Hoffman had also told this newspaper that there was no air conditioning, in addition to no internet.

The county issued a statement early on the evening of Aug. 4 asking residents “to give road and utility crews room to work and check in on elderly neighbors who are without electricity.�

More than 90 percent of Washington was without electricity, and more than two-dozen county roadways were closed that Tuesday evening due to the storm, including Green Bank-Batsto Road in Washington, according to a press release from the county.

See MEETING/ Page 11

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This year, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, our reliance on the trucking industry has become more apparent than ever.

America’s Truckers Keep on Trucking Semi-trucks transport 71 percent of all freight in the United States, and during the pandemic, truck drivers were deemed essential workers. Truckers were responsible for keeping our grocery stores stocked and delivering life-saving medical supplies throughout the country.

As frontline workers, they put their health at risk to keep supply chains open. In addition, many truckers found themselves working overtime and spending more time away from friends and family than usual. They also faced difficulties finding meals and accessing facilities on the road, due to closures and new service policies among retailers and restaurants.

Thank a Trucker and Offer Them Support If ever there was a time to thank a trucker, it’s now.

Many Americans have already done so by using the hashtag #ThankATrucker online.

Some people and businesses are even offering free meals to truck drivers. Many of these good deeds have been documented with the hashtag #TreatATrucker.

In addition, many restaurants and hotels have made special accommodations for just for truckers.

Lists of these businesses, as well as other resources for truck drivers, can be found at trucking.org/ COVID19/drivers.

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With so much laundry being generated, homeowners may want to consider paying extra attention to the space in the house where their clothing is being cleansed.

Laundry room renovations may not top homeowners' priority lists, but it may be time to give these rooms another look.

Assess Your Equipment If your appliances are aging, a laundry room renovation can start with an investment in new appliances. New models have large capacity loads, tend to be energy-efficient and could have innovative features that help fit with your laundry lifestyle. Purchasing front-loading models also can free up design space, as you can install a counter directly above the units, saving room for other items like drying racks.

Figure Out Your Room Needs A laundry room need not be limited to laundry only. Many homeowners make large

laundry rooms catch-all spaces that can serve as utility or mud rooms, pantry overflows, or off-season storage areas. Consider the functions you want the room to serve and include those ideas in your designs.

Add Some Natural Light If possible, include a window in your laundry room. Natural light can help make the room more enjoyable. It also can help you identify stains on clothes that need to be addressed and make it easier to fold matching items like socks.

Think About A Utility Sink Many washing machines drain out directly to waste pipes in the floor or wall, but you also can opt to have them empty into a utility sink. This sink also provides a convenient place to handwash items, clean tools or paintbrushes, or store items that perhaps you do not want to bring into a bathroom or kitchen sink.

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Signs Your Gutters Are In Need of Repair F

all is a great time to tackle projects around the house. The weather each fall allows homeowners to make improvements to their homes' exteriors without worrying about extreme heat or cold, while interior projects like painting are made easier because homeowners can open the windows to allow for proper ventilation.

Fall also marks a great time to prepare for upcoming projects that can make winter work that much easier. For example, fall is a great time to take stock of your gutters so you can address any issues before leaves begin to fall or the first snowstorm touches down.

Compromised gutters can contribute to water issues in basements and adversely affect a home's foundation if not addressed immediately, so it behooves homeowners to learn the signs that gutters are in need of repair or replacement.

• Gutters hanging off the home: Gutters were once installed predominantly with spikes. However, many industry professionals now install gutters with hanger brackets. Why the change?

Spikes loosen over time, leading to the gutters hanging off the home.

That can contribute to serious issues if left untreated. Gutters hanging off the home need not necessarily be replaced, but rather secured to the home, ideally with hanger brackets instead of spikes. Brackets hook into the front of the gutter and are then screwed into the fascia of a home. A professional who specializes

in gutter repair can perform this task relatively quickly, and it's an inexpensive yet highly effective solution.

