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Council Report 1-24-22
Councilperson Vanessa E. James Vanessa.James@Pitman.Org 2022 Liaison: Parks & Recreation, Library Board, Greater Pitman Chamber of Commerce & Committee on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Parks & Recreation The Parks & Recreation Department is excited to announce a new program for Pitman residents 18 years and older - Pitman Pickleball! The program starts this Wednesday night from 8-10 pm at the Pitman United Methodist Church gym. Beginners are welcome and equipment is available to borrow. To sign up please contact the Recreation Director, Andy Fox, at recreation@pitman.org or by phone at 589-4665. Greater Pitman Chamber of Commerce The next meeting of the Greater Pitman Chamber of Commerce will take place on Monday, February 7, 2022, starting at 7pm at Borough Hall Council Chambers. In addition, please mark your calendars for two exciting February events Uptown. Our local business owners are organizing Galentine’s Day on Thursday, February 10th starting at 5 p.m. Several local businesses are offering deals, specials and activities for you to share with your best gal pals. Also, back again this year is the Sweetest Night in Pitman on Saturday, February 12th from 3-7 p.m. Our Uptown Pitman Business Community will host various local chocolate and dessert makers. Stroll through your favorite shops and choose from a variety of sweet treats before or after enjoying dinner at one of your favorite Pitman restaurants. A perfect opportunity for an evening out with your soulmate or your best friends! Finally, on behalf of the Chamber, myself, and my family I would like to extend our condolences to the Capaldi family on the loss of Dominick Capaldi, co-owner of Mama Marie’s who passed away yesterday. Dom was kind, generous, and made everyone who entered his store feel like family. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him and especially by the Pitman business community. McCowan Memorial Library The next meeting of the Board of Trustees will take place on Tuesday, January 25th at 7 pm Pitman Day of Service Thanks so much to the Mayor, members of Council and to all the Pitman residents who participated in Pitman’s Day of Service last week in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Over 60 volunteers participated in a variety of activities including cleaning up trash Uptown, organizing donations at Fig Leaf Thrift, assisting with meal preparation and distribution of over 80 free hot meals with the Lighthouse Community Center & finally assisting with a Drive Through Food Drive to benefit the Pitman Food Pantry. It was wonderful to come together as a community, and we truly appreciate everyone who took time out of their day to participate. As always, I am available to answer any questions or concerns via email at vanessa.james@pitman.org or by phone at 336-407-8604. Council Report 1/24/2022 Councilman Adam Mazzola Adam.Mazzola@pitman.org Finance & Administration: Welcome to Lynn Hoffman, the new Office Assistant in the Construction Office. There are two advertising spaces still available after the first round of bidding on the Welcome to Pitman sign on the corner of E. Holly Avenue and Delsea Drive. Interested businesses may pick up a bid packet at Borough Hall Monday through Friday from 8am – 4pm. Bids must be submitted to the Borough Clerk by 10am on February 8, 2022. The first meeting of the Pitman Youth Council is this Thursday, January 27 from 7:30 pm – 8:30 pm. Board of Education: There will be an open house on January 26th from 6-8 at Pitman High School. This is open to all Pitman Middle School students and their parents / guardians. There will be teachers and students present to guide attendees through the PHS programs and highlight some of the features that make Pitman High School special. Congrats to Mia Miller on making NJ All State Chorus as an Alto-1, Mrs Mickle and Mr Newcomb on completing their Master degree programs, and Mrs Pinque on her upcoming retirement at the end of the year! The Board will be using $1M in Capital Reserve to replace the roof of the Middle School and part of the roof at Kindle.
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Council Report 1-10-22
Councilperson Vanessa E. James Vanessa.James@Pitman.Org 2021 Liaison: Parks & Recreation, Public Events, Library Board, Greater Pitman Chamber of Commerce 2022 Liaison: Parks & Recreation, Library Board, Greater Pitman Chamber of Commerce & Committee on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Parks & Recreation The Parks & Rec department had a productive 2021 including a return to some of the regularly scheduled programs such as T-ball, middle school field hockey, micro-mini soccer, summer playground, and the Freedom Four Miler, as well as some new additions including an Egg Scramble in Shertel Park and the inaugural year of the Pitman Fishing League in cooperation with the Pitman Police Department. In addition to the programs coordinated by Parks & Rec, the department also completed a number of improvement projects including but not limited to repairs to the pavilion at Alcyon Park, construction of new picnic tables, landscaping clean-up at Glen Lake, pumptrack improvement/maintenance, and repairs to the walking path at Betty Park with the assistance of the Water Department. Director Fox has also been working to refurbish the tennis courts at Shertel Park and anticipates that project will take place in Spring of 2022. Thanks to Director Fox, the Parks & Rec employees, and our many volunteers for their hard work. Greater Pitman Chamber of Commerce The Chamber was thrilled to see a return of scheduled events in the second half of 2021. Pop-up Parks and Fourth Fridays were held safely throughout the summer for our residents and the Summer Swelter Craft Beer Festival occurred in late August to close out the summer activities. The Craft Show returned to Broadway in September and was the most profitable show in years for both vendors and Pitman business owners. The Chamber welcomed Santa back to Ballard Park for the month of December and relocated the Pitman Winter Village to Ballard Avenue this year for a successful winter shopping event. We are looking forward to a full calendar of events and programs in 2022 in service to our business community and our neighbors. McCowan Memorial Library During 2021, 35,571 people visited the library. There were 1,316 internet users. There were 240 children’s programs with 1,684 people in attendance and 12,774 virtual views. There were 35,487 checkouts, including 27,726 checkouts to Pitman patrons. Thank you to Director Coldren and the entire library staff for all your hard work. Pitman Day of Service The Pitman community is invited to join the Mayor & Council for Pitman's First Annual Day of Service on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day - Monday, January 17, 2022. Pitman residents of all ages are invited to participate in a variety of community service activities. Please sign-up below for one or more of the following activities. 