Madame Clerk, the time is now 7 p.m. >> Thank you, Madame Mayor. It's now 7 p.m. I'd like to call this regular township council meeting to order. Roll call. Councilwoman Peron, >> present. >> Councilman Anderson and Councilwoman Macintosh are absent this evening.
Deputy Mayor Dr. Worthy, >> present. and Mayor Whitfield >> present. >> Thank you. >> I'd like to invite Pastor Shai to lead us in tonight's prayer. Good evening, Pastor Shai. You can come to the podium.
Let's bow our heads. God, we love you today. We thank you for this mercy that you extended. Lord, we thank you for we're about to close a day and your mercy kept us all day long. We pray God as we go to handle the business of our
town. We ask you to be in the midst of us, guide us, oh Lord, that we may be better in this town. We ask it in your name we pray. Amen. >> Amen. >> Amen. >> Thank you, Pastor Shai. And also, thank
you for your service as one of our police chaplain. Madame clerk, please rise for the flag salute. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation
under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Compliance statement. >> Notice was provided in compliance with chapter 231 of the public laws of 1975 to the Burlington County Times, Trenton Times, and Philadelphia Inquirer saying
the date, time, place, and the agenda to the extent it was known. Additionally, notice was filed in the office of the township clerk. >> Thank you, Madame Clerk. Good evening, Willingboro. So, we have um a few things on our agenda this evening, but the first thing
we'd like to do and celebrate is our police department. Um we have I may be biased, but I think the best police department within the state of New Jersey. And um we have once again
achieved accreditation. So, Chief Bucks, if you'd like to come up and make that present or Good afternoon. Uh or good good evening, mayor, deputy mayor, Councilwoman Peron. Um on behalf of myself and uh and and the police department, it's always a
pleasure to come up here and and speak to you guys, present to you guys, you know, the the great things that we're doing here in in Willing Bro. And like you said, you know, we are a accredited police department. This is our fourth reacreditation. And tonight we have with us Harry Delgado. He is from the New
Jersey State Associations of Chief of Chiefs of Police and he is the accreditation program director and he's here to present us uh meaning us, the police department, the community, everybody within the municipality with our reacredititation certificate. So, at this point, I'll turn it over to uh to
Mr. Delgado. >> Good evening, Mr. Delgato. >> Good evening, Mayor, and thank you, Chief. I was afraid you were going to steal my my thunder, but um but to support what the mayor just said, absolutely. You have one of the best police departments in the state of New Jersey, and I actually bring proof. So,
someone mentioned that they were going to a 43 accreditation is just to add a little context to how significant their achievement is. So, about 54% of all the agencies in the state of New Jersey have made it successfully once I mean 54% of them. That includes uh prosecutor's
office, includes uh uh colleges and universities. So it's a very diverse uh environment of law enforcement agencies. Um and so uh 32% have made it twice in accreditation and about 12% made it to a second
reacreditation. Third reacredititation 7.89 fourth reacredititation and 6% of all the agencies in the state of New Jersey. That is truly truly remarkable. That shows not only longevity but commitment to following best practices. So if you indulge me for three minutes,
I'd like to share with you the significant of the achievement. Excuse me. So the willing police department have once again made a commitment to adhering to best practices at the state and national level in a highly regarded statewide law enforcement accreditation program. This program administered to New Jersey State
Association of Chiefs of Police and the New Jersey Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission has a failed to transparently demonstrate the professionalism, transparency, and preparedness of states law enforcement agencies in the state's public safety system. Now, during these uni uniquely challenging times in the threat to our health and safety,
encouraging law enforcement agencies to follow standardized practices and policies is a potentially life-saving and cost effect in cost-effective investment of time and resources. accreditation status represents a significant professional achievement.
This prestigious 43 accreditation demonstrates Chief Yan Bach's firm commitment to state and national standards and the continued expectations for quality, professional, and ethical policing. So that is truly uh that is truly remarkable. Accreditation provides
objective evidence of an agency's commitment to excellence in leadership, resource manage management, and service delivery. All of which we observe here at at the Willing Bore Police Department. Government officials can be more confident in the agency's ability to operate efficiently and meet community needs and officers in
accredited agencies can take pride that they have been objectively recognized for their professionalism and adherence to the highest standards. Now at the end of that uh three-year cycle uh there's an on-site assessment and during that during that on-site assessment they have to show 100% compliance with all the uh
over 112 uh standards which mean over 400 uh items approved and in the case typically we find something in the case of the William police department within financing they had a what we would call a perfect uh on-site assessment so in closing I'd like to recognize the chief
and say under his leadership a high level of competence Leadership and professionalism is evident within the agency. The willing board police department is committed to the community that they serve. Whether future issues deal with potential for significant leadership turnover, technology advances in budget constraints like many of our
agency face today or any legal policy challenges. This agency continues to assertively move forward with a history and commitment to following best practices with a preparedness plan and verification of excellence. So it is the opinion of the assessment team that the willing board police department is a
highly professional and committed agency which exemplifies all of the tenants of law enforcement agency at the state and national level. So indeed, it's my honor here tonight on behalf of the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police, the New Jersey Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission to congratulate Chief Yan Box, Gradation Manager,
Lieutenant Matthew Toner, the members of the Willing Bora Police Department, the mayor, the council, and those citizens that they so proudly serve for having achieved their fourth accreditation, joining a very, very, again, very exclusive group of law enforcement agencies that have made this commitment to our policing. So to all indeed,
congratulations. if it was okay. >> Absolutely. Come on up. Where? Yeah. Thank you. Congratulations. Mayor, >> if I could just say, you know, just a couple more quick things. I just want to
thank that our accreditation team. You know, I know uh Mr. Delgado mentioned me in a lot in his remarks. Um but if it wasn't for our accreditation team of Lieutenant Toner and Lieutenant Thomas, you know, this wouldn't be possible. over the last three years, they put a an
un an unabsorbent amount of time into this and they completely bought into it and I just want to I want to thank them in public for their hard work and their dedication to not only the police department but to everyone of the municipality and our residents. So, thank you again. >> Thank you, Chief.
>> Thank you, Chief. and and thank you really to our whole department, Lieutenant Toner, um, Lieutenant Benson, and everyone else. Um, I think it's not a secret that Willingboro police take
protecting the citizens of Willingboro very seriously. Um, and not by using force or fear, but by connecting with the residents here in Willingboro. Um, we take public engagement very
seriously. You all do such a tremendous job on making sure our residents feel safe if nowhere else here at home in Wellingboro. So, thank you all for your hard work and it shows um through the accreditation. Congratulations once
again. All right. And we have a few proclamations to go through this month as well. We will start with im immunization awareness month. Proclamation declaring August as
national immunization awareness month. Whereas national immunization awareness month is observed each August to highlight the importance of vaccination for people of all ages. And whereas vaccines are one of the most successful and cost-effective public health tools for preventing disease and death. And
whereas immunizations protect individuals and communities by preventing the spread of serious and sometimes deadly infectious diseases such as measles, influenza, covid 19, whooping cough, and more. And whereas maintaining high immunization rates
through all stages of life from infancy through older adulthood is essential to community health and resilience. And whereas the CO 19 pandemic and its aftermath have underscored the vital role of vaccination in public health, especially for vulnerable populations
and frontline workers. And whereas local public health departments, clinics, schools, health care providers, and community organizations work tirelessly to promote and provide access to life-saving vaccines. And whereas it is important to recognize and support these
efforts and to encourage individuals to consult with their health care providers about staying upto-date on recommended vaccines. Now therefore, be it resolved that Mayor Samantha E. Whitfield of the Township of Willingboroough on behalf of the governing body and all residents do
hereby proclaim the month of August 2025 as National Immunization Awareness Month in the Township of Willingboro and urges all residents to protect their health and the health of others by staying informed about and upto-date on recommended immunizations.
Thank you, Deputy Mayor Worthy. And I know um vaccinations and immunizations are a hot topic um in the media a lot of times but the importance of them um is not it is not for not the importance of
immunizations still remains and the reason why we don't see high rates and even the elimination of some of these other um diseases and um illnesses is because of the immunizations affect effectiveness. So, um, thank you, Deputy
Mayor Worthy, for reading that. We have one other, um, for this month, overdose awareness month. August is National Drug Overdose Awareness Month. Whereas substance use disorder and drug
overdose remain significant public health challenges affecting individuals and families across our nation, including within our own community. And whereas drug overdose is a leading cause of injury related death in the United
States and thousands of lives are lost each year due to overdose involving prescription medications, drugs, synthetic opioids such as fentinyl and whereas national drug
overdose awareness month is observed each August to raise awareness of drug overdose. Reduce the stigma of drugrelated deaths and acknowledge the grief felt by families and friends who
have lost loved ones to overdose. And whereas rising awareness and expanding access to education, prevention, harm reduction, and essential to addressing
the opioid and overdose crisis. and according to community efforts are vital in saving lives and fostering hope. And whereas we honor the memory of those who have lost, support the survivors and
their families, and stand united in the fight to end the stigma that surrounds addiction and recovery and encourage compassionate and evidence-based approaches. Now therefore, it be resolved that I,
Mayor Samantha E. Whitfield of the Township of Willingboro on behalf of the governing body and all residents do hereby proclaim the month of August 2025 as the National Drug Overdose Awareness
Month in the township of Willingboro and urges all residents to call upon all residents to join in commemorating those we have lost, supporting those who are struggling and committing ourselves to
education, prevention, and healing throughout our community. Thank you, Councilwoman Purum. And now we'll move on to Mr. Harris for the manager's municipal updates. >> Good evening, Mayor and members of the governing body.
>> Good evening, Mr. Harris. I did submit to you my uh full report uh by way of email. I will just kind of highlight some of the um things that were on that report. Our engineer is on vacation this week, so he will not be present to deliver his uh report
verbally. Um but I did submit it to you uh electronically, so you do have it. Um, so since we last met in in July, um, our revenues collected for the township have totaled 3,436,87
of which $3,79,79833 cents were from tax revenues collected and 357,000 and a little bit more than that were from other sources. Uh a monthly allotment of 3,339,000 has been distributed to the Willing
Barrow Board of Education and our expenditures for the month total 4,238,94916 which represents about 57% of the total cash appropriations uh in the in the 2025 budget having been
expended uh so far this year, which is right on schedule with where we are in the eighth month. Our police department uh having received their fourth accreditation stands strong at 70 sworn officers. The 15th annual
police academy graduated 18 cadetses following three weeks of classroom instruction, field trips, and community service. Uh the a new teen mental health first aid component was introduced enhancing uh the program's educational value to
youth in our community. Four recently graduated officers advanced to phase two of their field training. One officer is currently being trained at the Camden Police County, which that training began on July 7th. And interviews for Lieutenant and
Sergeant have been completed. And we are happy to announce that Sergeant Brandon Thomas will be promoted to lieutenant and officer Mark Klaus to sergeant and we will hold those swearing ins uh in September.
Our community engagement activities u the officers participated in the Friday night music series held in the month of July. There was also a neighborhood watch meeting on July the 17th at the River Foster Senior Center with updates that were provided to the community on
delinquent water bills and uh local crime trends. And of course, the second annual burrow barbecue was held on July 19th in partnership with the fire fire department and the police department. And I would just like to thank both of those agencies for the level of comm
commitment um that they did not find it robbery to stand over the grill all day and cook hamburgers and hot dogs in the rain for our residents. Uh our monthly food deliveries continue in partnership with the food bank of
South Jersey and a strengthening families program was hosted at the Willingboro's public library on July 24th. Our fire and EMS departments are continually busy. Um, in July they responded to a fire at Sheffield Drive
which was complicated by live wires and a gas leak. They rescued two individuals from a malfunctioning elevator at Virtual Hospital. um on in early early in July um they dealt with some
or 11 storm related incidents um wires down trees and flooding. They assisted EMS with two gunshot wound incidents and um there was a significant structure fire at Spiralwood Lane uh causing extensive damage
and they also provided mutual aid responses to Burlington, Delran, Edgewater Park, Mount Laurel and Westampton Township. Uh one of our fire apparatus was involved in a motor vehicle accident and is currently out of
commission. while we uh look at getting the bumper replaced and establish the severity of the damage that was um received. And also we have two ambulances that are suffering uh from mechanical difficulties. You know, we
have one that is on order but is literally going to take about another year and a half before it rolls into Willing Barrow. On our public works uh front are key updates there. There are some ongoing plumbing issues at Country Club Pool.