• Gutter separation: Gutters that are no longer fastened together can leak and contribute to issues that affect the home's foundation, siding and appearance. Clogs and the accumulation of debris can cause gutters to separate because they are not designed to hold too much weight. Replacement of separated gutters may or may not be necessary depending on how big the problem is and the condition of the existing gutters. If replacement is not necessary, separated gutters may be remedied by securing the joints, another relatively simple and inexpensive fix.

• Peeling exterior paint: Paint that appears to be peeling off of your home may indicate that water is seeping over the edge of the gutter closest to your home. When that happens, water is coming down the side of the house, causing the paint to peel. In such instances, replacing the gutters is often necessary.

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Fall HOME & Garden

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Home Office Must-Haves

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As the dust settled and working professionals grew accustomed to working from home, many recognized the need to have an office in their homes. Various factors can make home offices more conducive to getting work done, and the following are some home office must-haves that can help people be more productive while working from home.

Lighting Lighting is important in a home office. It’s easy to overlook natural light, especially for workers who previously worked in offices that did not have windows. But natural light can help save on energy costs and boost mood.

In fact, natural light is a valued commodity for people used to working in office settings.

A 2018 survey of more than 1,600 workers conducted by the human resources advisory firm Future Workplace found that access to natural light and views of the outdoors were the most sought after attribute of a workplace environment. In addition, 47 percent of workers surveyed admitted they felt tired or very tired from the absence of natural light or a window at their office. When designing their home offices, homeowners should keep this in mind and choose areas of their homes that get ample natural light during a typical workday. Additional lighting also will be necessary. Recessed lighting can give an office a sleek look, and lights that can dim can allow workers to adjust their

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Quiet Professionals forced to work at home when social distancing measures were implemented may not have had much quiet, especially for those with young children whose schools were closed. But when designing a home office, homeowners have the chance to make their offices more conducive to concentration. Soundproofing walls may not be necessary, but look for areas of the home that don’t get much foot traffic. Kitchens are very popular rooms in many homes, so try to locate your home office away from the kitchen. A spare bedroom upstairs may make for the most ideal home office setting if the home does not have a traditional den. Spare bedrooms come with doors, which can instantly create a sense of quiet when closed. A converted garage also can make for a useful home office, but make sure the room already has cooling and heating and, ideally, windows.

Electrical Outlets Recently built homes tend to be equipped with enough outlets to accommodate our increasingly connected lifestyles. But older homes may need some electrical updates before they can capably accommodate home offices. When updating your electrical, replace existing outlets and fixtures with energy-efficient LED fixtures, which save money and benefit the environment. Before updating the electrical, decide on how you want the office to be laid out so you can have outlets installed where your computer, devices and other items, like a printer and television, will be. This makes it easy to hide cords and give the office a clean, professional look.

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♦ Page S5

Options Abound When Shopping for Home Siding

H

ome improvement projects run the gamut from minor repairs to complete overhauls. Replacing exterior siding is one of the most significant home improvement projects homeowners can undertake. Such a project

can give homes a completely new look, which is why choice of siding is such an important decision.

Homeowners have many siding options to choose from, and this guide can help them make the best choice for their homes.

Vinyl Siding Vinyl siding is easily maintained and among the more budget-friendly siding options. According to the home improvement resource HomeAdvisor, vinyl siding is made from a PVC plastic that does not rot or flake. Siding professionals note that the technology used to create vinyl siding has changed considerably in recent years, making this option more diverse than traditional vinyl siding. So homeowners turned off by the potentially plastic look of vinyl siding might be surprised at how different modern vinyl siding looks compared to the vinyl siding of yesteryear.

Fiber-Cement Siding The home improvement television network HGTV notes that fiber-cement siding has grown in popularity among homeowners in recent years. This material does not require much maintenance and it's non-flammable and resistant to termites. HomeAdvisor notes that fiber-cement siding can create the look of wood, stucco or masonry, making it a versatile option capable of creating various looks. In addition, fiber-cement siding is known for its durability, with some products coming with warranties lasting as long as 50 years.

Wood Siding Homeowners have many choices if they prefer wood siding on their homes.

