Gloucester City Municipal offices will be closed today, Monday January 26 due to inclement weather.
Gloucester City Municipal Offices Closed Today
Category: GLOUCESTER CITY
Gloucester City Council Meeting Postponed to Thursday, January 29
Due to the impending weather, Monday’s Council Meeting will be moved to Thursday, January 29th at 7 pm.
James “Bo” Bobo, 88, of Gloucester City
“Bo”
Surrounded by and in the loving care of his family, Bo passed peacefully at home on January 20, 2026, at the age of 88. Lifelong resident of Gloucester City. Loving and devoted husband of 65 years to Betty Ann Bobo. Loving father of Michelle Barbarino (Robert) and Gavin Bobo (Linda). Cherished grandfather of Sean Savidge (Gina), Erik, Emily, Nick and Meghan. Predeceased by his siblings, Robert, John, Virginia, Frances, Marie, Jean and Dona. Also survived by many loving nieces and nephews.
Bo was a lifelong resident of Gloucester City and a proud graduate of Gloucester High School, Class of 1955. He went on to honorably serve his country in the United States Navy from 1957 to 1961. Following his military service, Bo began his career with the Gloucester City Police Department in 1961, where he proudly served the residents of Gloucester City until his retirement as Sergeant in 1989.
Continue reading “James “Bo” Bobo, 88, of Gloucester City”John “Jack” J. Barrett, Sr., 78, of Gloucester City
Of Gloucester City, NJ. Passed away on January 16, 2026. Age 78. Born in Camden, NJ, he was the son of the late William and Catherine (Valentine) Barrett. Jack was predeceased by his wife of 52 years, Rose (Crusco)Barrett on October 4th, 2020. He survived by his son, Michael Barrett (Andrea Pallies); grandson, Edward Barrett: sister, Patricia Barrett. John was also predeceased by his son, John J. Barrett, Jr. on October 6th, 2018.
Jack proudly served in the U.S. Navy on the USS Carpenter during the Vietnam War. He went on to work as a bricklayer for the Bricklayers Union #12 in Linden, NJ. He later worked as security guard at Jefferson Hospital in Cherry Hill and also worked as a nozzleman for the Swim – Mor Pools & American Gunite for 20 years.
Continue reading “John “Jack” J. Barrett, Sr., 78, of Gloucester City”A Chatham Square Tenant Charges CNBNews Editor with Libel
William E. Cleary Sr | Cleary’s Notebook News
GLOUCESTER CITY, NJ(February 2008)(CNBNews)—Anthony Parisi, who resided at the Chatham Square Apartment complex, Gloucester City in 2008 filed a charge of libel against William E. Cleary Sr. owner and editor of Cleary’s Notebook News. He alleged that Cleary slandered him by publishing a GCPD crime report. That charge was dismissed by the Judge because Parisi was not present.
Shortly thereafter Cleary, along with Gloucester City Police Chief George Berglund were contacted by the producers of the Judge Greg Mathis televison show. The show is recorded in Chicago. The letter stated that all expenses, including airfare, meals and lodging would be paid for.
The invitation was dropped because Berglund refused the offer.
The Asbury Park Press published an story about Parisi on February 18, 2008. According to that article Parisi and other patients, stated that there was abuse at hospital.
Gloucester City. Parisi, a former patient, is also a former Golden Gloves boxer who is proudest of pictures taken of him posing with the Los Angeles Lakers cheerleaders. But in March 2007, depressed that his boxing career hadn\’t panned out, he spent time in Ancora.Parisi said he witnessed a sexual assault of a young woman while he was in the hospital.
Gloucester City Fire Department Evaluation; Discipline is Missing; Nine Men Resigned
Note: The article was first published in 2024
GLOUCESTER CITY, NJ (2024(Cleary’s Notebook News)–The Gloucester City Mayor Dayl Baile and Council hired the Smith Consulting Group of Ocean City, NJ, in 2024 to assess the members Gloucester City paid fire department. The owner, James P. Smith Jr., has 30 years of experience in firefighting and is the Ocean City Fire Chief overseeing 67 department members.
According to the report, the 14-page evaluation was conducted by interviewing all 22 department members to understand their issues, views, perspectives, and ideas for future growth.
After interviewing the members, the evaluator observed that discipline needs to be consistently administered and that officers should be trained to handle infractions. The report mentioned that nine people, or 40 percent, have left the department over the past 11 years.
Smith released 20 recommendations, each placed under a subtitle. For example, under the title DISCIPLINE Smith wrote in part;
1: The department should receive training from a legal expert in managing disciplinary issues in the fire service. All members must understand what is deemed harassment, unacceptable acts, and the value of respect towards peers. The current culture in the department is disappointing, and for many members, it is seemingly void of respect towards their peers.
2:The department must create a set of rules and regulations that is a guide for the department rules and acceptable actions and behaviors.
