Council Reports from 9/28 Council Meeting

Council reports from the 9/28/20 Council Meeting follow below.  
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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 28, 2020
Council President Paul Blass
paul.blass@pitman.org

The Economic Development Committee (EDC) met on September 17th. At the time businesses were in the midst of the Tenzy Frenzy promotion and ideas were discussed for enhancing that for next year. Plans continue to take shape for the final pieces of the Theatre Avenue project. The committee approved funds to purchase planters to replace the plastic orange barriers at the end of the street.

Sustainable Pitman (aka “The Green Team”) met on September 24th. The group continues to look into ways to improve getting the word out about proper recycling. Chairman Aspras is looking into getting a building audit for borough owned buildings since it has been several years since that was done.
Public Works

On September 16th soccer coach Vanessa James notified Soccer President Michael Razze about a possible unsafe storm drain on the Lambs Road field. This was passed on to me. The next morning, I notified Mr. Rodi at public works. By the 21st the PW crew had it repaired.

On September 19th the Public Works Department and, I think, some member of the parks department were out finishing the work on the dam at Alcyon Lake. They repaired the platform at the spillway as recommended in the biennial report.
On September 20th Councilman Mazzola notified me of a sewer issue on Esplanade Avenue. It was a Sunday so Mr. Rodi called the on-call employee who went out and took care of this clog.

Just yesterday Councilman Fitzpatrick notified me of a hazardous inlet on Broadway. Unfortunately, the type of repair required can not be done in house and PW is now looking for bids.

Please remember that bulk trash should only be put out on the first full week of each month. Next week – the week of October 4th – is the next time for bulk trash. Bulk trash is limited to two large items and up to five bags. If you have more than that, please call Public Works department at 589-1040 to discuss options.

Amy E. Rudley
Council Report September 28, 2020

Parks and Recreation
The Senior Bus will be setting up some specific dates for the flu shot clinics in Gloucester County. If you have any interest in taking the bus to one of the flu shot clinics, please contact Steve at 856-582-4766.
We currently have micro-mini soccer, Healthy Kids Running Club, fall baseball and softball, as well as soccer up and running for the season. We will announce winter sports in the coming weeks.

Environmental Commission
The Environmental Commission has not met since our last Council meeting, but will meet this Thursday at 6:30 at Borough Hall. This is a public meeting and all are welcome.  We do have the approval of a recycling sub-committee for the Environmental Commission on tonight’s agenda. I am hopeful that we will obtain some new ideas from volunteers regarding possible ways to increase recycling compliance in Pitman.
Senior Outreach

The Senior Outreach Committee did meet on the Third Thursday and had almost a full committee of attendees. We are looking for ways to make contact with those Seniors who have not yet heard about the Committee and who may need resources.

Should you ever have any questions or need to reach me for any reason, please feel free to e-mail me at amy.rudley@pitman.org or call me at 609-214-6342

Councilman Matt Weng
Council Report 9-28-20

The PPD would like to congratulate and thank Mr. Zach Connor and Ms. Jess Kile for a well-organized and successful Human Trafficking Awareness Event that twas held on this past Saturday. The event brought awareness to our community concerning this tragic issue.

The Pitman PD would like to again, thank Ms. Courtney Milward and the Back the Blue Event for their recent donation of $3,000.00 to the Pitman PD K-9 Unit. Not only did the event provide the K-9 Unit with those funds but several other donations have come in with acknowledgement of the event.

School has once again started back up with the return of “some” students, with the remainder returning next Monday, October 5th. The PPD wants to remind everyone to please drive slowly & safely. Please respect the rules of the road for pedestrians and buses.

Overnight Parking Enforcement is being suspended for the remainder of the calendar (2020) year and all of January 2021. Residents are asked to remain cognizant that all other state and local parking laws are still in effect. This would include, but are not limited to, blocking driveways, timed parking areas and handicap parking spaces (which are only available to drivers who are designated as handicapped).

Council Report 9/28/20
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

Finance Department
The tax collector reports that the tax collection rate is currently at 97.86 percent, which is up 1.13 percent from last year at the same time.

Greater Pitman Chamber of Commerce
Join the Greater Pitman Chamber of Commerce as they celebrate the Grand Re-Opening of Kelly’s A Touch of Ireland this Saturday, October 3rd at 21 S. Broadway at 11 a.m.

On Friday night, I had the opportunity to attend Pitman’s first ever outdoor Comedy Show at Sunset Auditorium which benefited the Pitman Revitalization Corporation. Congratulations to the organizer, Pitman resident Benjamin Leis on a great event. I haven’t laughed that hard in a long time and it was sorely needed. To stay up to date on their upcoming events, you can follow their Facebook page Comic Cure or send an email to ben@comiccure.com to get on their email list.

McCowan Memorial Library
Library usage is slowly increasing, but the library is receiving reports of people that still don’t know that they are open. Please spread the word that the library is open during its regular hours, and please stop by!

Task Force on Diversity & Inclusion
Pitman's Task Force on Diversity & Inclusion met on Thursday, September 24th. The Task Force
members are hard at work on the ideas and areas of research that they discussed in August. As part of their plans to get community feedback and suggestions on potential events and initiatives, they have submitted a survey which will be included in the next Borough newsletter.

Council Report 9/28/2020
Councilman Adam Mazzola
Adam.Mazzola@pitman.org

Board of Education:
Each week for the past 3 weeks, the Pitman Public Schools have provided breakfast and lunch for around 650 - 700 children per week, with over 9,000 breakfasts and lunches this past week. The benefit is free for all children under 18 in the Borough of Pitman regardless of their school enrollment and is funded by the USDA program. Every family is encouraged to sign up for these meals by filling out the form available online. The form must be completed each week to receive the food. Pickup times are Tuesdays from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM and Wednesdays and Thursdays from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM and can be obtained in front of Pitman High School at 225 Linden Avenue. Details can be found at pitman.k12.nj.us where you will find a link to the Google document to enroll or https://pitmank12.nutrislice.com for the menus and nutritional information. Should you need assistance with the program, I would be happy to connect any residents with the program director and I can be reached at adam.mazzola@pitman.org.

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