Cedar, cypress, fir, pine, and spruce are just a handful of the many wood siding options homeowners can choose from.

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Beets, green onions, broccoli, and cabbages can be planted in late summer for fall harvest.

Gardeners who live in hardiness zones eight through 10 (the southern portion of the United States) can plant fall vegetables as late as December. Many of these plants can tolerate light frost, which may even help sweeten the vegetables.

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• Amend the soil with sand, compost, manure fertilizer, and any other nutrients needed depending on the types of vegetables you intend to grow.

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Saturday, September 19, 2020

Saturday, September 19, 2020

TOGETHER (Continued from Page 1)

positions. Last Febr uar y, for example, Earlen told this newspaper that, “Mr. Richter represents the very worst of what our politics has become.”

“He doesn’t view running for office as public service, but rather a playground for rich guys who think they are entitled to a seat in Congress,” said Earlen at the time.

He also accused the former CEO of “district shopping” and added that Richter’s “personal attack” on Gibbs (in which he characterized her 2006 shoplifting conviction as an “ethical crime” that should have disqualified her from seeking office) was “shameful.”

The county GOP chairman continued to vent his indignation toward Richter immediately following the latter’s primary victory over Gibbs, declaring that “Mr. Richter has many fences to mend in Burlington County after his numerous unnecessary attacks on party leaders, committee members and volunteers whose support he will need on Election Day.” Richter, who jumped into the 3rd District race at the beginning of the year after dropping out of the neighboring 2nd District contest when the incumbent running there, Rep. Jeff Van Drew, switched his party affiliation from Democrat to Republican, contended In a recent phone interview with the Pine Barrens Tribune that he had “worked hard to earn (the Burlington County GOP’s) support,” which “doesn’t occur overnight, or just because you won the primary.”

Asked whether he thought the backing from Burlco Republicans had been slow to materialize, he replied, “They came out and endorsed me when they were ready to endorse me.”

“There was a process,” he said. “… A lot of the Burlington County leadership was behind my primary opponent. They didn’t really know me or what I stood for. But now they do, and I think I now have their overwhelming support in working to win this election.”

A precursor to the county Republican organization’s reversing gears in regard to Richter was the announcement in early Aug u st t hat G ibbs’ for me r ca mpaig n manager, Angelo Lamberto, had been named as Richter’s deputy campaign manager.

“We are going to need to work together as one party to ensure that we send a principled Republican to Congress – a candidate who believes in defending our law enforcement, cutting taxes, and standing up for our veterans – and that candidate is David Richter,” said Lamberto in a press release.

A lso get t i ng beh i nd R icht e r is t he Burlington County Young Republicans organization, whose chair man, Stephen Parrey, said in a Sept. 4 statement of support that the “political outsider” represents the party’s “best chance to stand up to Nancy

Pelosi and the radical left’s agenda.”

Another organization to endorse Richter in the past month was the New Jersey State Policemen’s Benevolent Association (PBA), the state’s largest union representing law enforcement officers, eliciting a promise by the candidate to “defend our law enforcement com munit y,” star ting with “protecting qualified immunity, which ensures that criminals cannot sue cops simply for doing their job.”

Former 3rd District Congressman Tom MacArthur, who was narrowly defeated for re-election by Kim in 2018, has also recently backed Richter.

Richter’s ascendancy to the Republican party line on the Nov. 3 ballot began when he won the party’s Ocean County nominating convention by a slim eight-vote margin back in March, putting him in direct competition with Gibbs, who had previously been endorsed by both the Burlington County GOP and the Ocean County Republican screening committee, resulting in a primary campaign filled with acrimony and mutual accusations of wrongdoing. Prior to that, he made himself a very visible and vocal ally of Republican President Donald J. Trump by appearing on stage at the rally the president held in Wildwood at the end of January.

Richter’s ostensible success in bringing party officials who once denounced him on board his campaign train is somewhat reminiscent of what “political outsider” Trump managed to accomplish in 2016 after winning the GOP primaries by bringing around Republican politicians (some of whom were his rivals for the nomination that year) who had previously minced no words in assailing the real-estate developer’s character and competence.

