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Local News Clips - December 2008
Concerns about Kessler Hospital reach far beyond Hammonton's borders 12/29/08 Hammontonians feel protective of their hospital: William B. Kessler Memorial Hospital, next to Hammonton Lake on Route 30. But even they know they're not the only ones who depend on it. A little compass-twirling on a map of southern New Jersey's hospitals finds more than 200 square miles in which Kessler is the closest acute-care hospital. That's an area about five times the size of Hammonton rooting for the hospital to succeed in its emergency loan drive. Kessler's new administration said without $5 million from residents by Jan. 15, permanent shutdown is the only option left. "It serves a big community," said Chuck Chiarello, mayor of Buena Vista Township, where "everybody south of Weymouth Road goes to Vineland, and everybody north of Weymouth Road would go to Kessler." Besides half of Chiarello's constituency, that 200-square-mile swath also includes all of Folsom and Mullica Township, nearly all of Wharton State Forest in Burlington County, more than half of Hamilton Township - although not Mays Landing - and Camden County between Blue Anchor and Hammonton. Beyond that area, the best options are South Jersey Healthcare Medical Center in Vineland, AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center, Mainland Campus, in Galloway Township, and Virtua West Jersey Hospital in Berlin, Camden County. Those hospitals are where Kessler's patients would turn if the loan drive falls short. "Obviously, it would be a setback for our residents," said Thomas Ballistreri, Folsom's mayor. "Kessler's always been somewhere the Folsom residents were able to depend on. There's no question the small hospitals are feeling the pressure these days." The administration installed at Kessler in October has met with leaders of area towns, seeking loans, or at least help in persuading wealthy residents to lend, several mayors said. "Certainly, everybody's been trying to come up with ideas," Ballistreri said. However, "I'm not real optimistic, from the things I've been hearing. It just seems like the cards are stacked against them. It doesn't seem like they're getting any revenue stream from the federal government or the state." Mullica Township Mayor William Kennedy also is pessimistic, as much as he wants Kessler to survive. "It's a place that saves lives. It's a short distance. You'd have to start traveling," Kennedy said. "Hopefully, somebody at the end will come in with the money. It's a lot of money they're asking for." Kessler Chief Executive Officer Jim Rossi spoke with The Press of Atlantic City two days before Christmas, in anticipation of having no announcements during the holidays. "The crunch is on. It could go drastically one way or the other," Rossi said. "At this point, we're all done. I think the best way is lay it on the line. We're probably going to take the next 10, 12 days to meet with everybody we can, then regroup in the beginning of January ... and probably have a pretty good idea exactly what are options are." Western Atlantic County is known for its farm production, especially Hammonton's blueberries. Hospital officials recently gathered farmers for a pitch in Mullica's Nesco section, Kennedy said. "There's a lot of wealthy farmers in and around Hammonton," Kennedy said. "I don't know how many people I know have that kind of money. With the economy the way it is, people who do have that kind of money are holding onto it." Chiarello believes the best way to save Kessler is to lobby state legislators and Gov. Jon S. Corzine for some emergency aid. The hospital was recently left out of a $44 million state aid package for medical centers, all of them well north of Atlantic County. "We're hoping they can find a way to get the support that they need to stay open. It would be great if the attention that was being paid now would bring somebody forward as a benefactor," Chiarello said. As for loans from Buena Vista Township, "it would probably not be a financially viable thing to do for our community. ... I don't know what any one town can do to get them out of the fall they're in."
