Township officials want to continue a joint partnership between local businesses and the police to combat retail theft, among other plans.
Deptford Township has laid out plans for the new year that include ensuring public safety.
To get there, the townshp wants to hire more police officers in 2024, according to Deptford Mayor Paul Medany.
“Public safety is always the biggest priority for us,” he said. “In 2023, we hired 11 new police officers. We’re going to get more, but I don’t have an official number just yet on who we are hiring.”
The township also wants to continue a joint partnership – established in July – between local businesses and police to combat retail theft. And it will emphasize getting people to shop at those businesses, including at Deptford Mall.
“We encourage people to come to the mall and other local businesses throughout Deptford in order to shop locally,” Medany noted. “We’re also working to get the space at Bed, Bath and Beyond filled up. But we have to wait for that to get out of bankruptcy before anything happens.”
The retail chain filed for bankruptcy last April and shuttered its more than 300 brick-and-mortar stores.
The new year in Deptford will also see the first full year of service for Councilwoman Brandi Leidy, who was elected in November and began her term Tuesday. She replaces Mackenzie Belling, who retired at the end of the year.
“She’ll fit right in on the council, and we’re confident she’ll bring a lot of good ideas to the table,” Medany noted.
The township is formulating a 2024 budget expected to be finished and presented to the public at some point in March. Included will be the construction of a new public works facility, one of Deptford’s capital projects. Still in the preliminary phase, the new building is expected to be built on Cattell Road, near the township soccer fields andthe MUA building. The current facility is situated along Route 41.
“The current facility is over 50 years old and it was patched together,” Medany explained. “It’s just not efficient anymore.”
Another portion of this budget will be dedicated to public events such as the township’s annual fall festival and food truck festival. According to the mayor, all of last year’s events will be repeated. First up will be a dedication to the first hot-air balloon flight on Tuesday, Jan. 9.