Having apparently mended fences, Richter has now made it quite clear that he believes being on the same ticket as Trump will be an asset to his campaign, even taking part in a recent area “boat parade” conducted by Trump supporters. He also echoed many of the president’s positions on issues ranging from the pandemic to law and order in his latest interview with this newspaper, saying that he thinks Trump could not only win the popular vote this time around after having lost it to Hillary Clinton by nearly three million ballots, but “is going to” do so once he gets finished debating his Democratic rival, former Vice President Joseph R. Biden (whose brother Richter claims to have fired from Hill International after being brought into the company by Richter’s father).

As for his own chances of defeating Andy Kim, he contended that this will be “a very different election than two years ago, now that President Trump is at the top of the ticket” and “Andy is going to have all sorts of issues this time around” with voters in the district.

These issues, he said, include Kim’s support for Nancy Pelosi as speaker, which

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shows that the freshman congressman is “not a man of his word,” his vote to impeach Trump, and his “pretending to be a moderate Democrat when he is in New Jersey,” but “voting like a radical leftist” who is “a member of the progressive caucus” when he is in Washington. D.C. Richter further asserted that both Biden and Kim, while portraying themselves as moderates, represent “a party that is full of socialists and anarchists” that has “turned this country into Venezuela” (the beleaguered South American nation that has been in a state of political and economic turmoil since the death of its former socialist president, Hugo Chavez) and that “a mob of people going around with rocks and clubs and sticks is going to work against the Democrats,” especially “when people are afraid to go to work and send their children to school.”

He also maintained that although the leftist protest movement known as Antifa may be “a very, very small group,” it is “turning more people into Trump voters every day.”

By contrast, he contended that the muchpublicized recent article in The Atlantic, in which alleged disparaging remarks about American soldiers who had died in battle were attributed to the president by four unnamed individuals with supposed firsthand knowledge, “is not going to change one person’s vote,” or “make you want to be a socialist just because you think he said something inappropriate.”

Trump has said that the White House has collected the names of 25 people who have claimed to refute the account.

Asked if voters might be equally or more concerned about the danger of the ongoing pandemic than about street protests erupting in violence, however, Richter replied that “you can’t equate those two things.” In the candidate’s opinion—one he had also previously expressed to this newspaper— COVID-19 is “pretty much behind us here in New Jersey”(although he concedes that the restrictions imposed by Democratic Governor Phil Murphy were “appropriate” enough in the spring), and while “some people will still die” from it, we need no longer “live in absolute dread of the Coronavirus” and there is “no reason” why we should still be under any type of a lockdown.

“We should have returned to normal long before now,” he contended, echoing a point of view the president has continually conveyed to audiences at rallies around the country conducted with little social distancing and few participants wearing masks.

As for whether those rallies are advisable in light of the White House’s own pandemic experts, like Dr. Anthony Fauci and Dr. Deborah Birx, war ning that they could be superspreaders of the virus, which has reportedly killed nearly 200,000 Americans and counting, Richter replied that while such expert medical opinions might be “solid,” it is up to the president to set policy, which is

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“always made with political considerations.”

“We don’t let bureaucrats tell us how to live,” Richter said.

Richter asserted that “most people are convinced the real risk of this thing is behind us,” contending (as Trump also has) that the virus in and of itself has only resulted in about six percent, or 9,000, of the deaths attributed to it, the rest having involved underlying conditions of some sort.

He also d ism issed t he ala r m bei ng expressed by many teachers and school employees about the risks of picking up the infection from asymptomatic students during in-person classes, maintaining that “they have a choice: they can go to work or quit their jobs,” and said the vast majority of students and parents he had talked to were “overwhelmingly” in favor of keeping the schools open, albeit in a safe manner.

“I k now schools are taking the right precautions,” he added.

When asked if he wished to respond to such assertions, Kim, in a short phone interview with the Pine Barrens Tribune, called his opponent’s remarks about him “just a lot of (Republican) talking points we’re seeing all over the country, trying to paint me and (other Democrats) as extremists.”

