Patrick Finn recognized for helping neighbors in need
Last week’s council meeting was kick-started in normal fashion, with a mayoral proclamation from Mayor Joann Gattinelli. What made this past meeting unique was that she awarded a resident with a hometown hero proclamation.
Patrick Finn, a township resident, answered a call to action in the late-night-early-morning hours when he heard screaming come from outside his house. He sprung to action to see his neighbor’s house on fire.
“This evening I want to introduce you to Patrick Finn,” Gattinelli said. “Patrick Finn is one of our residents who went above and beyond. He took it upon himself to get a ladder to get up to the second floor to be able to rescue the family — two young children and their father. He was able to get them out safely. We wanted to honor him tonight with a proclamation from the town recognizing our very own hometown hero.”
Mayor Gattinelli also honored Rich Gardiner, a mechanic in the public works department for 26 years as the employee of the month in Aug.
After the mayoral proclamation, Chief of Police Pat Gurcsik took the stand to discuss the new abandoned car initiative which covers vehicles on private and public property.
“Violations on private property receive a five-day warning notice from the police to remove the car prior to being issued an ordinance violation or summons,” he said. “Violators on public property receive an orange warning sticker attached to their vehicle. The sticker indicates the vehicle will be towed after 48 hours. Since the last council meeting we have addressed 25 abandoned vehicles in town.”
In other news:
- Both ordinances that were up for adoption passed. One ordinance will adopt a redevelopment plan for the Washington Square Redevelopment Zone and the other changes where the parking zone ends on Whitman Dr.
- Council introduced seven ordinances which will be up for adoption at the next meeting on Sept. 12. Included in the list is a possible no knock list.
- Council passed a myriad of resolutions including: approving the craft beer festival at Washington Lake Park on Sept. 30, the car show to be held at Washington Lake Park on Oct. 13, allowing Lucy’s Custard to assume the lease at the concession stand at Washington Lake Park and the renewal of Chief Pat Gurcsik’s contract to Dec. 31, 2020.
- Gattinelli announced a few different construction plans happening in the township
“East Holly Football Complex parking lot paving has been awarded and a contractor will be starting construction soon. For those who use the site for football games there might be a little inconvenience for the first couple of games. After, we’re excited to have a much safer, well paved, striped parking lot.”
“We also have work funded for the Hurffville-Grenloch Baseball Complex, you’ll see a lot of work being done over there as well.”
“We will have a mill and overlay plan for Delsea Drive to Mount Pleasant Road that you will see completed over the next couple of months.”
“Over the next two years we will be making improvements to the Black Horse Pike, cleaning up the main artery that runs through Washington Township. They’re giving us a two-year timeline, I’ve already seen the plans for this it is definitely going to be aesthetically pleasing they are working with us very well with our asks. There’s more to come after this.”
- The next council meeting will take place on Sept. 12 at 7 p.m.
