The township unveiled a new plaque honoring Eagle Scouts and Vincent Sutera, the father of one of the Eagle Scouts of troop 764, Kyle Sutera.
With no ordinances on first or second reading, it was a light but eventful agenda at the Tuesday, July 24, council meeting.
The township unveiled a new plaque honoring Eagle Scouts and Vincent Sutera, the father of one of the Eagle Scouts of troop 764, Kyle Sutera.
Vincent helped run the summer programs and pick summer camps until he passed away prematurely of pancreatic cancer, according to Scoutmaster Jeff Green.
“Vince was a great friend … he was a great guy,” Green said. “He never had a bad word about anyone … he would always find the good in someone.”
The plaque, which honors the Eagle Scouts of Burlington Township’s Troop 764, has a distinguished purple backwash representing pancreatic cancer awareness. Green said he and his troop are appreciative to be given the space to represent the troop.
“On behalf of the troop, we would like to thank the mayor, council and administration for allowing us to have this service tonight, for allowing us to put this plaque in,” Green said. “It’s awesome.”
Green said it was “gut-wrenching” when Vincent passed away, not only for him but the troop and all of those who knew him. The troop deliberated on where the plaque should be but when notified the troops would be commemorated on a plaque in the council chambers, they were honored.
“As the leader, we give them the values to be productive young men and women, leaders,” Green said. “The Eagle Scout trail is pretty tough.”
Mayor Brian Carlin echoed Green’s sentiments, saying the road to become an Eagle Scout comes with challenges. Carlin said that since 2002, 46 young men have obtained rank of Eagle Scout in Burlington Township. He attributes this to the Scouts and their families.
“They do a great service for the community, and we wanted to recognize their accomplishments,” Carlin said. “Burlington Township has had the good fortune of having an outstanding group of young me that have been a part of our community.”
Council thanked the Sutera family for coming out. Councilwoman Patricia M. Siboczy said Vince’s passing was a “huge loss” to everyone who knew him. An emotional Siboczy said she is grateful to have the plaque in the township building.
“I am thrilled it (the plaque) made our way to our chambers here,” Siboczy said. “All of those young men’s names on the plaque are not in isolation.”
Siboczy said it was a collective effort from their fellow troop members, community and family that guided them to Eagle Scout.
“Troop 764 is an amazing group,” Siboczy said.
In other news, the township is going back out for bids on resurfacing 14 tennis courts with a reduced scope.
Bids were received on June 20 to resurface the courts. The sole bid received “substantially exceeds” the contracting unit’s appropriation for the services and goods. The township is aiming to have the bids in by Aug. 8 and a resolution on the agenda for the next meeting on Aug. 14.