Um, in the bathrooms, we've been experencing experiencing a lot of clogging of the drains due to the aging pipes and materials. Um, we are going and getting those drains. What was that called, Mr. Chapman? >> Yes. And we are hoping that that will
alleviate um that problem. We have not had that that problem as long as I have been here in Willing Barrel. So, this is relatively new, but we are dealing with it. Um, we are looking at um some plumbing plumbing evaluations underway for the Willing Barrel Food Bank. We are
looking to uh open that and get that up and running. Um, when we got to do the got in and do some inspections. Um, they drilled holes in the concrete for the toilets, but never connected any plumbing underneath that concrete. So, those are some of the issues that we're
doing there. We're also dealing with some water damage at the public library, which has been traced back to some clogged roof drains. And we are also preparing to install carpeting in the public library. And before we do that, we are going to make sure that the um
the skylights that have been leaking are repaired. And we're also going to do some painting. And so when it when the work is done um we will have a nice fresh tight um public library once again. So we are uh getting uh competitive
quotes for those projects. Uh DPW is also working on cyber walk repairs on Stone Haven Lane. They're doing curb repairs on Emerald Court. They're doing catch basin repairs on Tiffany Lane. Uh they are assisting
residents that as they go about doing their reverse frontage cleanups by collecting some of the debris. We got our new chipper in today. So they are very excited about going and giving in a good workout with all that debris and brush laying around town. So uh I'm
excited about that as well. And they continue with grass cutting and landscaping uh activities in the township. Our inspections department is continually to be busy. Um, this month they con conducted 1,744
total inspections. They wrote 899 violations, 12 summones. Um, they did over 700 UCCC inspections and collected $84,569 in revenue. So, they're continuing to be
very busy. our communities, the ferris community affairs department uh offered a healthy living workshop and low impact exercise, yoga, meditation, and sewing classes during the month. They're continuing to provide nutrition workshops in partnership with Rutgers
University. And the weekly mobile food pantry has been distributing 400 pounds of food pretty regularly. So, uh, if anybody has any of those needs, they're more than welcome to reach out to, uh, the Reva Foster Senior Center and
connect. Um, we have had 2582 visitors to the center during the course of the month. in our human resources division. Uh we did bring on a new employee as the principal payroll clerk for our finance department and we are
making some other uh adjustments uh with personnel throughout the township. One of them being in recreation where we are evaluating our staffing and programs uh and some offerings. And I'm going to ask Mr. Li if he would come up at this time
and give us a report on some of the activities in recreation as he is currently uh guiding the ship there um at this time. Mr. Lori, >> good evening Mayor, Council, Deputy
Mayor, of course, and members of the public. Um just a few key points before I go into um our reorganization. Um, we did have the Jazzfest this maybe two weeks ago now. Oh, me too. Um, the
Jazzfest was pretty successful um with our headliners Norman Brown, Avery Sunshine, and Stokeley um from Mint Condition. Uh this year for parking, we brought in $36,70, which is about an $11,000 increase um in parking revenue over the last year. Um,
we brought in uh almost $2,000 um in t-shirt sales. Um, so again, another increase over uh the prior year. Um, we have opened our fitness court
that opened on uh this past uh Monday. Um, those sessions will be uh hosted for six weeks. there were going to be free um every Sunday from 7 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. Um our touch truck is scheduled for August 21st from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
and the country club will be closing on um the first. I'll give these to you so you can council as Mr. Harris stated, "We are experiencing um a reorganization in our
recreation department. Um this reorganization will be led by a new purpose and vision for the department um centered around doing more often and more intentionally. You can go to the next slide. Um the purpose of this uh reorganization is to deliver greater value through
expanded programming, consistent engagement and strategic alignment. Um the division the vision, excuse me, doing more more often and more intentionally. Um respectively goes um ties into expanding the breadth of offerings uh for our programs. um doing more programs consistently throughout
the year and aligning programs with the needs and goals um and outcomes uh for our township and for the residents that would benefit them um in an intentional and meaningful way. Um our organizational structure um has been tweaked um so to speak. Um we're going
to be introducing new and additional roles roles that will be filled by new staff and existing staff. Um, we'll be looking to um include a recreation supervisor for programs and community engagement as well as a recreation
supervisor for sports and recreation along with program coordinators and recreation leaders. Um, if you go to the next slide, you'll see how that organizational structure shakes out. So, we'll have the director of recreation, two clerks that will help uh with the administrative functions of the
department, those recreation supervisors that have those specific focus areas, and the support staff that will um work with them to deliver programming in those key areas. The next slide, please. These slides kind of go over the roles
um descriptions for each. So, the recreation supervisor will be responsible for planning and coordinating community events and programs um fostering inclusion and builds partnerships. What do those events look like? Those events are um they could range from culinary uh programs, those enrichment like
programs. They could be a financial literacy course that we offer um for residents on a multi-generational um scale. Um those also look like um mental health workshops um having more workshops, more programs um more
consistently um in a way that um makes sense, right? In a way that we're really targeting the needs of the community. Um same thing with a recreation supervisor. That person will oversee the athletic and aquatic and
recreation programs. Uh so the programs that we have now like our sports programs whether that be wrestling, baseball, football, the um outdoor recreation programs such as the let's for an example um the fishing derby um that
person will be responsible for those as well and ensuring safety and quality and inclusive um environment for all. the recreation program coordinators. They'll support and support the planning and management and logistics of those uh focus areas with those supervisors. Um
and then also with the recreation leaders, they will provide more hands-on support um during those programs and events. You can go to the next slide. Um the implementation for this is done in phases. The first uh phase will be about
two months. We'll finalize the structure, orient the supervisors that will be in the department, survey the community just to get feedback and review resources. We've already started some of this. Um the last week or so has been a very revealing. Um there's a lot
of things that's happening in the department that I would consider to be inefficient. Um we're looking at those inefficiencies and ways to um combat them with practical solutions that make sense so that we can improve um our effective service delivery in the recreation department. Phase two,
evaluating the programs that we currently offer. Um and then could also consider sunsetting those programs that are underperforming. Um there are a lot of programs where there's just a few people in the course. um we find that that's just a waste of resources and we
don't want to waste the resources uh for the township. Phase three, phase three, excuse me, would include launching new programming, marketing, communicating with the um marketing and collaboration with the communications department and recruiting new volunteers. Phase four
about 9 to 12 months um 9 to 12 months out, it won't take 9 to 12 months. um implement and evaluate and adjust our offerings and strengthen our partnerships in the community. And then phase five will be an ongoing phase um that will involve uh quarterly reports
and progress reports um and then celebrating our successes. The next slide will show you the metrics that we're going to be looking at over the next year. Um we want to in increase our participation growth by 20%. Um our program diversity, we want to offer five
new categories of programs. I kind of touched on some of those programs program ideas um a little bit earlier. Um our facility facility utilization um we want to increase that by 15%. Um booking hours um resident satisfaction
um we want to increase that by 85%. So we want to get a survey out soon to see what the residents are seeing how they're feeling. Um, I did a lot of talking to our vendors at the Jazzfest and getting their feedback on the things that they like, what they didn't like during that time. And there was a lot of, um, feedback that I received during
that time. We want to get it out to the residents just to see what they're seeing, what they're feeling, um, and what they need. Um, and then come back later on to, you know, survey them again. Uh, partnership engagement. We want to make sure that we have 10 active partnerships, whether that be with the local organizations in our community.
um we'll survey uh what's around the community, take those um have those conversations with those organizations, see where we can bridge um the gaps and see where we can create partnerships um in the best interest for our residents and for our recreation department,
the resources and support that we'll need if Yeah, there we go. Um obviously the budget, we'll have the support of the public works uh department as well as communications promotion and then administrative uh support. Um, and then this vision alignment table
uh kind of gives you the idea. It kind of explains in a summary what each role uh is about and how they align to doing more more often and more intentionally. Um, Mr. Harris, I believe that is all that I have to share for recreational on
this evening. >> Thank you, Mr. Li. I want to thank Mr. lawyer for not finding a robbery to to step out of my office and step out to the recreation department to really offer his talents and abilities uh in that area and we are
very excited about um what we are seeing just in this short period of time. Does you have any questions for Mr. Lowry? >> Any questions from council? Deputy Mayor Worthy, >> I have a um a request. Um first I want to say thank you Mr. Lowry. Um, also
while you're in phase one, will you consider doing focus groups with um the library, the school district, and maybe some of the local organizations um just to, you know, as you're looking at programs to expand and also what may be sunset, I think they have some other
programs that would complement what we're looking at and perhaps instead of sunsetting programs, it may be just transferring them over to um another organization, you know, that's still doing the same work. I know the library has some parallel programs that we offer and per perhaps we can redirect those
residents to what the library is offering um as we may be making shifts in the township. Thank you very much Councilwoman. >> Thank you. Um thank you for the presentation Mr. Lori. Uh my questions relating to the portion where you
mentioned surveys. I know that um I believe it was our last council meeting or somewhere they are near that time. um you and I spoke about um reaching all of the community and I know that we've uh moved into a digital world of the text
communication. However, um there's quite a few residents that do not use social media for communication and I believe you and I had spoken about and you brought it to the council's attention as well. um possibly using like a paper boy. Um also um mailers doing a survey,
putting a box in either in the front of the building where people can drop off their paper survey um just to let us know who wants to be on social media communication and who wants the paper format to be mailed to their home when we're having a question for the
community. Um this way we can um create two different list, right? So you recall what our conversation about that and I wanted to know have you looked into or had any discussion um further about that? >> I do remember the conversation um and I remember discussion about the paper
voice. I don't know if we were aligned there but um I do remember having the conversation about finding other ways that we can reach all of our our residents here in in the township. Recognizing that everyone isn't on social media, everyone isn't techsavvy. Um I think there are means and methods
that we can use uh to reach everyone. Um, I can certainly have the conversation with Mr. Harris to look at our budget, see what we can do in terms of communicating with the public to get more paper um, mailers out to the residents so that we can survey in that way. >> I think we um, we I thought we came up
with a few ideas. I think some of the ideas was put a note in the tax bill letting them know, do you want to receive your communication via electronic or do you want to receive communication from the township um, via paper? That was one suggestion to actually send out that first survey like
create a list of people who who are interested in knowing what's going on in the community via paper only. The other um suggestion was a box where because I know you said you're going to conduct surveys but then what's going to happen is you're not going to reach all the
community for the survey. So the first survey should be do you want to receive information about what's going on via paper or not? this way you go on the list of so that's um I guess you didn't talk about that you did not unless do
you need us to vote on something or >> I I I can't say I remember the conversation mentioned about >> so if I mayerts >> if I may step in there I do recall the conversation and we were in the process now of getting ready to conduct a trash survey as we prepare to uh go out to bid
for our trash contract and that's exactly what we did councilwoman we did prepare a mailing and it will be included in the tax bills. Um, statutoily the tax bills have to go out first class mail. So, we do have the ability
a availability to utilize that mechanism at least four times a year. The issues with mailing to all of the residential homes in Willing, it is a very expensive prospect. um over $10,000 in mailing
costs for each uh universal contact. So, we are trying to streamline that as best as we can. Um and you know, because you just be adding a lot of expense. So, we would like to utilize the tax um bills
as much as we can to communicate as best as we can. We will have the in that particular trash survey, the residents will have an the ability to either respond online whether through its uh email or through the a QR code or they
can actually bring the survey and deposit it in a box uh that will be located in the front of the building and eventually we are looking to have one mounted outside so they can come by and deliver their surveys any time of the day. So we did take what you what you
had shared in in heed and we are looking to incorporate it uh the most efficiently and economically way that we can uh here in Willingboro. >> Just one um thank you Mr. Paris. But however, can you also add the question, how do you want to receive communication? Like that should be a
part of the survey too. The question literally, do you want to receive information via mail or do you want to receive via email? Please fill out this and get it back to us. This way it is it is will become less expensive because I'm pretty sure there's quite a few
families that are like, don't send me anything in the mail. I'm sick of getting it. I'll email me. And then you have those who say put it in the mail. And so we'll have those lists. So that literally needs to be a question that you put in the bill, the tax bill. Send
this back to us. Let us know the best way to communicate with you. Give us your your preference. >> Well, it won't go in this survey, but we'll we will look at that for one in the future. The mail is going out tomorrow, so Oh, >> it's going Okay. So, it's already
prepared to go out. Okay. A suggestion. All right. Great. Thank you, Mr. Li. Thank you, Mr. Harris. Um, Mr. Harris, you can continue with your >> So, Mr. Li did mention that the NFC fitness court did uh is completed and it
did open um with strong utilization. I was very surprised at the amount of people that um were out to receive free instructional sessions with our coach Mel on Monday morning at 7 o'clock in the morning and they came back Tuesday
and Wednesday and Thursday in droves and we added an evening session and um residents have been asking if they could get private sessions and training and and yes >> that's a great idea and uh So, we are
very excited about uh our new NFC fitness court and uh we really hope that the residents utilize it uh because it is for them. Um uh we are planning a official ribbon cutting for early in September in
partnership with the National Fitness Court organization and Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield who as entity organizations uh donated $50,000 to uh Willing B for the construction of that fitness court which is beautifully
decorated by our own Levette Ballard who is a a world famous artist housed right here in Willing Barrow. So, we're very proud of that piece of apparatus and just as the kickoff to some of the other modifications that we're looking to um
do with the JFK field area. One of them being, you know, the township has long considered replacing the field with the turf surface and the competition level track. And while this remains a long-term goal, uh current costs make it a little difficult um giving other
capital priorities within the the township. we talk about um street repairs and and under drains and and things like that and possibly upgrading a pool facility. So um I had reached out to our engineers and they had proposed a plan to um do
some modifications on the field some grading and filling um improving the swailes with new inlets and piping and residing the field after grading it cleaning out drain pipes and outlets and resurfacing the track. um with a coste
effective walker friendly surface and the estimated construction for that work just came out to just a little over a million $1 million $10,000. However, um because of the council's um sage
forethought, um we have already put aside uh those monies in capital to invest in the turf field. And we also have an $85,000 grant that was designated for the track refurbishment um that we have yet to utilize and we're
at the risk of it expiring. So, I was going to ask for approval from the governing body to go ahead and proceed um with bids to recommend um the the improvements to the JFK field and track um to balance fiscal responsibility with
community recreation needs while preserving um the external funding. So, like again, we already have the money in the bank. um if we can get the thumbs up, we can go ahead and do the bid and hopefully we could get that work done um
before the end of this year. So that's just for your consideration. >> Yeah. Yeah, we'll do that. >> For our office of vital statistics, uh this month they've uh issued 134 birth certificates or certified copies of
birth certificates. um 29 marriage certificates um and unfortunately they did process 54 um death certificates and I believe the mar married five five couples during the course of the month. You're very busy. >> Oh,
>> very busy. >> I know I did six more today. So >> you're very busy. Um so that is that I did mention the trash survey in our conversation. Um, and uh, I just want to make a few
announcements. Miss Ivy Carmichael, who is my executive assistant, she has been appointed uh, and been named the chairperson for the Burlington County GIF uh, following the resignation of the previous chairperson and she continues to serve as commissioner for Willing
Barrow. And Willing really takes pride in Miss Carmichael's professionalism and um, which is extending to uh, county level leadership. So, we're very proud of what she is doing here and and uh and how she is broadening her her reach into
into Burlington County. We were also awarded an additional $15,000 um for phase one application um by the New Jersey Clean Fleet Organization.
