It takes only one person to have a ripple effect on change.
Nancy McGinnis demonstrates that as she seeks positive ideas for Tabernacle. The new member of the township committee eyed economic development during the body’s Feb. 10 meeting. During committee reports, she handed out a document with her proposed plans for the township regarding ratables and support for residents.
“When I ran to be on the township committee, that was the platform I ran on: Bring in more ratables to the township and we wanted to keep Tabernacle unique and rural,” McGinnis shared after the meeting.
McGinnis herself wrote the document, which highlights ideas that include adding a sewer line on Route 206 to bring more businesses to the corridor, creating an electronic bulletin to better inform residents and pressuring the state to amend its constitution regarding publications of legal notices.
McGinnis believes creating the sewer line for Route 206 — which is managed by the state — could help draw in better ratables for the township, which is limited on its tax base.
The freshman committeewoman admitted she does not know how much it would cost to erect a line on the corridor, but she wants to start a subcommittee to address economic development in the area.
Regarding publication of legal notices, McGinnis said during the meeting that the free, local newspapers Tabernacle Sun and Pine Barrens Tribune should be able to publish those notices.
“They shouldn’t be for newspapers that are (subscription)-based,” she added. “They are free and we should urge the state to change that rule.”
The New Jersey Constitution, Chapter 1, Section 35:1-2.2, maintains that only state publications, with a paid circulation of no less than 35 percent of content — among other limitations — would be classified as a newspaper that should receive legal notices from the municipalities it covers.
The Sun Newspapers produce weekly publications for nearly 20 distinct municipalities, but do not publish legal notices.
“Both of the two papers I mentioned are local, they go out to the residents, they’re well-read and I feel as though it would be good for the citizens to have legal notices in there, too,” McGinnis emphasized.
“A lot of people do not buy newspapers anymore, but a lot of people do read the free ones that are given out in supermarkets and such.”
Several bills that failed in the state assembly would have made free newspapers eligible for receipt and publication of legal notices. But McGinnis believes Tabernacle should try.
“You don’t know what could happen until you try,” she said.
Much like its neighbors Medford and Medford Lakes, McGinnis believes Tabernacle should establish an e-bulletin system to notify residents about events, updates, road closures and other issues.
Township Administrator Doug Cramer or his employees would be responsible for coordinating the bulletin, and McGinnis said the township could request that civic organizations submit weekly releases to generate more content. She also proposed that a bulletin be set up with an opt-in or opt-out format.
Mayor Kim Brown will consider adding McGinnis’ proposals to future workshop meeting agendas so residents have opportunities to review and make comments about her ideas.
“I’m a hands-on type of person and I like to get things done as soon as possible,” McGinniss insisted. “I have a lot of other things going on right now with the township.
“Hopefully we can address these within the next few months to get the ball rolling.”
Township committee will hold its next meeting March 9, beginning at 7:30 p.m., at 163 Carranza Road.
