Civility 'Code' Aimed at Improving Council Discourse

Civility in politics? Is that even possible? Councilman Greg Newcomer hopes so.

“Civility” is not a word one often associates with government in today’s toxic political environment. Councilman Greg Newcomer is hoping to change all that—in Moorestown, at least. Last week, Newcomer introduced a “Code of Civility,” which outlines a series of guidelines/suggestions for council to follow to ensure interactions among its members are as amicable and respectful as possible. “Sometimes we think only our solution is the best,” said Newcomer. “(The code is about) what civility is, and why we would want to be civil … I am somebody who believes in civility. It is the basis with which we should go forward.” The councilman said the idea sprouted from conversations he’s had with several local leaders over the last decade. Civility …

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LululeMom

7:51 am on Friday, February 22, 2013

“name calling” on an article about civility ~ how appropriate, yet tragic   more ›

PREIT Seeks Left Turn Into Mall from Route 38

The Moorestown Mall owner is expected to make a presentation at tonight's meeting, among other business.

Township council meets at 7:30 p.m. tonight in the IT room at Moorestown High School. Among the highlights of the meeting is a presentation from Moorestown Mall owner PREIT.  Township manager Scott Carew said PREIT would like to install a left turn lane into the mall from Route 38 West. PREIT needs approval from the state Department of Transportation, he explained, and is seeking council's endorsement to aid in receiving the approval.  Carew said he did not know where PREIT wanted to add the left turn. A call to PREIT Friday afternoon was not immediately returned. Council will also discuss filling the township's vacant information technology position, as well as issue proclamations for Kindness Week and Art Month. To see the full agenda, …

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Mall fan

11:47 pm on Monday, February 11, 2013

Townie , as an observation didn't someone say this at the assembly Monday night? The professionals in town seem to feel there are safety issues here for another left turn light on rt 38 at the mall. Plus, didn't someone say there may not be enough stacking lane room, only 300ft, Talk about cars backed up in the "fast lane". Sound alike more congestion and potential accidents.   more ›

Council Still Facing Tax Hike in Latest Budget

To avoid a tax increase, Moorestown council members will need to close a $1 million gap—a near-impossible task, according to the township manager.

As it stands now, the township needs to close a $1 million gap to avoid a tax increase in this year’s budget. Talking over the latest draft of the budget Thursday morning, the consensus among members of township council was none of them were terribly happy with the budget. In its current form, the $22.9 million budget increases the tax levy by $1,011,900 from last year, a 2.6 cent (or 7.83 percent) increase from 2011’s tax rate. Based on that increase, a taxpayer with a home assessed at the township average of $529,800 would pay $1,896.68 in municipal taxes, a $137.74 increase from last year. Because the township's budget didn't hit the state-imposed 2 percent cap last year, it was allowed (by law) to "bank" the difference and use it to …

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Early Draft of Township Budget Includes Slight Tax Hike

Members of town council discussed the possibility of including $500,000 in liquor license revenue in the budget to offset a higher tax increase.

An early draft of the budget prepared by the township financial officer calls for a modest tax increase, trimmed down slightly by dropping a half million dollars of revenue into the budget from the sale of one liquor license. The budget presented by financial officer Tom Merchel Thursday night includes a 1.8 cent increase to the current tax rate, which would translate to an increase of $95.36 on a home assessed at the township average of $529,800. Due to a dip in other revenue—including a reduction in the township’s surplus—Merchel plugged $500,000 from the anticipated sale of a liquor license into the budget. Mall owner PREIT (Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust) has vowed to purchase four licenses at $1 million a piece, even though…

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What to Know for Tonight's Council Meeting

Money for Fullerton Park, final approval of alcohol sales, and refinancing of old bonds (for $240,000 savings) on the agenda for tonight's meeting.

Township council meets at 7:30 p.m. tonight in the media center at William Allen Middle School. A few items of interest on the agenda: To view the full agenda, visit the township website. 

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Needs Vs. Wants in Township's Capital Projects Budget

Moorestown Township Council kicked off budget season Thursday studying a list of $29 million worth of capital projects.

Township manager Scott Carew presented a list of all the potential capital projects on the horizon during a kickoff budget workshop for town council Thursday morning. All told, if the township undertook every one of the projects presented, it would cost nearly $29 million. Seeing as how the township’s total budget last year was only $22.9 million, it’s a safe bet some of those projects will have to wait. As such, Mayor John Button said council’s job is now to break up that list of 24 items—including $1.3 million for vehicle and equipment purchases for police and utility and approximately $2.8 million for athletic field improvements—into needs and wants, what must be done versus what can wait. Carew composed the list with input from various…

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Moorestown Council Gives Go-Ahead to Revaluation

The township lost more than $500,000 through tax appeals in 2011. A new revaluation would level the market—meaning some will pay less and some will pay more.

Moorestown will undergo a revaluation this year to curb excessive tax appeals that have cost the township millions over the last few years. Township council gave manager Scott Carew and tax assessor Dennis DeKlerk the go-ahead Monday night to begin the process of prepping bid specifications for a revaluation. Carew said council needed to make the decision before the end of the month in order to conduct the revaluation this year to have new values take effect in 2013. Carew explained the rationale behind a reassessment is two-fold: “One, to mitigate tax appeals as a result of the current economy and housing market. Two is to mitigate tax appeals as a result of the reassessment from several years earlier that … from my understanding, left a …

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utr

6:29 am on Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Don't know what you mean. I just asked a question.   more ›

5 Things You Need to Know

Five Things to Know About Tonight's Council Meeting

A reorganization/regular meeting mash-up yields a loaded agenda. The meeting starts at 7 p.m. at WAMS.

1. Tonight’s council meeting is a combo: Reorganization and regular. There will be 54 appointments and (mostly) reappointments to various township boards and committees, as well as the appointment of several other positions, including township solicitor and engineer, and the election of the deputy mayor (currently Greg Gallo). 2. Council is scheduled to discuss and vote on an ordinance amending the township code “governing the consumption and sale of alcoholic beverages”—in other words, to allow the sale of alcohol in Moorestown for the first time in a century and establish the policy infrastructure to do so. It is the first real action council has taken on the matter since voters lifted the town’s liquor ban via referendum in November. …

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Moorestown Council Getting Closer to Resolving Park Lights Problem

Council will pay the Alaimo Group for design work to replace field lights at three of its parks.

Township council took another step toward resolving its field lights problem this week. Members of council decided this past Monday to have the Alaimo Group, the township’s engineers, move forward with the necessary engineering and design work to replace the lights at Jeff Young and Maple Dawson parks. Township manager Tom Merchel said council is expected to approve a $50,000 bond ordinance at this Monday’s regular meeting to pay for the work. The up-front cost of the design work is estimated at $36,000, he said, though ancillary costs may add to that, hence the higher amount for the bond. Council put Fullerton Park on the backburner because the lights there are in slightly better condition, Merchel said. All the lights are roughly the …

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Municipal Complex on the Agenda at Tonight’s Council Meeting

The township architect will give a presentation on plans for the new municipal building.

Moorestown Township architect Rick Ragan will give a power-point presentation on the municipal complex project at tonight’s council meeting. The meeting will be held in the Media Center at the William Allen Middle School, 891 N. Stanwick Road, at 7:30 p.m. Ragan will present information about the four components of the project—library, administration, police, and recreation—and what uses go best together. He will also address whether the existing recreation center should be rehabilitated. “Council is anxious to make a decision about what we’re going to do where,” said Mayor John Button. A special meeting between Council and the Town Hall-Library Task Force has been scheduled for Wednesday at 9 a.m. at the township offices at 2 Executive …

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