9am to 11am - Clean up Uptown Pitman (Meet in front of Borough Hall) 10am to 4pm - (2 hour time slots) Help sort and organize donations (Fig Leaf Thrift, First Baptist Church of Pitman) 1pm to 7pm - (2 hour time slots) Assist with meal preparation and distribution (Lighthouse Community Center, First Baptist Church of Pitman) 6pm to 8pm - Volunteer to assist with the drive-thru food drive to benefit the Pitman Food Pantry, First Baptist Church of Pitman parking lot) As always, I am available to answer any questions or concerns via email at vanessa.james@pitman.org or by phone at 336-407-8604. Council Report 1/10/2022 Councilman Adam Mazzola Adam.Mazzola@pitman.org Annual Report: Clean Communities: We saw many cleanup projects take place in 2021. Several groups continued their tradition of giving back to the community through this program and a couple of new organizations participated as well. These cleanups included: Pitman Girls Soccer Booster Club - Dell & Creek area Renaissance Village Youth Center - Broadway, W Jersey Ave, East Ave, Theatre Ave The Woman's Club of Pitman, New Jersey - Shertel Park & Sunset Auditorium Greater Pitman Chamber of Commerce (Uptown Pitman, NJ) - Alcyon Lake PHS Class of 2022 - Alcyon Park PHS Class of 2025 - Betty Park & dam Pitman Grove Community Garden - Border of Alcyon Woods & W Holly Ave VFW POST 6469- Brown & Harmon Fields Knights of Columbus - Alcyon Disc Golf Course Pitman Girls Basketball Booster Club - Montgomery Ave & tracks Finance & Administration: This year we welcomed a new employee in the Finance Office-Andrea Whilden. We have completed the Cyber Risk Management Program required by the Joint Insurance Fund and have implemented many additional safeguards to improve our cyber security. The Finance Office has continued to support other departments and employees by providing safety equipment and employee rewards with funds provided through grants from the TRICO JIF. Educational programs and events for the community have been supported through the Pitman Municipal Alliance. This program is funded by the Governor’s Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, a program designed to educate and provide activities for individuals considered to be at-risk. The Rabies Clinic for dogs and cats has been scheduled for March 12 from 10-11:30 at the Public Works yard on Elwood Avenue. We look forward to continuing to serve the residents of Pitman in 2022 Council Report 12/27/2021
Councilman Adam Mazzola Adam.Mazzola@pitman.org I will keep my report brief tonight and take a minute to thank Council President Paul Blass and Councilwoman Amy Rudley for their years of service to the Borough of Pitman. They have both left their mark in town through their countless hours of volunteer work and assistance to our residents. They have worked tirelessly over the years to improve public services, create new committees, and preserve the rich history of Pitman. I am honored to have served alongside them. Paul Blass Council President paul.blass@pitman.org Sustainable Pitman: Through the collective efforts of the team members, Pitman maintained its bronze certification and is diligently working towards silver certification, which will be a big accomplishment for a small town. Economic Development Committee: The EDC has now finished most work on the Theatre Avenue project. The one final component will to be install some type of sun shades. This year the EDC reorganized itself to better reflect its mission. They did a survey of the Borough’s businesses to get feedback on their needs, etc. Historic Preservation Commission: The HPC reviewed 46 applications this past year. The vast majority were approved with no changes to the original application or with minor adjustments. Public Works: Since our last meeting …. • Collected 218.9 tons of trash • Collected 52.53 tons of recyclables • Collected 205 Yards of brush. • Spent five hours patching and repairing potholes and sink holes. • Ran the street sweeper for eight hours • Dropped off a truck for yard debris to one resident and picked up the next day. • Completed about 40 curbside inspections per week of recycling containers. • Spent 30 hours cleaning the tops of storm drains The Water and Sewer Department… • Performed 15 water and sewer mark outs requests. • Plunged out two sewer stoppages. • Performed routine well work, (painting, cleaning, etc.) • Took Water samples. • Read 9 meters for settlement. • Replaced one meter body. • Upgraded 18 meter heads. Public Works is truly the “go to” department whenever any issue arises. It seems we all check with them first whenever a job needs to get done. The Borough is truly lucky to have such a dependable and dedicated group of employees at the end of Elwood Avenue. This year has been particularly challenging for our two mechanics. We had many, many breakdowns this year. This is, in part, because many of our vehicles are well past their prime, and we also use a lot of vehicles: Summer average daily usage is 16 vehicles (24 if you count the back-ups). Fall usage is 18, while winter is 16 (18 if it snows). This year our mechanics also took on a new task – proactive maintenance of our police vehicles. Public Works dealt with four snow events this past year. The Borough installed a new data collection system, which should help with PW billing. All residents are reminded to call PW and have their water meter replaced. The Borough installed new pumps at the Lakeview/Lakeside Lift station. Recycling continued to be an issue this year. PW did begin curb inspections, which has helped somewhat. I remind everyone – no plastic bags in the recycling can. The Borough continues to be fined for this. This year was especially tough on the water & sewer department. There were over a dozen water main breaks: Albert Avenue, Broadway, Boundary Avenue, Canterbury Avenue, East Avenue, Esplanade Avenue, Glen Lake Avenue, East Holly (several times), Hudson Avenue, Lambs Road, Linden Avenue, Michaels Lane, Roosevelt Avenue, Vassar Avenue, Washington Avenue, First Avenue (several times – including Dec 26), and just today, Mansfield Avenue. There were several road repaving projects completed this year: Adams, Glen Lake, Seneca, and Tuohy Avenues. During the past year I heard from about 20 residents thanking the PW department as a whole or singling out individual workers, whether they knew their names or not. I want to wholeheartedly thank the entire Public Works Department for all they do. I also want to thank the director, Fred Rodi. Mr. Rodi is a consummate professional who works tirelessly to keep the Borough running smoothly and looking good. He and I texted, emailed, and talked all the time. I know how much he cares about the Borough. I personally appreciate all his help. Matthew Weng - Overnight Parking Enforcement remains suspended for Christmas and the New Year holidays. Beginning January 10, 2022, enforcement of Overnight Parking will begin once again. - PPD Administration, Sergeants and Detective Bureau all attended the Mid-Year Training Conference held by the NJSACOP on December 2nd. The focus of the training was active shooter preparedness and response. - The PPD hosted and several officers (11) attended the Emotional Survival for Law Enforcement (1-day presentation) on December 8th. The event was graciously co-hosted by the Broadway Theater. We would like to thank the Broadway Theater, Mr. Peter Slack, Mr. Darrell Blood and all the staff for their support. - The entire PPD throughout November and December received the following training: 1. Law Enforcement and the LGBTQ Community and continued ICAT/ABLE training for every officer (mandated by NJ OAG) 2. Cultural Diversity, De-Escalation, Bias Crime Reporting, and Law Enf. Interaction with Transgender Individuals (mandated by Chief McAteer) 3. Updated Use-of-Force Training for the entire PPD and Use-of-Force Policy update by Sgt. Carson (Accreditation Manager) Council Report 12-27-21 Councilwoman Vanessa E. James Vanessa.James@Pitman.Org 2021 Liaison: Parks & Recreation, Public Events, Library Board, Greater Pitman Chamber of Commerce Greater Pitman Chamber of Commerce ● New for 2022! The Chamber will be moving its regular monthly meeting nights to the first Monday of the Month at 7 p.m. at Borough Hall. The Chamber will also be holding a “Chamber Check-In” at 10 a.m. on the day of the monthly meeting for members of the business community who are not able to make the evening meeting. Stay tuned for more details! I would also like to take a moment to thank Council President Paul Blass and Councilwoman