By Bill Bates, NEWS Correspondent

Two resolutions were read authorizing an insertion of revenue into the 2007 Municipal Budget from a Tonnage Recycling Grant and a Drunk Driving Enforcement Grant, both amounts unknown.

A resolution was read appointing a Class II Police Officer, Michael Patrick Doglos to the Mount Ephraim Police Department.

The borough is authorizing the Mount Ephraim Department of Public Works to transfer ownership of an old trash truck to the Borough of Bellmawr for an amount unknown.

A mercantile License Application was accepted and approved for Walgreen\’s which is now located at 20 West Kings Highway. Walgreen\’s Representative James Truxon wanted to thank the borough and the community for welcoming his company to the community. Mr. Truxon also announced that Walgreen\’s is scheduled to open on Wednesday, October 17 and will be celebrating a Grand Opening on Friday, October 26.

 

Director of Public Safety, Commissioner Andy Gilmore Sr. (photo, left) read the following for the month of September: Fire Department received 23 calls and conducted 1 drill for the month. Total calls for the year were 449, total drills for the year were 28, and special assignments for the year were 16. The fire department\’s physical year (for paper work purposes only) is from October 1 to September 30 as they are able to have actual numbers for voting members and the appointment of new officers for the upcoming year. Commissioner Gilmore also acknowledged a good job to the fire department and the other agencies that responded (including our Emergency Management and MEPRI E.M.S.) to a dwelling fire on Grant Avenue last Sunday. The department\’s responded and quickly extinguished the blaze that was caused by a fire in the dryer in the rear laundry room of the house. Two animals were also saved from the house he also reported. Gilmore concluded by saying \”It was another job well done by our volunteer departments\”.

 

Police Department received 458 calls for the month of September with 250 of them being assigned a case number. Twenty-three of them were motor vehicle accidents. There were 33 adult arrests for the month, 8 of them for Driving While Intoxicated. Twelve juvenile arrests for the month were made with the most serious being arrested for possession of a controlled dangerous substance. There were 45 out of town warrants served. Police Officers received training for C.P.R. (Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation) and for Police Patrol Tactics.

 

There were 33 emergency medical services calls answered in Mount Ephraim for the month of September (per police records). No report was received from M.E.P.R.I. EMS.

 

The Zone 5 Community Emergency Response Team (also known as C.E.R.T.) received a Grant for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (F.E.M.A.) which allowed them to receive a new trailer with equipment for their organization. The Zone 5 response area includes Mount Ephraim, Gloucester City, Brooklawn, Bellmawr, and Runnemede. Gilmore applauded them for their continuous efforts and on a job well done.

 

Director of Public Works, Commissioner Bruce Greenwald (photo, right) read the following for the month of September: 27 Construction Permits issued for a total of $4,423.00. 58,000 lbs. of recycling and 197 tons of trash were picked up for the month.

 

Engineer\’s Report announced that the Kings Highway Street Scape is underway and should be completed in the next several weeks. The Handicapped Corner Ramps will be replaced on Second, Third and Fourth Avenues. A survey of the exact corners that will be replaced will be done in the very near future.

 

The Public Portion was opened where several residents made complaints about the length of the light on Baird Avenue at West Kings Highway. They inquired about making the timer longer for the green light on Baird Avenue for residents to have more of a chance to make a turn onto Kings Highway. They asked that if that couldn\’t be done to possible remove the No Turn on Right sign that is currently up. Commissioner Gilmore stated that the sign is in place to not have Baird Avenue traffic turning on red at the same time that the opposing Market Street has the green light. Baird Avenue resident Mike Scott stated that he has lived there for 57 years and has never seen any major accidents or many accidents at that intersection at all. Gilmore was the first to attest that he was on the police force for over 25 years and never remembers seeing any major or numerous accidents at the intersection either, but stated that it was a deal that was done by the previous administration and Camden County. He further stated that the current commissioners will do the best they can to make all parties involved happy, even though it may take some time to get done.

 

It was announced that the 6th Annual Heroes to Hero 5K Run/Walk will be held on Saturday, October 13 with the event starting in front of the Mount Ephraim Fire House on Bell Road at 9 am sharp. The event will proceed to Gloucester City where it will end at fire headquarters at 1 North King Street. The awards ceremony and block party will take place at 10:15 am where there will be numerous vendors on hand for free to those who participated in the run/walk. Money raised will help fund several scholarships for local students. More information can be found by visiting www.heroestohero.com.

 

The next monthly meeting of the Board of Commissioners will be held on Thursday, November 1, at 8 pm, at the Mount Ephraim Borough Hall.

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