Uh, and we're going to use those monies to uh further the installation of three charging stations over at the Futura House in Mil Creek Park. And that is all of the information that I'm
going to bring to you this evening. And I'm going to ask Miss Jackson if she would come and share the goings on in Willingboro. Good evening. >> Evening, >> mayor, deputy mayor, members of council, and all those assembled. Uh, just a few
updates. We just want to remind you that work continues to be done on our streets and parks and community. So, we want you to be mindful of the special notices, the detours, and special directions from PSENG, the Willing Police Department, and all the other governing bodies. a
lot of um movement in the township. So, we just want you to be cautious, especially as we prepare for the upcoming school year. Um we would like to thank all those who joined us for this year's summer events, whether you were at the live music series, our
burough barbecue, national night out, the jazz fest. Uh we do appreciate your support and we are looking forward to Thursday's touch a truck event that was mentioned that will be sponsored by fire and EMS departments on Thursday, August
21st and that'll be from 6:00 p p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Kennedy Center. And it's just a um a silent event. We want to remind them no loud noises or sirens. And um it just gives an opportunity for the young people to touch and check out,
you know, some of our ES our fire and EMS vehicles, the police cars and um some other vehicles. So, we're looking forward to that. Um tickets for this year's Burrow and Blanc are now available. Those tickets are $75 and must be purchased in pairs and that event will be on Saturday, September the
6th. The location will be disclosed on the day of the event. So, um, once again, we are looking forward to another, um, wonderful event on Saturday. And I'm sure the township clerk will, um, share more information, but we do want to be before you about
this on the shred event that will happen from 10:00 a.m. to 12. On Saturday, September 27th, we will host our fall clean communities event beginning at 9:00 at the Kennedy Center. More information will be shared um regarding
that, but we just encourage people to put that date on their calendar and join us in our commitment to keep Willenboro clean. So, more information about that. We do also want to let you know that applications for the Citizen Police Academy are now available and residents
are invited to be a part of this opportunity to get um familiar with the world of law enforcement. And lastly, as you've heard, there's a lot of excitement about our outdoor fitness court. So, just to reiterate, um, Coach Male is on site Monday through
Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and then again in the evenings from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. to assist people to get familiar with the court and the seven minute workout session. And I understand those seven minutes are good seven minutes. So, we do encourage um, everyone to be a part of that. And this
again is a partnership with the National Fitness Campaign and Horizon Bluec Cross Blue Shield. As Mr. Harish said, we're working on the ribbon cutting. So in the meantime, we do encourage you to take advantage of making the fitness court part of your wellness routine. And that is all for me. As you know, all of this
information is always available on our website, our social media, our YouTube channel weekly. Thank you so much. >> Thank you, Miss Jackson. >> All right. Any questions for Mr. Paris. >> Councilwoman P.
>> Thank you. Just a couple um one the last time we had met we um I brought the concern for a few residents with regards to the pavement and the where did you you have an update on a solution or resolution on how to make
the pavement look more presentable? I know I did receive a phone call from Mr. Chapman um about one resident. and I wasn't sure how that worked out, how it worked out for him. >> We will call Mr. Chapman. >> Mr. Chapman, please stand up.
>> Good evening, everybody. Council, deputy mayor, mayor. How's everybody doing? Public as well. Um, yes. So, we're just going to add that to our list of sidewalk replacements. So, we'll just add it to the list of areas to be ripped and replaced because the only way to do that is to just rip it and replace with
fresh side uh concrete. >> Okay. Okay. >> So, 18. I got the I got your addresses from the messages and we just want to add it to the list. >> Okay. >> All right. >> And it'll be just out that block or >> No, no, no, no, not the No, just that area. >> Okay. >> Okay. All right. >> All right. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
>> The other question I had is relating to um the performing arts opening. Are we on target with that? >> I know that um the other gentleman is not here to speak to us, but do you know where we are with that opening? So we one of the items for business this
evening is to award the phase two of that contract. We will be meeting with the contractor tomorrow to discuss the schedule moving forward. So we will determine um then where we are what
areas of deficiency we are still experiencing and and my hope is that the answer to your question is yes. Um but again we will have a more definitive answer after our meeting tomorrow. >> Okay. Just one other question for I guess Gary's walking out but he
mentioned something about marketing and corporate Gary I'm sorry one real quick. You I know you your presentation you mentioned um communicating with the marketing and and working with communications. Do you mean our communications department or do you mean like and here it says budgeting um
materials and marketing staff. Do you mean do you mean >> yes >> paying for external staff or our communications department? >> We have a great communications staff here so I'll be working with them. >> Okay. Cuz I saw budgeting I'm like are we going to start paying more outside? No. >> Okay. So that's good. That's good to know. Thank you.
>> All right. Thank you Councilwoman Pup. All right. I had just um a few things to bring up. Thank you for highlighting Miss Jackson the community cleanup on September 27th. that is one of my favorite events throughout the township. Um so I look forward to seeing all of
Willingboro there on September 27th at 9:00 am JFK um as we strive to keep Willingboro clean. And then also Mr. Harris um you had mentioned about the road closures with the PSEG work
throughout the township. I just want um to make sure that you're following up with PSENG. We do get calls periodically about residents not receiving the notification that their street is going to be closed off um before the work
actually starts um and they wake up in the morning trying to go to work and everything shut down. So So um I just want to make sure that they're putting those notices out in a timely manner so that residents can plan accordingly.
>> And thank you mayor. We have had uh conversations with PSNG very recently. Um you may be aware that they use a third-party contractor, no excuse. Uh but they have committed to be a little more diligent in making sure those not residents are notified um before the
work actually begins. And if I just may expand on that, I know the streets in Willingboro have gone through a lot over the last couple of of the last year. Um but we have done a lot of road work as
well and uh myself uh PSCG our engineers and consultants had uh had a meeting last week and there is a plan forward to have all of the work that PSCG has uh done tearing up the roads uh to be fully
repaired and replaced um by the end of 2026. So, we have about another year of um driving on rough terrain. Um but when uh by the end of 2026, all of those streets
will be brand new, newly paved streets, curb to curb, and then they will begin, depending on their funding, on the next phase. But we're not going to leave Willing Barrow in a tore up condition, but it's going to take us a little time to get it back to to better than what it
was. Great. Thank you, Mr. Harris, for that. And then also, um, as the season is changing, it's starting, it's not staying light until 10 p.m. anymore. Um, but as it starts to get darker earlier, um, I've noticed even on some of the
roads where the lighting project has ha has um completed that some of the lights are not at not functioning. They're out. um some are, you know, tilting or knocked down. And I just want to make sure that PSCG is staying on track and
on top of those out lights. Um that is a major component of our public safety efforts to make sure that uh our town is well lit to deter any nefarious activities.
>> Absolutely. And along with that, I've already had my conversation with Mr. Chapman. the the weather the leaves are turning brown sooner than last year. So my hope is my expectation is that they will be ready to collect leaves sooner
than they did last year. So we don't have those same experiences. >> And we just got that brand new leaf back. So okay, we approved the leaf back. >> Was hoping it'd be in.