Amy Rudley for their many years of service to the Borough of Pitman. It has been my great privilege to serve on Council with both of them, and I am confident that the positive impact they’ve made on Pitman will benefit our residents for many years to come. Paul and Amy, thank you. As always, I am available to answer any questions or concerns via email at vanessa.james@pitman.org or by phone at 336-407-8604. Happy New Year! Amy E. Rudley Council Report – Year End December 27, 2021 Senior Outreach The Senior Outreach Committee continued to meet despite the COVID pandemic, holding many meetings outside. After a very successful movie night and also a game day with the VFW, the Senior Outreach Committee plans to hold twice-monthly events at the VFW on a regular schedule moving forward. The Committee also held their annual Pop-Up Park in coordination with the Chamber of Commerce. In addition, while the current ordinance provides for only limited appointments for membership, I have moved for an amendment to the ordinance to allow for 11 members in addition to the assigned council representative. I have asked that the current 11 active and dedicated volunteers be appointed to the committee once again. They are: Former Councilwoman Debbie Higbee Don Forman Jim Naphas Lucille Petrillo Sharon Yesner, representing the United Methodist Homes as their Volunteer Coordinator Sharon Furguson Former McCowan Memorial Library Director Ashley Mason Walt Friedrich Keryl Hausman Marcie Geyer and myself Environmental Commission The Environmental Commission held a number of very successful events of their own this year including volunteer planting days at Grove Auditorium, at Ballard, Shertel, Alcyon, and the various smaller parks throughout town. Earth Day was another success with an emphasis on recycling education. The EC has been in ongoing discussions with a local organization to bring some Environmental Assemblies into our Pitman Elementary and Middle Schools. The establishment of the Recycling Sub-Committee helped to develop the education partnership with the Public Works Department and the efforts to inform the public of the current recycling mistakes which were resulting in fines to the Borough. Various trees were trimmed by volunteers, as well as vendors. Dangerous or dead trees were removed and were replaced where possible. The EC volunteers also focused their energies on the eradication of Lantern Flies in the Borough. Please scrape and destroy any eggs that you see. You destroy them by scraping them into a plastic bag, dousing it with rubbing alcohol, and then closing it up for trash. Merely squishing the eggs is not sufficient as they are pretty difficult to destroy. Memorabilia The Museum is open routinely on the Second Saturday of the month and the Fourth Friday and is always staffed by volunteers. The Memorabilia Committee also held a very successful 150th Anniversary Commemoration and learning event relating to the origins of Pitman. Thank you and best wishes to everyone in the New Year. Council Report 12/13/2021
Councilman Adam Mazzola Adam.Mazzola@pitman.org Finance & Administration: A couple of quick reminders - To all department heads, please submit your 2022 budgets as soon as possible. We are aiming to have an approved budget earlier than in past years. There will only be one meeting on December 27th beginning at 7:00 PM. This will be the formal meeting with no work session scheduled. Thank you to all who donated gifts from the Angel tree in the Borough Hall lobby. Our small town with a big heart always seems to shine brightest during the year end holidays. To everyone who celebrates, have a Merry Christmas! Council President Paul Blass paul.blass@pitman.org December Report I would like to first congratulate Joanne Seher on her retirement from Public Works. She helped out the Borough and its residents for 27 years. I wish her all the best as she enters a new phase in her life. Last week Public Works was called in after hours to clean up a paint spill on Laurel Avenue. On December second PW had to repair a water main break on Hudson Avenue, while on November 29th they were needed to clear a clog to the main line at East Holly and Franklin. Public Works located leaks for residents on Wildwood, Tenth, and N. Oak Avenues The Public Works crew is finishing up leaf collection this week. Once done they would have covered the Borough six times. SOLID WASTE COLLECTION FOR THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER 2021 273.06 Tons went to Wheelabrator, for a cost of $ 20,984.67 72.06 Tons went to the Gloucester County Landfill, for a cost of $ 5,560.87 RECYCLING REPORT FOR NOVEMBER 2021 79.07 tons of Single Stream Recycling made a profit of $398.51, though there were also in $750 bag fees 2.38 tons of Metal to Sims Metal for which the Borough received $428.40 509 cubic yards of mulch and brush hauled out to various places which cost $2,421. .98 tons of E-Waste recycled. The Historic Preservation Commission met on December 9th. The Commission heard and approved two applications. There will be no Economic Development Committee meeting this week. The projects they are working on will carry over into next year. Council Report 12-13-21 Councilwoman Vanessa E. James Vanessa.James@Pitman.Org 2021 Liaison: Parks & Recreation, Public Events, Library Board, Greater Pitman Chamber of Commerce Parks & Recreation The basketball season is underway. Good luck to all the teams participating! I’m excited to announce that Director Fox and I are also organizing the first adult Pitman Pickleball League to start in January 2022! We will have more details to share shortly. Greater Pitman Chamber of Commerce Thanks to the Chamber for putting on some great holiday events this season including Girls Night, Candlelight Shopping & the Pitman Winter Village! Also, huge thanks to the Hagerty family for once again running their awesome Christmas display which attracts hundreds of visitors to our Uptown businesses each holiday season. Just a reminder that Santa will be at Ballard Park on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Santa’s last day in the park is Thursday, 12/23/21. New for 2022! The Chamber will be moving its regular monthly meeting nights to the first Monday of the Month at 7 p.m. at Borough Hall. The Chamber will also be holding a “Chamber Check-In” at 10 a.m. on the day of the monthly meeting for members of the business community who are not able to make the evening meeting. Stay tuned for more details! McCowan Memorial Library During the month of November 2021, 2,750 people visited McCowan Memorial Library and there were 121 internet users. There were 25 live children’s programs with a combined attendance of 138 people. Committee on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Applications for the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee can be found on the Borough website. Applications will be accepted until December 20, 2021 at 5 p.m. https://docs.google.com/.../1FAIpQLSfSvsG2TDw93z.../viewform As always, I am available to answer any questions or concerns via email at vanessa.james@pitman.org or by phone at 336-407-8604. Amy E. Rudley, Council Report
