At its Monday, Aug. 19 meeting, the Cinnaminson Township Committee discussed new ordinances and resolutions. However, two of the most important discussions included the swearing-in of Officer Jonathan McGugan into the Cinnaminson Police Department and the Pennoni Stormwater Drainage Improvements Report.
The meeting began with the swearing-in of McGugan to the Cinnaminson Police Department. McGugan was accompanied by his mother, Julie, his father, Ed, members of the Cinnaminson police force and other friends and family.
“It’s exciting to be officially sworn in,” said McGugan. “It’s a great career and it’s something I’ve been looking forward to do my entire life. So far, I’ve been through four months in the academy and I’m almost a little over a month in my field training, but I’m excited. It was great to have a lot of family and friends here to support me.”
After Cinnaminson Mayor Ernest McGill swore in McGugan, the committee gave the floor to Joseph Raday of Pennoni to discuss its findings and proposed solutions to fix stormwater drainage and the issues with flooding.
The Stormwater Drainage Improvements Report was a result of a study of the existing stormwater infrastructure, debris and sediment removal within existing drainage channels, proposed sump pump header collection systems and stormwater conveyance systems. The proposed improvements would be a combination of on-street and off-street to address flooding.
Raday and his team looked at developed and undeveloped areas that included parts of N. Randolph Street, Delaware Drive, N. Pompess Avenue, Riverside Drive, Kern Street and Zeisner Street. They found these streets experienced ponding water along the roadways due to tidal fluctuations from the Delaware River.
They also concluded that clogging within the existing infrastructure, leaking flood gates, drainage channels with excess sediment and tree fall debris are all factors to the contribution of flooding.
“During heavy rain events, the roadways become flooded,” said Raday. “Many of the homes have sump pumps within their basements which discharge to the roadway surface. The absence of stormwater infrastructure and maintained stormwater infrastructure contributes to the flooding issues.”
According to Raday, the average rainfall over the last two years has increased tremendously. The average yearly rainfall in this area is 42 inches, however, in 2018 that number raised to 65 inches and in 2019 the number looks to be around 60 inches.
With information that Pennoni gathered, Raday and his team have proposed two options. The first would see jet cleaning of the existing stormwater conveyance systems, sediment and debris removal within discharge channels, construction of an HDPE sump dump collector system, additional stormwater inlets and collection pipes, replacement of select outfall piping and installation of tideflex valves on existing and proposed outfalls, minor curb replacement and trench restoration.
For option two, all of the option one points will be included, however, option two will include a complete roadway reconstruction to include paving, curb, aprons and sidewalks.
While the ongoing project continues to be discussed, the Cinnaminson Township Committee will provide information as it comes available. The Stormwater Drainage Improvements Report is available to be seen on the townships’s website at Cinnaminsonnj.org. The next committee meeting will be on Monday, Sept. 16 at 6:30 p.m.
