We received notice that Imperial Traffic and Data Collection will be conducting traffic.
counts and related fieldwork in our community (Sewell section) and other communities along the proposed rail line of the Gloucester Camden Line (GCL) during the time period of April 17, 2023, to May 14, 2023.
- The company will be installing turning movement count (TMC) equipment as well as automatic traffic recorders (ATRs) at various locations within the public right-of-way throughout our township. The company vehicles and data collection equipment will be properly marked with their company’s name and a contact number if a problem arises.
Also, during this period, representatives from WSP (Engineering Company) will be conducting fieldwork at various intersections within public right-of-way throughout the area to collect pertinent information for traffic analysis such as intersection layout, pictures and traffic control information.
- All staff will have the appropriate IDss and work documentation, and they will make every effort to avoid any traffic disruptions.
Note: I received a letter of advisement only regarding this fieldwork. We as a township have nothing to do with the GCL project or preliminary work and have received no other recent formal communications relative to the GCL proposed project. I’m passing this information along and will continue to do so with future information we become aware of, so that you can be informed in the same manner as myself and the rest of the township committee.
At this past Monday’s Township Committee Meeting, we passed ordinances and resolutions that ultimately approved a settlement with the Fair Share Housing Center. After four years of negotiating, revising plans, identifying parcels of land to include our plan, we were finally able to reach a settlement. Again, the ordinances and resolutions are a result of the Township’s settlement agreement with Fair Share Housing.
The actions taken will allow the Township to adopt our Housing Element and Fair Share plan and will serve as the foundation for the Township’s application to Superior Court in an effort to receive a Judgment of Compliance and Order of Repose. We now have a plan in place that will allow the Township to meet its Third Round COAH obligation. Statutorily, we (like every municipality in New Jersey) are mandated by law to have a plan in place for affordable housing.
By taking this course of action we were able to negotiate, and ultimately reduce the number of affordable housing units required in our municipality, and specifically identify their proposed designated locations (and not be directed by the courts to put affordable housing in unwanted or undesirable locations). This does not mean a developer is going to actually build additional affordable units here in our township, it just allows the opportunity for a developer to build in designated areas in the Township. This action declares that our housing element and fair share plan is constitutionally compliant and allows the township to be protected against any builder’s remedy lawsuit.
In my most recent Mayor’s Message video (#5), I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Mantua Township Fire District Chief, Brian Hauss. Chief Hauss discusses the call volume of his department, the types of emergencies they frequently respond to, and how his workers and volunteers help to keep the township and its surrounding districts safe. Look for this video now on our social media outlets or on our website at mantuatownship.com under the “mayor’s message” tab. You can also view all the previous Mayor’s Messages videos and all my previous weekly written updates on our website.
Each year in April, the Gloucester County Women’s Club displays blue pinwheels in front of our township building to raise awareness for the need to prevent child abuse. We thank them for their efforts and stand behind this most worthy cause.
Upcoming Township Meetings and Events:
- The Mantua Township VFW Post 7679 annual Community Awards Ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, April 22 at 6 p.m. at the VFW Hall.
- The LEAP/Mantua Township Historical Commission Chick-fil-A Spirit Night fundraiser will be held on Thursday, May 25, from 3 to 8 p.m. It is drive thru only.
- Spring Leaf pick-up is April 17 through April 21.
- The next Municipal Utilities Authority meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 18 at 5 p.m. at the municipal building.
- The next Land Use Board meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 18 at 7 p.m. at the municipal building.
- The next fire district meeting will be held on Thursday, April 20 at 7 p.m. at the Sewell Fire Station.
- The next Convenience Center Drop Off at the Public Works Facility will be Saturday, April 22 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
If you have a topic of interest, you’d like me to discuss, or something you think the community should know more about, please feel free to email me your suggestion at rzimmerman@mantuatownship.com. Input from our citizenry certainly helps us to represent a dialogue of specific interests within our community.
Every week, I sign off the same way. It’s a heartfelt closing that identifies our humble service to you, our residents, which is public service that encompasses the core values of honesty, integrity and trustful leadership. It’s not just words, it’s words with meaning that we all should live by in a world that sometimes seems in despair.
On behalf of myself, Deputy Mayor Pete Scirrotto and the entire township committee, we look forward to serving you with honesty, integrity and trustful leadership.