November 22, 2021 Environmental Commission The last few weeks have been very busy with tree related improvements. -Members of the Environmental Commission pruned all street trees along Broadway and the Borough parking lot at the intersection of Broadway and Holly. -A vendor was contracted to complete pruning of straight trees along W. Jersey Ave. and Pitman Avenue. -a vendor was contracted to install 2 additional street trees along Broadway. As a result, all existing tree pits along Broadway are planted. -Members of the commission installed four new trees in Borough parks, including Sunset, Sunrise, Epworth, and Betty. -A vendor was contracted to remove a tree on Fifth Ave that posed risk to adjacent private property. -Shrubs have been ordered and delivered to be installed at Glen Lake to screen an existing electrical box. This work should be taking place next week. The Environmental Commission has had a busy few weeks, thank you to everyone who has chipped in some time. These members have saved the Borough of Pitman roughly $1,600 by doing some of this work themselves as volunteers. Senior Outreach The Senior Outreach Committee hosted a successful Open House with the VFW. My sincere thank you to Former Councilman Jim Pierpont, who arranged with us for the afternoon, as well as to all members of the committee who have been tireless volunteers in support of my vision for bringing more opportunities for socialization and information to our Borough Seniors. Memorabilia The Museum is open routinely on the Second Saturday of the month and the Fourth Friday and is always staffed by volunteers. Thank you to them for their efforts and their time. As always, please feel free to contact me if you need my assistance with anything. My cell remains 609-214-6342 and my e-mail is amy.rudley@pitman.org for a few more weeks. Council Report November 22, 2021 Council President Paul Blass paul.blass@pitman.org Economic Development Committee The EDC met on November 18th. The members authorized money for the purchase of sun shades for Theatre Avenue. Jason Blackmore has taken the lead on getting an estimate for an electric car charging station. The Committee will be switching out the patriotic banners on Broadway streetlights to winter banners this Wednesday afternoon. Public Works Since our last meeting …. • Collected 119 tons of trash • Collected 35 tons of recyclables • Collected 184Yards of brush. • Collected 681 yards of leaves • Spent five hours patching and repairing potholes and sink holes. • Ran the street sweeper for eight hours • Dropped off a truck for yard debris to two residences and picked up the next day. • Completed about 40 curbside inspections per week of recycling containers. • Delivered Santa shed to Ballard Park • Repaired fence at Sixth Avenue The Water and Sewer Department… • Performed 14 water and sewer mark outs requests. • Performed routine well work, (painting, cleaning, etc.) • Took Water samples. • Read 6 meters for settlement. • Upgraded three meter heads. On Nov 16 Water and Sewer replace twelve feet of a ten-inch sewer main on Brentwood Avenue. Leaf collection is going at full throttle. Mr. Rodi is using some overtime to keep up with the rush. Council Report 11-22-21 Councilwoman Vanessa E. James Vanessa.James@Pitman.Org 2021 Liaison: Parks & Recreation, Public Events, Library Board, Great Pitman Chamber of Commerce The Santa Parade is this Saturday, 11/27 at 5 p.m. down Broadway. Greater Pitman Chamber of Commerce There are a ton of fun holiday events happening this holiday season in Uptown Pitman! Santa will be at Ballard Park starting this Saturday, 11/27 and thereafter on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. This Saturday is Small Business Saturday! Make sure to purchase your Pitman Bucks starting at 11 a.m. at Borough Hall and then support our Pitman businesses both on and off Broadway. December 2nd at 5 p.m. is Girls Night in Pitman December 4th is the Pitman Winter Village from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Ballard Avenue December 9th is Candlelight Shopping Night in Pitman starting at 5 p.m. December 11th is the Holiday Sing Along at 6 p.m. in the Grove Auditorium Huge congratulations to the newly elected officers and board members of the Greater Pitman Chamber of Commerce! President: Jenny Lehto Mazzola Vice President: Keryl Hausmann Treasurer: Benjamin Leis Secretary: Kara Knauss Board Members: Patrick Bradley Lauren Canna Bronwyn Lyman Stacey Myers Amanda Kent Budd Ashley Elliott Shaw As always, I am available to answer any questions or concerns via email at vanessa.james@pitman.org or by phone at 336-407-8604. Council Report 11/22/2021 Councilman Adam Mazzola Adam.Mazzola@pitman.org Finance: Borough offices and services will be closed this Thursday and Friday in celebration of the Thanksgiving holiday. The employees of the Finance and Construction Offices wish everyone a safe and joyous Thanksgiving holiday. The new tax assessments have been sent out from the County. There have been a few explanations posted online about how this could affect taxes in the Borough. After discussing with the CFO, I can confirm that we do not yet know the average increase in the Borough and these new assessments will be used for the 2022/2023 tax calculation in August 2022. The Borough will receive an insurance dividend from the TRICO JIF in the amount of $69,102.00. As usual, we will accept the dividend in the form of a credit against our 2022 assessment. The total amount of dividends being divided among participating JIF municipalities is $1,800,000.00. Residents should be advised that the shut off moratorium for water and sewer service remains in effect until January 1, 2022. On or after January 1, 2022 charges and penalties may be imposed for delinquent payments, and any payments remaining delinquent may be referred to a tax lien sale held by the municipal Tax Collector. Clean Communities: I would like to thank the Pitman VFW for their hard work cleaning Brown and Harmon Fields since our last meeting. They spent their Saturday morning pulling litter from the surrounding brush and cleaning out the dugouts and bleachers. They collected about 20 lbs of trash in total. As the weather gets colder we are seeing fewer Clean Communities projects but if you would like to submit an application for your non-profit to receive a $500 grant in return for cleaning litter from public property, please reach out to me! Council Report 11-8-21
Councilwoman Vanessa E. James Vanessa.James@Pitman.Org 2021 Liaison: Parks & Recreation, Public Events, Library Board, Great Pitman Chamber of Commerce Parks & Recreation All basketball programs are on, as of now, and they will begin the first week in December. Director Fox recently met with a construction company and is working to get quotes so that all options can be weighed in order to repair the Shertel Park Tennis Courts. Greater Pitman Chamber of Commerce The Pitman Winter Village returns to Uptown Pitman for the Holiday season on Saturday December 4th from 11:00 a.m. -4 p.m. on Ballard Avenue and Ballard Park. The Chamber will also be selling house flags and ornaments this holiday season, both showcasing the “Small Town With A Big Heart” logo. The GPCC is currently looking into purchasing a cleaning station for Theatre Avenue. The next meeting of the Chamber will be held on Tuesday, November 16th at 7 p.m. in Borough Hall. McCowan Memorial Library Thanks to all the local businesses who donated candy for the children’s Halloween Parade this year and thanks to the Mayor and Council for their assistance in handing out candy. During the month of September 2021, 3,215 people visited McCowan Memorial Library and there were 110 internet users. There were 14 live children’s programs with a combined attendance of 158 people. During the month of October 2021, 2,810 people visited McCowan Memorial Library and there were 115 internet users. There were 27 live children’s programs with a combined attendance of 271 people. As always, I am available to answer any questions or concerns via email at vanessa.james@pitman.org or by phone at 336-407-8604. Council Report November 8, 2021 Council President Paul Blass paul.blass@pitman.org I would first like to congratulate Courtney Milward and Vince Kelly on their election to Council last week. The votes have been counted. The election is done. The transition to a new Council will begin, and I wish them luck. Sustainable Pitman Sustainable Pitman met on October 28th. I am happy to report that they have once again achieved Bronze Certification. The group has now set its sites on silver certification and sees that as an achievable goal within the next couple of years. Daughters of the American Revolution On October 30th I was happy to help facilitate the dedication of two benches in Campbell War Memorial. The DAR donated these benches to commemorate the 90th anniversary of their Red Bank Chapter, which was established in Pitman. The original charter hangs in the Pitman Museum. Public Works – October Recycling Totals 19 Loads of Single Stream Recycling - 70.60 tons - at a profit of $2,190.72 There was a cost added of $700 for bag fees – please remember no plastic bags in recycling. 