WOOLWICH TWP. — At their meeting on Nov. 19, the Woolwich Township Committee honored performances in baseball and softball by its young people.
The town’s 10/11 year old 2018 Boys Baseball team received an award for becoming the New Jersey District 15 and Section 4 Champions. That marked the first time this has occurred in the history of Swedesboro Woolwich baseball.
In softball, the 9/10 year old Girl’s Softball team was honored for becoming New Jersey District 15 Champions, Section 4 Champions, and finishing third in the state. The 13/14 year old Girls Juniors Softball team concluded its season as New Jersey District 14 and Section 4 Champions, as well as State Champions. This marked the first time that had happened in the history of Swedesboro Woolwich softball.
Elsewhere, in resolutions, the Committee authorized an agreement between Woolwich Township and Omni Recycling LLC for its end market recyclables. “We had very few options whatsoever aside from Omni,” mentioned Committeewoman Gina Santore. “It’s become difficult to have a return on commodities we send to the landfill.”
Santore explained that the community’s Curb My Clutter program has diverted nearly eight tons of clothing and electronics from the landfill. Residents only have to text their name and address to CMC, send photos of the electronic and clothing items they want recycled, and confirm a time for collection. She added that residents who submit their photos of items for collection can earn $10 Amazon gift cards.
In other resolutions, Woolwich accepted the Best Practices Inventory Report for Calendar Year 2018. Best Practices encourages municipalities to use governing methods that stress financial accountability, sound management and transparency. “New Jersey puts out a check list,” commented Municipal Clerk/ Administrator Jane DiBella. “We scored very well.”
Another resolution saw the Committee authorize the release of a traffic control escrow that was held on behalf of Ricky Slade Construction. Mayor Jordan Schlump said the construction work was done at Russell Mill Road and Woodstown Road, and the escrow was used for police to redirect traffic there.
Also, a bond ordinance was introduced on its first reading that would increase the appropriation and authorization of bonds and notes for the cost of sewer improvements from Logan Township.
In liaisons, Committeeman Dan Battisti reported that planning for the 2019 budget was already
underway. Battisti said the police department responded to 1,769 calls for service in October.
For Public Works, Committeeman Vernon Marino said that despite a lot of rain, the
department kept up its care for the baseball fields very well. He pointed out that one snow event
in November caused the use of 54 tons of rock salt.
In his Business Development Advisory Committee report, Deputy Mayor John Carleton noted
that the Business Owners Appreciation Event held at Independent Spirits Distillery in October
had a pretty good turnout. “It was a worthwhile and successful event,” he commented.
For his fire report, Carleton listed 45 calls to service for the Woolwich Fire Company in October.
He observed that the average response time from the Woolwich Fire Company was four minutes
and ten seconds. Carleton didn’t have response times for other areas, but he said that seemed
outstanding.
Schlump wanted to know if there had been any updates on motorists “blocking the box.”
“Don’t Block the Box” signs or striping tells a driver not to stop in the middle of an intersection
when a light turns red. When a driver blocks the intersection, it stops cars from moving in the
other direction.
Woolwich Fire Company Chief David Valiceka responded that Gloucester
County was working on some issues to put into place, and the matter would be resolved “sooner,
rather than later.”
By Robert Holt