All right. And that's all I had. All right, we'll move right along with our meeting and Mr. Harris, if you can do the resolutions overview for this evening. >> Thank you. So on the agenda for your
consideration is ordinance number 25-12, which is an amended ordinance of the township um regarding the powers and duties of the township manager. This uh ordinance was introduced at the last meeting and is set for public hearing and final adoption this evening. Along
with that is ordinance number 14 um which is dealing with convenience stores uh specifically chapter uh 130-2 the operating hours adding a subsection pertaining to 24hour operations for convenience stores uh within the B1 zone
business zone which is located along the route 130 corridor here in Willing Barrow. So um we are looking for a final adoption of that ordinance this evening. Ordinance number 15 is uh related to the
titles and duties of the deputy township manager which was uh segregated from the uh ordinance number 12 at the request of the council and that was presented and being considered for final adoption this evening. And finally, along with
ordinance number 16, which is providing for the reappropriation of $86,500 in proceeds from obligations that were not needed or utilized in previous capital projects and reappropriating them to different uh items for purchases
for the Department of Public Works. Our resolutions being presented to you this evening for your consideration is resolution number 204 which is a resolution authorizing the approval of vouchers for payment and ratification. Resolution number 205 is a resolution uh
of the governing body certifying the annual audit. Um every year we do receive an audit from our auditors and um the governing body has to certify that at the at minimum they uh read the findings and recommendations and uh the
action plan. Resolution number 206 is the resolution authorizing the approval of the 2024 corrective action plan. uh and there was just one finding on that corrective action plan regarding the listing of uh trust payments on the
bills list. So in in to solve that problem, we began to enumerate all of the different accounts that the bills are being paid up paid paid from on the bills list. so uh everyone can see what
is coming from where and the amounts as well as the itemized um items as well. Resolution number 207 is a resolution to increase the township's bid threshold and competitive quote threshold pursuant to division of local finance notice
number 205-08. Every five years, the local finance board has the option to uh increase the bid threshold, decrease the bid threshold, or keep it the same. Uh our bid threshold went from 44,000 to I
believe it's 52,000. So >> 53 >> 53,000. So this is just a resolution authorizing the increase uh to the bid threshold. Resolution number 208 is a resolution authorizing the township uh not to exceed amount for
air power international uh inc for the for the procurement of one makeo breathing air module. That is the air module that refurbishes the breathing tanks that the fire department uses when they go into um different life
threatening situations. This is a new component replacing the old one that was like 25 years old. Resolution number 209 is it authorizing a not to increase uh for Penoni Associates for the provision
of general engineering services and awarding a contract for special projects. Penoni is in the in the process of now um designing the next phase of our road replacement project in
line with what PSC is doing. And we also need to change handicap ramps uh prior to them finalizing their payment of the streets for the the roads that they're about to do over the next couple of months. So, they're going to be uh utilizing monies that were left over
from the prior road project to do the handicap ramps so PSCG can come and pave. Uh resolution number 210 is authorizing a not to ex exceed for McMadman in Scotland for the provision of
redevelopment council services to the township of Willing Barrow. Uh we have a couple of major developers that are looking to um do some work here and they're giving us good guidance uh as far as you know the things that we should and shouldn't be doing in
relation to that. Uh resolution number 211 is authorizing an increase in the not to exceed for Florio Perucci Steinhart and Federer LLC for the provision of Oprah attorney services to the township of Willing Brow. We spend a lot of money responding to open requests
and um and we utilize uh the services of legal counsel at times to keep us from being sued um by not responding in a timely or inappropriate manner. A resolution number 212 is resolution for a final change order and contract
closure for Marshall Lane roadway improvement projects and accepting of the maintenance B bond. Uh that project was concluded in 2023 and uh we are signing off on it and then accepting the two-year maintenance bond. Along with
that resolution number 203 or 213 um is the close out for the outdoor fitness court which we just um um reported as being completed. This is specifically for the pouring of the concrete slab
that was done by uh Diamond Construction, right? So, um they are closing out that project and giving us a maintenance bond for I believe it's $154,000 for that project as well. Resolution number 214 is a resolution
authorizing a contract with Striker Medical um through a New Jersey cooperative to purchase two ambulance stretchers and one Lucas chest compression uh system. We have invested in one chest compression system as well
already which has been utilized and very effective um piece of equipment um in the saving of lives for people that are suffering cardiac uh experiences um and it really helps with constant and
rhythmic um compressions when doing CPR. Uh we would like to thank Senator Singleton who was very instrumental in seeing that Willingboro received over a $200,000 grant so that we could purchase two additional stretchers and one uh
Lucas chest compression because our EMS services uh respond to over 4,000 calls a year in Willingber alone alone and they are a real support to our neighboring communities. So um we are very grateful that uh we uh received
that grant through his assistance. Uh resolution number 215 is awarding a contract to TNM Associates for the provision of engineering services to the township of Willingboro. This again is in in relation to um some
storm water work that needs to be done that we are going to look to have funded through the New Jersey Water Bank infrastructure uh for us to to apply to them for funding. We have to do the preliminary uh work. So that's what this
contract is for for TNM. Resolution number 216 is awarding a contract for construction services for the Willingboroough Performing Arts Center phase 2 project which came in at just a little bit over a million dollars. And
again, I'm happy to say that we already have complete funding to complete that project. Resolution number 217 is a resolution authorizing an execution of memorandum of understanding between the Willingboro Township and Willing Brow Special Law
Enforcement Officers, the SLEO Association, which was provided to you for your consideration and reading. Uh resolution number 218 is authorizing the township to execute a memorandum of agreement with the Noo-Noo Foundation to co-sponsor the second annual scholarship
golf outing. The first one was very success, very successful. Uh we raised and distributed over $10,000 in scholarship funding and we are looking to do uh a little bit more than that uh in 2026. Resolution number 219 is authorizing the
township to reject proposal for social services provider. We did an RFP to award aund to award a $144,000 um opportunity to provide social services
uh certain social services um uh to Willing Barrel residents. Um we are still investigating whether those services are redundant or would be better provided through county referrals but we are required to um respond to the
RFPs in in a required amount of days. So we are asking to just reject the proposals and then we will have our further uh discussions and then revisit this in 2026. Resolution number 220 is granting the municipal clerk the authority to issue
provisional operating permits through December 31st, 2025 due to pending revisions to chapter 342 uh-1 of the municipal code. And does the clerk want to take an opportunity to elaborate on that a little bit further?
>> Yes. I apologize for two uh 222 >> 220 >> 220 the one I'm looking at. Um, so this is just to um as I'm going through and I'm updating our codes to be consistent with our
practices. Um, this is just to get uh anyone that has a specific um taxi license in town to um the end of the year when I will be um the new code will be in effect. So, this
is just like a temporary provisional permit to get us um to get us there so they're in compliance. Okay. Thank you. Resolution number 221 is a resolution to approve or or to
resend the approval of to execute a contract with Ducket Entertainment Group LLC representing MA for the musical performance at the 2025 >> Mesa. Thank you. Not on my playlist, but
I'm sure she's great. Anyway, um for the Willingboro Jazzfest, unfortunately, she was not able to perform and um but we do have to formally resend that that contract. Resolution number 222 is a resolution granting a social affairs permit and authorizing the township
clerk to certify the same application. You want to speak on that one? >> Uh yes, Mr. Harris. So, uh, 222 and 223 are both for the organization Diamond Dogs. Um, the
they submitted two paper applications, which they are allowed to do um, per the ABC guidelines. Um, one application is for August 22nd and August 23rd from 400 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. each day. That'll be
for community outreach. And then the second one is uh September 4th and September 5th again from 400 pm to 1:00 am. And this will be specifically for the autumn social conference. >> And those are all of the items being
presented to you for your consideration this evening. >> Okay. Thank you, Mr. Harris. At this time, um we will open it up for public comment on agenda items only. You
will have two minutes and if you have any questions, comments or concerns about any of the items that were just discussed by Mr. Harris and Miss Sino um during the review, you can come and speak on that. Now, you'll have two
minutes. Please state your name and address for um the record and public comment is now open. >> Everyone, >> good evening. My name is Claudine Archer. I'm the founder of the Beloved Project. My address is 46 East Stokes
Road, Willingboro, New Jersey. Um, I'm uh coming to speak about the rejection, now that I hear that it's a rejection of the RFP for social services for Willingboro, I'm going to try to make it quick so I can make it in two minutes. Um, the Beloved Project has faithfully
been serving not only Willingboro, Burlington County, and now Mercer County. Um, uh, and all of our surrounding communities through housing assistance, food security initiatives like today, we were able to serve 400 people at our office um, giving out food
today. And, um, senior services um, helping seniors stay in their homes or give them affordable housing if if they can't maintain the home anymore. re-entry support and utility relief like the water um with the water bills and the water the tax relief that's about um
tax sales that's about to happen. Our work has um consistently filled critical service gaps um ensuring that mo the most vulnerable stay in their homes and do not fall between the cracks. um we were one of the um agencies that
applied for the RFP and I believe I personally believe that partnering with the Beloved Project and Willingboroough Township um partners with the Beloved Project as our social arming would strengthen the ability to provide
comprehensive wraparound services for our residents. our this partnership would combine townships resources and what I already have county and state funds to be able to serve our our residents in a in a better way. And I
feel like we have a great track record. I can say for now in one year I've spent over $375,000 in saving people from losing their homes, keeping their lights on, keeping them off the street, feeding hotels, including the one that needs to be torn
down on Route 130. Um I make sure that um paroleies get to their parole officers. >> Miss Archer, that's your time. >> Okay, >> we will have another public comment. >> Thank you. >> Is there any other public comment?
Hi, my name is Larry Letter and I'm here on behalf of and I just wanted to say that uh I was homeless for about three years and happened to be at a homeless seminar and everybody's I needed tires. Everybody
said go talk to Claudine. after she got retired, we got to know each other a little bit and got she got into my situation. She got me housed. I don't know how she's just incredible. So, I just wanted
to say that she is truly phenomenal person. Thank you. >> Thank you. Hello, my name is Vanessa Koko. I live by 37 Plum Venomboro. I'm also here to talk about the resolution that we just
um had a rejection for. Um Beloved Project have helped my family mostly my parents and um in great ways. um every time there is food um we always get um members in the community to let us come
and actually I'm actually able to actually bring things to um my my parents my parents are elderly and they live in William as well with me and I'm able to help them that way not only I'm able to help my family um beloved project have also given me the opportunity to help my neighbors which
today I was able to give at least four different homes um groceries and not just packed food and the great thing that she does, we actually get things that we can actually cook to have a good home meal. So, um we are very grateful for the opportunity in the community and
we hope to see that program flourish. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Good evening everyone. My name is Susette Beard, 1131 Jennese Lane, and I have um concern about um ordinance um 22514
about having um stores operating 24 hours um for business. I feel like that will cause a little bit of problem for the community in the area. If you have a convenience store open at 24 hours, for what reason? You have Wawa down the
street and you have other stores that can serve 24 hours. And also I'd like to also talk about the Beloved Project. That Beloved Project across and right over Rancos Rancokus um right across from McDonald's. They are great. They
help me. They help the community. They do a lot for people and I think it will be a good partnership for the township to embrace that program because they not only just serve canned food, they give you wholesome food, fresh fruit and
vegetable. I mean fresh stuff. And so I thank God for them because it helped me a lot. And so that's all I have to say. >> Thank you. Good evening. >> Good evening. >> My name is Mo and Gene.
I live in 55 executive frame in Rainbow. I mean for the same reason to to support the beloved because it helps it a lot. When I got the food, not only for my
family, I bring it at my church. I bring it in my job to help other people. But if they close it or if she doesn't have any more food, I know a lot of people going to be not happy. Thank you.
>> Thank you so much. Good evening everyone. It is no surprise that I'm here also um for the beloved project to um be here to support them. I'm with um 137 country and um yes that is the correct item and um I don't just
want to speak about the service that they give for food but also they um the beloved project expands they've been able to give opportunities for teens to volunteer whether they are troubled teens or kids who excel my nephew himself who is a 4.0 student who um has
been able to volunteer with them have been exposed to things that he wouldn't ordinarily be exposed to because he's a very sheltered child. So there is other aspects to this um project to this um thing that is um greater than what you see than just being able to give
children food. I know she's also recently told me about um bringing in therapists and things like that and I continuously send people and very recently a police officer from a township that is not Willingboro told me you know um she they saw another company
that does the same things and said these people they don't really do anything for anybody but you know who people keep asking me about the beloved. So the proof is in the pudding if someone from another top township who is a police officer in another township knows the name of one that primarily occupies
Willingboro and people from other places do come to her because when you come the help is actually there and I know of many people who have success stories coming out of getting help from the beloved project. So don't just f focus on the part where she's able to offer food. There is more at stake if she does
not get the fund. >> Thank you. Good evening. My name is Wland Duda. I live in Ni Lane, Willing, New Jersey. I'm coming here for the same reason because not only the food the beloved
project do and there's a young man in the street cold and then I just talked to my daughter about uh what happened to the young guy. This is a 20 years old.
And then she went to clothing and clothing take care this guy. It's not only food everything you have a pro um reason for that you know the reason is
like uh she's not only give it to her friend everybody you know you go there they serve you it's not only for for that but please I hope you consider that please thank you
>> thank Hi, good evening everyone. My name is Leia Nazair. I live at 21 Holio Lane. Said good evening everyone. My name is Leia Nazair. I live at 21 Holio Lane. So this evening I am here for the same reason. um on behalf of the Beloved
Project. They are a full-fledged agency. They're they don't turn anyone away. If it's for temporary housing, for food, for just just about anything. Um they
can cover it. They'll they'll find a way to help any and everybody, every police department that you know works together with them, any person that just just comes across that office. It's just not about food. It is a full-fledged service and I hope that you would consider that.
