Thursday, May 16, 2013
Despite protests at its May 2 meeting, the committee introduces a budget calling for a tax hike.
The public comment portion of the township committee meeting Thursday night was interrupted three times with an ear-splitting feedback loop from microphones on the dais that halted all communication for a solid 30 seconds each time. If you were looking for a clearer metaphor to describe the atmosphere of West Deptford government meetings in advance of the 2013 budget introduction, you wouldn’t have to go much further than that. Staring down the introduction of a budget that would levy 9¢ per $100 of assessed value, the governing body couldn’t even get a motion on the table at its prior meeting. Mayor Ray Chintall was having none of that in the May 16 proceedings, however. He pre-empted any conflict among his fellow committee members with a…
Friday, May 3, 2013
The proverbial wheels fell right off a meeting that was expected to include the introduction of the 2013 township budget, with residents reacting audibly, and officials playing to the crowd.
Fault lines in the working relationships of township committee members were put on public display Thursday, as arguments over township finances smothered any formal introduction of the 2013 municipal budget. Mayor Ray Chintall was forced to lean heavily on his gavel, alternately quieting the body on the dais and those in attendance, who hooted or grumbled depending upon their seating arrangements. Committee members Denice DiCarlo and Sam Cianfarini were at the center of what have become commonly contentious exchanges, with emotions running high amid the strain of flagging municipal revenues. The arguments swung on a convoluted budget presentation from Cianfarini that illustrated how deeply the loss of ratable properties will be felt by …
Thursday, April 18, 2013
At its Thursday night work session, the West Deptford Township Committee approved an agreement to solicit corporate advertising on township assets to raise revenues.
What would West Deptford look like with a Wawa logo on its water tower? Or an upbeat message about recycling—brought to you by Lowe’s—on the side of its garbage trucks? How about a discount on plumbing fixtures at Home Depot, printed right on the bottom of a water bill shipped directly to 22,000 homes? These are some of the ideas that could be brought to life in the near future, as the local government seeks to find ways to offset its multimillion-dollar loss of ratables and “a double-digit [percentage] increase” in taxes, said Mayor Ray Chintall. “Eyeballs and bodies” were the watchwords of Thursday's West Deptford Township Committee meeting, and the 40-plus residents there heard about government plans to focus both on generating …
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
The store kicked off its ribbon-cutting ceremony with remarks from Mayor Ray Chintall and a $77,000 donation to the Food Bank of South Jersey.
Southbound motorists on I-295 now have a new place to gas up along with their coffee, as Wawa cut the ribbon on its new pumps Wednesday morning at the Thorofare location on Crown Point Road. West Deptford Mayor Ray Chintall described the business as a demonstration of the commitment of Wawa to West Deptford. He gamely played along with the celebration, tagging his remarks with the "gotta have a Wawa" slogan to the cheers of staff assembled beneath the new service canopy. Tom DiPilla and his mother, Kitty, who co-own the property, said that the location would offer some competition to gas stations in the area while also offering a destination to southbound travelers on the highway. At the ceremony, Wawa also made a $77,449 donation to the …
Friday, March 29, 2013
Several teams from the nearby Bankbridge School District advanced to the statewide tournament, which is coming up next weekend in Wildwood.
Although there's lots of discussion in West Deptford these days about how the Township is going to pay for the facility, the RiverWinds Community Center is still the centerpiece of a number of significant events in town. One of the most rewarding happened earlier this month, when the facility hosted the Special Olympics South Jersey Sectional basketball tournament. In a statement provided to West Deptford Patch, Mayor Ray Chintall described the tournament as “not only a rewarding event to witness but also a humbling one, in which we are should be thankful for what we have and be aware and lend assistance to those with disabilities. “My hat goes off to all those who have organized a great event, especially to two fine gentlemen that I met, …
Sunday, March 24, 2013
The senior discount age is likely to move from 55 to 62, and members likely can expect a fee increase as well.
Friday, March 22, 2013
The senior discount age is likely to move from 55 to 62, and members likely can expect a fee increase as well.
Financial matters topped the agenda at the March meeting of the West Deptford Township Committee, and foremost among them was the issue of bringing the RiverWinds Community Center out of the red. Bill list Committeeman Sam Cianfarini asked questions about a number of financial items on the Township budget, including refunds of RiverWinds membership costs. Township administrator Eric Campo pointed out that the current contract for West Deptford police and firefighters allows for the full cost of a family membership to be reimbursed. RiverWinds employees also enjoy a 75 percent reimbursement of the cost of a family membership, he said. “Do we do anything like what corporate America does where there’s a validation that you’re actually using…
Thursday, March 14, 2013
Sprigman edged out a pair of candidates on the strength of her private-sector business experience, said Mayor Ray Chintall.
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Sprigman edged out a pair of candidates on the strength of her private-sector business experience, said Mayor Ray Chintall.
After a closed-session meeting Tuesday night, West Deptford leaders selected West Deptford resident Brenda Sprigman from a field of three candidates for the vacant CFO position in the township. "We had three very qualified candidates come and interview," said Committeeman Sam Cianfarini. "After the interview process it was just very obvious that the best candidate was Brenda Sprigman." The decision means that Sprigman will extend her role as acting CFO until December 2013. Although she is not a certified municipal CFO—one of the qualifications the committee was seeking from its applicants—Cianfarini said Sprigman will sit for that exam in May 2014. "The schedule of those classes are what delay that," he said. "The tests are only given …
Monday, March 11, 2013
The West Deptford Committee will hold a special, closed-session meeting March 12 to interview potential CFO hires.
The search for an chief financial officer for West Deptford could be one step closer to resolution after a special meeting of the township committee March 12. Mayor Ray Chintall said that the committee will hold closed-session interviews with a few of the top candidates for the position. Depending upon the outcome of those interviews, the body may nominate a hire, but he couldn't confirm whether any action would emerge in public session. "This month is going to be tough," Chintall said, because West Deptford expects to begin its budget process. "That CFO position is a necessary thing." West Deptford has advertised its assistant treasurer position since May 2012, said Committeeman Sam Cianfarini, who told Patch he is anxious for the …
Samantha McCall
11:28 pm on Monday, May 20, 2013
Wayne, I really think that you should run. I really do believe that you can turn this around. I know that you will find that the debt was all a lie and you can bring us back to reality. Please run. more ›