Council Reports - 9/14/20 Pitman Borough Council Meeting

Below please find the Council Reports from last night's (9/14) Pitman Borough Council Meeting. As always, please feel free to reach out at any time with questions or concerns:
Paul Blass paul.blass@pitman.org
Amy Rudley amy.rudley@pitman.org
Matthew Weng matt.weng@pitman.org
Vanessa E. James vanessa.james@pitman.org
Adam Mazzola adam.mazzola@pitman.org


​Council Report September 14, 2020
Council President Paul Blass
paul.blass@pitman.org
In my address at the 9/11 ceremony I emphasized the often unsung work of our very dedicated public works department. Besides the list of typical tasks I have in a moment, I have two examples of jobs outside their normal routine that just get added to their “to do” list.

On August 26th I was contacted about a “tripping hazard” on Elm Avenue. Within two days public works had gone out and reset a pipe along the sidewalk to eliminate that problem.
On August 29th the remnants of Hurricane Laura hit which caused flooding around town. Two crew members were out at the library sandbagging to help stop the flooding of the basement. Later the next week they dug out the drain pipe on the Ballard Park side.

Public Works Second half of August 2020

HIGHWAY DEPT:
4 Truckloads of bulk trash collected tonnage included in trash total.
Repaired or replaced street signs in town.
12 hours spent cleaning the tops of storm drains.
6 hours patching and repairing pot holes and sink holes.
20 hours grinding leaves and brush for mulch.
Ran street sweeper 4 hours.
Delivered 6 yards of mulch to residents.
Spent 24 hours mowing.
Repaired the trash/recycle can @ various locations.
Dropped off a truck for yard debris to 1 residences & picked up the next day.
Delivered 6 new trash cans to residences and 4 new recycle cans.

WATER & SEWER DEPT:
Plunged out 9 sewer stoppages.
Jetted 2 sewer mains.
Did well work, (painting, cleaning, etc.)
Took Water samples.
Read 7 meters for settlement.
Re-read 1 meters for billing questions.
Upgraded 1 meter heads.
Opened water tower for AT&T.
Repaired cracked water main on Vassar Ave.

Amy E. Rudley
9/14/20 Council Report
I would like to echo my words from the Borough 9/11 Ceremony briefly here tonight to thank, on the record, the Parks and Recreation Department for their incredible efforts during the course of the pandemic.
For the Recreation Commission:

Micro-mini soccer starts up this week with practices and games on Saturdays. The Healthy Kids Running club is also set to get started and we look forward to the return of softball and baseball.

The Environmental Commission met on 9/3 and began plans to resume some environmental efforts which had been cancelled due to the COVID restrictions in the Spring and Summer. They will be putting up some informational signage about native trees and planting some new trees in Alcyon Park. There has been a native New Jersey chestnut tree in bloom, which is a big deal, as this species has been decimated by invasive species of insects and plants. We are hopeful that the State will want to take a sample from this tree and that we can be a part of preserving the native New Jersey chestnut. A member of the Commission is reaching out to them.

Senior Outreach plans to meet this week at 5:00 p.m. and hopes to have a message to the Borough’s Senior Citizens in the upcoming newsletter.

Finally, the Borough-wide yard sale is wildly popular with 86 yard sales currently registered as of 6:00 p.m. today! The cut off was Friday, but I am working on the final list this week, so residents can still get in if they e-mail me right away. Amy.rudley@pitman.org

As always, please feel free to reach out regarding any issues in the Borough at that e-mail address or via 609-214-6342.

Councilman Matthew Weng
9/14/20 Council Report

The Pitman Police Department would like to thank Mayor and Council for the recognition that they bestowed upon the PPD and all first Responders and Essential Workers at the September 11th Memorial Ceremony. They were all truly honored to have been recognized.
The Pitman PD would like to thank Ms. Courtney Milward and the Back to School Back the Blue Event for their recent donation of $3,000.00 to the Pitman PD K-9 Unit. They are greatly appreciative of such a kind and generous donation and the support that was shown to the Pitman PD.

Council Report 9/14/20
Councilwoman Vanessa E. James
Vanessa.James@Pitman.Org

Liaison: Finance & Audit, Personnel, Welfare Office, Library Board, Chamber of Commerce, Municipal Alliance, Task Force on Diversity & Inclusion

Greater Pitman Chamber of Commerce
The Greater Pitman Chamber of Commerce is working with the Economic Development Committee to promote their Tenzy Frenzy Event which runs from September 13th through September 19th. Businesses are offering a variety of deals, so make sure to shop local and support our Uptown this week.

McCowan Memorial Library
The library continues to operate successfully with the appropriate restrictions in place. Thanks to Council President Paul Blass and Councilman Mazzola who met up with me in the pouring rain a few Saturdays ago to address a flooding issue at the library. I’m pleased to report that the library successfully installed a sump pump and it is my understanding that Public Works is working to improve some drainage issues as well.
The Library Board of Trustees will have its first in-person meeting since February on Tuesday, September 22nd at 7 p.m. at the library.

Task Force on Diversity & Inclusion
Pitman's Task Force on Diversity & Inclusion met on Thursday, August 27th. The members came prepared with some excellent ideas and they have committed to a planning schedule which should produce a report of recommendations to Mayor & Council by Spring 2021.
The next meeting of the Task Force will be on Thursday, September 24th in Borough Council Chambers at 7 p.m. Meetings are open to the public. *Please wear a mask.

Council Report 9/14/2020
Councilman Adam Mazzola
Adam.Mazzola@pitman.org
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Clean Communities:
Our first clean up project of 2020 was held August 26th at the Dell. They filled two black trash totes and half of a green recycling tote with what they collected including a broken bag chair that they pulled out of the creek. We currently have 5 scheduled events in the next few weeks including Sunset Auditorium, Shertel Park, the railroad tracks, The Pitman Historical Museum & Grove Auditorium, and Alcyon Lake.

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