The council also approved raffle licenses and discussed the possibility of placing a bench in Freedom Park for a recently passed Korean War veteran.
Town Council approved one new volunteer EMS member, Frank Menaquale, and two new junior volunteer EMS members at its meeting last week.
Additionally, council approved two raffle licenses: one for Orthodox Church of the Holy Cross on Nov. 18 at 7 p.m. and another for St. Mary of the Lakes Church on Dec. 10 at 4:30 p.m.
The lone topic up for discussion was a request written to council by Vincent DiStefano Jr. for a park bench and a tree to placed in Freedom Park in honor of Distefano’s father, Vincent DiStefano Sr, who was a Korean War veteran and who recently passed away on June 27. Freedom Park sits on top of the former site of the DiStefano family’s farmstead property, which spanned 140 acres. The township acquired the property from the DiStefanos using state Green Acres funds in 1991.
“Though [my father] was retired and residing in Jacksonville Beach, Fla., my father was raised there on the DiStefano family farm,” the letter read. “My grandfather and grandmother raised their family and resided there since the early 1930s until the passing of my grandfather almost 30 years ago.”
Council was generally in favor of the bench being placed in the park, however, members did express concern about running out of benches.
“What happens when we run out of space for benches?” Councilman Chris Buoni asked.
“I had the exact same thought,” Councilman Jeffrey Beenstock said. “This is the second request we’ve had in under a month, and they’re both worthy causes and definitely I think worthwhile. I just don’t want to get into a situation where we have to say ‘no’ to somebody because there’s no room.”
The next town council meeting will be held Aug. 1 at the Council/Court Room of Medford’s Public Safety Building. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m.
On the same date, the township will celebrate its National Night Out, beginning at 6 p.m. at Freedom Park.
