MICKLETON — During their meeting on Oct. 22, the East Greenwich Township Committee officially added three officers to the community’s police department.
Full-time Patrolman Michael McCabe was sworn in by East Greenwich Mayor Dale Archer as the twentieth officer in the East Greenwich Police Department. Also joining their ranks were Special Law Enforcement II Officers Joseph Vogt and Christopher Breen.
Archer pointed out that Police Chief Anthony Francesco would be retiring at the end of the year, and East Greenwich Township would add another officer to keep the community’s forces at 20. “We have made a commitment to our police officers to bring them the best of everything,” Archer commented. “We stand behind our blue 100 percent.”
Archer said East Greenwich could feel secure with officers like these on call 24 hours and 365 days a year. Considering that, East Greenwich’s police officers are still involved in township events like “Coffee With a Cop.”
Archer congratulated the new officers, saying “I wish you the very best.”
In other news, the Committee introduced an ordinance that would repeal East Greenwich’s joint municipal court and establish the East Greenwich Municipal Court. They also introduced another ordinance that would require the registration of rental properties and regulating short-term rental units within East Greenwich Township.
The Committee adopted a resolution confirming the mayor’s appointment of Nicole Lloyd to the Environmental Commission. They also accepted a letter of resignation from Public Works employee Joseph Costill effective Oct. 25, 2019. The hourly rate of the new employee could be from $15 to $20, at the township’s discretion.
The Committee later approved a resolution that would permit a public firework display at Thompson Family Park and execution of an agreement with Garden State Fireworks, Inc. Following that resolution was a shared service agreement between East Greenwich Township and the Gloucester County Improvement Authority regarding usage of certain stage units for an event that would take place on Dec. 3, 2019 at Thompson Family Park for the East Greenwich Seventh Annual Christmas Tree Lighting. The mayor confirmed that Santa Claus was expected to appear, along with many surprises.
In local updates, Archer thanked Fred Hills for putting together a successful shredding event in October. “They have been doing these for a long time, and are great representatives of the township,” Archer mentioned. He listed 12,250 pounds of paper and 50 pieces of electronic equipment were collected at the event.
Archer also noted that all three of the new warehouses set to be built have broken ground in the I-295 Redevelopment Zone, located on Harmony Road, Swedesboro Avenue and Huff Road.
Archer said that East Greenwich had 200 emails when they first started the current email blasts seven years ago. “Now we are over 5,000,” he observed. “If you sign up for our newsletter, you will be a lot more knowledgeable about East Greenwich,” the mayor explained. “I’m proud of this group and what we’ve accomplished.”
“We want to leave the town in better shape than when we got here,” added Deputy Mayor Jim Philbin. “We’re going to do what’s best for the community.”
by Robert Holt
