Five Things You Need to Know...Township Committee Meeting

Did you miss Thursday night’s township committee meeting? Not to worry, here are the five things you need to know:

1. A proclamation honoring Caitlin Fenning for her recent induction into the All-American Marching Band was read aloud by Mayor Raymond Chintall. Fenning stood with her family, marching band director Tom Kershaw and principal Brian Gismondi as Chintall read out her long list of accomplishments.

Fenning is one of only 24 members selected as part of the All-American Marching Band’s color guard. The color guard will perform alongside 101 other musicians during the All-American Bowl halftime show in San Antonio, TX. The All-American Bowl will be televised on Saturday, Jan. 5 at 1 p.m. on NBC.      

Fenning is the first West Deptford Eagle to ever be selected for the All-American Bowl.

2. The township committee voted unanimously to approve the submission of a grant application to the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) for the reconstruction of Maple and Roosevelt avenues.

The grant will pay for the reconstruction, as well as the repaving of both roads. Cost of reconstruction will be determined by NJDOT.   

3. Committee approved a resolution to award contracts to both Central Carpet and North Eastern Hardwood Floors for renovations at RiverWinds Community Center.

RiverWinds is slated to have new carpet and tile installed shortly. Community members will receive notices, so they are fully aware of when the renovations will take place.

4. The township engineer announced that Locksley Lane Park is in now in the beginning stages of repair. The engineer explained that large stones and pieces of asphalt have been removed from the area, and that he expects soil and straw to be laid down within weeks.

Following Committeeman Samuel Cianfarini’s inquiry, the engineer said grass seed will be planted sometime this fall.

Locksley Lane Park is located in the Sherwood section of West Deptford and was mangled eight years ago by neighboring construction work.

5. A motion to provide members of the committee with an agenda five days prior to each meeting was tabled, after being proposed by Committeewoman Denice DiCarlo.

DiCarlo cited the committee’s past Open Public Meetings Act violation as the reason why such practices are needed.

DiCarlo also explained that often committee members are given ordinances or resolutions the day of the meeting, providing insufficient time for members to fully read and understand what they are voting on.

Mayor Chintall said that voting on the motion the same day it was proposed was contradictory to what the policy hoped to accomplished. DiCarlo responded by expressing frustration after her proposal of the idea last meeting did not result in the draft of an ordinance.

Deputy Mayor Sean Kilpatrick proposed the committee table the motion, with the intention of bringing it back after review at the next work session meeting.