Politics & Government

With Referendums Passed, Town Council Makes the Next Move

Council members react to Tuesday's vote and talk about what they now have to do.

Now that voters to turn Moorestown “wet,” the ball is solidly in township council’s court to decide what comes next.

According to state statute, council has two options: Establish a municipal alcoholic beverage control (ABC) board to regulate the sale and use of liquor licenses in town, or council can act as its own ABC board.

Mayor John Button said Wednesday he wasn’t at all sure which direction council would go.

“In all honesty, council’s had zero discussion. Our approach basically was, ‘Let’s wait and see (what the results are),’” he said. “This is new territory … We’re learning on the fly.”

Members of township administration—including Scott Carew, clerk Patty Hunt and financial officer Tom Merchel—met Wednesday to discuss next steps.

Button said it’s possible the matter would be discussed at Monday’s regular council meeting.

The mayor wouldn’t reveal how he voted, but was optimistic about the potential benefits the referendums’ passage could yield.

“I do believe we’ll see some positive impact to the revenue side of our budget,” he said, “and we desperately need that.”

The other members of council were also hopeful the passage of the referendums would translate into a positive for Moorestown, on a number of levels.

Deputy Mayor Greg Gallo called the approval of liquor licenses a “significant revenue opportunity.”

Councilwoman Stacey Jordan said, “If we get some , it will change the whole way (the Moorestown Mall) is viewed … I think it could be a good thing for Moorestown.”

The Moorestown Mall is one part of a delicate economic ecosystem that includes Main Street and the township's coffers, Councilman Mike Testa explained, and if it does will, the rest of town stands to benefit.

"Really, it's the momentum of investing in their asset. Not just the restaurants, but also hopefully what will come with that: attracting new stores, (expanding the theater)," he said. "Ultimately, that's what drives how their assessed ... If they're doing poorly, they're going to appeal and pay less."

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Gallo was the only member of council to share how he voted. He voted “Yes” on both questions and said ultimately his decision came down to dollars and cents, that he felt the approval of liquor licenses would translate into revenue for the town.

“I am obviously a taxpayer first and a deputy mayor second,” he said. “It still starts and ends with my household, and I looked at the facts as I see them … This is not just economics for the mall. It’s economics for Moorestown’s checkbook.”

The members of council also admitted they were somewhat surprised at the margin victory, with “Yes” passing on both questions by nearly 60 to 40 percent.

“I thought it was going to eke by by a hair,” said Councilman Chris Chiacchio, who claimed he’s “usually a good guesser,” but was uncertain how the vote would play out.

A conversation he had Tuesday afternoon with two residents staunchly on the “No” side gave him a hint though.

“I saw two people who I knew were ‘No,’ and they said they didn’t vote. And that’s how I knew it was going to pass. The ‘Yes’ people were motivated, the ‘No’ people weren’t,” Chiacchio said. “I really think the voters … they’re worried about property taxes, and they’re willing to do anything to keep property taxes reasonable.”


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