Piece of rail history goes to Richland Village station 12/27/08 Newfield resident John Viola donated a WI 1906 switch tower to Buena Vista Township. The Public Works Department has been restoring the switch tower and recently moved two sections of the tower to Richland Village. For complete details go to: www.thedailyjournal.com
Icon to coach Hermits wrestling 12/22/08 Joe Melchiore has been named the new head coach of the St. Augustine Prep wrestling team. For complete details go to: www.thedailyjournal.com
Two of 17 Atlantic towns settle public records suits 12/18/08 A civil suit brought against 17 Atlantic County municipalities for alleged violations of the Open Public Records Act has resulted in two towns changing the way they conduct business. Both Buena Vista Township and Folsom reached a settlement with John Paff, of the New Jersey Libertarian Party's Open Government Advocacy Project, earlier this month to provide the public with more details of their executive sessions. Litigation against the other towns is ongoing. Paff said he chose litigation against the municipalities after OPRA requests revealed violations regarding either the lack of details of matters discussed prior to closed sessions or withholding of minutes from those closed session meetings. "A lot of towns just aren't in compliance," said Paff, a Somerset resident. "I think once they saw what I was really looking for, they didn't have a problem. They know it's in the best interest for the public." As terms of the township's settlement, Buena Vista Township Mayor Chuck Chiarello said that prior to going into a closed session, Township Council members will give more details about the items they intend to discuss. Paff took issue with the township's resolutions and entered into litigation because he felt they did not provide adequate information. It was something, Chiarello said, that was easily, and cheaply, rectified. "Essentially, Mr. Paff's contention was that if you wanted to find out what was happening in closed session, where we normally go in and discuss personnel issues, litigation and contract disputes, there was no way for the public to follow it that night," he said. "We were able to resolve it amicably and we will go on from there." Now, Chiarello said, before Township Council goes into closed session, it presents a list of things that will be discussed. While finite detail isn't required by the law or the settlement, the discussions now provide some more information, he said. Folsom also resolved the litigation by agreeing to make redacted versions of its executive session minutes available at least two days prior to the public hearings. This, Paff said, gives citizens the opportunity to review the non-exempt portions of the executive minutes in time to comment on them during the public portion of the regular council meetings. The civil complaint filed against the 17 towns came on Oct. 3. Paff said he's been in discussion with several municipalities since then, some of which are looking to resolve the matter and others that are choosing to fight it. He said he plans on making the same OPRA requests of towns in other counties as well, saying he only started with Atlantic County because it began with the letter A. "I'm not looking for them to give up secret information, I'm only trying to make sure that at least the stuff the public is allowed to know about, they do," Paff said. "Not to have these sterile meetings where they give a firefighter a plaque and then go behind closed doors to discuss all the good stuff. "Hopefully this will have a statewide impact. And I think it will, it's getting their attention," he said. His efforts have not been entirely well-received by all municipalities, he said, though he's been surprised at some of the responses. Port Republic has been combative, he said, and its lawyer,Salvatore Perillo, has called the lawsuit frivolous. Perillo is also the mayor of Ocean City, though Paff's search hasn't taken him to Cape May County, yet. Absecon has withheld minutes, Paff said, and Atlantic City has provided him with all of his requests for closed-session minutes. However, they often contain pages and pages of blacked out, or redacted, information, which he feels is too much. Generally, he said, the towns seem willing to address his concerns. "I got very detailed in these settlement agreements," he said. "I approached all the towns to see if they would sign off on this and the response has been pretty good. I think I've worked up a lot of these towns. "They've just been doing the things they've always been doing and no one has really noticed." Buena Vista Township Solicitor Mark Stein said the settlement was particularly easy for the township because it only required a minor change. Fighting it, he said, would have been unnecessary and only cost the taxpayers money. The cost to settle the matter, he said, was about $40. "He had some technical questions with what our resolutions said when we went to closed session, so we resolved it," Stein said. "While I don't necessarily agree or disagree with it, changing it was no hardship to us and it ended the litigation." Another reason it was so easily resolved, he said, is that the township has always been very forthright with its executive session minutes. While he didn't speculate on specific municipalities, he did say that releasing closed minutes is likely more of a concern than providing greater details prior to closed meetings. Chiarello said the township provided Paff with all the information he requested in his initial issue, and when he found fault with it, the two parties sought to fix it. "The whole concept - the word now is transparency - is open government," Chiarello said. "There's a reason why the Sunshine law and the Open Public Meeting Act were put together. "We operate like a business and we're responsible to the public." Atlantic County towns named in the lawsuit: Absecon, Atlantic City, Buena Vista Township, Corbin City, Egg Harbor City, Egg Harbor Township, Folsom, Galloway Township, Hamilton Township, Hammonton, Linwood, Longport, Margate, Mullica Township, Northfield, Port Republic, Somers Point.