3 loads of Metal to Sims Metal – 2.12 tons – for which we received $429 258 cubic yards of mulch and brush hauled to various locations at a cost of $2,322 Solid Waste Totals 24 loads to Wheelabrator – 281.61 tons – at a cost of $21,641.75 5 loads to the Gloucester County landfill – 53.52 tons – at a cost of $4,130.13 Doing approx. 40 curbside inspections per week of recycling containers. Dropped off Barricades for Food Truck Festival On October 29th Water and Sewer fixed a break on Canterbury Avenue. Amy E. Rudley, Council Report November 8, 2021 Environmental Commission The EC met during its regular date and time on Thursday last week and will meet again on the first Thursday in December in Borough Hall at 7:30 p.m. Senior Outreach The Senior Outreach Committee is holding an open house with the VFW on November 17 from 2-5 at the VFW. Come meet some fellow 55+ residents of Pitman and enjoy some games and snacks. Memorabilia Thank you to Council President Blass for attending Memorabilia on Wednesday evening in my place, so I could spend a few days visiting with family. Public Property A tree infested with Spotted Lantern Flies will be removed shortly from Fourth Avenue. It is on public property and is an invasive species of tree, in poor health. Thank you to Councilman Weng for bringing this tree to my attention. Should you need to reach me, please feel free to contact me at amy.rudley@pitman.org or via my cell at 609-214-6342. Council Report 11/08/2021 Councilman Adam Mazzola Adam.Mazzola@pitman.org Finance & Audit: Tonight there are bonds on the agenda that ensure the Borough's ability to provide critical services to the residents of Pitman. Police services, trash collection, and clean water delivery are covered in this round of borrowing. There are two main reasons why this course of action makes sense. One, it takes 18 months or more from the time we initiate a heavy equipment purchase to the time we take delivery. We cannot wait for trucks to become inoperable or we risk impacting weekly trash pickup. Two, interest rates are low and our bond rating is high. Doing this now ensures that we do not pay more later. Paying cash for large equipment purchases in the past led to financial issues for the Borough such as a low bond rating, an inability to make obligated payments, and the need for the state to provide emergency aid. Bonding keeps Pitman from being in such a dire position again. During budget conversations we solicited the opinion of CFO Considine to ensure that the Borough would not be impacted negatively. He repeatedly informed us that these bonds would NOT negatively impact our bond rating or the Borough in any way. In addition, for the past two years that I have been on Council we have avoided raising taxes during a time when many residents and local businesses were hurting. In numerous discussions, the majority of Council felt strongly that we owed it to those we represent to not add to the burdens already on their plate. Clean Communities: On Saturday the Pitman Grove Community Garden came out and cleaned up the border of Alcyon Woods, Track Ave, and Holly Ave to the dam. When that was done they also walked through Alcyon Park and cleaned up along the walkway. This area of the Borough is often a first impression point for people visiting Pitman and to have this area cleaned makes an impact. They filled 10 bags over halfway with litter. As a reminder if you have a non-profit and would like to set up a cleanup project, please reach out to me! Council Report October 25, 2021
Council President Paul Blass paul.blass@pitman.org Historic Preservation Commission The HPC met on October 14th and heard four applications involving proposed alterations. Three were approved; one with a minor adjustment so that the railing met guidelines. The fourth application was denied without prejudice. Had the applicant been there the situation would most likely been solved. Economic Development Committee The EDC met last Thursday. The Committee approved the purchase of additional winter banners for the Borough’s lamp posts. The EDC has obtained preliminary costs for an E/V charging station. Once finalized this will be added to the group’s proposed budget. Public Works On Friday night (October 15th), Water and Sewer had a crew repair a leak on Long Avenue. The Borough is currently out of black trash cans. The replacements are being held up because of shipping delays. Amy E. Rudley, Council Report October 25, 2021 Volunteer Fair The Volunteer Fair was held on Friday evening in conjunction with the Fourth Friday event. We had 12 groups in attendance; residents and visitors were able to learn information about these various volunteer opportunities in a casual setting. Public Property Members of the Garden Club and the Environmental Commission met with our Shade Tree Commissioner and myself on October 19, 2021 to discuss a solution to the Yew bushes that are overgrown and are encroaching on the markers within the Memorial. We are in the process of selecting an appropriate replacement bush which will be easy to maintain, a native species, affordable, and aesthetically pleasing to the design and tranquility of the Memorial. Senior Outreach Committee The Committee met on its usual date and time. We discussed our next event with the VFW on 11/17. It is an open house with games and snacks. We are going to look into starting regular movie nights and bingo in the new year. Memorabilia Memorabilia will meet on Wednesday 11/3, instead of 11/2, due to Election Day at 7:00 p.m. in the Museum. Environmental Commission EC will meet on Thursday, November 4, at 7:30 p.m. at Borough Hall. As always, please feel free to contact me at 609-214-6342 or amy.rudley@pitman.org if you need to reach me. Stay safe in this storm tonight! Council Report 10-25-21 Councilwoman Vanessa E. James Vanessa.James@Pitman.Org 2021 Liaison: Parks & Recreation, Public Events, Library Board, Great Pitman Chamber of Commerce Parks & Recreation All major playing fields in town have been aerated and seeded for the fall. Soccer and youth football are coming to an end. The Pumptrack renovations are still underway (fixing drainage issues and overall performance upgrades). The Glen Lake cleanup continues, Director Fox had a meeting with a resident on site to address some concerns. Basketball registrations are open, evaluations for 5th-8th graders are on Monday November 1st and Wednesday November 3rd. Times were posted on the Borough Facebook page. Greater Pitman Chamber of Commerce The Chamber had its last meeting on Tuesday, October 19th. They have a lot of great holiday events planned including Shop Small Saturday & Pitman Bucks Sale on November 27th, Ladies Shopping Night out on December 2nd and the annual Winter Village to be held on Ballard Avenue this year on December 4th. McCowan Memorial Library The library is excited to host its annual children’s Halloween Parade on Saturday, October 30th at 4 p.m. Hope to see you there! As always, I am available to answer any questions or concerns via email at vanessa.james@pitman.org or by phone at 