Solar Project at RiverWinds Vote Splits West Deptford Committee

Amid arguments and shouting, the West Deptford township committee voted Thursday to approve, with several conditions, at the .

The committee split in a 3-2 vote on the measure, with Mayor Anna Docimo and committee members Donna Szymborski and Hugh Garrison voting to approve the project as put forth by Sewell-based developer Ray Angelini Inc., subject to a final public presentation and final approval of the design and schematics.

Immediately after the vote, though, Szymborski called out Deputy Mayor Len Daws and asked why he voted against the measure, leading to several minutes of tension and increasingly raised voices over a number of issues.

Daws raised concerns over not being able to see the final look of the project in voting against it, despite the conditions of the approval.

“I think it’s a great concept,” he said. “What I haven’t seen is the actual end product you’re recommending for this project.”

Also at issue was the fact that the presentation was done in closed session, instead of what Daws said he would’ve preferred, a public presentation similar to a planning board presentation, where members of the public would be able to comment on the project before the committee took negotiations to a closed session.

Before the closed session was approved via a resolution in the general meeting, Daws questioned township solicitor Michael Angelini, who is not related to the developer, whether the closed session was necessary.

Michael Angelini said then, and repeated after the committee reconvened to vote on the project, that due to the fact that negotiations could potentially take place as part of the presentation, a closed session was appropriate.

“That’s clearly properly the subject of a closed session,” he said.

Daws and Michael Angelini argued back and forth for several minutes on both that point, as Michael Angelini came back to the point that the company would have to present the project to the public and submit specific plans, and the committee could spike the deal if either of those didn’t work out.

“You’re under no obligation,” Michael Angelini said.

With the decision already in hand, the conversation devolved further into shouting and crosstalk, as members of the public tried to throw questions to the dais.

“We’re not taking questions right now,” Docimo said, before cutting off the discussion.

She did, however, speak with at least a few members of the public following the meeting to clear up some of the confusion over what the vote actually meant.

"It's a great project," Docimo said. "It's got to be done right; and that being said, it will be presented to the public for comments."

A date for that presentation hasn't been determined yet, Docimo and township administrator Eric Campo said.

While the solar project wouldn’t completely meet the community center’s energy needs, it will provide about 70 percent of the electricity used annually, and at a significantly reduced cost, township engineer Ed Steck said previously.

The township currently pays PSE&G 16¢ per kilowatt-hour for electricity, and the bids for the solar project came in at 10.5¢ per kilowatt-hour.

Based on current usage at the community center, Campo said it would save the township about $125,000 per year versus what PSE&G is charging.

Editor's note: This article has been modified from the original to include further information about the scope of the project.