Brother Frank Cucinotta, OSA, 86 12/18/08 Brother Frank Philip Cucinotta, who played a vital role in the creation of St. Augustine Prep died Thursday following a long battle with cancer. Two visitations are scheduled for Brother Frank Cucinotta. The first is for Augustinian friars at 4:30 p.m. Thursday at the Saint Thomas Monastery Chapel at the Villanova University campus. An evening prayer follows at 5:15 p.m. A general visitation is scheduled at 10 a.m. Friday at the school, located at 611 Cedar Ave., Richland. The funeral liturgy begins at 11 a.m. with burial following at Saint Mary's Cemetery in East Vineland. For complete details go to: www.thedailyjournal.com
Salon aids family of young cancer victim 12/17/08 Cynthia Roberts Salon, Spa & Studio started a collection in honor of a Collings Lakes family who learned their daughter had kidney cancer. For complete details go to: www.thedailyjournal.com
Man who found land for St. Augustine Prep dies 12/16/08 Brother Frank Philip Cucinotta, who played a vital role in the creation of St. Augustine Prep died Thursday following a long battle with cancer. Two visitations are scheduled for Brother Frank Cucinotta. The first is for Augustinian friars at 4:30 p.m. Thursday at the Saint Thomas Monastery Chapel at the Villanova University campus. An evening prayer follows at 5:15 p.m. A general visitation is scheduled at 10 a.m. Friday at the school, located at 611 Cedar Ave., Richland. The funeral liturgy begins at 11 a.m. with burial following at Saint Mary's Cemetery in East Vineland. For complete details go to: www.thedailyjournal.com
Holiday Benefit Honors Deceased EMTS: Event serves as gift drive for hospitalized children 12/13/08 This is the third year that Deb Bell has organized a toy drive and benefit event in honor of three of her co-workers who died from cancer-related diseases. For complete details go to: www.thedailyjournal.com
Council rejects State Police proposal 12/13/08 TRENTON - The state Council on Local Mandates rejected Friday the state's proposal to charge rural towns about $7.5 million for State Police coverage, a move that would violate state constitution requirements for "state mandate/state pay." "The 'state mandate/state pay' directive would have little meaning if the Legislature could avoid it by expressly electing to provide a specified partial amount of funding for a mandate and leaving an acknowledged balance to be shouldered by the local units," the council wrote in its 11-page decision. The State Police force was established in 1921 to provide law enforcement for smaller towns that could not afford their own police. Twenty-three towns appealed the funding to the council. The written opinion supports the council's Oct. 22 decision to nullify part of the state budget legislation that would have required 89 largely rural municipalities to foot $12.5 million of the bill for State Police coverage. There is no appeal from the council. The decision noted that while the initial $12.5 million requirement was decreased by $5 million, it still left a $7.5 million unfunded mandate. In October, Gov. Jon S. Corzine said he would consult Attorney General Anne Milgram about the state's next step. After the decision Friday afternoon, Corzine spokesmen deferred to the Attorney General's press office and did not respond to a request for comment. Buena Vista Mayor Chuck Chiarello said he thought the rural policing issue was settled. "Now this doesn't stop the state from looking at other issues that may hurt small and rural municipalities," Chia-rello said, including other adjustments or aid reductions.