>> Thank you. Good evening everyone. My name is Amanda Charlotte and I live at 128 Harrington Circle. Just like everyone else that's come before me, I am here to speak about Beloved Project and what they do, not
only for my family and my church family and the residents of Willingboro, Burlington County, Mercer County, and so on and so forth. Just like what Leia and Nazir just said and everybody else just spoke about, it's a full-fledged service
from distributing food to helping with homelessness to helping with provide people with necessary things that they need. I really do. This is a town that I I was I grew up here and moved to
Burlington um in high school, but then got married and bought a house in Willingboro because I believe in this town. I believe in what this town stands for. I love this town and I really do think that this is something
that would really benefit the residents of Willingboro, especially the ones that go unseen. You don't know what people are struggling with. They could look nice. They could have a job and literally be one week away from getting kicked out
of their home for anything. and now it could be a water bill that hasn't been paid. So for her and her organization to help the residents of Willingboro, it it would be beneficial for Willingboro to partner with Beloved
Project because it's not just about her. It's not just about the people that work at Beloved. It's about me. It's about my children. It's about the residents of Willingboro and everybody else that benefits from their services. I hope you reconsider.
Thank you. >> Good evening everyone. >> Good evening. >> Um my name is Mileika Duga. I live at um and nine Normandy Lang Wing of course. Um I am here um not only as a supporter for the beloved project but also as an
educator. I teach here at the Garfield East um ECDC. Um I too grew up in Willingboro, went through Willenboro school system, graduated, went to school and then came back to teach here and um fortunately I was given that opportunity to give back to Willenboro. Um, as a
teacher, Beloved has been able to allow me to keep my drawers full of the necessary u necessaries of like toothbrushes, uh, toothpaste, um, deodorant, stuff like that for my students. Um, because a lot of them are going or families are going through a
lot of things. So, um, I think beloved for that um because I cannot afford all of that myself. So, um, but she does help with that. And then she also helps um as my mother did say the one student um he was a student of mine at WR James
who is homeless. I did tell Claudine about him that night. She called me right over gave me clothes for him and I have not seen her. And when I spoke to her she was like oh I found him and I got him housing and I got him the necessary services that he um he needs.
So, I ask that you reconsider. Um, I ask that you think about this partnership and how much it um benefits and its uh uh citizens. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Is there any public comments online? >> Hello. Can you hear me?
>> Yes, we can hear you. Hi, this is uh Jada Jackson um 83 Tide Border Lane and um I'm I'm going to try to not be in my feelings. I I directly asked if there was going to be a restructuring of the
recreation and I was told there was not. So, I'm I'm uh working through seeing a multi-layer slide uh talking about just that. Um, I don't know what the problem is and I think that's the biggest
problem that I have. So, we are restructuring recreation to address a problem that hasn't been daylighted. And then after you restructured them, we are now going to ask the community what they
want. We had a director who I don't think she made it to a full pay week, did she? before she resigned after taking the job and we announced it. When I call recreation, none of the people are there. I'm not sure why someone in
payroll now is better suited in recreation and someone from DPW is now better suited for recreation. This program directly affects the two resolutions we
did just earlier, one for policing and one for health. So one, when will the public get the um metrics by which the better is being determined? Um what are the metrics for
recreation now and what are the what are the numeric goals that are being to be achieved with this change? That is one. Two, with this huge staffing shift, how are we guaranteeing one that the
programs that are already in plan are going to be executed at least to the same level of accidents that they've been on, but also that the planning for next year actually occurs. >> I'm sorry. >> Time is up. >> Thank you for your comment.
>> Thank you. Um, good afternoon everyone. Can everyone hear me? >> Yes, we can hear you. Can you state your name and address, please? >> Yes. Uh, my name is Patrick Phelps. I live in 165 East Brook Lane. Um, I'm just um this is my first town hall
meeting to be honest and I'm hearing a lot about the uh beloved community and uh I believe that that would be a great initiative to actually back. I'm a care manager uh supervisor for um our care management organization in Burlington County and just just um from my
experience I do believe that uh woman bro could definitely benefit from a lot of these services um homegrown services if you will for our residents um young and old. So um I'm I'm just chiming in with my with my two cents on the beloved
program. It sounds like a beautiful thing. Thank you, Mr. Phelps. Is there any other public comment? We have one in here in the room. >> Good evening, everyone. >> Good evening. >> My name is Ella Patterson. I live at 25
Harrison Drive in Wellingboro. Um, I just want to say that the beloved agency, they are helping me uh the best they can. I was working. I'm a senior at 82 years old and I have to find
transportation to get to their organization to give food or whatever help that I need. They are helping me well. Uh there's nothing here in Willingboro to help seniors with problems as far as Okay, say we need our
grass cut. You can't live off of social security and get your grass cut. There's a lot There's trees. I have a home. There's trees falling over. No one. You can't afford to have a tree cut down. So, I feel that they're helping. They do
all that they can. And I think that if they came to Willingboro, they would be able to uh help me more than than you know whatever they can do. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Is there any other public comments
online? Nikki Anderson. Hello. >> Yes, we can hear you. >> Okay. Hi, my name is Nikki Anderson and I'm at six interturn. I just want to say I just found out about um Beloved today
and um I'm thankful, very thankful for that. I stumbled across it. But today I was able to help one person who had just had a baby as well as two people who had just had surgeries. I was able to take pick up some produce and take it directly to them. So um I'm glad that
that program is around and I hope that it continues. >> Thank you. >> That's all I want to say. Is that all for public comment? All right, seeing no more public comment is now closed.
Yeah. Okay. All right. Um, we'll move on to the ordinances. Madame clerk. >> Thank you, Madame Mayor. >> Or should we address I think um thank you everyone from that is in support of
the beloved project. Um we will be discussing that resolution separately. Um, and I think the concern, yes, the 24hour ordinance that concern
um that is only restricted to Route 130 corridor. So, it's not throughout the entire town. But if there's a convenience store located on Route 130 um that would like to stay open 24 hours for emergency needs, maybe medicines or
things like that, um they will be allowed to do that, but not within the interior of the town moving forward. All right. And I think that was all the ones, right? A little bit. Okay. Um Mr. Harris, um to
from what's on our agenda tonight, we don't have a restructure um ordinance on the agenda for recreation, but would you be able to speak to that comment or reach reach out to her?
>> Yeah. So, what's what's what is happening in recreation is not it is a a restructuring, but it is more related to personnel issues. So there's just very limited amount that I can share publicly. Uh we have several persons who
are out on medical leave. Um one person is out for uh four weeks. Uh we have another member in recreation um that is out having uh medical procedures going to be out for several weeks. So when she says there's nobody in recreation,
that's why there is nobody in recreation. Um these are the the the issues that are being um handled in recreation. We have other issues in the township that need to be handled and and
managed as well. And that is the reason why there has been some transitions in personnel. Um one from uh DPW to handle an issue at DPW which really has no bearing on recreation. It just happened
that um there was what we believed to be an overabundance of persons with clerk one certifications in recreation which we could transfer to DPW and vice versa. So that's just a matter of of transferring to individuals and one of
the other persons was to support um some operations in the finance department particularly in our purchasing department. So, you know, these are kind of some of the administrative decisions that, you know, we have to make on a daily basis for the efficient operation of the township. And it's not always
nefarious. It's not always related to uh rumors and gossip. Uh sometimes it's just good business operation. So, that's what's going on in recreation. Uh we do have uh you're absolutely correct that we did offer a a position to an
individual who after a week felt the position was a little bigger than what she was ready to handle. So she did leave after 4 days and that's why we place Mr. Lowry there to kind of um settle the ship while we
reorganize and you know find our path forward. >> All right. Thank you, Mr. All right. And those are all the responses for the first public comment which was on agenda items only. Madame
clerk, will you move forward with the ordinance hearings, public hearings? >> Yes, madame mayor. Um, so for our first ordinance up for this actually ordinance 2025-12, we do not need to do another public hearing for. We introduced this
ordinance originally on June at the June 17th meeting. We had the public hearing um at the July 15th meeting and we amended it. So per statute, we still have we had to wait a week before we can
um adop officially adopt it. I had to publish the amendment. So now um I'm just going to be asking you for a final adoption tonight. Um, so with that being said, can I get a motion to finally adopt ordinance 2025-12 entitled ordinance of the township of
Willingboroough, County of Burlington, State of New Jersey, amending article 4 of the Township Code regarding the powers and duties of the township manager. >> So moved. >> Second. It's been moved by Deputy Mayor Worthy,
seconded by Mayor Woodfield. >> Roll call. Councilwoman Prone, >> no. >> Deputy Mayor, Dr. Worthy, >> yes. >> Mayor Whitfield, >> yes. >> Um, I'd like to consult with the
attorney um to see if we have enough votes. We do not. Okay. So, we do not have enough votes for um to pass this ordinance at this time. Um, so our next ordinance, this will
have a public hearing, ordinance 2025-14. Um, I'd like to open the public hearing on ordinance number 14 titled ordinance amending chapter 130 of the code of the township of Willingboro entitled convenience stores. Specifically, chapter 130-2 operating hours adding a
subsection permitting 24hour operation for convenience stores within the B1 business zone located along the Route 130 corridor in the code of the township of Willingboro. Anyone wishing to come forward to comment on this ordinance, please do so.
Anyone online? Seeing none, I'd like to close the public hearing on this ordinance. Um, with that being said, can I get a motion to finally adopt ordinance 2025-14? >> So moved. >> Second. Moved by Deputy Mayor Wory,
seconded by Mayor Whitfield. Roll call. Councilwoman Peron, >> yes. >> Deputy Mayor Dr. Worthy, >> yes. >> Mayor Whitfield, >> yes. >> Thank you. Moving on, I'd like to open the public hearing on ordinance number 15 titled Ordinance of the Township of
Willingboroough County of Burlington, State of New Jersey, creating article, I think it's 23 of the Township Code titled Deputy Township Manager. Anyone wishing to come forward to comment on this ordinance, please do so.
Anyone online? >> Hi, this is um Jana Jackson, 83 Tidewater Lane. Oh, I should confirm. Can that be heard? >> Yes, you Yes, you can. >> Thank you. Does this ordinance deal with
the responsibility of the township um manager? And if so, can it be explained why in the whatever we're going to call what's happening in recreation makes that person uh ills suited to be the one who
actually runs that reorganization or restructuring? Um, I'm not quite clear why someone who's not in the supervisory chain or an employee of the township is being charged with overseeing this restructuring of a department and
township employees. >> Is that all your comments? >> Yes. >> Thank you. Any other public? Seeing none, I'd like to close public comment on ordinance number 15. >> Um,
yes. Let's Can we open discussion? Um, with that being said, I'd like to ask for a motion to finally adopt ordinance of the Township of Willingboro, County of Burlington, State of New Jersey, creating article 23 of
the Township Code titled Deputy Township Manager. >> A second moved by Deputy Mayor Worthy, seconded by Mayor Whitfield. Discussion. Um, so we've had some comments about this and I know um, this ordinance and
ordinance 12 were ones that we've discussed at great length at these council meetings. Um, what the effort here is just to codify the duties of both the township manager and the deputy township manager. In the prior
ordinance, um there were some uh adjustments that were requested by members of council. Um which one of those adjustments was to pull out and separate the title of the deputy manager and a separate uh ordinance to codify
the role of that employee at the township. Um so that's what this uh is discussing. the deputy manager is a role that is currently um at the township and Mr. Harris, do you have anything
else to add? >> Explain it very eloquently. Mayor >> Okay. Anyone else have anything to add? Any questions? I do remember um the reasoning why the town so what my understanding was um the deputy township
manager there was not a job description existing but uh town deputy township manager was an um an avenue that the township manager could appoint or hire someone to assist him or her while he's in or she
is in that role. So to my understanding um initially the deputy township manager which I have no objections for a job description to be created. However, what initially was you took the deputy township manager and combine them
with the township manager's position um roles and responsibilities as if it's one. So this the suggestion that I had made it was to separate the two um which you have done um as so long as the deputy township manager is exactly that
the deputy township manager and does not receive a stipen additional pays for doing his or her job because that's exactly what took place. Do you recall that Mr. Harris? >> Absolutely >> right. you took a vacation and we taxpayers more money to pay somebody that's doing, you know, and so we're
getting a little out of hand. And then I noticed that this ordinance to combine a township manager and the deputy township manager as one job description that was, you know, so I appreciate the separation of this um and if it a job description does not exist, I have no objections
with creating a job. So we understand that this is the deputy not in control of the township because the township manager is on vacation. Yes, there will be roles and responsibilities situations can come arise and we are hoping that
the person who is in that seat has the ability and is intelligent enough to make a decision in the absence of the township manager. So that's how I see um 202025. Um, yes. Um, thank you, Councilwoman Peron. And this ordinance does explicitly state
that there um wouldn't be any stipens or anything for a vacation um lasting less than if the more than 30 days, right? 30 days, >> God forbid something happened, he's not here for 30 days, then that would be an
increase of stipen because now he's literally the 10 >> township manager, right, in time period. So this um prevents that from happening for a period of 30 days >> um prior to that when they would accept the rule.
