With dozens of members of the Voorhees Township Police Department present, Mayor Michael Mignogna swore in Charles Fowler and Daniel Stark as sergeants at last week’s committee meeting.
The committee then shifted its focus to hashing out the details of a new citizen’s budget advisory committee.
Earlier in the caucus session, Committeeman Michael Friedman said the group reached a compromise about who would sit on the citizen committee.
Friedman said he wanted four residents on the committee, but other members of the township committee said they wished for an open citizen group, allowing any interested Voorhees taxpayers to get involved.
“We reached a compromises so all the citizens of Voorhees could have a voice,” Friedman said.
Committee members chimed in, stating their satisfaction with the group being open to all residents .
“We all agree we’re about transparency,” Mignogna said.
“This resolution does no more then tell people they have the rights they’ve always had,” Deputy Mayor Harry Platt said.
The group will begin to meet soon.
Deputy Mayor Mario DiNatale asked if Friedman would be willing to chair the group. Friedman agreed, as did DiNatale, to remain a part of the group that plans to take a hard look at the budget in the coming weeks.
The group of citizen taxpayers will also take their budgetary recommendations to the committee.
Township Administrator Larry Spellman said the budget is currently being crafted, with an expected presentation occurring at a regular meeting in March. He said the township is still looking for ways to save money, and he anticipates the budget coming in under the state-mandated 2 percent cap.
“Other towns have done this with much success,” Friedman said. “We could all use advice. I’m happy to see the committee come to fruition.”
Any residents interested in becoming a part of the citizen’s budget advisory committee may contact committeeman Friedman at [email protected] or the mayor at mmignogna@ voorheesnj.com.
The committee also passed a resolution requesting a review of charter school law, which supports the state Senate and Assembly’s proposed laws on further accountability and voter approval of charter schools in New Jersey municipalities.