Burlington and Ocean County residents, the congressman maintained, “know who I am.” In addition to having done more than two dozen town halls, he said he had worked hard to meet with small business owners all over the district.

“They know I am trying to help them get through the pandemic and the economic crisis,” Kim said, adding that he has been endorsed by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce as a result of his “bipartisan work” on the House Small Business Committee and what he described as his pro-business positions.

“The people in this district know I am not an extremist, but someone who’s fighting for them—and that is what they are going to be thinking about when they decide who to vote for,” the congressman declared.

K i m also condem ned a s “reck less” Richter’s raising of mob violence as a campaign issue, noting that he has spent his entire career as a national security official “trying to do everything I can to protect our country and community.” Security and safety, he added, should not be made into political issues, and “we should not be trying to stoke the flames in order to win an election.”

The incumbent further took issue with his challenger’s readiness to turn the page on the Coronavirus.

“For me, we cannot let our guard down when it comes to this pandemic,” he said.

“Here in New Jersey, we lost thousands of lives and have struggled more than most places in this country, and when experts are saying we could face a second wave later this year, that scares me. That is something that

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9/11 TRIBUTE

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Saturday, September 19, 2020 Photos By Andy Milone

Bruce Barker plays ‘Taps’ on his trumpet last Friday at a 9/11 tribute ceremony, hosted by Woodland Community Development Corporation, a nonprofit based out of Camden, in partnership with the Red Lion Diner in Southampton.

Red Lion Diner Owner Andy Linardos helps commemorate Sept. 11, 2001, this ‘important date in American history,’ at a tribute ceremony last Friday, hosted by Woodland Community Development Corporation, a nonprofit based out of Camden, in partnership with the Red Lion Diner in Southampton. The diner provided a breakfast on the house for those who attended.

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Justin Tompkins directs the Woodland Women’s Military Veteran’s Group in the singing of ‘God Bless America’ last Friday at a 9/11 tribute ceremony, hosted by Woodland Community Development Corporation, a nonprofit based out of Camden, in partnership with the Red Lion Diner in Southampton.

CONTRACT (Continued from Page 5)

meetings will now take place in the high school media center, now that a referendum renovation project has “finally” completely concluded, and that parking “typically takes place” behind the high school when meetings are held in the high school media center.

Among the 54 accomplishments McCooley took credit for during the Aug. 26 meeting, were opening the PRSD schools on time in the wake of the renovation work in 2018, housing 7th graders in LEHSD classrooms to avoid split sessions, consolidating school start times so that the high school and junior high school days begin and end at the same time, settling all contracts with bargaining units within the first six months, creating a strategic plan with an array of stakeholders, completing the referendum, starting dual enrollment academies and courses, providing for more advanced placement offerings, earning district recognition as an “Ocean County Leader in Inclusive Curriculum,” establishing a mental health specialist, decreasing absenteeism

under the state average, improving staff attendance, creating numerous share service positions, starting a One-to-One Device initiative, adding online classroom tools such as Blackboard, receiving a $90,000 grant to study consolidation, and establishing an Alumni and Friends Foundation.

The superintendent also listed the PRSD being selected as an LGBTQ pilot school as an accomplishment, and pointed to the number of things done to get the district through the Coronavirus pandemic.

“The contract language and conditions remain exactly the same,” said Brown of McCooley’s proposed contract extension. “The only change is to the term, which Dr McCooley is seeking to extend. She does not receive annual raises in her current contract and would not receive any increase in compensation from year-to-year in the new extended agreement.

“Remember that LEHSD and PRSD each pay 50 percent of her annual salary, which is about $94,000. I would encourage you to compare that to other Ocean County superintendents’ salaries.”

The PRSD, in addition to serving several Ocean County towns, serves Bass River Township in Burlington County.

Sharing Our Community’s Strength & Stories As the consequences of COVID-19 affect our community and our world, the importance of our connection to reliable information, resources and one another is more evident than ever. As your local newspaper, we are committed to keeping you connected through local news, outbreak updates, stimulating features and community engagement as we make our way through these troubled times toward a brighter future together.

