SWEDESBORO — The Borough of Swedesboro held its council meeting on Dec. 16, where several topics were discussed including the major water leak, water meter compliance issues, road repairs, and community engagement.
The meeting began with Mayor Thomas Fromm providing an update on the significant water leak downtown that had persisted for over 10 hours. He shared that the source of the leak had been located and repaired. Kings Highway had been shut down to traffic during the leak, repair, and sidewalk repair.
A major point of discussion centered on water meter compliance in rental properties in the borough. Stephen Spithaler, a Swedesboro resident who resides on Lake Avenue, and a real estate agent, attended the meeting raising their concerns regarding Spithaler’s Lake Avenue property as he prepares to sell.
The property housed two units but only one water meter. The borough mandates separate water meters for each unit to prevent scenarios where a single tenant’s nonpayment could result in the water supply being cut off for both units.
Spithaler expressed to the council the financial strain of installing separate meters, sharing that he was quoted at around $15,000. The council stressed the necessity of compliance to ensure fairness and avoid future issues for tenants.
After deliberating, the council decided to permit Spithaler to split the water line at the curb, a more economical solution compared to digging into the county roadway. Council members empathized with the financial challenges this brings upon borough residents but reiterated the importance of upholding the mandate to maintain equal conditions for all residents.
The meeting also touched upon ongoing road repairs, with Fromm updating the council. He said that they are still waiting upon the states approval for the paving of Kings Highway.
Brooke McKibben was also officially appointed to the position of Municipal Housing Liaison at this meeting.
Councilmember Salvatore Casella shared that four students from Kingsway High School attended and expressed a desire to get involved in the Swedesboro/Woolwich Environmental Commission’s efforts. They discussed the challenges of recycling and proposed using social media to engage their peers and encourage parents to participate in recycling efforts.
When asked who handles recycling in their homes, all four students stated that they take on the responsibility, noting that their parents’ attitudes toward recycling are often indifferent.
The students are now exploring ways to raise awareness about recycling and its impact in Swedesboro, including the potential financial costs associated with rejected recycling loads, as rejected loads cost borough residents in taxes.
By Asiya Robinson
