Medford Township Council met on Sept. 7 to discuss upcoming events and listen to multiple community concerns.
During public comment at the meeting, Medford residents Mathew Bell and Jeff Sallade expressed their continued concern about the Arrowhead construction in town. Both expressed their disappointment in the project, namely lighting and noise near local homes. Sallade also expressed an ongoing concern about accountability from the Arrowhead business owner over the past 10 years.
“Going forward, who is going to continue to hold this business owner accountable?” Sallade asked. “When the lights are on at 9:15 p.m. at night, who do I call? When he starts playing pickleball on those courts in a year and the noise level is two or three times as high, who do I call?”
Council responded that to its knowledge, the owner was held accountable, and future issues will bring action from council.
Another issue expressed during public comment was from Kay Roberts, a resident of the Medford Leas retirement community in the township, who has concerns about climate change. Roberts said she discussed those issues at a meeting of the Environmental Committee of Medford.
“There’s a big issue in the world that was discounted at our environmental meeting, and that is climate change,” she noted. “And even though there are people who are entitled to have their own opinion, that think there is no such thing, the majority of people in Medford believe in that.”
Roberts also pointed out that Medford Leas is an existing arboretum and suggested it be used to full advantage.
Also during the meeting, council approved new volunteer firefighters, starting with Ethan Kren and Christopher Walter at Station 251, and Anya Dougherty and Melanie Simon, new EMS volunteers at Station 258 and Melanie Simon. Council members expressed gratitude for volunteers in the area.
Updated approval also was given for a previous ordinance that was discussed at the last council meeting; it will establish a no-parking zone on Charles Street, between Tidswell Avenue and Railroad Avenue, only on the west side. Mayor Chuck Watson said the zone will still allow diagonal parking.
In other news, council announced that a memorial was held Saturday at Freedom Park in Medford to acknowledge the 20th anniversary of 9/11. Members also addressed a regulation from the state regarding cannabis, an issue that will be revisited later.
The Medford Oktoberfest and music festival will take place at Freedom Park on Saturday, Sept. 18, from noon to 7 p.m. The art, wine and music festival will take place on Main Street on Sunday Sept. 19, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The next scheduled council meeting will be on Sept. 21 at 7 p.m. For more information, visit https://www.medfordtownship.com/content/63/default.aspx