Saturday, September 19, 2020

TOGETHER (Continued from Page 9)

we need to be ver y caref ul about. We ne e d le a de r sh ip i n t he W h it e Hou se a nd C o ng r e s s t h at r e s p e c t s ex p e r t s , medical professionals and recognizes that decisions that need to be made cannot be political decisions, but have to be based on medical and scientific facts and expertise.”

At the same time, he said, elected officials need to find and deliver real support to small businesses and families that are struggling economically.

“That is why I am t raveling arou nd Burlington and Ocean counties to meet with small businesses and trying to find real solutions to the challenges that they’re facing,” Kim said.

Richter, in a new 30-second television spot, which he described as “100 percent positive about me and my background,” claims he “t ur ned around a str uggling construction firm, turned it into a leader and created thousands of high-paying jobs,” a reference to his role in the family business founded by his father. It then shows him with his four teenage daughters, noting that he “grew up in Burlington County” and “knows how to rebuild the economy a nd c r e at e jobs ,” a nd “ is t he st rong leader we need to grow local businesses, invest in infrastructure and support and protect our families.”

None of the opinions Richter expressed in the inter view with this newspaper, however, are evident in the ad which was recently debuted by his campaign, several weeks after Kim began airing a series of ads that depict the cong ressman at home with his wife and two small children, talking about his national security background a s a civ i l ia n a dv ise r t o t op m i l it a r y leadership in Afghanistan, visiting area

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WWW.PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM businesses with a pledge to support them, and, most recently, promising to defend the Affordable Care Act. When asked by this newspaper what he thought of the Kim ad campaign, Richter replied, “I think Andy is trying to sell his likability,” adding, “that is smart, because I don’t believe he can sell his policies to the voters of the 3rd District.”

Richter added that Kim “benefited two years ago” from “the fact that nobody knew who he was or what he stood for,” but “now we know.”

Asked to summarize his objectives in running for Congress in the 3rd District, Richter said his priority “is to get the economy movi ng and to create jobs,” especially in light of how “businesses a c ross t he cou nt r y a nd espe cial ly i n New Je r sey h ave be e n de ci m at e d by the Coronavir us and the gover n ment’s response to it (meaning, apparently, state government).

“We need to br ing those businesses b a ck ,” he d e cl a r e d , c o nt e nd i ng t h a t the job of Congress is to create economic growth policies and laws to help businesses recover from this pandemic. “That means low taxes or tax holidays, lower regulation, it means helping companies get back to normal as much as possible.”

An example of how Richter’s opponent has failed in this regard, he claimed, is Kim’s vote for a $15-an-hour minimum wage, which he called “bad policy for businesses that are struggling to survive,” as well as for people seeking employment.

“It hurts almost everybody it affects,” Richter said.

When asked if the Kim for Congress c a m p a ig n wo u ld h ave a ny r e s p o n s e t o t h a t l a s t c h a r ge , A n d r e w M a m o, it s com mu n icat ions d i rector, re plied , “People can draw their own conclusions on the differences bet ween A ndy and David here.”

MOLD

(Continued from Page 4) staff, students and their families.”

“We do not make this decision lightly,” the superintendent wrote. “We understand this decision will disappoint our students, who are excitedly anticipating returning to school to see friends, meet their teacher, and engage in school activities. We are also disappointed that we have to make this decision and we will take steps to ensure that our Mullica virtual educational experience will be as exciting as we can make it for our students when they start school virtually on Sept. 14.”

Gfroehrer, in the interview with this newspaper, said that Epic Environmental tested “every room” in the district’s school building, and that she is now seeking quotes to remediate the potential mold.

A remediation firm, Gfroehrer said, will need to come in and seal off the affected areas, before using an air scrubber, in addition to a

MEETING (Continued from Page 7)

“The roads were open because I was out cutting trees down,” contended James on Sept.

1. “So, that is how I know the roads were open.”

Hoff man, in the previous published report by this newspaper, contended that she had sent a text message to this reporter providing advance notification that the Aug. 4 meeting was no longer canceled, “but my service was intermittent, it kicked back and was undeliverable.” She also claimed that a tree had fallen on her house during the tropical storm.