Church food bank is open Dec. 20 12/13/08 Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church in Buena Vista will be disturbing food from its food bank on December 20. For information call 856-369-5006. For complete details go to: www.thedailyjournal.com
Pinelands Commission asks Corzine for 6-month extension on affordable housing deadline 12/12/08 2:43 p.m. Update - The Pinelands Commission has asked Gov. Jon Corzine for at least a six-month extension of the deadline for towns to figure out their affordable housing capabilities. The communities are expected to submit plans to the Council on Affordable Housing, or COAH, by Dec. 31. But the commission concluded that a six-month extension of the deadline is an absolute minimum for towns to meet the requirements. The deadline can only be extended by an executive order from the governor. �I don�t know how municipalities can reasonably prepare a good housing plan without proper direction from the Pinelands Commission and the (COAH),� said John Stokes, executive director of the commission. The commission is in the process of making changes to the Land Capability Map, which may change development practices in communities throughout the Pinelands. The map designates areas of the Pinelands to accommodate more growth or more land preservation, which could place strict development limits within certain townships. COAH's growth share policy, on the other hand, states that one unit out of every five housing units in a community must be affordable � designed for low- to median-income families � and one unit must be provided for every 16 jobs created in a community. �We know that there are Coalition of Affordable Housing provisions that just do not work in the Pinelands,� Stokes said. �But that doesn�t mean we can�t provide affordable housing.� Since the map has not been finalized, some members of the Commission said they believed even a six-month extension of the deadline might not be enough time to let Pinelands communities formulate affordable housing plans. �I think that makes for hasty missteps that you�re going to have to go back and fix,� said Robert Jackson, one of the governor�s appointees to the commission from Cape May County. �We want a year, six months minimum.� Although members of the commission agreed that six months might cut things close, Stokes was more cautious, pushing for a reasonable extension as opposed to no extension at all. �Sometimes, if you ask for too much, people aren�t going to take you seriously,� Stokes said. See Saturday's edition of The Press for additional coverage.
Audit program may help towns save on energy 12/10/08 The upcoming budget could be a harsh one for many local governments facing higher energy costs and a rough economy. Some communities are considering a new approach to try to save money: Do an energy audit. The state Board of Public Utilities created a new program that offers funding for cities and towns to hire companies to evaluate the energy-efficiency of their offices, schools and other public buildings. The audit will outline the upgrades that should be done, such as better insulation, and explain how the changes could help reduce utility costs. Buena Vista and Galloway townships and the Margate school district are among 115 communities that applied for the program, which began in October, said Doyal Siddell, the state BPU spokesman. Nine communities in Ocean County, including Barnegat and Stafford townships, submitted applications. The state will pay 75 percent of the audit to $100,000 per applicant. Local governments could get reimbursed for the entire audit, depending on how much they spend on improvements. While the proposed savings vary per audit, state officials estimate utility costs could go down 10 to 20 percent. The program's goal is to show the benefits of energy efficiency, said Joseph Fiordaliso, the BPU commissioner. "I can't emphasize enough it is only benign: to help the municipality save money, and ultimately the taxpayers to save money," Fiordaliso said. "But it's also to educate the citizens of the municipality (that) in order to solve our energy crisis, we all have to pull together." The program works on a first-come, first-served basis and the state BPU set aside $3.2 million for 2008 and $5 million for 2009, Siddell said. The funds come from a fee New Jersey residents pay on their utility bills to support clean energy programs, which was $33 for the average energy customer. Galloway Mayor Tom Bassford said high energy costs encouraged the township to apply. Electricity and gas expenses shot up 14 percent last year to $168,100, and another 5 percent this year to about $176,000. "Anything we can do to reduce these costs over the years, I think we can see a big savings and hopefully get (our audit money) back in a couple of years," Bassford said. Galloway plans to evaluate the municipal complex, two public works buildings and the new American Legion building. Other communities applied to learn more ways to save energy and help the environment. Margate Superintendent Dominick Potena noted the school district did upgrades in the past, such as installing solar panels and efficient heating systems. But, "there's always room for improvement," Potena said, and the district hopes to take the next step. In Buena Vista, electricity and fuel costs have gone up $2,000 to $68,000 this year. Mayor Chuck Chiarello said the township plans to evaluate the municipal building, community center and public works building. While Buena Vista installed new lighting and made other upgrades in the past, Chiarello said it doesn't hurt to stay updated. "The technology keeps changing, so you want to take a look and keep doing the best you can," he said.
