WOOLWICH TWP. — At the Woolwich Township Committee meeting on Aug. 20, Deputy Mayor John Carleton reported that the Woolwich Fire Company was well ahead of schedule in completing pump certification and passing physical tests.
But the firefighters have a message for local drivers: “Don’t Block the Box.”
“Don’t Block the Box” tells a driver not to stop in the middle of an intersection when a light turns red. When a driver blocks the intersection, it keeps cars from moving in the other direction.
According to Woolwich Fire Company Chief David Valichka, the firemen recently had a delay of six minutes in responding to a call because of that. He noted that could be long enough to cost someone their life.
Woolwich Police Department Chief Richard Jaramillo mentioned that this was the first time he’d heard about the six minute delay. “Response time is everything in what we do,” commented Jaramillo. “We’ll get together with Chief Valichka and figure something out.”
In other news, the Committee adopted an ordinance that would allow Woolwich Township to appropriate $2,125,000 and authorize issuing of $2 million in bonds or notes to finance part of the cost. Much of the funding would go toward a major public pathway at Locke Ave. Park, according to Director of Community Development Matt Blake.
Blake said the pathway would become a destination for those who wanted to use their bikes, or for people who wanted to walk. The site would feature generous parking, shade trees, bathrooms and four multi-use athletic fields. Woolwich was expected to be allowed to put in sewer service, Blake noted.
Elsewhere, in liaison reports, Committeeman Dan Battisti listed 1,929 calls for service from the local police force. Kingsway, the Swedesboro/Woolwich School District, and the Woolwich Police Department were in the process of finalizing an agreement for School Resource Officers for the 2018-19 school term, according to the Committeeman.
Battisti also mentioned that July had seen the first ever Woolwich Township Youth Police Academy for kids. “It was a great event and a great week for the kids,” he observed.
Jaramillo took the time to address the young people on the second day of camp saying, “What we start, we finish.” Mayor Jordan Schlump pointed out that 22 children signed up for the camp, and 22 finished it.
In Public Works, Committeeman Vernon Marino reported that No Parking signs for Wayne Drive were ready. For Parks and Recreation, Marino said over 100 people attended the town’s Movie Night at the Municipal Building. Marino also noted that fall scheduling for the Little League and travel teams was being completed.
For Trash and Recycling, Committeewoman Gina Santore reported that 350 tons of trash had been collected for July. She touted the success of the relatively new Curb My Clutter program, which had diverted 5.9 tons of recyclables for the month.
Carleton named Maugeri Farms as the Business Development Advisory Committee Spotlight of the Month for August. Maugeri has over 600 acres of land, and has been family owned and operated since 1928. Maugeri Farms is located at 1991 Oldmans Creek Road in Woolwich Township.
In his Kingsway report, Carleton reminded the Committee that Kingsway would be entering the new school year with over $2 million in additional funding. Carleton gave enormous credit to Superintendent of Schools James Lavender, Senate President Steve Sweeney, and the Fair Funding Action Committee for their efforts in Kingsway gaining the money.
Also, Schlump reported that Woolwich would be putting together a task force to review the TDR plan as mandated by New Jersey.
by Robert Holt
