The Moorestown Township Council approved a number of ordinances on first reading at the Monday, Nov. 9 meeting. Two ordinances of note were the replacement of various water mains and the replacement of the title of police director with police chief.
The ordinance to replace various water mains calls for the appropriation of $1.65 million and the issuance of $1.57 million in bonds or notes. The replacement of the water mains include those along North Church Street from Main Street to Central Avenue; Prospect Avenue from South Church Street to High Street; and Second Street from Locust Street to Camden Avenue.
As Moorestown Utility Superintendent Bill Butler gave a presentation on the utilities department in the township that evening, it, along with the ordinance, sparked the hot topic on the water mains.
During his presentation, he said there have been 43 water main breaks in Moorestown, which is very high, as Moorestown will usually see about 15 breaks per year.
“The reason (for the breaks) is the water from New Jersey American Water, the water density is heavier than our water… they get the water from Delaware River … the density of the water is heavier,” Butler said.
The use of NJAW was due to the shutdown of wells at the Church Street water treatment plant last year due to the presence of the unregulated compound Trichloropropane (TCP 1,2,3). One well was reopened in June due to a no detect and has remained open despite testing once again for TCP 1,2,3. However, Township Manager Scott Carew said the township is not closing the well again.
The water main repairs fall in line with planned upgrades at the township’s water treatment plants. The closed well has been a part of a pilot program to figure out what needs to be done for treatment of the TCP 1,2,3 along with various other substances.
The township should have a report on this by the end of the year. It is also looking to improve the treatment plants on Kings Highway and Hartford Road and have everything running by 2020.
Residents came out to speak about the brown water they have been getting in their homes. Michael Babcock came forward with his brown filter with brown water in it. Butler said the brown water could be due to iron in the water. Iron is an aesthetic quality, but not harmful to humans.
“Nobody wants to drink brown water, but the water we are producing is safe to drink,” Mayor Victoria Napolitano said.
Babcock, along with other residents, asked why the township hasn’t been maintaining the water infrastructure in town. If it had taken care of things in the first place, then it might not be where it is today, the residents said.
Carew said he, along with the current council, cannot be blamed for the problem. However, he acknowledged that in the past, Moorestown has missed opportunities to invest in water infrastructure. This council is now taking the initiative and working to fix the issue.
Council also approved an ordinance on first reading that would replace the position of police director with a police chief.
Carew explained that a public safety director is usually created when there is an issue in the department and is not permitted to carry a gun or badge, or usually be involved in any law enforcement whatsoever. It is typically a civilian position.
For the position of police chief, according to the ordinance, the chief would have full charge and control of the apparatus and equipment of the department and its assignment and use, and would be held responsible for its care, cleanliness and safekeeping, and render a strict account thereof when called for by the township manager.
A police chief would also be able to go on the streets and meet with the public, being a representative of the department to residents.
“Why not get rid of the middle man, have the chief, increase the moral of the department and have a better top-down management system?” Carew said.
If council approves the ordinance on second reading, a search to fill the position would begin immediately.
“As soon as we pass the ordinance, that process will be kicked off immediately. We don’t want to leave the position vacant for any longer,” Napolitano said.
Lt. Lee Lieber is serving as the acting police director since the previous director Harry Johnson passed away in April at the age of 62.
Moorestown also approved an ordinance on first reading that would set the police chief’s salary between $110,000 and $165,000. The longevity cap is set at $8,580.
Other ordinances approved on first reading were for the 2016 Roads Resurfacing Program, reconstruction of Walnut Avenue and a portion of Third Street, purchase of police vehicles and equipment, purchase of various public works vehicles and equipment, installation of field lighting controls at Wesley Bishop Park and Pryor Park, and various pavement repairs.
Further details on each ordinance can be found on the township website, www.moorestown. nj.us/AgendaCenter.
The second reading for all of the ordinances is set for the next meeting on Monday, Nov. 30 at 7:30 p.m. at the Moorestown Town Hall, with a workshop at 7 p.m.
