Council votes on Halloween festivities, township’s first Food Truck Festival and annual homecoming celebrations as recent meeting
At the Wednesday, Sept. 27 meeting, council approved a number of resolutions in preparation for upcoming fall community events.
A large gathering application was approved for Tony Soprano’s Pizzeria & Ristorante, allowing the business to host the annual Trunk or Treat event in its parking lot. Community members and children will have the opportunity to trick or treat at the 11 Shoppers Lane business on Oct. 26 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., with a rain date of Oct. 27.
An additional large gathering application was approved for the Washington Township High School homecoming game, Oct. 20, featuring a 20-minute fireworks display, coordinated with music at halftime. The Washington Township High School Minutemen will be facing off against Cherokee High School at 7 p.m. Some $3,500 in funding for the fireworks was donated by Turnersville AutoMall. Admission to the game and activities is $3 for adults, $2 for students and free for senior citizens.
Council approved a resolution permitting the possession and consumption of alcoholic beverages dispensed at Washington Township’s first Food Truck Festival in Washington Lake Park on Oct. 14. According to Councilwoman Angela Donato, the event, held from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., will feature more than 20 gourmet food trucks, live band entertainment and a beer and sangria garden. Admission is $5 and those younger than 10 are free.
Councilman Sean Longfellow also announced the township’s Community Clean-Up Day, scheduled for Oct. 14 from 9 a.m. to noon. Clean-up sites throughout the township will be assigned to volunteers, with trash bags, gloves, reflective vests, T-shirts and necessary supplies provided. To conclude the event, volunteers are invited to a barbeque in Washington Lake Park. To register, visit www.townshipnj.com, or visit the Washington Township Environmental Commission Facebook page. For more information, contact the Environmental Commission at wtec@twp.washington.nj.us, as well as 589–0520, ext. 232.
In other news:
• Council introduced an ordinance on first reading that proposes to change the zoning from institutional to rural for the property known as 245 Chapel Heights Road in Sewell. According to the ordinance, attorney and property owner Jason Giloley requested the change for the development of two houses on the lot, as the former religious institute on the site is no longer in use. The second reading and vote for adoption is scheduled for the Oct. 25 council meeting.
• Council passed a resolution authorizing entry into the settlement agreement for litigation involving Lillian Taylor versus Washington Township. According to Township Solicitor Stuart Platt, the lawsuit was against former Mayor Barbara Wallace, former Business Administrator Robert Smith and the prior administration for an alleged wrongful termination and violation of Taylor’s Family Medical Leave Act rights. The approved resolution said the settlement recommended by Capehart & Scatchard and Summit Risk Company, was in the amount of $125,000, with $75,000 paid by Washington Township and $50,000 from the township insurance carrier.
