Wednesday, December 12, 2012
As he approaches the end of his term, Mayor John Button looks back over how far the township's come the last four years and the "bright future" ahead.
- GOVERNMENT
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Wednesday, December 12, 2012
To the editor: As 2012 draws to a close and my term on town council reaches an end, I’d like to share a final township update with you that will summarize our journey over the past four years and let you know where we are as we approach 2013, with a bright future ahead of us. When my colleagues, Greg Gallo, Michael Testa and I took office, the economy was changing rapidly and we encountered a budget deficit approaching $4 million. Understanding there were going to be significant challenges attributable to the changing economy and previous operating decisions, we embarked on a quest to understand the issues at a root level, so we could make fact-based decisions that would best serve our residents. The initial challenge was to resolve the …
Friday, October 12, 2012
Mayor John Button weighs in on a plethora of township issues, ranging from incoming ratables and reassessment to Open Space and the upcoming election.
- GOVERNMENT
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Friday, October 12, 2012
To the editor: As we enter October, with less than a month until the upcoming election, I wanted to share another township update that, hopefully, will be helpful in understanding what lies ahead for council in 2013 and beyond. In essence, here is a consolidated view of the “state of our community” at this time: Savings, Ratables, Revenue First and foremost, let’s look at our financial health and the tax outlook going forward. It should be noted that Moorestown’s tax rate is low relative to comparable towns in New Jersey. Over the last four years, Greg Gallo, Michael Testa and I have worked hard—with our council colleagues—to instill spending discipline in our town, reducing expenses, with minimal impact on services and, thus, minimizing …
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Moorestown Mayor John Button said business and personal considerations, as well as the accomplishments of council, led him to reconsider his run.
- ELECTIONS
- Rob Scott
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Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Following weeks of internal deliberation, Mayor John Button has decided to drop out of the race for Moorestown council, along with his running mates Elaine Goralski and Randy Cherkas. Button cited two primary reasons for his withdrawal: a desire to spend more time focusing on business and family, and the progress council has made on major projects during his tenure, much of it in the last few months (and weeks). “I have had a very, very busy summer, between my activities with the township to my business life,” said Button, who serves as CEO for PESA, LLC. “At some point, you have to take a step back. I do really owe my business partners, and maybe even my family, more of my life.” Just last week, council took the first steps toward …
Monday, August 20, 2012
Moorestown council voted unanimously to bond $1.4 million for improvements to Wesley Bishop North, but Mayor John Button left open questions of how it would be paid.
Following last week’s talk of compromise on the Open Space debate, township council voted Monday to bond $1.4 million for the Wesley Bishop North project. But anyone looking for assurances that council won’t use the Open Space Trust Fund to pay for it will have to wait. Council was full of positivity Monday night after approving unanimously—on first reading—a $1.4 million bond for improvements to the park, seemingly clearing the path for progress on the long-stalled project. Prior to the vote, township manager Scott Carew ran down a list of all the major capital projects before the township—Wesley Bishop North, the municipal complex, recreation center improvements, etc.—and their total price tag: roughly $19 million. Over a 20-year bond, …
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Moorestown Mayor John Button provides another "state of the township," covering all the reasons the township is positioned well for the future.
- GOVERNMENT
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Wednesday, August 15, 2012
To the editor: As the dog days of summer slowly begin to ebb, I want to provide the next of my periodic updates on the state of things in our great township. We’re in an exciting place and time, so it’s nice to be able to share some good news. Moorestown is uniquely postured for the future. Even during these difficult times, we have tremendous economic development underway that will increase our ratable base, provide many new jobs and increase our standard of living. I am also proud of our strong fiscal health. We are spending less to run our township than we did in 2008 and our debt is lower than it was then as well. Our declining debt service requirement leaves us well-positioned to address the major capital projects under consideration…
Monday, August 6, 2012
Council will discuss the fallout from last week's ruling on the STEM Open Space lawsuit and is expected to award four liquor licenses to PREIT.
Looking for a sneak preview of tonight’s township council meeting? You’ve come to the right place. The following is a sampling of what’s expected to take place during the meeting: The council meeting begins at 7:30 tonight in the IT room at Moorestown High School.
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Candidates Mark Hines, Greg Newcomer and Brian Sattinger have invited their opponents for Moorestown Township Council to publicly debate the issues.
UPDATE: Mayor John Button was reserved in his response to the Democrats' challenge. "I will withhold comment at this point," he said Wednesday. "I understand what they're trying to do." The mayor, who is running as an Independent with Randy Cherkas and Elaine Goralski, said he's "very comfortable that I understand the issues." Button, the only incumbent running in this year's council race, filed as an Independent after he was passed over by the Moorestown Republican Municipal Committee earlier this year. Democratic campaign manager Francine Cartwright said the candidates wanted to get their debate proposition out sooner than later, both to give the other candidates time to respond and prepare—assuming they're interested—and in case a …
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Moorestown Township Council will hold a public hearing next week to weigh the possibility of using the Open Space Trust Fund to pay for athletic field improvements.
With its eye on a resolution to the longstanding fields project discussion, township council will hold a public hearing next week to decide whether it should dip into the Open Space, Recreation, Farmland and Historic Preservation Trust Fund to pay for the project. Council members weighed Monday night the possibility of bonding the $1.3 million Wesley Bishop North project (new turf field, parking improvements) over the next 15 years and paying for at least part of the project out of the general fund. However, when it came to a vote, Councilwoman Stacey Jordan would not support the measure. Though township manager Scott Carew noted the budget forecast for the next few years gives the township a “very healthy financial outlook”—even with …
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
The only company to bid is the same one council members blame for supposedly botching Moorestown's 2007 revaluation.
Members of township council hesitated Monday after learning the only company to bid for the township’s reassessment was the same firm they believe botched the last revaluation. Township tax assessor Dennis DeKlerk sent out requests for proposal (RFP) at the end of March and got just one bid back: Appraisal Systems Inc. (ASI), for $195,080. ASI performed the 2007 revaluation, which according to some members of council resulted in a multitude of errors, which in turn contributed to an avalanche of appeals that have led to $3 million in lost tax revenue over the last four years. “I’m disappointed we only got one response and it’s the vendor who did the last reassessment—and we all know how well that turned out,” said Deputy Mayor Greg Gallo…
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
In a near-unanimous vote, the GOP selects three political novices to vie for council seats this fall.
Moorestown Republicans’ town council ticket will be incumbent-free this fall after the municipal committee decided Tuesday night not to select Mayor John Button to run for a second term. The committee instead selected three new candidates to vie for the three council seats up for election in November: Phil Garwood, Victoria Napolitano and Pete Palko. “We are excited about our ticket and the party is solidly unified behind these great candidates,” said John Logue, chairman of the Moorestown Republican Municipal Committee (MRMC). “In the coming weeks, they will share with fellow residents their ideas for addressing the serious issues facing our town.” None of the candidates have prior experience in public office, according to a release …
Donnerstag
8:26 am on Friday, December 14, 2012
Look folks, let's be perfectly honest here. Monday will be the last council meeting, and its time to wrap it up. It is what it is. You know, you stand by your principles and your feeling of whats best for the town, and move ahead. Council has done a lot lately, the next council has a lot to work with. Thanks to the town councilmembers for their service. more ›