“It was not (holding a meeting after sending this newspaper a cancelation notice) just so you couldn’t be here,” James said.

HEPA vacuum, to remediate areas with suspected mold contamination. A complete wash down of the affected areas, she added, will also likely need to occur before the all-clear can be given.

“I am not sure of the timeline, as I have to see what is necessary and what it is going to take,” Gfroehrer said. “But Oct. 12—that is the goal to begin the hybrid schedule.”

Gfroehrer noted that school custodians, in areas of the building not affected by the suspected mold, have been wiping down furniture and walls, and using a bio blaster originally purchased to disinfect for COVID-19, as a precaution.

While district officials do not know for certain the cause of the suspected mold outbreak, a four-day power outage experienced in August (from Tropical Storm Isaias) may have led to the school’s HVAC system creating a humid environment inside the building, promoting the growth of mold spores, according to Weber.

“The district is working with our professionals to review the HVAC system to ensure proper balancing, as mold spores tend to grow and blossom when conditions are humid, dusty or moist,” wrote Weber to parents.

When it came time for the Washington committee to take up the new business for the Sept. 1 meeting, in addition to routine and inconsequential matters, the governing body congratulated Manning for “another year of a perfect (2019) audit.”

“There is nothing better than reading in the audit comments, ‘none,’” James said.

T he Wash i ng ton Com m it tee, wh ich unanimously accepted the results of the 2019 audit, also approved, 3-0, a change order for a River Road and Henderson Avenue paving project, as the final cost was $3,700 less than anticipated.

“It is always good to see a change order that is for a reduction,” James said.

In addition to scheduling a tax sale for Oct. 13, the Washington Committee welcomed M. O’Hagan as the municipality’s new code enforcement officer.

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We’ve all had days, or perhaps weeks or even months, where we understand the bitter pessimism and suffering of people who long for death. But when things get that bad, we really must turn things over to God and say “Dear Lord, I just can’t handle this by myself.” And that is also when we should not just be asking God for help, but also our friends and family, and if you don’t have family or friends that can help, you should try asking a complete stranger, or calling a crisis hotline. Especially in these times of social isolation we can feel very alone in the world and we should not feel bad about reaching out to others, even perfect strangers. You might be surprised how willing others are to help.

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(Continued from Page 7) vote was “economics.”

“It was appraised at a much higher value than what we sold it for,” Pullion said. “I did not like that. I kind of feel like we could have gotten a lot more money for the system than what we got.”

Pullion added that “right now, we ought to be grabbing all the money we can get,” especially since the impacts of the Coronavirus pandemic on county government is not known.

Burlington County Spokesman David Levinsky told this newspaper on Sept. 15 that the county hasn’t had an actual appraisal of the water system, but it did get an evaluation of it in 2014 that estimated its value at approximately $1.6 million based on its annual revenue and maintenance costs.

“But bear in mind the county has received no revenue from the system for some time because Pemberton was operating the system and billing the homes the system serves,” Levinsky said.

“The county was responsible for maintenance and upkeep. The work required on the system to keep it operating is substantial.

“By selling to the township, we are able to remove that liability and assist Pemberton at the same time as the infrastructure can help the township improve its water quality.”

Burlington County Commissioner Dan O’Connell seemingly offered a different take on the sale of the New Lisbon Water System to Pemberton, calling it “the definition of a win-win” and contending the sale “is good for Pemberton and the county as a whole.”

“Whether it is responding to the COVID-19 pa nde m ic, or t o help i mprove wat e r infrastructure, there is no higher priority for the board than public health and safety,” O’Connell said. “This agreement will help ensure safe, reliable and affordable water is available in Pemberton Township for years to come.”

Patriarca previously contended that if the New Lisbon system had become privately owned, it could have led to water utility rates “at a much higher rate than what we provide for our residents.”