336-407-8604. Council Report 10/25/2021 Councilman Adam Mazzola Adam.Mazzola@pitman.org *Clean Communities:* This weekend we had 3 groups collaborate on a large project cleaning up Alcyon Lake and the surrounding parks and the dam. The Greater Pitman Chamber of Commerce had kayakers (and one canoeing family) on the lake and pulled out 5-6 bags of trash mostly consisting of bottles and cans. They did pull out a wooden stool and a basketball. The PHS Seniors and Freshmen, led by their advisor Council President Blass, took care of the parks and dam and gathered 4-5 bags of trash and an old rusty bicycle in the creek across Holly Ave. Thank you to all of the volunteers who organized and came out to clean up our community! *Finance & Admin:* Budget requests will be going out next week, one month earlier than prior years. This should lead to an earlier approved budget than we have previously seen. Thank you in advance to all department heads for helping to turn this around. Clerk O'Donnell is busy closing out grants and submitting paperwork to verify safety inspections and employee training to keep us in compliance with TRICO JIF standards. We are in the final stretch of updating the Employee Policy and Procedure Manual, which is required by the JIF to do every two years. The Borough’s Election Board Workers have received training on the new voting machines and the electronic signature books to be used in this years’ election. November 2, 2021 is Election Day. Voting is from 6am – 8pm. Borough offices, services, and the Police Administration Office will be closed for the holiday. The Clerk’s Office will be open for questions related to the election and voting. Please call 856-589-3522 for assistance if needed. Council Report October 12, 2021
Council President Paul Blass paul.blass@pitman.org Sustainable Pitman Sustainable Pitman met on September 23rd. They believe that reaching silver status is an achievable goal within the next couple of years. The team is in the process of dividing up the work necessary to accomplish that goal. Public Works – September Recycling Totals 19 Loads of Single Stream Recycling - 85.80 tons - at a profit of $1,943.18 3 loads of Metal to Sims Metal – 2.42 tons – for which we received $460.70 265 cubic yards of mulch and brush hauled to various locations at a cost of $2,385 1.13 tons of E-Waste was recycled Solid Waste Totals 16 loads to Wheelabrator – 195.9 tons – at a cost of $15,054.93 13 loads to the Gloucester County landfill – 154.64 tons – at a cost of $11,933 This past weekend our on-call crew had to repair leaks on Columbia as well as Mansfield Avenues. Amy E. Rudley, Council Report October 12, 2021 Environmental Commission The Environmental Commission met at its usual date and time. A few members of the Garden Club joined us to discuss replacing shrubs at the Veterans Memorial with something more aesthetically pleasing. Additionally, a representative from an educational group appeared to discuss partnering for some assemblies at the local schools. Senior Outreach Committee Senior Outreach will meet at 5:00 p.m. at Ballard Park on the third Thursday of the month, weather permitting. Memorabilia Memorabilia met at its usual date and time at the Museum. The Fourth Friday and Second Saturday volunteer schedule was set for Museum Hours. The group also discussed a resident who is looking to confirm that her home is the oldest home in town. Volunteer Fair The Annual Volunteer Fair is scheduled to take place on October 22, 2021 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. on Theatre Avenue, in conjunction with the Chamber of Commerce’s Fourth Friday event. If you have a Non-Profit or a Borough Organization looking for volunteers, please let me know and we will make sure there is a space for you. If you are looking for volunteer opportunities, please stop by! Please feel free to contact me at 609-214-6342 or amy.rudley@pitman.org if you should need to reach me for anything. Matthew Weng - The Pitman Police Department recently concluded a hiring process for a part-time Secretary. Director Weng and Chief McAteer would like to thank all those who have assisted in the process. - The Pitman Police Department continues to send officers to the 2-Day ICAT/Able training program as required. ICAT is a training program that provides first responding police officers with the tools, skills, and options they need to successfully and safely defuse a range of critical incidents. - Cpl. Ken Decker recently attended the weeklong ICAT Train-the-Trainer course. This certification will allow Cpl. Decker to assist the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office with the training throughout South Jersey. In addition, Cpl. Decker can now bring his “expertise” to the department for enhanced training in our Use of Force and Critical Incident response. Council Report 10-12-21 Councilwoman Vanessa E. James Vanessa.James@Pitman.Org 2021 Liaison: Parks & Recreation, Public Events, Library Board, Great Pitman Chamber of Commerce Greater Pitman Chamber of Commerce This past Saturday, October 9th, the Greater Pitman Chamber of Commerce hosted the Witches of Pitman Shoppe Hop in Uptown Pitman. Thank you to everyone who participated in this fun event and to the volunteers who made it possible! The next meeting of the Chamber will take place on Tuesday, October 19th at 7 p.m. at Borough Hall. All are welcome to attend. McCowan Memorial Library The library is excited to host its annual children’s Halloween Parade on Saturday, October 30th at 4 p.m. Hope to see you there! As always, I am available to answer any questions or concerns via email at vanessa.james@pitman.org or by phone at 336-407-8604. Council Report 10/12/2021 Councilman Adam Mazzola Adam.Mazzola@pitman.org Clean Communities: Since the last meeting have had two cleanup projects in the Borough. The Women's Club cleaned up litter around Sunset Auditorium and Shertel Park including 7 bags of trash and 12 recycling items totaling around 25 pounds. With tennis season upon us it is great to have visiting teams seeing a nice clean court & park! Many of the women came with their own grabbers and gloves and ALL of them came to work! The Knights of Columbus, with cleaners aged 9 to 90, cleaned up the Alcyon Woods Disc Golf Course and removed upwards of 50 lbs of broken glass from the course path as well as 2-3 large trash bags of miscellaneous trash. While they were on the course they had players from Moorestown commenting on how much they love the course and many players would throw some trash into the bags! The timing of this project was perfect as there is a tournament coming through this weekend. Council Report September 27, 2021