3: Return to basics for training. If a member needs more time to become proficiendt in a certain skill, they should recieved the proper time and instruction.
4: Organize training with Camden City for hazardous materials and special operations is important. A better understanding of who is responding for the GCFD crew when in Camden is necessary. Once threw with training in Camdem the crew should return to the city immediately.
5: Provide prior knowledege to the shift that training will be upcoming.
6: The department should invest in a records management program to log and record all training.
7: Consider a schedule change from a four platoon system to a three platoon system. This will require a negotiation with the unions. It is more efficient and will provide extra staffing that the members requested.
8. Carrying vacation time from year to year should stop. This would eliminate the unknown of how many shifts the chief need to cover for any given year.
9. If a three-platoon system is enacted, vacation slots should be limited to just one member daily.
10. Sick time usage in 12 hour-blocks should stop. Members may be capable of returning to work in less time, but are forced to stay out for a full 12.
11. Consider merging the two labor unions for the betterment of the department and the community.
12. Consider starting a Community Risk Reduction program to assist the citizens of Gloucester City before emergencies happen.
13. Establish the civil service rank of deputy chief and promote an officer who shows strong qualities of a future department chief. The newly created deputy chief rank salary should minimally be the current fire chief salary.
14. The GCFD must reestablish relationships with all of their mutual aid partners. Training needs to occur with more than just Camden City.
15. The entire department should receive leadership training.
16. The department should rebrand itself. Have a fresh new start and place the hostile acts and behaviors in the past.
17. Some type of sensitivity training needs to occur. The stories from the interviews are disappointing. The members need to be informed of what is unacceptable behavior.
18. Once the local civil service entrance list is exhausted, consider hiring firefighters from the county list.
19. The fire chief salary needs to be raised to attract the best and the brightest to the position.
20. Consideration should be made around Chief Hagan’s retirement that an outside individual hired as a department head may be better than just promoting someone internally to the fire position. Some patience is vital to finding the right person. Internal or external pressure to fill the position should not be entertained.
Five Things To Know For Monday
Maxim Dewolf/U.S. Air Force)
U.S. planning major military base upgrade in Greenland amid diplomatic crisis, officials say U.S. troops on standby for possible deployment to Minnesota, and military strike takes out another ISIS leader.
1. Major airfield upgrades are in the works for the U.S. military’s base in Greenland even as a diplomatic crisis between the United States and NATO allies in Europe ratchets up over President Donald Trump’s push to take control of the territory. The plan calls for spending up to $25 million for a new runway lighting system, river crossing bridge and related projects to improve flight operations at Pituffik Space Base, the military’s Arctic hub, according to a new government solicitation for bids. The territory has emerged as a geopolitical flashpoint. On Saturday, Trump upped the ante in his push to acquire Greenland, saying he will impose new tariffs on several European countries in lieu of a deal for the United States to take possession of the semi-autonomous Danish territory.
Mayor’s Community Prayer Breakfast
Sponsored by the Gloucester City Ministerium and GC Celebrations Committee
Shea Andrew O’Donnell, 37, of Gloucester City
Shea Andrew O’Donnell, age 37, of Gloucester City, New Jersey, passed away surrounded by his loving family on January 11, 2026 at Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Camden, New Jersey.
Born on November 1, 1988, Shea was a lifelong resident of Gloucester City and a graduate of Gloucester City High School. He earned his associate’s degree from Gloucester County Community College and was employed by UPS as a driver in Lawnside, New Jersey. Shea was known for his quick wit, easygoing nature, and the way he could always make people laugh — he always had a joke ready. Those who knew him will remember his humor, loyalty, and the deep love he had for his family and friends.
Sports were an important part of Shea’s life. He played football growing up with the Gloucester City Mustangs, baseball with Gloucester City Little League basketball with the Carmen Palmero Basketball League in Gloucester City and swam for the Gloucester City Swim team. During his high school years, Shea was an outstanding football and track athlete at Gloucester City High School.
Continue reading “Shea Andrew O’Donnell, 37, of Gloucester City”Charles Joseph Reed, 93, of Gloucester City
Charles Joseph Reed, age 93, of Gloucester City, New Jersey, passed away peacefully on January 9, 2026, at Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Camden, New Jersey. Charles was raised in Lansdowne, Pennsylvania, was a longtime resident of Gloucester City, New Jersey, and a graduate of Saint Mary’s High School in Gloucester City, New Jersey. He also completed some college coursework at Akron University.
Charles proudly served his country in the United States Navy during the Korean War. He entered the Navy right out of high school and served for three years, attaining the rank of EM2. During his service, he was awarded the Navy Occupation Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Service Medal, and the United Nations Service Medal. Charles was honorably discharged on June 3, 1954.
Continue reading “Charles Joseph Reed, 93, of Gloucester City”