>> Okay. Um we can move to roll call. >> Councilwoman Peron. >> Yes. >> Deputy Mayor Dr. Worthy. >> Yes. >> Mayor Whitfield. >> Yes. >> Thank you. Finally, we have ordinance 2025-16. I'd like to open the public
hearing on ordinance number 16 titled ordinance of the township of Willingboro in the county of Burlington, New Jersey, providing for the reappropriation of $86,500 proceeds of obligations not needed for their original purposes in order to
provide for the various capital projects purchases for the Department of Public Works. Anyone wishing to come forward to comment on this ordinance, please do so. Anyone online? >> Seeing none. >> Seeing none, I'd like to close public
comment on ordinance 2025-16. Um, with that being said, I'd like to ask for a motion for final adoption on ordinance 2025-16. >> So moved. Second. Moved by Deputy Mayor Wory, seconded by Councilwoman Peron.
>> Roll call. >> Councilwoman Peron. >> Yes. >> Deputy Mayor Dr. Worthy. >> Yes. >> Mayor Whitfield. >> Yes. >> Thank you very much. >> All right. Um we'll move on to the resolutions.
And um other than resolution 2025-9, are there any other resolutions that um would be requested to be pulled from consent agenda? >> 219. >> 219. Sorry, that's >> anything else. All right.
All right. That being said, I'd like to propose and make a motion for a consent agenda for resolutions 2025-204 through 2025-218 and 2025-220 through 2025-223.
Second. All right. It's moved by Mayor Whitfield, seconded by Deputy Mayor Wory. Roll call. >> Councilwoman Peron. >> Yes. >> Deputy Mayor Dr. Worthy. >> Yes. >> Mayor Whitfield. >> Yes. >> Thank you. May I have a motion to
approve the same? >> So moved. >> Second. Moved by Deputy Mayor Wory, seconded by Mayor Whitfield. Welcome. >> Councilwoman Peron. >> Yes. >> Deputy Mayor Dr. Worthy. >> Yes. >> Mayor Whitfield. >> Yes.
>> Thank you. or resolutions for separate discussion. Tonight we have resolution 2025-219 um titled resolution authorizing the township of Willingboroough to reject proposals for social services for social services provider.
So move second moved by Deputy Mayor Worthy, seconded by Mayor Whitfield. discussion. Anyone have want to say discussion for everyone? Council >> woman council woman. >> So I am familiar with the beloved
project. I've actually called the beloved project for people who have contacted me and in need of assistance. This resolution says um special services provider. I was not aware that this had to do with the beloved project. However,
um I would like some explanation um and clarity on why this the special the social services provider was is on here to be rejected and who how did it get here? How did we get here?
>> So I believe this was presented before and it was tabled. Correct Mr. Harris? >> Yes. So we have been out to to bid two time or RFP two times for >> just speaking to the mic, Mr. Harris, this way. Um, okay.
>> All right. together. So, we had been out for this project uh twice and um part of the issue with the the RFP or the the project is is not that we
have any opposition to who the Beloved Project is or what they what they do, but this is a $144,000 contract to support the Beloved Project. and we really haven't nailed down the integration of how they are going to
incorporate into Willingboro Township. So but also by law we are required for a certain within a certain period of time to award a contract or reject a contract and I don't feel that there is enough
direction from the body enough understanding from the administration as to how the beloved project is going to come into the township and how they are going to incorporate. you know, part of the proposal was that they would do some
services at the school and some services at the township. Um, they they they would be here a couple of days a week and things like that. Those are the detail that I don't think are solidified enough to move forward with awarding the contract. So, like I said, my
recommendation is that we reject the contract to be requ to be compliant with our time frames to award the contract and then revisit this Okay. And Mr. Harris, um, is what's the
time frame? Are we past it or is there still time left? >> The time frame, I believe, is 90 days after after and we are we are there. >> Okay. Deputy Mayor Worthy.
>> Okay. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Harris. I appreciate the explanation. Um, I get in trouble all the time for overstepping and being told that I'm micromanaging and um, residents have said that I I overstep my role and I get blamed on dayto-day all of this, but this time
I'll just have to air on the side of caution and say um, I don't mind overstepping. What do we need to do to make sure that you receive the clarity from council, from the governing body, um, in terms of the integration of the
social services that the Bluff Project can provide into Willingboro Township? I know we've talked about different options. Um, but I believe that in the political climate that we're in with the increased cost of services and goods that I don't want some nuances of how to
integrate into Willingboro to keep residents from receiving the services. So, I'm open um to work with the K my council colleagues to provide whatever direction you need from us um that's impeding us from going forward if it's
the will of the body to move forward. >> I'm so yes, I'm I was never in objection of this services anyway. I'm not sure where the disconnect was as far as what exactly is needed to to assist those in
need. um because that's what the project does is to help support the less uh fortunate at this time. So I can't see why we wouldn't be able to award the contract to assist that Mr. Harris. Um and I didn't see the the contract. So I
don't know as long as it's nothing that it goes against the statutes and laws that breaks anything. I can't see why we wouldn't award this contract. um because there there has I don't I do not believe that there has been clear communication from the council that you
want to award this contract. >> And at the last discussion of this, there was um a a a split um from folks that wanted to support it and folks that didn't. But if we're all in a agreeance
here tonight, I don't know if um we vote this down. If would we be >> question so if we vote this down because this says to object to reject it. So if we vote it down then it's then the contract can be a awarded. Is that the Mr. J?
>> No, we would have to go out for RFP again. >> So we they already submitted the RFP. >> Correct. But but we we have not awarded a contract. So we're rejecting. So when when when you receive RFPs and bids, you
either award a contract or you reject them. So this is what I'm saying to reject the contract or the the RFP and then to go out. >> Would we be able to award the contract um instead of reject it?
>> If that is your desire, >> not go back out. >> We don't want to go back out. If we want to award the contract tonight, can we do that? >> Mr. H. >> Yeah, I need to >> give me a minute to review the
resolution. >> Okay, come back to that one. >> So, I think Okay. All right. So, um, we'll suspend that vote because right now we're in
discussion. So, we'd have to come back and do a roll call for this um agenda item and then we Right. So, we'll suspend the discussion.
We'll come back to this and possibly um vote on an additional resolution awarding the contract um per um council. All right, we'll move on with the rest of our agenda. Um the treasures report.
Madame clerk. >> Thank you, Madame Mayor. Can I get a motion in a second to approve the treasures report dated June 20th? I'm July >> July 30th, 2025. I apologize. July 31st.
>> So moved. >> I'll get it. >> Second. >> Moved by Deputy Mayor Worthy. Seconded by Mayor Whitfield. Roll call. >> Councilwoman Peron. >> Yes. >> Deputy Mayor Dr. Worthy. >> Yes. >> Mayor Whitfield. >> Yes. >> Thank you. Um I do apologize. Um there
was an oversight on my part. I don't think the minutes are in your packet. So, if you don't mind, I would like to um table those until the September 2nd meeting. >> Yes, we'll table that. >> Thank you. >> All right. And we do have the clerk's
updates, but I'd like to go for uh Mr. Hall, would we be able to do like a 10-minute recess? Would that give you enough time? Okay. All right. I'd like to make a motion for a 10-minute recess. Second.
>> Moved by Mayor Whitfield, seconded by Deputy Mayor Worthy. All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? Any abstensions? All right, we'll now in recess and we will return in 10 minutes. We're ready to return.
Madame Clerk, um we'd like to move forward with resolution 2025-219. We are in discussion. Um and we'd like to go to a roll call for that
uh agenda item. >> Yes, madame mayor. Can uh roll call for resolution 2025-219. Councilwoman Peron, >> no. >> Deputy Mayor Dr. Worthy, >> no. >> Mayor Whitfield, >> no.
>> Thank you very much. >> The resolution fails. >> All right, Mr. H. >> Uh, yes. So whereas the governing body of the township of Willingboro is desirous of adopting a contract for the
beloved project of New Jersey at $12,000 a month with a $25,000 ingrant stipen uh beginning September 1st, 2025 and
running through for and running through the end of August of 2026 with the opportunity for a additional one-year uh contract.
The chief financial officer has indicated that there are sufficient funds available and this will be committed to writing identifying the funds and setting out the terms of the contract which shall include the terms
submitted in the RFP. And is there a motion? >> So moved. Second moved by Councilwoman Peron, seconded by Deputy Mayor Worthy. Roll call. >> For the record, this will be resolution 2025-223.
224. >> 224. >> Um, roll call. Councilwoman Peron. >> Yes. >> Deputy Mayor Dr. Worthy. >> Yes. >> Mayor Whitfield. >> Yes. >> Thank you. >> All right. We did the um the minutes are
being tabled at this time. Madame Clerk, your report, please. >> Thank you, Madame Mayor. Uh, for my report this evening, um, we will be hosting our community shred event, like Miss Jackson said, on Saturday, September 13th, 2025 from
10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The flyers um has been circ circulated in the Willingboro weekly. Um, however, if you have any questions, feel free to call my office. Um, we it is only open to Willingboro residents and we are limiting it to two banker boxes per
household. Um, I have been working with the QPA to start getting the 2026 professional services um, professional service RFP together. I want to try and go out a little bit early earlier so we can get them back a little earlier. So, if you have any follow-up questions for the
professionals um, we're not doing it on December 31st. Um, so look forward to that. I did want to pull the council if you are willing. Um, usually every year we get seven copies of each RFP. It
tends to be a lot of paper. Um, if you don't utilize the paper copies, I always give you a full um electronic copy for your records. If um you would like, I would um ask if you want a paper copy or
not. It just depends on I have to put in the RFP how many they're going to give back. So, just um think about that and let me know in the next day or two if you don't mind. Um I'm working with the finance department. We're hopefully going to have our online payment portion
open to the public for the clerk permits um up and running by September 1st. So, that's exciting. Um, and we are rapidly approaching fall. So, I wanted to give the residents some upcoming important dates for the general election. Um, our general election is November 4th this
year. Um, the voter registration deadline is October 14th. Early voting is from October 25th to November 2nd. The deadline to apply for a vote by mail and ballot through the mail is October 28th, but you're able to apply for a vote by mail and ballot in person at the
county until no um November 3rd at 3 p.m. Finally, phase one of the clerk department digitization project is finally complete. Um which is super excit exciting. I know we've all been working on it for a while. Um I'm looking forward to starting phase two
next year. Um, I know back in May we got some sad news that they canceled the FEMA grant that was going to um support a lot of this project. I have been doing some research and I found two grants that one we definitely qualify for. I
got um I got confirmation back and one we might qualify for. One is the digital project for the public um through the national endowment of humanities and one is the major collaborative archival initiative through the national archives. That's the one that we have
been confirmed that we do qualify for. So I will be looking for that grant to open um in the beginning of 2026 for funds to be available 2027. So it is kind of far away but this is a a multi-phase project anyway. So, just um
wanted to let you know that we are I am actively working on that as well. And that is my report for you guys this evening. >> All right. Any questions for our clerk? >> Councilwoman Pur. >> Thank you. Thank you for your report, Madam Clerk. Um just uh first, as far as
with the um RFPs, I don't need a paper copy. Um I would like to know if it pos if possible rather than email me these attachments can you place it on teams like on a shared file folder is that something that we can do?