Council President Paul Blass paul.blass@pitman.org Economic Development Committee The EDC met on September 16th and welcomed new member Stacey Meyers. The Committee discussed the upcoming best of Gloucester County event. It also began plans to update its current brochure. Public Works Since our last meeting …. • Collected 127 tons of trash • Collected 34 tons of recyclables • Collected 68Yards of brush. • Spent two hours patching and repairing potholes and sink holes. • Spent 53 hours mowing and weed whacking. • Ran the street sweeper for four hours • Dropped off a truck for yard debris to one resident and picked up the next day. • Completed about 40 curbside inspections per week of recycling containers. • Removed the dead tree pots from Broadway. • Cleaned up after craft fair • Repaired fence at Sixth Avenue The Water and Sewer Department… • Performed 18 water and sewer mark outs requests. • Plunged out one sewer stoppages. • Performed routine well work, (painting, cleaning, etc.) • Took Water samples. • Read 12 meters for settlement. • Replaced two meter body. • Upgraded seven meter heads. • Sealed off a leak under East Avenue. Water and Sewer had a crew out Wednesday night to repair a collapsed roadway caused by a broken terra cotta sewer main. They were there several hours. A crew was also called out on Sunday for a continuing leak at the end of East Holly Avenue. Leaf collection will formally begin in mid-October, though crews have already been out when time permits. Amy E. Rudley, Council Report September 27, 2021 Public Property Residents have been reporting various infestations of lantern flies. Our Shade Tree Commissioner fully supports removing invasive trees from public property. Therefore, where there is an infestation on a Tree of Heaven plant, we are coordinating removal. The type of removal depends on the size of the invasive tree. Senior Outreach Committee The SO Committee is planning our next joint event with the VFW for November 17, 2021. It will be held in the afternoon as an open house and game day. Hours are TBD. Environmental Commission The EC is working on a lantern fly egg removal day and series of contests. They plan to have a table at Community night with some information to help with accurate identification. Additionally, they will be planting some additional pollinators to supplement those planted earlier this year in Alcyon Park under the outlook. Anyone who wants to get more involved, please reach out. Volunteer Fair In prior years, Councilwoman James and I have held the volunteer fair in January, to kick of the year of volunteerism. Due to COVID-19, we postponed this years’ event. We will be holding the Volunteer Fair in conjunction with the Chamber’s October Fourth Friday celebration. They have graciously given us the use of Theatre Avenue to assemble the groups. If anyone is involved in a non-profit or a borough organization who is in need of some volunteer power, please let me know and we will get you set up for the event. It will be on October 22, 2021 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Memorabilia Committee The Committee will meet on Tuesday, October 5 at 7:00 p.m. The usual meeting place is the Museum, but we have been meeting in the Grove Auditorium to avoid virus concerns. Yard Sale Day There were quite a few last minute (and day of) additions and deletions from the yard sale day this year. If anyone has any ideas for streamlining this process a bit, please feel free to reach out. Overall, it appears to have a been a success. Haunted Tales of Pitman The Haunted Tales of Pitman will be a self-guided walking tour this year, with audio recorded stories submitted by the businesses. I hope to have the first stories “available” on 10/9/21 in conjunction with the Witches’ Day Out, shopping event by the Chamber. For the stories, the vision is that you will simply access them via the Chamber’s website and list to them either on location or from anywhere you like, at your convenience. Many businesses plan to decorate or coordinate for the occasion. Police Department POAC Training I would like to express my most sincere thank you to the Pitman Police Department and to Fire Chief Ryan Pierson for their attendance and participation in the POAC training for first responders. While I still had Public Safety as a Council Department it was a goal of mine to ensure that our officers undergo training for interacting with neuro-atypical and Autistic individuals. This is for the safety of the officers, as much as the safety of those members of the public with neurological conditions. I was also very glad to be invited to take the training myself. I learned a few extremely valuable lessons. First, when encountering an emergency with a neuro-atypical individual, be mindful that those who are on the higher functioning end of the continuum often hide. This is counter-intuitive in many situations, given the high intelligence of the individuals. Thus, in a fire, the instinct is often to hide in a closet or under a blanket until this are safe. Second, bodies of water should be immediately checked when an Autistic child or adult goes missing. 50% of Autistic individuals will go missing at some point in their lives and 90% of deaths of Autistic individuals under the age of 14 are due to drowning. This organization recommends searching all bodies of water by distance using concentric circles from the point of last known location, first. There were countless other important take-aways, but for the general public, I think it is incumbent upon me to share these two here in my council report. Thank you to all attendees for being so engaged, as well. I thought the training was excellent. Reading Challenge Last, and certainly not least, congratulations to the children who completed the 20 minute per day challenge for the month of August 2021. They were awarded tonight with acknowledgement by Mayor and Council, as well as a $5.00 gift certificate to Words Matter Bookstore, courtesy of the bookstore. As always, please feel free to reach out to me with any questions or issues you may have. My cell remains 609-214-6342 and my e-mail is amy.rudley@pitman.org. Matthew Weng - Chief McAteer recently attended the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police 2021 Training Conference on August 23rdthru the 26th in Atlantic Cit He also attended the International Association of Chief’s of Police 2021 Virtual Training Conference. Both conferences were highly valuable. - As previously announced, the PPD has been awarded a Body Worn Camera Reimbursement Grant for the sum of $44,836.00. The PPD received the final registration paperwork last week. The paperwork is being prepared by Deputy Chief Zander and CFO, Mr. Considine. Chief McAteer will have the final oversight for the PPD. The grant will be dispersed in increments over the next few years. The PPD was the third Department in Gloucester County to institute Body Cameras and have been using them for the past five years. - On September 24th, the entire PPD Was given a 3-hour Training block from POAC on Autism Awareness and Police Response to Autistic Individuals. The training was exceptional and it adds to the resources, knowledge and ability that the PPD has in responding to calls for service. - Community Appreciation Night will be Wednesday evening (29th) from 6-9 pm in Ballard Park. We will also be recognizing Fire Prevention Week. Please come out and enjoy an evening that is bound to be fantastic! Council Report 9-27-21 Councilwoman Vanessa E. James Vanessa.James@Pitman.Org 2021 Liaison: Parks & Recreation, Public Events, Library Board, Great Pitman Chamber of Commerce Greater Pitman Chamber of Commerce Best of Gloucester County Award Ceremony Congratulations to all the Pitman business award winners at last week’s Best of Gloucester County presentation which took place in Ballard Park. Thanks to Mayor Razze, Mrs. O’Donnell, and Stacey Meyers for putting on a wonderful presentation that did a great job showcasing all our Uptown has to offer. Fall Craft Show Thanks to Lisa Morgey for organizing an outstanding Fall Craft Show on September 18th and thank you to all the volunteers who helped make it a success. Special thanks to the Pitman Police Department and Pitman Public Works Department who do such a tremendous job of making sure our town events run smoothly. Pitman Brews Cruise This Saturday, October 2, at 10 a.m. is the Third Annual Brews Cruise to benefit the Chamber. It is 25-mile bike ride through South Jersey starting at the Caffeinated Cyclist bike shop and ending with a celebration at Merryman’s Pub and Human Village and Kelly Green breweries in Pitman. Tickets can be purchased on the Uptown Pitman website at https://checkout.square.site/buy/CLEH5QSMQ4X6UA6OMLX5V7FR Witches of Pitman Shoppe Hop The Witches of Pitman Shoppe Hop will take place on Saturday, October 9th from 11 – 5 p.m. Join us for a scary fun day in Uptown Pitman! Stroll through local