Economic development, township improvements among top priorities in the new year
While 2017 was a time of transition and adjustment for a new municipal administration, Mayor Joann Gattinelli said the new year offers a fresh start, and the township is ready to “hit the ground running” in 2018.
According to Gattinelli, economic development and support for local businesses will be among the top priorities in the new year. The anticipated Shop Washington Township program will come to fruition in early 2018 when nearly 18,000 residents receive the first annual Clean Communities Calendar in the mail. The calendars will introduce the tax rebate program, as well as provide residents with the necessary Property Tax Card to scan when shopping local. Commerce within participating Washington Township businesses will be rewarded with a partial refund in residents’ third-quarter taxes, while renters and visitors who travel to and from the township for occupational reasons may also earn a yearly rebate check for the amount of savings they accrue.
“We want to promote the businesses that are in town as well as partner with the residents,” Gattinelli said. “It will be a win-win situation.”
Additional efforts to increase economic development in the new year include the establishment of an economic development officer, a new township employee position Gattinelli hopes will streamline the process of generating and retaining local business within the township.
“We feel there is a need in this town with as many people as we have in the township and with some of the issues we’ve faced with the shopping centers and empty storefronts,” Gattinelli said. “Wanting new and exciting and different things coming into the town, we feel it’s more of a position where we need to speak with one person in particular.”
Gattinelli said an inventory of the empty storefronts within Washington Township was completed in 2017, and a time- and labor-saving process has been established within the construction, planning and zoning offices for the new year to draw projects into existing vacant lots.
“We’ve talked to pretty much all of the shopping center owners, a lot of the building owners and a lot of the management companies or brokers that are brokering out those units,” Gattinelli said. “We’ve gotten some information as far as what their issues were moving forward.”
The economic development officer would act as a liaison for development opportunities, with the responsibility to direct potential developers or business owners in the right direction for zoning, planning and how to best proceed.
“It will be one person these questions will be directed to, rather than three or four different departments,” Gattinelli said. “I feel with a town of this stature, if we have that one person, it will be worth its weight in gold because they will be familiar with the grounds, familiar with the town and the direction we’re looking into.”
According to Gattinelli, the request for proposal closed in December, and the hiring process will begin in early 2018.
The new year will also bring improvements to township land and property with various maintenance projects planned.
Gattinelli said residents should expect to see a number of roads being resurfaced or replaced in in the new year. Questions on the schedule of these projects should be directed to the municipality by calling (856) 589–0520.
Also, the township plans to continue to reconstruct its fleet for not only the municipality, but for the Washington Township Police Department, ensuring replacement vehicles are on a need, not want, basis. Additionally, the municipality will be working toward increased energy efficiency, and will be changing the lighting in both the Municipal Building and police department early in the year. Doing so, Gattinelli said, will provide “tremendous savings.”
According to Gattinelli, many of the township fields and sports complexes will be receiving extensive clean-up and irrigation, funded through monies provided by the Open Space Committee. Furthermore, the Washington Township Baseball Complex, located on Hurffville-Grenloch Road, has been approved for a flashing sign to warn drivers of children crossing.
“I feel that is something that is absolutely necessary; I’ve been there before and have seen some close calls,” Gattinelli said.
The township partnered with the county, as the road is a county road, to receive approval for the flashers, which will be located on township property.
“We have a good heart moving forward and we’re really trying to make all of the updates and changes we possibly can that will put the township in a better position,” Gattinelli said. “There are a lot of good things coming, and I want people to know we hear you, we are listening to all of your constructive criticism and comments that are made on what you’re looking to see. We’re open; every suggestion we take and we talk about.”
Gattinelli asks for patience in the new year, and encourages residents to call, email or visit the Municipal Building for any questions or concerns that may arise. For more contact information, visit www.townshipnj.com.
