By Megan Paolini

NEWS Correspondent

Gloucester City Council approved an ordinance on first reading last week authorizing funds for the replacement of the Water Treatment plant

The estimated cost for the new plant is $9,445,000.

The ordinance also authorized the issuance of general obligation bonds for the amount $9,445,000, and authorized certain related actions in connection with the water treatment plant.

Council approved a resolution to adopt a temporary capital budget.

Another resolution was adopted as presented to adopt emergency temporary budget appropriations.

The Council also okayed a resolution for the disposal of city owned equipment, as well as a resolution authorizing an application for a grant from the NJ Department of Environ-mental protection.

Council passed a resolution removing a handicapped parking space at 116 Ellis St.

Another resolution was adopted authorizing the endorsement of treatment works approval application. A resolution was also adopted authorizing the submission of an application to the NJ Local Finance Board.

An ordinance was passed on second reading establishing zoning certificate fees and amending the Housing Code chapter in the Code of Gloucester City.

During open forum Steve Martorano reminded the Council of his suggestion to have court proceeding held in the evening so people do not have to miss a day of work to take care of their legal business.

Councilwoman Jean Kaye told Martorano that the Council had discussed it last year but could not follow through with the idea because they would have to go through the union.

During the meeting, Fire Chief Brain Hagan and Fire Lieutenants Michael Hagan and Charles Sanderson took their oaths of office.

Council also presented the Sportsman Athletic Club with a resolution of appreciation for 50 years of service to Gloucester City.

The next meeting will be Thursday, May 24, at 8 p.m. in City Hall, 313 Monmouth St.

Bill\’s Point of View:

 

Did the Gloucester City School Board have to lay off nearly 50 employees? Pink slips were handed out last week. We all understand that some moves had to be made because of the reduced Budget. And the Board was able to reduce the original number of cutbacks from 70 to around 50. But how many more jobs could be saved if a little more thought and effort was put into the process?

 

For example:

 

• If the Board closed down the Highland Park School (the Alternative School) and moved the staff and the 43 students to the High School the District could save $200,000 in maintenance cost. Classes would be from 3 PM to 8 PM, instead of 2:30 PM to 7:30 PM therefore there would be no interference with the normal operation of the school. The jobs of six aides or four teachers could be saved.
• By closing the Highland Park School for good the District could possibly save $600,000 or more in salaries and expenses. The benefit, the jobs of 12 teachers would be saved; or none of the Teacher Aide positions would have to be eliminated.
• By holding the starting salary of the executive secretary at $40,000 instead of $55,000; and not increasing the salary of the new high school secretary, the job of one teacher\’s aide would be saved.
• Cutting the position of Public Information Officer the District would free up $60,000. In doing so the position of one teacher would be saved.
• Asking the teachers union for a 1 percent decrease in salaries an approximate savings of $300,000 would be realized. Thus saving the position of six teachers and the District\’s Attendance Officer\’s job.

 

What is your opinion?

Incidentally the Board of Education meets Tuesday night, at 8 PM in the Mary Ethel Costello School Library, Cumberland and Joys Streets. The public is invited to attend and speak out.

more on this subject

By Bill Bates

NEWS Correspondent

The Mount Ephraim Police Department recently placed into service a new D.A.R.E. vehicle that was formerly a patrol vehicle for the borough

The vehicle is a 2001 Ford that has over 91,000 miles. The vehicle was transformed out of the patrol fleet in 2007 and was placed as an unmarked vehicle for the department. Recently, the vehicle has been transformed into the new D.A.R.E. vehicle for the town.

Recently the MEPD took over Drug Abuse Resistance Education in the borough after the Camden County Sheriff\’s Department had been performing this function for about 10 years. Currently Mount Ephraim Police Officer Scott Pezzano is the D.A.R.E. Officer for the Mount Ephraim School District, but Officer Danielle Dunay is expected to take over within the next year.

Since the Mount Ephraim Police took over the D.A.R.E. program about a year ago, Police Chief Edward Dobleman said that he has wanted to do something for the kids to give back.

Chief Dobleman came across this company from New York that does vehicle graphics, but had only wrapped a D.A.R.E. vehicle with graphics just once before speaking with him. Chief Dobleman was able to get the company to agree to wrap the vehicle as a D.A.R.E. car. The Police Chief spoke with Mayor Reader and Commissioners Gaglianone and Chambers and they agreed with him that since this was Mount Ephraim\’s first year of providing their own D.A.R.E. program with the kids that they do something for them in return.

A date was then set up with the owners of VSP Graphics in West Seneca, New York, and the company made their way from New York to New Jersey for this special project. The vehicle was then wrapped by the company at the boro garage and was completed in about a day.

The vehicle looks black in color to most, but when the sun hits it at the right angle you are able to tell that it is actually a dark green. The D.A.R.E. vehicle is complete with the Mount Ephraim Police Department Patch logo, which is being uniformed on all of the new vehicles that are added to the MEPD fleet. The D.A.R.E. vehicle is also complete with the D.A.R.E. logo and a few other D.A.R.E. trademarks. This vehicle is still able to be used for patrol functions as it has all of the equipment needed to stay in service.

Police Chief Dobleman said, \”The kids love it when they see the new D.A.R.E. vehicle on patrol. It turns their heads and gives them a sense of pride, which was the Department\’s intention.\”

The Mount Ephraim Police Department invites residents to view the website: mountephraimpd.com.

It was created to allow greater access to information about the Mount Ephraim Police Department, as well as the many services they offer as a law enforcement agency.

The page has links to NJ\’s 12 Most Wanted Criminals, NJ Missing Persons, and also has useful information that can be obtained via the Internet versus visiting the police station.

Residents may contact any of the officers via email as an email list is provided. The Mount Ephraim Police Department welcomes and encourages interaction and will be ready to assist with any resident\’s needs.