Bad News, Good News and Some Stuff in Between

For example, nearly 260 Camden County employees received layoff notices on February 11. The notices, which went out to everyone from clerks, to painters, to corrections officers, are scheduled to take effect April 4. Aside from the layoffs, the county plans to furlough remaining civilian employees for 22 days beginning in March. The furlough days would occur every other Friday for the remainder of the year. According to the Courier Post the layoff plan — submitted by the county to the State Civil Service Commission for approval — included a total of 261 employees, with 77 of the cuts from the county health and human services departments; 67 positions from buildings and operations; and 59 from the county\’s corrections department, which oversees the county jail. The plan also included cuts from departments such as the county\’s public safety department and the county clerk\’s office.

The City of Trenton with a $55 million deficit has been given approval by the Civil Service Commission to implement 13 temporary layoff (furlough) days for 600 employees beginning Friday, April 1 ending Friday, June 24. City Hall and the Municipal Court will close on the temporary layoff days. The city laid off 72 employees in November and submitted another layoff plan recently to the state Civil Service Commission. 

Last week the City of Camden City closed its library and has joined the County Library system. The City of Camden will assess the residents of Camden with a levy for library services. The tax assessed is based on property values and the library tax rate, which is about 4 cents per $100 of assessed valuation.

In Gloucester City the James administration, because of a budget deficit, is looking at further cuts to the Fire Department. In December that department lost 8 firefighters. It appears the City is seriously considering doing away with the paid ambulance service and replacing it with an outside contractor. Bids to provide that service are being accepted until February 23, at 2 pm. For more information contact City Clerk Kathleen Jentsch, Municipal Building 512 Monmouth Street.

The Christie administration announced on Feb. 9 that three Camden County municipalities will share $410,000 to fund projects under competitive FY 11 Local Aid grant programs. The grant recipients, Gloucester City, Gibbsboro Borough and Voorhees Township, are among 33 municipalities or counties statewide that are sharing approximately $7.6 million in grants under four state-funded Local Aid programs. Gloucester City received $200,000 which will be used for a pedestrian walkway as part of Phase III of the Broadway Street Lighting program.

Gibbsboro Borough will receive $140,000 for a bikeway project through the Bikeways program, which provides funds to counties and municipalities to promote the safe use of bicycles as an alternate transportation mode.

Voorhees Township will receive $70,000 for a project to create safer means of reaching mass transit facilities, through the Safe Street to Transit program. This program provides funding to counties and municipalities to improve safe access to public transportation facilities.

RECOMMENDED BY CNB – Are you looking for a great place to have your car cleaned and detailed? Look no further than Dave’s Auto Detailing, 301 N. Broadway, (corner of Broadway and Essex St.) Gloucester City. Dave has years of experience in the car detailing business having worked at a number of auto dealership in the area. Price for basic wash and dry is just $10 and includes vacuum and tire shine. Mini detail is $45 and full detail is $75. For more information or for an appointment, (609) 922-2612. The family owned business is a member of the Gloucester City Business Assn. 

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