MICKLETON — At their meeting on July 14, the East Greenwich Township Committee introduced an ordinance that would allow them to acquire certain real estate property. The properties are being donated to Habitat for Humanity so three families can have homes, according to East Greenwich Township Mayor Dale Archer.
East Greenwich will be authorized to acquire property located at 122-124 Timberlane Road with this ordinance. Habitat for Humanity is a global nonprofit housing organization that works in many local communities across the U.S. and in about 70 countries. The Gloucester County Habitat for Humanity consists of families who qualify for a monthly housing payment that is no more than 30 percent of their monthly income.
The local community’s Habitat uses three standards to choose their homeowners: 1.) The level of need of the applicant, 2.) The homeowner’s willingness to partner with Habitat, 3.) Whether they can repay a mortgage through an affordable payment plan.
“Under our current agreement, East Greenwich is obligated to have three Habitat for Humanity buildings in town,” according to Archer. “We do have to have so many affordable homes,” explained Deputy Clerk Stephanie McCaffrey. “That’s what we are mandated to do. We have to meet so many units per the state.”
Elsewhere, the Committee adopted a resolution that would amend the Emergency Management Plan for essential personnel. The Committee was also authorized to adopt a policy on travel ban advisory during the COVID-19 Pandemic. McCaffrey elaborated on the matter saying, “The Emergency Management Plan basically stated that when someone in here goes to what is noted as a hot spot for COVID, we do need to be tested before we come back to work.”
“If someone is found positive, we obviously have to stay home. After being found negative, we have to get our temperatures taken for 14 days,” she continued. “It’s basically to protect everyone in here as a whole.”
“All of us in here are considered essential personnel. If multiple people go out, there is no one to come in and do the work,” McCaffrey added. “Typically, you look toward police and firemen, but we are saying we are all essential. We can’t afford to be out for any length of time, and we don’t have bodies who know the work.”
In other resolutions, Mayor Archer was authorized to execute an agreement with Gloucester County to participate in the Municipal Alliance to prevent alcoholism and drug abuse. Archer pointed out that this agreement takes place every year.
Also, the Committee authorized a software contract with Neptune Water Meters. Archer noted that this contract would cover the new water meters that were being installed in the older sections of town. The Committee saw the newer, modern water meters as time-savers, where they were able to drive down the street and read the water meters.”
Another resolution saw the resignation of Nicole Lloyd as Chair of Environmental Commission, and the resignation of Shea Walton as Public Works seasonal help. The township was also authorized to advertise for seasonal help for Public Works.
Archer congratulated the Public Works Department on finalizing the town’s paving of the East Greenwich Little League and soccer parking lots, along with one for Kingsway Youth Football. “We probably created a couple hundred more parking spaces as well,” suggested Archer. “They also repainted and resprayed our driveways.”
by Robert Holt
