Donna Szymborski, Sean Kilpatrick Not Seeking Reelection

The Democratic Committeewoman and Republican Deputy Mayor were not among those filing petitions to appear on the November ballot for township committee.

Local chapters of the two big political parties will put up fresh slates for their respective primaries in the West Deptford Township Committee election this June. Incumbent Democratic Committeewoman Donna Szymborski and Republican Deputy Mayor Sean Kilpatrick were not among those names presented by the 4 p.m. filing deadline April 1. Instead, the Democrats will be represented by James Robinson Jr. and Adam Reid. The Republican primary candidates will be Jeff Hansen and Gerald P. Maher. The partisan committee is holding elections for two open seats this year.  Robinson is vice-chairman of the Township Zoning Board; Reid is the grandson of former West Deptford mayor and Committeeman Robert Reid. Hansen chairs the RiverWinds Advisory Board, …

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RiverWinds Budget Concerns Top Committee Meeting

The senior discount age is likely to move from 55 to 62, and members likely can expect a fee increase as well.

RiverWinds Budget Concerns Top Committee Meeting

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…

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Occupant

8:01 am on Tuesday, April 9, 2013

If Riverwinds is in such bad shape financially, I would rescind all discounts for anybody. Sure police and firemen deserve a discount, also seniors, employees, you name it. Where does it end. I say no discounts for anybody. Get to the point where we can comfortably pay our bills and debt and only then reconsider the possibility of discounts.   more ›

RiverWinds to Get a Boost from Proposed Revenue, Cost-Cutting Measures

A handful of proposals could bring the facility closer to breaking even on its costs, says RiverWinds Board Chairman Jeff Hansen.

"When you say West Deptford, people think of the RiverWinds," said Jeff Hansen, chairman of the advisory board of the facility, "and that’s a good thing because it’s beautiful down there." The RiverWinds just celebrated its 10th anniversary in April 2012, and the celebrated municipal recreational complex remains a "one-of-a-kind" entity in South Jersey, Hansen said. But the RiverWinds is still not turning a profit or even running at a sustainable rate, Hansen said. So the advisory board is working with RiverWinds management on a number of proposals to help generate additional revenues and cut costs. Among the most successful has been opening up membership at the facility to non-West Deptford residents, an initiative Hansen said brought in …

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Mike Dobson

2:21 pm on Monday, April 8, 2013

Agreed that, for a special designated investigative committee charged with finding creative solutions; this was more of a bunt than a home run. A WDHS sophomore with with legal pad, calculator and a 40 minute Study Hall could have come up with these "solutions"   more ›

Township to Interview CFO Candidates at Special Meeting Tuesday

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 …

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Longtime West Deptford Municipal Court Judge Replaced

After presiding over West Deptford municipal court for close to two decades, Judge Guy Killen is being replaced with Joan Adams.

After close to two decades of service, Judge Guy Killen will not return as West Deptford’s municipal judge following Thursday night’s township committee meeting. With a nomination by Committeeman Samuel Cianfarini, Judge Joan Adams was appointed to the seat by a 3-2 township committee vote—with both Democratic township committee members dissenting. Following the township committee’s appointment, Adams will serve a three-year term as judge for the West Deptford Township Municipal Court. Township Administrator Eric Campo explained that the salary for municipal judge is fixed under the salary ordinance passed back in November of last year. Killen's salary in 2011 was $31,750. The committee was voting for the second time on this appointment, …

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Sponsorship Money Rolling in for Summer Concert Series

West Deptford has already received commitments for $17,100 toward the 2013 summer concert series at RiverWinds.

West Deptford is off to a fast start in raising money through sponsorships for its summer concert series at RiverWinds. According to numbers from recreation director Greg Ley, the township has already received commitments for $17,100 worth of funding from vender fees and corporate sponsors. That amount is just over half of all of the money the township received in 2012. Last year, the township received a final amount of $33,750 from vendor fees and sponsors. Ley said the township hopes to continue to raise money. At a recreation advisory committee meeting last week, he encouraged board members to get local businesses to donate money to the concerts. He also said that the mayor's sponsorship letter for the concert has gone out. The township…

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itsirk

11:36 pm on Friday, March 8, 2013

what????????????? Ramblings of a lunatic   more ›

5 Things You Need to Know: Township Committee Meeting

The mayor criticizes West Deptford's municipal judge as 'too lenient,' the township attorney provides an update on an attorney general's investigation and more.

With an otherwise relatively short agenda, there were a few big items to come out of Thursday night's township committee meeting. Miss the meeting? No worries, here are the five things you need to know: 1. The township committee approved the final payment for the newly installed generator in the RiverWinds Community Center. The fifth installment was approved in the amount of $11,352.15 for the period ending Dec. 17, 2012. 2. The appointment of a municipal judge for a three year term is still up in the air, after neither party could see eye-to-eye on a candidate. Republican Deputy Mayor Sean Kilpatrick motioned to appoint current Franklin Township Judge Joan Adams, but was blocked after both Democratic Committeewomen Denice DiCarlo and …

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Off the Chopping Block: RiverWinds Summer Concerts Set in Motion

While it wasn't smooth sailing, West Deptford's township committee passed a resolution ensuring a summer concert series this year.

For those about to rock at RiverWinds, we salute you. This time last year, the fate of the RiverWinds summer concert series hung in the balance. But this year's concerts look substantially more stable. After much debate over the series' financial viability, West Deptford's township committee voted Thursday to move ahead with the popular concerts. The committee agreed to grant Mayor Raymond Chintall power to sign a contract with Anderson Entertainment Management, in order to secure bands for this year’s series. The decision came after a discussion led by Deputy Mayor Sean Kilpatrick at the Feb. 7 township committee meeting. Kilpatrick talked about the importance of the concert series—attracting nonresidents to the town and potential out-of-…

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