Transparency makes for good government 12/10/08 Buena Vista Township Committee and the New Jersey Libertarian Party have reached an agreement amicably that will help make the actions of the elected officials more transparent and will help the public hold them accountable. For complete details go to: www.thedailyjournal.com
All aboard! Patcong Valley Society keeps model trains rolling in Richland 12/9/08 The Patcong Valley Society will be holding several open houses during the holidays. For complete details go to: www.thedailyjournal.com
Buena Vista shines light on closed-door meetings 12/9/08 Because of a legal agreement with the New Jersey Libertarian Party the Township Committee is saying more about what members plan to talk about in closed sessions. For complete details go to: www.thedailyjournal.com
State energy audits / Sign up 12/08/08 Local governments are scrambling to save money in the face of plummeting revenues - and trying to avoid tax hikes during a recession. Given that pressure, local governments have no excuse for passing up a state offer to provide energy audits that could cut utility bills by as much as 20 percent. In October, the state Board of Public Utilities began offering a program that will pay 75 percent of the cost of the audit - and will pick up the remaining 25 percent just as long as local governments implement the audit's recommendations. The money comes from a charge on utility bills for clean-energy initiatives and is available to municipalities, schools, county governments and agencies. It's a valuable program. Trouble is, not that many towns and schools in our area have signed up. Nearly 100 local governments statewide have applied for the program. But only three are in Atlantic County - the Margate school district, Buena Vista Township and Galloway Township. No towns in Cape May County have applied, and only one from Cumberland County - Lawrence Township. Ocean County seems to have gotten the idea: Berkeley Township, Lavallette, Manchester Township, Seaside Park, Stafford Township, Little Egg Harbor Township and both the Brick Township Board of Education and Municipal Utilities Authority are among those to submit applications. Barnegat Township also plans to apply. Smart local governments are already taking steps to cut spending and lessen potential property-tax increases next year. Painful layoffs and service cutbacks could be in the works. But conserving energy is a way to save money relatively painlessly - and help save the environment as well. How much money can be saved? The BPU estimates a 10 percent to 20 percent cut in utility bills. On its own, the Southern Regional School District in Ocean County saved more than a half-million dollars last year after the district enlisted an energy-conservation firm that provided guidelines for doing internal energy audits several times a week. Much of the savings was achieved simply by turning out lights and regulating the use of heating and air conditioning. Under the BPU program, auditors evaluate the structure, lighting, windows, insulation, heating and other potential areas in which to save energy. The BPU has $3 million set aside for the program this year and $5 million in 2009. It's on a first-come, first-served basis. More southern New Jersey towns ought to start getting in line. And if they don't, taxpayers should ask why not.
Pinelands towns struggle with affordable housing to meet state requirements 12/05/08 In the Pinelands National Reserve, affordable housing seems to be a puzzle piece that just doesn't fit. That was the sentiment at Wednesday evening's Pinelands Municipal Council meeting in Mays Landing, where people representing Pinelands communities of all shapes, sizes and populations expressed their concerns on affordable housing requirements. The communities are expected to submit plans to the Council on Affordable Housing, or COAH, by Dec. 31. Many argued that submitting a plan for allocating affordable housing development by the end of the year is too soon, especially when the Pinelands Commission has yet to finalize changes to the Land Capability Map. The map, which designates areas of the Pinelands to accommodate more growth or more land preservation, is still being refined. Some areas would be limited to developing about one home per 28 acres, and this limited growth doesn't leave much space for new development. COAH's growth share policy, on the other hand, states that one unit out of every five housing units in a community must be affordable - designed for low- to median-income families - and one unit must be provided for every 16 jobs created in a community. The Pinelands communities also have a financial stake in the regulation. In order to raise money for affordable housing, a 2.5 percent fee is placed on new nonresidential development. If a community is participating in COAH's process, the money collected this way can be put toward affordable housing within that community. If the community does not participate, it goes into a state pool for affordable housing that communities cannot use for themselves. Representatives from places such as Estell Manor and Bass River Township said they could not see how their communities could accommodate affordable housing, since growth is limited in their towns and new homes are in many cases independently financed rather than built by a developer. Likewise, in places such as Hammonton and Egg Harbor Township, representatives expressed their concern over the limited space in which to build affordable housing. "It just seems like an extra burden that's put on our towns," said Chuck Chiarello, chairman of the council and mayor of Buena Vista Township. Lucy Vandenberg, executive director of COAH, said Pinelands communities could work together to finance affordable housing. In other words, one Pinelands community could give the money collected to another Pinelands community, and the funds would be used to build one affordable housing unit while satisfying both communities' requirements. The Municipal Council approved a resolution asking Gov. Jon S. Corzine to extend the deadline, which can be done only by an executive order.
