Cinnaminson Township Committee’s marathon meeting on Monday stretched into early Tuesday morning and produced plenty of discussion.
Committee members debated and voted on a variety of issues, including alleged maintenance violations at Paula’s Family Restaurant, plus streamlining township departments, communication problems between the committee and planning and zoning boards, and a focus on code enforcement around town.
Cinnaminson Patch will bring you coverage on those issues, but here are three other things accomplished Monday:
1. Calling it a “neighborly” gesture, Cinnaminson will allow Palmyra to use its courtroom for three sessions in coming weeks. Palmyra is facing an HVAC problem in its own courtroom, and will hold court in Cinnaminson on Nov. 26, Nov. 27 and Dec. 14. The building will already be open for other township business and Palmyra will provide its own security.
Deputy Mayor Anthony Minniti floated charging Palmyra for the usage, but the other committee members decided it should be gratis.
2. The take-home vehicle issue is … still not fully decided. But the committee made some progress. Seven employees—the zoning officer, head of public works, three police detectives, a police lieutenant (as the senior ranking sworn officer) and a K9 officer—were identified as having take-home cars, an issue that’s rankled some for months. The committee voted to allow all but the zoning officer to continue to use the cars for take-home use. Everyone still allowed has on-call duties that often necessitate or at least make it easier to respond promptly with an equipped township car. (The zoning officer previously volunteered to stop using the car for take-home use; the committee voted to codify that gesture regardless.)
Now the question remains if employees who live outside of Cinnaminson should reimburse the township for mileage. The committee will take it up at a future meeting after more research on tax implications.
3. Cinnaminson will continue to explore inspection shared services with three other towns: Delanco, Delran and Maple Shade. George Haeuber, Cinnaminson’s former interim township administrator, is representing the town in talks to create a joint shared services group. He presented a progress report, noting that it’s feasible to create the agreement if all four towns agree. Based on the number of permits issued in 2009-11 and the revenue generated, Cinnaminson would contribute 36 percent, Maple Shade 30 percent, Delran 24 percent and Delanco 10 percent toward the cost of the group.
Committee voted 3-2 (with John Rooney and Ben Young voting no) to allow Haeuber to continue talks with the other towns with the goal of creating the inspection shared services agreement.
Stay with Cinnaminson Patch for continuing coverage of this week’s special township committee meeting. And don’t miss any government news. Sign up for our daily newsletter.
is there something true about him not being licensed by the state this would fall back on the township wouldn't it they are responsible for all employees titles and cert. or least the head of that dept don't you think this does not sound right to me you are right something smells fishy and it is not paula's be careful what you wish for
As for the tax matter, yes, township administrator Frank Locantore recounted a conversation last night where he said the zoning officer voluntarily relinquished the car after learning that its use would be a taxable fringe benefit. Additionally, remember committee was voting on the *position,* not the person currently in the role, to come up with a take-home car policy. For instance, not every police lieutenant will necessarily get a take-home car. The current lieutenant does because he's the senior ranking law enforcement office in Cinnaminson.
Two council members, Young and Rooney oppose the plan because this is already the responsibility of administrator Frank Locantore. I think they are right. I also think Fred Turek is not the man for the job because he is already stretched thin. Right after last year’s Hurricane Ivan Turek pronounce that the Devon Road Bridge was fit but a few months later the bridge was done in by a garbage truck. It bothers me that we are paying a hefty fee to a group of retired government employees to do a study that recommends taking part of one person’s job and giving it to another Cinnaminson employee who is already overburdened with work. And I am sure like any employee taking on more responsibilities Fred will want more money. Our tax and spend republicans do not understand how overtaxed we already are.