Charles Hughes

The Recreation Advisory Committee meeting included old business discussions regarding the Oktoberfest date selection (September 19th) and the town-wide yard sale date (June 7th), which will include two food trucks at Unity Park. For Food Truck Friday's, July 31st and August 28th were approved. The committee also discussed payment methods for committee inventory. New business heavily focused on planning for the Pittsgrove Community Weekend. Key discussions included coordinating with Centerton on the 5k event, advertising efforts, securing a sound coordinator, budgeting $12,000 for the firework show, and hiring specific vendors such as Secret Sauce, Delerium, and the Foam Party. The committee also planned to look into securing an ATM and potentially involving the school system.

Key discussions during the meeting included a presentation by the Risk Manager regarding the requirement for a Certificate of Insurance for facility use requests, clarifying that this is a separate policy from homeowner's insurance and that enforcement of this requirement is being restored. The Committee approved departmental/activity reports for January 2017 and the 2016 Annual Water Allocation Report. Facility Use Requests were approved subject to insurance, and Motorist Solicitation for the Parvin State Park Appreciation Committee in July 2017 was approved. The Township Solicitor's report covered budgetary concerns raised by the Recreation Advisory Committee regarding donations and fundraising transparency, an ongoing tax appeal case (Alex Drobny v. Pittsgrove Township), correspondence related to a Right to Farm Hearing (Hollywood v. Walker Farm), and a recommendation for the Township to develop a formal E-Mail Policy applicable to all users. New Business included approval to allow food trucks at the Pittsgrove Day celebration, pending review by the Solicitor. Ordinance 01-2017, approving a Property Tax Agreement, was introduced, subject to a public hearing and final adoption, and Ordinances 02-2017 (2017 Salaries) and 03-2017 (Exceeding Budget Appropriation Limits/Cap Bank) were introduced.

The Township Committee meeting agenda included a presentation by the Risk Manager from AJM Insurance. Key items for approval encompassed departmental and activity reports (with some pending), the 2016 Annual Water Allocation Report, and requests for facility use, including events at Green Branch Park and a motorist solicitation permit for an event near Parvin State Park. Reports were scheduled from the Township Engineer and Solicitor, along with Township Committee and Mayor's reports. Resolutions involved the payment of bills, appointments, contract authorization amendments, budget appropriation reserve transfers, adoption of a Mitigation Plan, and authorization for sanitary landfill permitting. Ordinances on the agenda included the approval of a property tax agreement and introduction of ordinances concerning 2017 employee salaries and exceeding municipal budget appropriation limits.

Key discussions during the meeting included the announcement of the Holiday Light Contest winners. Facility use requests for various organizations, including Narcotics Anonymous Activities Committee and soccer clubs, were approved. The Committee approved the renewal of 2026 licenses for junkyards and mobile home parks. Departmental and activity reports for December 2025 were accepted. The Township Engineer's Report summarized ongoing and planned road reconstruction projects funded by NJDOT Trust Funds. The Solicitor presented reports on topics such as Shared Service Agreements and Land Use Proposals. Committee members provided updates, including farmland preservation status and confusion surrounding the sale of the grain mill property, which the Mayor and Solicitor addressed. Security camera installation at the Municipal Building was announced. Resolutions were passed, including payments for bills, authorizing a raffle license, applying for a recreation improvement grant, approving Fire Commissioner salaries (with one abstention), reappointing a Building Subcode Official/Inspector, appointing a snow plowing contractor, and authorizing a Memorandum of Understanding with EDP Soccer. New business included a discussion on whether to allow or prohibit cannabis classes in the Township and initiating a review of the Master Plan.

The meeting focused primarily on the reorganization of the Environmental Commission, including the nomination and election of the Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, and Secretary. Further reorganization activities involved reviewing commission members, establishing the 2026 meeting calendar, designating the South Jersey Times as the official newspaper for notifications, and reviewing the 2025 PTEC Annual Report. Unfinished business included updates on Farmland Preservation, noting that Aversa Farm received an offer and Norm's farm is in final legal review. Updates were also provided on the Eagle Festival, renewal of ANJEC membership, and local environmental articles. Discussions covered planning for Pittsgrove Day, including booth spaces and activities, setting a target date for the Shred Event, and addressing the status of the Tire Amnesty program. New business included nominations for the "Most Improved Property" award for Pittsgrove Day and a brief update on the Centerton Bridge project engineering work, noting that the environmental impact statement is pending all required approvals.