By Bill Bates
NEWS Correspondent
The April monthly meeting of the Mount Ephraim Board of Commissioners was packed with over 38 people in attendance. The meeting commenced at 8 o\’clock sharp with all current officials present for the meeting. Mayor Michael Reader presented former Freeholder Tom Gurick with a special recognition plaque for all of his work and assistance to the borough of Mount Ephraim. Former Freeholder Gurick has assisted our community in many ways such as the current traffic light at Kings Highway and Market Street, The John D. West Senior Center on Kings Highway, the Street Scape Project along Kings Highway from Market Street to the Black Horse Pike, and many other acute grants from repaving streets to replacing playground equipment. Mr. Gurick thanked the officials and also wanted to congratulate our teachers, parents, and children of the Mount Ephraim Schools for a job well done raising money for our troops in Iraq. (The article was in the Courier-Post on Thursday, April 5).
A second reading on ordinance No. 04-07 authorizing a special emergency authorization per NJSA 40A:4-53 for the preparation of the town code book. This will bring the current codebook for the borough up-to-date, which hasn\’t been completed in the past 15 to 20 years. The commissioners also have the option of making the codes viewable electronically, which they are also looking into. Resolution No. 27-07 authorizing the necessary appropriations for the payment of costs incurred for the preparation of the borough codebook was carried. The approximate cost for this project is between $15,000.00 and $22,000.00. The payment would be spread over the next five years.
A second reading on ordinance No. 02-07 raising the fee to be collected for licensing dogs and late charges for the same. The price will go from $7.00 to $10.00. The motion was carried. The increase is to make the system run self-sufficient.
Three officers were sworn in from the Mount Ephraim Police Department. The officers are: Class II Police Officer Jonathon Reichelderfer, Police Officer Michael Schaeffer, and Police Officer William Errigo were promoted to Police Sergeant.
Two Mount Ephraim Emergency Management officers were sworn in as well, Coordinator Jason Vilardo and Deputy Coordinator Ken Robertson. Both men are very experienced and are welcomed back for another year. The officials thanked them for their continued dedication and volunteering their skills to the borough of Mount Ephraim.
The Mount Ephraim Police Department received 509 calls for the month of March (1,099 year-to-date). 293 were assigned a case number.
The Mount Ephraim Fire Department received 22 calls for the month of March and conducted 4 drills. The volunteer fire department spent a total of 442 hours answering calls for the month.
Mount Ephraim – MEPRI EMS (Emergency Medical Services) received 51 calls for the month of March.
The Street Scape Project on Kings Highway has begun. The lighting is expected to take about three weeks until completion. Then they will start working on the brick pavers for the sidewalks.
A pre-construction date is being set-up for the Green Avenue re-pavement project. More information should be available by next meeting.
The borough collected $16,800 in construction permit fees for the month of March.
The Department of public works collected 215 tons of trash last month, 25,000 pounds of cans and bottles, and 32,000 pounds of cardboard. The borough is still saving money on operating its own trash collection program verses having an outside contractor completing the task.
The borough will soon be starting a Single Recycling day, which will most likely be collected on Tuesdays. The Single Recycling day will consist of the Department of public works collecting all recyclables on one day. This will be completed each and every week. More information is expected to become available by the end of the month on the starting date that this will occur.
Numerous stop signs were added in town within 500 feet of a school or playground to reduce the speed of cars traveling in these areas.
Mount Ephraim Water Meter Readings will take place during the next month.
The Public Participation section of the meeting was opened. Resident Theresa Armbruster commented on the amount of traffic from the Black Horse Pike onto 3rd, 4th, and 5th Avenues was still a problem. Numerous vehicles are speeding and using the side streets to cut through during rush hour to get to Kings Highway as the traffic backs up on Route 168 – BHP. She is very eager to have something done whether it is stop signs or making the streets a one way during rush hour. Mrs. Armbruster advised the Mayor and Commissioners that she would do whatever she would have to do to see that something is done for the safety of the children. Mayor Reader explained that they are un-able to make any changes to any streets that connect to the state highway (Route 168 – BHP) unless a special application is submitted and be approved by the state DOT. Mayor Reader said that after the meeting he would take the names and numbers of the concerned residents and would schedule a future meeting to rectify the situation.
Resident Gene Smith and another resident who have young children addressed their concerns for the storm drain that is located at Pennsylvania Avenue and the lake off 2nd Avenue. They stated that many children go fishing and play in that area during the spring and summer months. They were concerned that this enormous storm drain did not have a cover securing the structure. Commissioner Tony Chambers advised both residents that they were aware of the problem and a new storm drain cover was on order. He advised them that it would be complete with-in two weeks.
Resident Andy Gilmore expressed his concerns for the safety of the residents at the Walgreen\’s construction site. He had observed the main access gate open numerous times after hours, leaving access for anyone to enter and possibly get hurt, especially at the former White Tower site that has open access directly to the basement with a partial fence around it. He also touched on the subject about not having any sidewalk access on Kings Highway and the Black Horse Pike. He was advised that the fence had been moved back to accommodate pedestrians in that area.
Resident Joe Wolk questioned the availability of the 2007 budget and wanted to know when it would be ready for the general public to view. He was concerned going into the fourth month of the year with no operating budget and was wondering if the upcoming Commissioner Elections had anything to do with that. Commissioner Gaglianone advised him that it was still being finalized by the newly appointed Chief Financial Officer/Treasurer. She further explained that she was unavailable for a few weeks for some personal health reasons and also that the sudden resignation of the CFO also delayed the process by a few weeks as well. Joe Wolk asked when they expected the budget to be presented and Commissioner Gaglianone advised that a special meeting would be held. Joe Wolk strongly expressed that he was concerned about not having a budget available going into the fourth month of the year and he hoped that one would be available soon.
Resident Bruce Greenwald touched on several concerns he had. He inquired whether or not there was any type of ordinance in Mount Ephraim requiring residents to recycle and if there was anything that could be done. On many occasions he has observed that very few people were placing recyclables out at the curb. He also addressed the speeding motorists on Bell Road and suggested a stronger police presence, especially prior to and after school hours. He also asked if the town newsletter was still being circulated to the town. Commissioner Gaglianone advised him that one is currently being worked on and would be circulated soon to the town residents.
Resident Karen Herman commented on her concerns regarding driver safety at the intersection of Kings Highway and Davis Avenue. First she was concerned with the vehicles that park in front of the yellow painted curbs that make it hard for motorists to see when trying to make turns from Davis Avenue onto Kings Highway. Secondly she mentioned the dip that is really deep when you turn onto Davis Avenue from Kings Highway. Mayor Reader advised Mrs. Herman that the Davis Avenue dip will be corrected once the Kings Highway Project is complete and that himself and Police Chief Dobleman would address the driver safety issues to the officers.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:45 p.m. and the next monthly meeting will take place on Thursday, May 3, 2007 at 8 o\’clock in the Borough Hall, 121 S. Black Horse Pike.
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