businesses offering magical sales, spooky specialty items, and frightful food & beverage specials. Wear your finest be-witching outfit for fun prizes throughout the day! As always, I am available to answer any questions or concerns via email at vanessa.james@pitman.org or by phone at 336-407-8604. Council Report 9/27/2021 Councilman Adam Mazzola Adam.Mazzola@pitman.org Finance and Administration: 1. Two additional security cameras have been installed at Borough Hall; one for inside the Police Department and the other outside of the building looking toward the War Memorial in Ballard Park. 2. A representative from South Jersey Gas has come out on two occasions to meet with residents who may be in need of financial assistance for their utility bill. Further information on this program can be obtained by calling the Finance Office in Borough Hall. 3. Training is being provided by the NJ MEL for Designated Employer Representative for participation in the US Dept. of Transportation’s Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse. The Clearinghouse is a secure online database that will give employers, State Driver Licensing Agencies and State law enforcement personnel real-time access to important information about CDL driver drug and alcohol program violations, which will enhance safety on the nation’s roadways. To date, the Borough Administrator and Public Works Manager have taken this training. 4. The Borough’s online sale of unpaid 2020 taxes will take place on October 7. For information, please call the Borough Tax Collector at 589-3522 Clean Communities: We are entering fall cleanup season as we just had the Renaissance Youth Center complete a 3 hour cleanup where they cleaned 3 miles of roadway including Broadway, East Ave, W Jersey Ave, and Theatre Ave. They filled 3 large contractor bags with the litter taken from the sides of the roads and the sidewalks. We also have projects coming up at Shertel Park/Sunset Auditorium, Alcyon Woods, and Alcyon Lake. If you have a non-profit and would like to organize a clean up project, please reach out to me! Council Report September 13, 2021
Council President Paul Blass paul.blass@pitman.org Economic Development Committee The EDC met on August 26th. The group agreed on the style and funding for new “Welcome to Pitman” signs. Historic Preservation Commission The HPC met last Thursday. Four applications involving alterations were heard. Everything was approved, with two requiring minor changes – one to the style of a storm door the other to the type of exterior light fixture. Memorabilia Committee met on Tuesday Sept 7. I filled in for Councilwoman Rudley. The Museum will be open a few times this fall – Friday September 24th from 6 – 8; Saturday, October 9th from 1 to 4, and Friday, October 22nd from 6 – 8. Public Works – August Recycling Totals 17 Loads of Single Stream Recycling - 72.53 tons - at a cost of $2,921.50 1 load of Metal to Sims Metal – 3.23 tons – for which we received $295 264 cubic yards of mulch and brush hauled to various locations at a cost of $2,376 2 cubic yards of mulch delivered to residents. Solid Waste Totals 24 loads to Wheelabrator – 282.36 tons – at a cost of $20,852 6 loads to the Gloucester County landfill – 72.65 tons – at a cost of $5,606.40 The Borough was once again charged for plastic bags. Please remember not to put recycles in plastic bags. On August 31 there was a road failure on Elwood Avenue that the road’s crew had to excavate and repair. Last week, PW employees applied a silicon based material on the Library’s flat roof to extend its life Pitman PW helped our neighbors in Wenonah after the tornado. We had a loader there for several hours helping to clear roads and our two generator powered light fixtures were used overnight. Amy E. Rudley, Council Report September 13, 2021 Senior Outreach Committee The Senior Outreach Committee will meet this Thursday at 5:00 p.m. at Ballard Park. We have been meeting at the park for a few months due to COVID. All are welcome to join us. We will be discussing the next joint event with the VFW. Environmental Commission Environmental met on its usual date and time, but via zoom. We discussed ideas to help combat the lantern flies in town and are planning an information outreach. Additionally, we discussed the proposed fencing and removal of bushes at Ballard Park in the area of the War Memorial. While the Environmental Commission takes no position on the fencing, the Shade Tree Commissioner is not in support of removing the bushes which are well established. Reading Logs I have heard from only one family regarding their children completing the reading challenge for August. Please contact me if your child or children completed reading 20 minutes per day for the month of August. I currently have a list of three children and I know there are more than this. Town Wide Yard Sale The Town Wide Yard Sale for the fall is 9/25. Please get those registrations in as soon as possible, as I am going to start finalizing the list. Memorabilia Thank you to Council President Blass for attending the Memorabilia Committee meeting on my behalf. Please feel free to contact me if you need any assistance. You are welcome to contact me via telephone at 609-214-6342 or e-mail at amy.rudley@pitman.org Council Report 9-13-21 Councilwoman Vanessa E. James Vanessa.James@Pitman.Org 2021 Liaison: Parks & Recreation, Public Events, Library Board, Great Pitman Chamber of Commerce Thank you to Mayor Razze, Mrs. O’Donnell, the Pitman Police Department, Fire Company Number One, Highland Chemical Engine Company, the Pitman High School Music Department and all the other volunteers who assisted with a very moving ceremony on Saturday night commemorating the 20th Anniversary of September 11th. Parks & Recreation Thanks to all the volunteers and participants in the summer programs this year for the Parks & Recreation department, including tennis, band, summer playground, baseball clinics, basketball camp and the Pitman Fishing League. The Parks & Recreation Department is kicking off their fall programs. If you have any questions, check out the Borough Website under the Parks & Recreation tab at https://www.pitman.org/.../parks.../programs/fall.php Greater Pitman Chamber of Commerce The Fall Craft Show is scheduled for this Saturday, September 18th. Make sure to stop by between 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. to show your support for our local business community. Laurel Market Pitman will continue to operate every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Sunset Auditorium until the end of September. Pitman has been selected as the location for the Best of Gloucester County 2021 Awards Presentation Location on Monday, September 20th from 5-8 p.m. at Ballard Park. Thanks to Mrs. O’Donnell for all her hard work on this project. We anticipate that it will be a great night to showcase Pitman! McCowan Memorial Library During the month of August 2021, 3,685 people visited McCowan Memorial Library and there were 101 internet users. There were 17 live children’s programs with a combined attendance of 247 people. As always, I am available to answer any questions or concerns via email at vanessa.james@pitman.org or by phone at 336-407-8604. Council Report 9/13/2021 Councilman Adam Mazzola Adam.Mazzola@pitman.org Finance and Administration: We would like to welcome Andrea Whilden as our new Water & Sewer clerk who has started in the job since the last meeting. We are happy to have her aboard. Clean Communities: We are actively seeking non-profit organizations for clean up projects around Alcyon Lake. If you or anyone you know would be interested in partnering for these projects, please reach out to me and we will work to find an area that can use your help! |
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