Township Committee to Discuss Vehicle Tracking System After Sewerage Authority Scam

Deputy Mayor Anthony Minniti wants to propose legislation that would require all township-owned vehicles to carry GPS tracking devices, in light of recent theft and corruption charges brought to several sewerage authority employees this week.

Township committee members will discuss the proposal during the next public meeting, an executive session on March 5.

“These are immediate steps that we can take to mitigate situations like a backhoe disappearing or people winding up outside of the Cinnaminson border,” Minniti said.

A deadlined backhoe prompted commissioners at the Cinnaminson Sewerage Authority to take a closer look at equipment and other spending. After suspecting criminal behavior, commissioners contacted the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office. Cinnaminson Police were prompted to start the investigation, and over the course of at least three months, other law enforcement was involved.

Eight men—including five full-time employees—have been arrested on theft and corruption charges where more than $100,000 in stolen public resources has been uncovered.

Authorities also found employees were performing side work with sewerage authority equipment during business hours. Some of those jobs were done as far as Ocean County, according to authorities. The backhoe in question was found in the Poconos.

The sewerage authority is a semi-autonomous entity in Cinnaminson. Township committee, who hold no power over the group, appoints sewerage authority commissioners.

“This was a high level, well-organized conspiracy to hide this from commissioners,” Minniti said.

Minniti is also proposing for all township vehicles—including vehicles of the zoning officer and engineer—to be emblazoned with the township logo.

All police vehicles already sport such logos, as does almost all public works’ vehicles.

“If there are any that aren’t, they should be,” Minniti said.

Although no costs for such tracking devices have been investigated, Committeeman William "Ben" Young, director of public works, is no stranger to suggesting such technology for his department.

“This is not a new subject,” Young said. “We’ve talked about this in the past. I’ve always been an advocate of it. The real problem lies in the cost of it. That’s a major capital investment.”

Minniti said if this is something that could be expedited, it could be added as a line item for the budget that’s now being prepared. Paying for something with emergency appropriations means a five-year period of payback.

Young said Mt. Laurel has such technology, and a few years ago, he spoke with the former township administrator there about the device and costs associated.

“I’m certainly in favor of [looking into it],” Young said, “having done some research on it in the past.”

The next township committee is an executive session, open to the public, at 7:30 p.m., Monday, March 5.