Looking on the road ahead
By SHANNON CAULFIELD
The Shamong Sun
Now that the holidays have passed, the Shamong Township Committee has begun planning for 2013.
One of the top priorities includes the budget and if there will be tax increases.
The 2012 municipal budget was a total of $2,737,782.97.
Mayor Jon Shevelew doesn’t believe a tax increase will be necessary.
“While we are very early in the budget process, as always, the committee looks at tax increases as a last resort,” said Shevelew.
“We continue to do a good job in controlling our expenses but until we have final numbers from Trenton regarding our share of tax revenue we won’t be able to lock down our numbers.”
While a tax increase may not be a priority on the list of tasks for 2013, creating revenue for Shamong Township is.
“We continue to look for additional sources of revenue to offset the township’s operating expenses. We have been moving ahead with plans for a township cemetery,” said Shevelew.
Currently, the closest cemeteries are located in Medford and Southampton, forcing Shamong residents to make funeral arrangements in neighboring towns.
The project, however, could be helpful to the township.
“This project could provide a significant source of ongoing revenue for the township, and we are hoping to bring these efforts to fruition during the coming year,” said Shevelew.
According to the mayor, the possibility of building a community center may be on the 2013 agenda.
“We began discussing the possibility of building a community center for the town,” said Shevelew. “There has been an ongoing need to provide indoor facilities for use by various community groups. We have begun to explore our options in that area and will be looking for input from the community over the next few months as to the type of requirements that need to be met.”
Currently, there is no timeline, location for the project or approximate cost.
The township was awarded a grant over a year ago for the Stoney Creek soccer complex.
“The second phase of construction for our soccer complex at Stoney Creek was completed this past fall,” said Shevelew. “And with any luck, and some fast growing grass, we should begin to see use during 2013.”
There have been no updates on the PSE&G clear-cutting issue stemming from August.
The residents of Packenah Trail filed a petition with the NJ Board of Public Utilities in September for some sort of resolution.
“Public utilities seems like the best option and we’ll see where that takes us,” said township manager Sue Onorato in September.
The petition was filed well before Hurricane Sandy made landfall in New Jersey.
PSE&G responded to the petition after 22 days, two days later than the 20-day deadline.
Following the destruction of Hurricane Sandy, PSE&G has been undertaking the task of restoring power to thousands of customers who were without electricity as a result of the storm.
“We do not believe they responded in a timely manner,” said Onorato. “With the storms that blew through the area back-to-back, I’m sure they’re busy with more than [the clear cutting] issue, but they had time before the storm hit.”
Currently, the township is waiting for another response from PSE&G.
Shamong Township’s reorganization meeting will be held on Jan. 8 at 7:30 p.m. Immediately following will be a regular meeting at 9:25 p.m. at the municipal building located at 105 Willow Grove Road.
