by Robert Holt
MICKLETON — At their meeting on Oct. 13, the East Greenwich Township Committee received an update on the status of the community’s budget through September from CFO Robert Law, and it contained mainly good news.
Law noted that the township police and fire departments are the only departments over budget nine months into 2015. “It’s not looking bad at all,” Law reported. “We can even make appropriations in November and December if necessary.”
The CFO indicated that East Greenwich Township had been aided by a resolution the Committee had passed earlier getting the community $500,000 in aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency due to damage from the June 23 storm. Law said that the town had only used $215,000 in expenditures overall from that amount at this point.
“We want to get our money back from FEMA before we submit next year’s budget. Then we can tell the state we have the money on hand,” Law explained. “As far as storm costs, we should be made whole.”
East Greenwich Mayor Dale Archer was pleased with the numbers. “We started the year with $680,000, and we’re on pace to have the same amount at year’s end,” he observed. “Congratulations to Committeeman (Stephen) Bottiglieri and CFO Law for all of their hard work on the budget.”
In resolutions, the Committee approved the submission of a grant application to the New Jersey Department of Transportation Municipal Aid Program for work on Sharp Drive, and they authorized the hiring of Wendy Belvick as Sound Recorder for the Municipal Court.
The Committee also accepted the resignations of Special Law Enforcement Officer II Joseph Devlin and Public Works employee David Loughlin. Loughlin had been with the Department for seven years, according to Archer.
Elsewhere, Committeeman Richard Schober reported that the East Greenwich Environmental Commission had sponsored the recent community shredding event of Oct. 24. And Committeeman Bob Tice said the East Greenwich Day Parade of Sept. 12 was “well received and well attended.”
Later the Committee learned that the community would be losing one of its long-time law enforcement officers as they approved the retirement of Lieutenant Charles Barone at the end of December. Barone, a 26-year veteran, has been with the East Greenwich Police Department for 21 years.
Deputy Mayor Jim Philbin called law enforcement a “way of life” for Barone. “You embody all the characteristics of an officer,” he added.
Bottiglieri noted that Barone always gave him a straight answer when he asked a question. “I know you look forward to retirement, but those of us on the Committee aren’t looking forward to seeing you gone,” he said.
Archer wished Barone “nothing but the very, very best” upon his retirement. “You guys don’t make a million dollars, but you wear your heart on your sleeve with your dedication to the community,” the mayor commented.
Meanwhile, East Greenwich Deputy Police Chief Chris Everwine offered a police report to the Committee for the first time. Everwine reported that the local department answered 1,248 calls to service during September, made 10 arrests, and issued 215 traffic summonses. There had also been 11 motor vehicle crashes during the month, according to the Deputy Chief.
Philbin commended Everwine for volunteering the report. “It was his idea,” Philbin said. “The reports should be very beneficial.”