Pinelands communities may ask Corzine to delay affordable housing deadline 12/4/08 1:50 p.m. Update - The Pinelands Municipal Council is planning to draft a letter to Gov. Jon Corzine asking him to reconsider a Dec. 31, 2008 deadline for affordable housing plans. A heated discussion at Wednesday night�s council meeting at the Hamilton Township Municipal Building revealed that many officials take issues with affordable housing requirements in their communities. Many argued that submitting a plan for allocating affordable housing development by the end of the year is too soon, especially when the Pinelands Commission has yet to finalize changes to the Land Capability Map. Map changes may limit the amount of new development throughout several Pinelands communities. See Friday's edition of The Press for additional coverage.
Buena Vista wants Pinelands site redeveloped 12/2/08 BUENA VISTA TOWNSHIP - In its search for new ratables, the township is in the middle of approving a redevelopment proposal, one that's purely conceptual for now, for 246 acres of its designated Pinelands. Mayor Chuck Chiarello said the plan is essential in trying to attract new businesses to the area, and that any development for the site, which is zoned for light industrial and commercial use, would follow Pinelands building regulations. The effort is nearly two years in the making, starting with the necessary approvals to begin developing a plan for Comar Place, the township road where Comar Inc., a plastic manufacturer, has its plant. The effort is not being championed by everyone. At a recent Planning Board meeting, resident Mark Demitroff, a member of the University of Delaware's Department of Geography, objected to the plan, saying all it would succeed in creating was more sprawl in an environmentally sensitive area. The Planninng Board approved the plan, and the township will hold a public hearing and then a vote at its next council meeting Monday to allow the township's residents another chance to comment on the issue. "This isn't a matter of me being a NIMBY (not in my back yard), my concern is the Pinelands," Demitroff said. "If it starts here it will spread to other Pinelands communities. The Pinelands are a special place and as such should not be used for these purposes." Chiarello said he understands environmental concerns, but he also said the regulations in place severely limit the amount of development that can occur in his community. He said 90 percent of the township is protected pinelands, and that building anything, from a house to an office building, requires that all environmental concerns, as set forward by Pinelands regulations, be addressed. He said the money for the redevelopment plan came from the state's Office for Smart Growth and was used to try and find a location where a business park could be located. "They are nothing more than ideas, there is no definitive plan, we're not developing the site, we're just allowing it to be considered," Chiarello said. "There's no guarantee anyone is going to build anything in the Pinelands." The site, which is located around the Comar plant, isn't owned by the township. All 246 acres are privately owned, Chiarello said, and eventual development would likely require these private entities to sell their land. There is no timetable for development, he said, as the plan merely provides the blueprint for companies interested in locating there. Whether one site or 10 are built, he said, the lynchpin to the deal is the landowners. Builders would likely receive tax incentives to locate their businesses in the township, Chiarello said, but development would help strengthen the township economically. "We have to get some kind of commercial ratables into our community to help sustain ourselves against ever-increasing costs from government, schools," he said. "This is about the long-term survivability of our tax base." Opponents of the plan, he said, point to Richland Village, as if the township should be satisfied with that development and not focus on new projects. The problem with that, Chiarello said, is that the Richland Village project included the revitalization of several existing buildings and hasn't added significant numbers to the tax roll. Because the township doesn't own the land, and because the interested builders haven't come around yet, the issue is about improper use of taxpayers' money, Demitroff said. "This isn't in the best interest in the spirit of the Pinelands," he said. "We're taking public money, redevelopment funds for the betterment of the community, to create sprawl in the Pinelands. This is money that should be used to revitalize blighted areas." Demitroff also said the residents are against the plan, just like they were against the Richland Village plan. Chiarello isn't so sure. There are 95 property owners in and around Comar Place that were notified of the Planning Board hearing, he said, and only seven residents showed up to that public hearing, and four of them don't own property in the notified area. "The folks have another chance to come out," Chiarello said.
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Address: Buena Vista Township
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