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Councilman Ray Bider spoke about the Borough’s Best Practices Audit at the November 22, 2021 monthly meeting of Mayor and Council.
“The Best Practices Audit has been officially accepted by the State. We are very happy that we will be getting 100 percent State Aid and we achieved a 93 percent success rate. This is the highest we’ve been and we are very happy there,” he said.
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The Finance Committee has met several times to begin the discussions for the 2022 budget and will be continuing to discuss capital and additional needs until we come up with a final total, Councilman Bider stated.
Click the image to view the Best Practices Inventory in greater detail:
Councilman Bider also said that the Veterans Day Program was “extremely successful with over a little over 100 people in attendance. We had veterans from World War II to present day.”
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He extended a special thanks to all of those who attended, including Congressman Donald Norcross.
Councilman Bider acknowledged the Recreation Department for setting up and for breaking down the event.
New banners will be installed at the War Memorial due to fading. It is expected that installation will take place in early spring before Memorial Day.
Councilman Jamie Casey
Councilman Jamie Casey stated that a new part-time EMT employee was on the agenda to be approved.
The batting cage usage will be slightly modified to allow Purple Eagles Cheerleaders to use the facility.
Three organizations will be using the facility – baseball, softball, and the cheerleaders.
In anticipation of Christmas in the Park, Councilman Casey said: “Our crew is doing an awesome job getting ready.”
Dates are: 12/3, 12/4, 12/10, 12/11, 12/17, and 12/18 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
“It is always a good time and will be a drive-through event like it was last year,” Councilman Casey said.
Councilman Jim D’Angelo
Councilman D’Angelo said that the Highway Department is currently performing concrete installation in the areas of Oakland Avenue, South Bellmawr Avenue, including St. Francis Court.
Weekly leaf collection is underway.
Posters are being put up to notify residents of collection dates.
Councilwoman Johann Fina
The Holiday House Decorating Contest registration will open 12/1 and will close 12/13.
Voting opens 12/13 and will close 12/22 and the winners will be notified by 12/23.
Registration will take place via the Borough’s website, once the link is live.
The Christmas Parade will take place on Sunday, December 5 at 6:00 p.m., starting at St. Joachim (Annunciation).
Anyone who is interested in participating is asked to register online via the Borough’s website, once the link is live.
Councilman Craig Wilhelm
The Water Department has been faced with a couple of water main breaks in the past month, Councilman Wilhem reported.
“With the winter months and the cold months, we will see more of them. If you happen to be in the area where they are working, we ask you to please use caution,” he said.
Councilman Wilhelm reported Police activity for the month of October.
The police answered 1,063 calls for service. There were 64 investigations and 52 arrests. A total of 183 traffic Summonses were issued and 23 motor vehicle crashes were investigated.
Mayor Chuck Sauter
Mayor Sauter thanked everyone who participated in the Halloween House Decorating Contest.
2021 Winners:
1st Place: 109 Park Drive ($200 Visa Gift Card)
2nd Place: 27 Adams Avenue ($150 Visa Gift Card)
3rd Place: 416 Third Avenue ($100 Visa Gift Card)
Congratulations to the winners and thank you to everyone who participated, the mayor said.
Bellmawr’s Clean-Up Day was held Saturday, October 23.
Mayor Sauter thanked all of the volunteers, which totaled 30 adults and children who came out to help.
The mayor extended special thanks to Joe Ciano, Pat Gallagher, Kim Gallagher, and Gary Sauter for organizing the event.
The mayor also thanked Councilman Ray Bider for organizing the Veterans Day Ceremony.
“It was certainly so nice to see so many of our veterans attend along with the residents. Thank you to all who attended and participated. It was nice to see that we were able to have Frank LaTorre, a former Bellmawr resident, who served in World War II and is now 99. It was a pleasure to have him in attendance that day,” Mayor Sauter said.
The Mayor acknowledged the Finance Committee, CFMO Maria Fasulo, and the Borough administrative team for the Brough’s good performance received for the 2020 audit and for the Best Practices Inventory.
Office of Emergency Management
Dan DiRenzo stated that FEMA has extended COVID-19 reimbursement for emergency protective measures until April, 2022 at 100 percent reimbursement. “We will continue to utilize that to our advantage for our covid emergency protective actions,” DiRenzo said.
Regarding the Route 295 wall collapse, DiRenzo spoke about attending a recent meeting on behalf of the Mayor with Assemblyman Bill Moen and the Director of NJDOT. “Those results should be coming soon within the next couple of weeks,” DiRenzo said.
The Public Safety Storage facility that is located at the rear of the municipal complex is nearing completion, DiRenzo stated. “With regards to EMS, we are about to embark on the transition of EMS being transitioned to the fire station located in the municipal complex in a consolidation effort.”
On the west side of town, flood issues continue. “So we are going to start to work to combat that with some additional signs and potentially some flood gates to preemptively warn the motoring public,” DiRenzo said.
As of November 1, EMS had just over 2,800 calls for service for the year. With the year coming to a close, the Fire Dept. is about to break 1,000 calls, DiRenzo reported.
All business on the meeting agenda was approved.
Also during the meeting, Borough Clerk, Frani Wright, read a letter from Steve Hagerty, who resigned from his council seat citing “certain personal circumstances.”
To view the meeting agenda, click here.