Update on Cinnaminson Home, Praise for Police at Committee Meeting

It wasn't all Route 130 economic development news at this week's township committee meeting. There were a few other interesting items that didn’t make it into a full story, but were nonetheless noteworthy. Here are a few leftover tidbits:

• Committeeman John McCarthy said the township received a letter from a resident praising the police department. In the letter, the resident described how an elderly neighbor came to his house suffering from delusions. Within minutes, three police officers arrived to take care of the man and escort him home safely. Reading from the letter, McCarthy said the resident described the officers as "calm, cool and professional," and made the letter writer "proud to be a resident of our town." McCarthy said it's encouraging to get letters like that: "All too often we hear negative feedback, and it's great to hear positive feedback."

• Speaking of the police department, the committee formally confirmed the promotion of Sgt. Michael Burns (pictured in the above photo), who attended the meeting with his family. Congratulations, Sgt. Burns!

• Township engineer Fred Turek said the township received a letter from the state Department of Environmental Protection approving the township's plan to remove the Cinnaminson Home property from the Recreation and Open Space Inventory. Deputy Mayor Tony Minniti said the township will add 12 acres of open space from elsewhere in the township onto the inventory to make up for the four acres at the Cinnaminson Home property. (Read all about the plans to convert the land to affordable senior housing here.) 

• Committeeman Don Brauckmann announced that Wood Park's annual summer concert series would feature eight performances this year, including a smooth jazz band, the region's No. 1 Beatles tribute band, a Motown tribute band and more, as well as two movies in the park—Madagascar 3 and The Avengers.

The township committee will hold a work session at 7:30 p.m. Monday, March 4, in the Mayor's Conference Room at the municipal building. The next regular meeting will be held on Monday, March 18.