By Linda Boker-Angelo
NEWS Correspondent
Gloucester City Mayor William James said at last week\’s City Council meeting that the NJ Department of Environmental Protection has approved the City\’s application for designation as a Brownfield Development Area.
James was pleased, stating that this new status will open up new avenues of funding and other state assistance in cleaning up and redeveloping contaminated areas in the City.
In other business, Council approved a resolution authorizing the purchase of a 2008 Ford Police Interceptor for use by the Gloucester City Police Department.
Council also voted to reject bids received for the replacement of a combined sewer main railroad crossing on Koehler Street.
The City will re-advertise for new bids for the project. Council members estimated that by the time bids are received and one is accepted, work should begin at the site in February.
Several residents from the neighborhood near the railroad crossing expressed concerns at the delays the City is experiencing.
City Solicitor John Kearney explained that complications in the first round of bids would have exposed the City to lawsuits, so the bids had to all be rejected and the process repeated.
Resident and former Councilman Ray Coxe thanked outgoing members Jean Kaye, Elsie Loebell and Anthony Kormann for their years of service on Council. Coxe said he felt privileged to serve with them to work for the betterment of the community.
Councilman Jay Brophy and Mayor James also then thanked Kaye, Loebell and Kormann for their time on Council.
All bills for the month of December, up to December 27, totaled $1,274,466.70.
The governing body will meet again on Thursday, January 3 at 8 p.m., in City Hall, 313 Monmouth St., for the annual Reorganization meeting.
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