>> Yes. Yes it is. I also I usually share it through one drive but I'm sure I can set up a teams. >> Yeah because I've been utilizing teams and I know that that's a capability that I've used in other companies. Um this way we don't have to get a bunch of emails that get missed.
just a suggestion with that. >> And I would like to know I'm still going to get um at least two copies, an original and a copy, paper copy. So it's not like we're going to have no copies, but um we're not going to have like seven >> if but of course it's up to you. If you
are more comfortable with the paper, that's fine, too. >> All right, Deputy Mayor Worthy. >> Thank you, Madame Clerk. I would also like digital. I don't need a hard copy. >> Thank you, Deputy Mayor. >> So Madame Clerk, I think um the two copies is probably sufficient. Well, we
will confirm with um we will confirm with the other council members to make sure that they don't need them. >> Plus, you would archive any, right? Don't you archive the or do you discard
them at at the end of the year? >> We follow the retention schedules. >> All right. All right. If there are no other updates from the clerk, um we do have some unfinished business at this time. One
item that was added just today is concerning the turf field that was requested by Mr. Harris um and uh go ahead nod. Yes. um for him to go out and
procure bids for the revitalization of the turf field and track. Um can I have a motion? >> I moved. >> We have to state it or no?
>> Yeah. Well, I said it, but um I I need a motion to uh go out for bids for the refurbishment of the JFK Center track and field. So moved. >> Second. >> All right. Moved by Councilwoman Peron,
seconded by Dr. Worthy. >> Roll call. >> Councilwoman Peron. >> Yes. >> Deputy Mayor Dr. Worthy. >> Yes. >> Mayor Whitfield. >> Yes. >> Thank you very much. >> All right. And the last item um I have for unfinished business is just an
update on some new development that is coming. Yesterday we had our planning board meeting um for the township and we did discuss the potential development for the Burlington County Times
property. The portion the front portion that's looking to be developed is proposed to be 60 units of affordable housing on that front. Um 50% of it will be moderate income. The other 50% will be low income with a percentage of that
being very low income. Um but it does help us to fulfill our affordable housing obligation. We were short about 29 units um in our affordable housing plan for what we had to provide for the
fair share housing act. So um with this project we will be in compliance. I did have um the clerk's office to bring over one of the exhibits that were presented yesterday. That's what um the buildings will look like. Um and uh the other
exhibits are located within the clerk's office. >> There's some down here, too. >> Oh, there's some in the front as well. So, please feel free to come up and take a look at those at your convenience or after the meeting. >> Any other unfinished business or comment?
>> Dr. Worthy. >> Thank you, Madam Mayor. I did want to say um on the affordable housing um project, not only will we be compliant, but we will be um setting up Willing Borrow for the future. Um so we are still actively seeking development throughout for Willing Borrow. Um we
have a conference that we'll be attending in October to market Willingboro to different developers. Um and as you know, we're very mindful about what we welcome into Willingboro. We've been approached for um what was it like a dealership uh auction that they
wanted to bring. Um it's been things that aren't appealing to the community, not good for Willingboro. Um so it's not that we're not looking for development. We are. Um but we're able to meet our requirements and then set us up for the future. So we're not in a place where we're behind the ball on setting up
affordable housing. I also wanted to echo something the mayor has said in a lot of meetings when we meet with these different developers is that um affordable housing is a value in Willingboro. We're not looking to work with people who just want to put up any kind of housing. We believe it's a core value and a strength of our community to
welcome people in at different income levels to for them to be able to become first-time home owners or to strive to become homeowners in Willingboro. So, um, I'm excited about what this could be, but just wanted to share that we haven't given up on bringing more development into Willingboro, but this
does help us to meet some obligations that we have. Thank you, Madame Mayor. Thank you, Deputy Mayor Wendy. And just to also echo that um we do we are very critical on what comes into Willingboro and how those projects are able to come
to fruition. this project. Um although it has uh had a a bit of a expedited timeline here in town, but I can assure you that the planning board was very critical at the meeting last night.
There are many many conditions that the developers must satisfy in order for them to get final site approval, but we did want to allow them to have the preliminary site approval so that they can apply for those HMFA
um funding dollars before all of the other townships who also got their affordable housing obligations this year um start applying for those monies next year in the next cycle. So, we wanted to beat the gun on that. Um, and we did have to expedite the process a little
bit to do that, but please be rest assured that this uh municipality and our boards are doing their due diligence and making sure that Willingboro uh gets a fair shake in all of the new development. All right.
Um, any other unfinished business? Seeing none, new business, Madame Clerk. >> Thank you, Madam Mayor. So, you will see in your packets um a draft of an ordinance for uh solicitation. Um I know
it's been kind of a hot topic in the recent months about um the amount of solicitation um solicitors that we have in town and also um you know just making sure that they are properly licensed um in town.
So, this is just something I wanted to present to council that adds a stipulation on the limitation of numbers of solicitation licenses we would give out. Um, this is just one option for you guys to consider. Um, like I said, it's it's not even a draft ordinance. It's
just something for you to consider. But, um, it would I put any number. I put 20 licenses um that we would be able to give out throughout the year. Um and then that would be our cap. You can also cons um
there's also other ways you can do this. We can do like a rotating schedule where we put um you know an expiration date not of a year but maybe like a month or so because you know these the solicitors usually will come in for like a month, a month and a half. They'll hit the town
and then they'll move on. So, um, if you don't want to limit the businesses coming to town, it's another option. Um, it's just I wanted to present you something because I know we it's been a hot topic. Um, but that is what is in front of you.
>> All right. Thank you, Madam Clerk, and I appreciate your diligence in um taking heed to some of the concerns of council and looking over and finding ways to make sure that our um desires are addressed.
All right, any other new business? Seeing none, we will go to public comment. This is our general public comment. This public comment is for four minutes. Please state your name and address when you come to the mic or raise your hand online. Public comment
is now open. >> Good evening, Mattie Mallerie Hudson Place. >> Good evening. um in regards to the shedding a shredding event. Um it says that two banker boxes.
So if you don't have a banker box, what's the exception uh for that? And uh are you going to mail out notices or will they only be on the uh website? Uh the other thing that I would like for
council to consider is the recognition of Mrs. Lenor Isacson who was a resident uh she passed away on the 27th of June. She was a resident in this town from 1958
and uh she was one of the major contributors in the development of the library here. So, I would um like for council to consider recognizing her. Her
husband is still a resident here. And of course, um if you need further information regarding her contributions, I will be uh glad to provide this to you. Um, the other thing that I'm concerned
about is the if we can get an update on the shooting that occurred here in town. Um, and just try to find out, you know, what's going on. And my other concern again is the speeding on Charleston Road. Even though
we have a permanent sign, we had a temporary monitor that was taken down last week. Um, between Kennedy Way and Van Skyver, uh, we still have speeders. As a matter of fact, a guy passed me on
the stretch, that stretch of Charleston Road. I couldn't believe that he actually passed me. So, um, you know, we need something to be done. I don't know what can be done. They do not uh recognize the signs at all. And uh the
other is Veterans Parkway. So I know we had a program, I think it was a pilot program where we had specific officers that were on patrol uh giving out tickets. And I'm wondering if this
program is still in effect and um I'd like, you know, to get an answer to those things. Thank you. >> Thank you, Miss Mallerie. >> Okay. Greetings, William Weston, 44 Bossworth Lane. Yes. I just want to uh
say a couple comments. There will be an MUA meeting tomorrow at 6 PM. If you go to the wua.info website, the link is there and the meeting starts at 6 pm. Uh, and some of the things that the MUA does is of
course we deliver water to the h homes uh in in this town and other towns also, but we also process the the water leaving uh the homes to um be uh processed so it can be released back into the environment. And so that's just
part of what the MUA does. I also want to speak about the Willing Broom City NAACP. They'll be having a town hall Thursday the 21st at the Church of the Good Sheeperd at 7 p.m. And one of the
purposes of that event is to uh help give information on what some of the elected positions do uh such as council, school board, assembly person, uh state senator, those type of positions. just try to uh educate and get people ready
for the upcoming election and understand uh the responsibilities of those people. Uh and that concludes my comments. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Wesson. >> You can come up and >> Good evening. Shirley Dworth,
Newport Lane. I just have a few comments that I'd like to make. Uh, some of the things have already been addressed. Um, one comment I have is about new residents. Okay, as we all know, a lot
of new people are moving into the community and what I have noticed is some new residents do not know where to store that trash containers or their recyclable containers. They are
emulating what they see. People who store their recyclables and their trash containers in front of their garages. Okay. Uh, one other thing that I've noticed from new residents is they are not
vacuuming cut grass, okay, in the street. So perhaps our department of inspections or would like to uh, you know, get ahead on this and reach out to these people, okay? Uh, so that it
doesn't become an issue. Another concern that I have is cut grass along Vans Sky Parkway. Uh last Saturday I noticed that cut grass along Vans Sky Parkway, specifically near that little
foot bridge. Okay. Uh the bridge that is near Memorial Intermediate School was in the street, not vacuumed. dead shrubbery and trees stay in the
back of properties along Vans Sky Parkway and Veterans Parkway. Uh I'm just wondering, you know, who's going to pick that up? Will will it be picked up because there's an awful lot of it lately and and I don't know if that's
the especially along Vans Sky Parkway. Is that the responsibility of the homeowner or does the department of public work all right pick up shrubs in the back of properties? And finally, I just want to make a
comment about the clean communities uh initiative. I think that initiative has uh been very successful. They I appreciate the initiative for being introduced in into the community. I
think it has worked very well. But what I have noticed is that during the summer months, the neighborhoods, the main streets are not as clean as they are during the uh school year.
Right. Perhaps, let me see now. Right. It seemed to work very well. Okay. during the summer, okay, when schools are closed. And I'm thinking, does that
have something to do with, hey, students? I'm not trying to blame trash, okay, in the streets on the students, but uh what I was thinking about is, you know, that annual clean communities initiative that takes place in the fall
of the year. I think it's in September. Would this be a wonderful time to engage and invite okay students, school age students, uh probably high school students to come and to
participate, okay, in that fall pickup paper initiative. Uh it may even be an opportunity, you know, for high school students to receive some kind of either recognition or
some kind of community service hours, okay, from the school district. >> That's your time, Mrs. Dworth. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Mrs. Dworth. >> Thank Green 62 Palfrey Lane, Willingburg, New Jersey. I've been living here since 1965.
Okay? Now, every time somebody moves into this town, they believe that the speed limit is 60 to 90 miles an hour. Every time you're driving somewhere, it's not just me, it's everybody. They go around when the light is red at Penny Packer Drive, they go through the light
into oncoming traffic. They make Uturns on Route 130 every time there's a break in the medium strip. all the intersections concerning especially around that 2 until that sixth time at night. They're running the lights at all the intersections. They're not stopping.
Even last Sunday just before when I when I was leaving in the afternoon and they were coming back from the park and it wasn't over with yet, they were going around people waiting to go through the lights. They're just going around them into oncoming traffic. So, in a town where the speed limit is, I don't know
what these people where they're from or what how they believe they should drive or what information they have, but when that speed limit in this town, the highest speed limit is 40 miles an hour, but they believe it's 60 to 90 miles an hour. No other town can you go in and
all this madness is going on. I'm not blaming the police or whatever. I'm saying the information when these people come out of these cities, suddenly get a car, don't know how to drive, obviously can't read the signs when it says no turning, can't read anything. So, this is never ending what's going on. The
other problem is is when there's a shooting that happens, I think we should be given information about the reason for the shooting, not to interfere with what the police are doing when they're trying to investigate and they don't want to put too much information out there, but we need to know because if you're driving around or you're walking
somewhere, you're doing something, you could end up somewhere accidentally and be the victim of something that's happening. I know people don't like to talk about this and like to pretend like we don't have shootings and we don't have problems here, but we do. And that evening was the evening of the event that was being held, you know, the jazz
festival. So that shooting happened right there where that pageant lake comes down and that circle is. And then you still have to have the fireworks and everything that was going on. So I think it's important that people need to know what's going on because if you can't feel safe and we got a ton of people
coming in from all these cities all over the place and you're saying you're being careful about who comes here. We're not saying nobody can come here, but when they come here, they're bringing all that madness with them. And then everybody else is supposed to deal with it some kind of way. And the other thing
is, and I know nobody wants to talk about the WMUA, okay, here at this, but since our houses are involved at the WMUA, they need to give out receipts. I've heard from tons and tons of people that they can't get a receipt from them. And if they don't want to do any clerical work there and the easiest
thing for them to do is just to sell somebody's home as soon as it reaches the magic number, well then something else needs to be done. That's not fair because all the taxes are coming off the homes. What are you going to do when nobody has a home? Where where are you going to get the money from then? What are you going to do? Just invite people
from all the cities all over the world. All the cess poolools will be here. Okay. Now we got another low This is a lowinccome town to begin with. Now you're going to put another lowincome piece of property out there in the front. And I know you're trying to get ahead of I saw the list for the numbers.