According to the Sept. 1 press release provided by Hornickel, the township’s Water Division operated and performed day-to-day maintenance of the New Lisbon Water System’s pumps and wells, and also read associated water meters and billed customers for usage, during much of the time that the county had owned it.

“I firmly believe that a valuable resource such as a water system should remain in the public’s hands,” stated Patriarca in the Sept.

1 press release provided to this newspaper from Hor nickel. “We are for tunate to have negotiated an acceptable arrangement with the county to purchase the New Lisbon Water System.”

CLUES ACROSS

1. Flat-topped hill 5. Fire usually accompanies it 10. Talked 12. Skillset 14. Unembarrassed 16. Where teens gather 18. Boxing’s GOAT 19. Used to anoint 20. Rust fungi 22. Panthers’ signal caller 23. Forests have lots of them 25. Lentils 26. One’s self-esteem 27. Where you entered the world (abbr.)

28. High school test 30. Large, flightless bird 31. Expectorated 33. Some practice it 35. Prickly shrub 37. French river 38. Told on 40. Steep hillside 41. Peyton’s little brother 42. Soviet Socialist Republic 44. Welsh river 45. Witness 48. Brews

50. Orange-brown 52. Separates DNA and RNA 53. Mexican agave 55. Self-contained aircraft unit 56. Encourage 57. Atomic #52 (abbr.)

58. About latitude 63. Trivial gadget 65. Film a scene again 66. Small blisters 67. Dark brown

13. B complex vitamin 15. Go quickly 17. Toast 18. A team’s best pitcher 21. A Philly culinary special 23. Small child 24. Unhappy 27. Trims by cutting 29. Weepy 32. It might be on the back 34. Spy organization 35. Female body part 36. Came back from behind CLUES DOWN 39. Fall back or spring forward 1. Advanced degree 40.Famed traveling journalist 2. Goes with flow 43. Where the current is fast 3. The Caspian is one 44. Withstand 4 . A c c u m u l a t e o n t h e 46. A Philly football player surface of 47. Records brain activity 5.Va s c ular s y s te m s o r 49. Aromatic powder plants 51. Circular panpipe 6. A popular kids magazine 54. Ship as cargo 7. __ podrida: spicy Spanish 59. Bar bill stew 60. Adult female 8. Vandalized a car 61. OJ trial judge 9. Prefix meaning “within” 62. One’s grandmother 10. S ov i e t l a b o r c a m p 64. Hot, massive star system 11. Strong hostilities

ANSWERS ON PAGE 15 Sudoku puzzles are format ted as a 9x9 grid, broken down into nine 3x3 boxes. To solve a sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must fill each row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box. You can figure out the order in which the numbers will appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes. The more numbers you name, the easier it gets to solve the puzzle!

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CIRCULATION The Pine Barrens Tribune is published every Saturday. This newspaper is protected under the Federal Copyright Act. Reproduction of any part is not permitted by mechanical or electronic means without the expressed written permission of the Publisher. The Publisher reserves the right to revise or reject any advertisement. No liability shall be attached to the Publisher for interruption of publication or limitation of size and/or number of pages due to shortage of material, failure of transportation, flood, fire, severe weather, winter weather, riots, strikes, acts of God, a public health emergency or other causes beyond his or her control.

It is our policy to promptly correct errors. If you believe that you see a mistake, please call (609) 801-2392.

© 2020 Pine Barrens Tribune

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(Continued from Page 5) Accord i ng t o t he re por t , t he dock will result in the disturbance of 160 square feet of open water wetlands, and the walkway will be located within 300 feet of wetlands.

WANTED TO BUY Wants to purchase minerals and other oil and gas interests. Send details to P.O. Box 13557, Denver, CO 80201.

The report further explains, however, that the CMP per mits public docks in wetlands “provided the applicant demonstrates that certain conditions are met.” It goes o n t o s t a t e t h a t t h e a p pl i c a n t h a s “demonstrated that the need for the proposed walkway overrides the importance of protecting the wetland buffer” and “with the conditions, all practical measures are being taken to mitigate the impact on the wetland buffer.”

SOLUTIONS FOR PAGE 14

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Saturday, September 19, 2020

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