Gloucester, Township of

The meeting commenced with the Pledge of Allegiance and an invocation, followed by addresses from Congressman Donald Norcross and Mayor David R. Mayer. A central part of the proceedings involved the swearing-in of the newly elected Mayor and Council Members. Key organizational actions included the nomination and installation of the Council President and Vice President. The council addressed numerous administrative and professional appointments for the year 2026, including Directors, Municipal Attorneys, Prosecutors, and various consultants for engineering, redevelopment, and specialized legal counsel. Furthermore, resolutions were adopted to establish the order of business for all Township Council meetings, define rules of order and public participation guidelines, designate legal depositories, set signatory authorities for accounts, adopt the 2026 Cash Management Plan, establish policies for the Tax Collector's office, and appoint the Public Defender and Township Auditor. Council liaisons were also appointed to various township committees and boards.

Key discussions and actions included the review of bids for Solid Waste Collection Services, with a contract subsequently awarded to Interstate Waste Services of New Jersey, Inc. The Council also addressed resolutions concerning the adoption of an ordinance amending sewer fee collection dates and a bond ordinance for park improvements. Several resolutions were adopted to approve the release of maintenance securities and reduction of performance guarantees for various developers, including Sicklerville Equities, LLC, GE Smith Real Estate, LLC, and CBD Real Estate Investment, LLC. Furthermore, the Council authorized the engagement of Triad Associates as the Affordable Housing Administrative Agent, named Anissa Ferrer as the Redeveloper for the Blackwood West Redevelopment Zone, affirmed the employment agreement for the Chief and Deputy Chief of Police, appointed members to the Historical and Scenic Preservation Committee, authorized a change order for interior renovations, and authorized the advertising of bids for the Jake's Law Playground project. Public comments raised concerns regarding road conditions (Sicklerville Road, Church Street), snow plowing effectiveness, revenue from solar panels and cannabis dispensaries, water contaminants, and a request for a traffic light near the new Shoprite.

The agenda for the meeting included the memorialization of the January 28, 2026 minutes and specific resolutions for Eunice Allen and Edward Murphy. New applications scheduled for review included application #ZB-26-002 by Denise Dietrich for a second driveway at 322 Crestview Ave., and application #ZB-26-003 by Lauren Carter proposing a storage shed that would increase lot coverage significantly at 15 Antietam Dr. The meeting was scheduled to begin at 7:00 P.M. with a cut-off for new applications at 10:00 P.M.

The meeting involved public comment regarding a proposed bond ordinance for park improvements, specifically questioning the netting of grant funding against the authorized debt amount. The Council proceeded with first readings for two ordinances: one amending sewer fee collection dates (O-26-01) and a Bond Ordinance authorizing up to $750,000 for park improvements, including Jake's Law Playground, utilizing Green Acres funding (O-26-02). Numerous resolutions were adopted, including the authorization of bill payments across various accounts, refunding tax overpayments, granting disabled veteran tax credits for 2025 and canceling 2026 first/second quarter taxes, authorizing final adjustments for stormwater pipe replacement contracts (Argyle Avenue and Signey Lane), releasing securities for the Modwash Car Wash project, accepting maintenance guarantees for completed stormwater projects, authorizing acceptance of a grant for the Gabriel Daveis Tavern restoration, authorizing a change in custodian for the Police Department petty cash fund, establishing a change fund for the Sewer Department, authorizing payment for emergency sewer force main and lateral repairs, authorizing the Tax Assessor to file tax appeals for 2026, and approving the issuance and sale of General Obligation Bonds Series 2026A and 2026B related to drainage improvements. The Council also adopted a resolution setting forth administrative office closure days for 2026 and formally accepted a performance guarantee for the Gabriel Daveis Tavern restoration project.

The meeting involved receiving and accepting bids for Temporary Labor Services, Risk Management Consultant Services, and the Reconditioning of Existing Basketball/Tennis Courts at Broadmoor West, with Labor Team USA, Inc., Conner Strong & Buckelew, and Landberg Construction, LLC being the accepted low bidders, respectively. The Council adopted an ordinance amending the Township Code regarding Personnel Policy and Procedures. Several resolutions were adopted, including authorizing payment of bills across various accounts, authorizing tax deductions and credits for Senior Citizens, Disabled persons, and Veterans for the year 2025, and authorizing the cancellation of the first and second quarters of 2026 taxes for disabled veterans. Further resolutions authorized the refunding of tax overpayments, refunds of encroachment deposits, acceptance of a New Jersey Department of Community Affairs grant agreement for Community Park Improvements (Indoor Batting Cages), authorization for the Police Department to participate in the DLA LESO 1033 Program for the year 2026, awarding a three-year agreement for Risk Management Consultant Services (2026-2028), awarding the contract for Temporary Labor Services to Labor Team USA, Inc., awarding the contract for court reconditioning to Landberg Construction, LLC, confirming the appointment of the Tax Collector, approving a collective bargaining agreement for Public Works employees (2025-2027), authorizing payment for emergency repair work on a force main, canceling unexpended General Capital Appropriation balances, approving budget transfers within the CY 2025 General Fund, authorizing actions related to the dissolution of the Gloucester Township Municipal Utilities Authority and the discharge of the General Bond Resolution, and authorizing non-fair and open contracts for various goods and services for 2025.