They're telling every town what they have to do. And other towns are protesting against this because as they bring in this low income into there, then they got to do some expansion on the school. They got to do something else, something else, something else. And nobody's ever thinking about the burden that's going on the homeowner
who's got the foot this. And that's the seniors who have no children in school and haven't had children in school for god knows how long. I think this needs to be considered very very carefully. Just want to say one other thing about um PSCG. PSEng calls people, they go to
the home and lets them know what's happening when they're about to be at their street. They don't let everybody know what's happening all over the town. Now, I saw the township was trying to tell people what roads were closed down, but sometimes suddenly when leaves come down or ma'am, your time is I'm done.
Okay. >> Thank you. >> That's fine. Okay. >> Thank you, Miss Green. Thank you, Miss Green. >> Good evening. Claudine back, 46 East Stokes Road. I cannot leave without saying thank you first at all. There's no more um no point in
going any deeper, but thank you. Thank you. Thank you. The other thing that I since we are going to go in partnership, I'm want to say it out loud to the residents of Willingboro that if you especially the men, if you have a kind heart and you're willing to serve, I'm
asking that you join the beloved project and volunteer in helping us help our seniors. We have youth that come to um whether they're in trouble or not and or volunteer. We cut grass. We will clean
outside their homes. um the beloved project um will go to the hotels around and feed. If you have the heart to serve um where our doors are open right now and we could use your help and the more of this is a heart thing. Everybody's
not made for it. It's okay. Everybody's not people um people people. You don't actually have to serve. You can serve administratively. You can serve in the building. You don't necessarily have to talk to people. But our doors are open and we need your help. the only way we're going to make it and do better if we do it together. Everybody's fighting
the fight but fighting separately. We'll never win that way. So, I'm just asking that if you would like if you need a place to serve or like place to serve. The beloved project is open. Thank you, Miss Archer. Is there any public comment online or
any other public comments in the room? We have one more in the room. Dexter Rodian from Rody family floor spire lane. Um I was sent up here by my beloved wife to ask a couple of
questions. Um on our street our we have a very narrow street. We are new to the community. I say that with heavy hearts. We do do the speed limit. We try not to speed. Our street is real narrow. Uh, two times
we had an incident with the garbage truck getting down the street. Uh, because of how the people down here parked. I guess everybody parks any which way. However, where we from, if it's two lane, you got to if your car is facing this way, it's facing that. You
got to park that way. If it's facing that way, you park that way. I guess down here, everybody parks. However, so the garbage truck is having a hard time getting down the street. So, I wanted to know if there not just the garbage truck, the buses, too. They have a hard time getting our kids during the school
year. So, I wanted to know if there's some type of like city audience or town audience so that I don't have to wake up every day in the morning time, knock on my neighbor's door to tell them to move their vehicle so the garbage truck could get down the street to actually get our
garbage because it's either that or I'm dragging the garbage truck down the street as my wife tells me to get up so that we could at least get our trash taken. Um, that was one. And then, uh, street cleaning. I know we do pay taxes,
right? And I'm not familiar with um the rules down here, but I know where we are from, every Tuesday and Wednesday, the street cleaners come uh clean the streets. And after garbage day, people have like a bunch of garbage that's not
in the trash can and it flies all around uh the neighborhood. and me and my daughter are out there picking up the garbage because I I moved down here because I wanted to have a safer, cleaner neighborhood for my my daughter to raise my daughter. And I don't feel like I'm the city garbage man where I'm going to keep cleaning up garbage. But
if we have like a street cleaner, if they come down clean the streets, that would be pretty dope. Um, and then like we have a empty baseball field at the corner of our house. I think that's Spyro Sunset. Don't quote me. South Sunset and
South Sunset. All right, y'all from here, so y'all gotta help me out a little bit. I think it's called Penny Packer. >> Yeah, South Sunset and Penny Packer. Um there's like a empty baseball field. There's nothing to do for our kids like at that park. The benches, the the
bleachers are like completely like unsafe. I sat on them and I almost fell through. So, I don't know who who like governs that part, but if we could put something there for the kids to do and actually fix the bleachers, I feel like that'll be a lawsuit, Mr. Boto Man. Um,
shortly. Okay. And then, um, I think that's it. All right. That's it. Got it. >> Thank you, Mr. Rody. >> We have public comments online. Madame Mayor, just let you know it's 9:51. If you did want to extend, I want
to let you know the time. >> Yeah. >> Give me a second. Um, so this evening we won't be extending. Are you okay with that? Um, we won't be extending our meeting. Um, so we will close public
comment after this comment and um provide responses. Um, if there are additional public comments, please be sure to contact the clerk's office um to provide your public comment and it will
get to uh the council in the appropriate manner. Okay. Um, Miss Jackson, >> hi. Thank you. Uh Jada Jackson 83 Taiwan. So these are followup to my previous questions that were not
answered. Uh the first batch deal with transparency and justification for the restructuring of the recreation department. How will the report that analyzed and identified the metrics or issues that led to the decision to
restructure the recreation department be shared with the public? In what specific ways does the restructuring presented tonight address the needs, gaps, or concerns outlined in that report?
Maintaining standards and future planning. How are you ensuring that the currently scheduled events are being executed at or above the standards previously established? What steps are being taken now to ensure that planning for 2026,
which should already be underway, is progressing in a way that does not negatively impact the residents or the quality of future events. Oversight and accountability concerns. Why is a non employee of the township
being permitted to oversee, direct whatever Mr. Barry is doing the restructuring process and supervised departmental staff. Please provide the legal citation that gives us authority to support that and
please provide who made the decision for this alternative approach and why. I will uh attempt again to put these questions in the chat or in the Q&A so that there's clarity on what was asked.
Thank you. >> Thank you, Miss Jackson. Unfortunately, at this time, we will be um closing public comment um in order to provide uh responses to those who have spoken already. So, at this time, public
comment is now closed. Starting with uh the responses, Miss Mallalerie, um the shred event. Uh Madame Clerk, how is that publicized and if they do not have banker boxes, how will the quantity be determined?
>> Right. So, um it is publicized on the Willing Brow Weekly. I do have um paper copies of the flyer if you would like one, Miss Mallerie. Um it also should be on the calendar on the website. As for the banker box, we were using that more
of as um just a comparison. Um you can use any box you want. Um >> no, not for mom. >> It's Yeah, it's more just to help kind of quantify how much you can bring. Um
>> yeah, >> but it will be taken in boxes but not in bags. >> Yes. >> Okay. All right. Um, also there was a request for an acknowledgement of Lenor
Lease Isacson. That's an I. Isacson. Um, who has passed away. Um, Miss Mallalerie, I would just ask for you to um contact the clerk's office. we do need like an
obituary or some other information and I'd be more than happy to do a resolution of life for Miss Isacson. Um, also there was a few questions about uh the shooting that had taken place.
Captain or Chief Bucks and Chief Bucks, is there I know there may not be a lot of information that you can provide, but um >> yeah, you're 100% correct. There's not much we can provide in situations or incidents like this. We work in
conjunction with the prosecutor's office and they're the lead agency and we assist the prosecutor's office. So, all information about that comes from the prosecutor's office. However, some of the things that I that I can speak about is this was this wasn't a random act of
violence. It was uh it was a a targeted incident. Um, we are making making progress with our investigation and that's pretty much what I can say in reference to the incident that happened on on Paddock unfortunately. >> Okay. Thank you, Chief. And you can stay
right there because we had a few other questions about speeding um on Charleston Road, Veterans Parkway. Um and there was another um the speed limit enforcement just
throughout the town in general. >> So approximately one year ago we we implemented the traffic safety unit which consisted of one supervisor and four officers designated Monday through Friday for traffic enforcement. Uh we've been tracking those numbers each month
and reported them back to the township manager through my monthly reports. I just quickly went back and kind of compared where we were at uh at the end of the year last year versus where we're at right now. We're approximately um for for traffic stops about 5,500 traffic
stops to date where last year we were about about 7,800 traffic stops. So if we stay on the pace that we're at, we're going to almost probably be about 2,000 traffic stops more than what we were last year. Um those officers are out
daily out uh on all the streets of Willingboro. You know, I know we have some some streets that that have more frequent speeders than others and they're also addressing uh ordinance violations within within all of the uh the shopping centers. So, with those
officers in conjunction with our regular patrol officers, you know, we're hitting as many streets and enforcing as much uh as much as we as we possibly can. >> Okay, great. And I I just also ask um there was another comment about the
parking on streets being all kinds of ways and really preventing some of the operations of the town and with the tra the traffic enforcement officers be able to address that as well. >> So traditionally we've been as a police department been very lenient on the
direction which which people park whether they're going with traffic or without traffic. um been here for for 22 years and it's something that we really haven't enforced on a regular basis. Um our streets are narrow and sometimes you know when people park they don't park
close enough to you know to the curb or sometimes they have to pull up a little bit into the grass but yes we can uh we can 100% start uh enforcing you know making sure people are parked correctly within the municipality. >> Yes. Thank you. And I think even um just
to start um warnings or um just notices might be helpful to make folks aware that that is something that they should pay attention to. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Yeah. All right. Um so we did have a few other things. There were some things
about grass cutting, um dead vegetation on reverse runninges. Um, that is an initiative. Public works will be going to pick it up. You don't have to come up, Mr. Chapman, but public works will be picking that up. Um,
the WUA meeting is tomorrow and there were a number of responses from Miss Jackson. Um, I'll ask for the clerk to forward um, those questions to the township manager. I'm sure he captured
them. What was that? Oh, yes. So, those questions will be addressed. And, um, Miss Jackson, just to answer one of your questions, um, there was a a notion that a non-emp
employee is doing work at um, the recreation department. And I will say all of the employees that we have doing work at the recreation department have been employees of Willingboro Township and are employees of Willingboro
Township. Um but the administration does have the right to um move positions around to different departments um as to fit the township's needs. Um and the deputy manager uh Mr. Dr. Gary Lowry at
this time has been uh located over at the recreation department and is acting as the interim uh director of recreation at this time. Um he is an employee, has been an employee. Um and just to clear
that up for you, all the other answers to the questions will be provided via email or you can contact the clerks or the manager's office uh for response. I want to clarify one thing um regarding the the direction of the streets and I just happen to know this because I did have to look it up. There are no
ordinance that determine the direction of the streets because it's not a one-way sign on there. So when you look when you drive through the residential area of Willingboro, you will see you can go either direction. So there's really no wrong way. Um I just want to there's you can we can look it up later,
but >> unless there's a dotted line or lines in the middle, you can go either way. So people can really park either way. So, I don't want people to start getting fines and something, but maybe let's look at that and maybe get some signs to determine direction. >> There is some ordinances, but we will um
do a uh investigation on that. Um at this time, that is will conclude the end of our responses. Uh are is there any council comment? No time. All right. Seeing none for council comment, I want to thank everyone for
coming out. We have not we don't have the need for executive session tonight. Um and I'll ask for a motion for adjournment. >> So moved. >> Second. Moved by Dr. Worthy, seconded by Councilwoman Peron. All in favor?
>> I >> I. >> Any opposed? Any abstensions? Meeting adjourned. The time is now 10:02. Thank you, Willing.