Council’s next meeting will be held at Countryside Elementary School on Feb. 26 to encourage more residents to attend.
Mt. Laurel Township Council plans to take its meetings “on the road” again for the first time in 2018 with its next meeting at Countryside Elementary School on Feb. 26.
Although council normally meets in the courtroom of the Mt. Laurel Municipal Building, the meeting at Countryside will mark the latest step in the initiative council began last year to hold some of its meetings at different locations throughout the year.
With the initiative to move meeting locations, councilmembers hope residents from different neighborhoods might have an easier time attending a council meeting to voice any concerns they might have.
At council’s meeting last week, several councilmembers once again spoke about the importance they place on getting more residents to share their thoughts with the township’s governing body.
“We only know something is an issue if you come in and tell us or call us,” Councilmember Kurt Folcher said. “Otherwise, it just sits out there and festers and festers. If you have an issue, you’re encouraged to come to council and share it with us, otherwise we’re not going to have a good handle on what’s going on.”
After speaking with a resident about an issue at last week’s meeting, Deputy Mayor Dennis Riley also encouraged residents to “take every interest” and become more informed on matters taking place in town.
“I love when people come in, because Meredith (acting township manager Meredith Tomczyk) will take your phone number and call you back. Back in 2001, there was an issue by my house, and the township manager at the time said ‘this is my phone number, give me a call.’ We’re elected officials, but we’re you’re neighbors also.”
Mayor Rich Van Noord also spoke about council’s desire to help residents with any issues they may be facing.
“I said last month when I was sworn into this position — this council has no agenda but the people of this town. We want to do what’s best for the town,” Van Noord said. “Sometimes we can’t help or we can’t stem the tide sometimes, but we try. We will be good stewards of your tax dollars and we will be the best neighbors we can be.”
The next meeting of the Mt. Laurel Township Council will take place at Countryside Elementary School, 115 Schoolhouse Lane, on Feb. 26 at 7 p.m.
An agenda for the meeting is scheduled to be posted on the township’s website prior to the meeting.
Other meetings council plans to take “on the road” include May 7 at Fleetwood Elementary School and Oct. 22 at Mt. Laurel Fire Department Headquarters on Elbo Lane.
