Galloway Township Set to Tackle Trash Issue

Members of Galloway Township Council have been fielding complaints about trash and debris being left outside certain properties throughout the township for at least a year, and their complaints may soon be satisfied.

“We have vacant and unoccupied houses where debris is left outside,” Councilman Jim Gorman said during the council meeting on March 26. “I think we should give people a certain amount of time to get rid of it, and if they don’t, we’ll do it and charge them or the bank or whoever owns the house. It’s bringing down the values of people’s houses.”

“It’s not fair to the residents who live on that street,” Mayor Don Purdy said. “There’s trash, debris and broken glass. … I would consider putting a lien on the properties so the money we put out gets reimbursed.”

Purdy suggested having a person be in charge of monitoring residences with issues. According to Purdy, Township Manager Arch Liston will look into having a current township employee make this part of their job duties. If it has to, the township could hire someone outside the township to handle the situation.

“If we do that, it would have to be a part-time position,” Purdy said. “It wouldn’t be full-time.”

All five Republicans and both Democrats on council support action in tackling the issue, Gorman and Purdy said. They said the issue is township-wide, including spots in the Pinehurst, Absecon Highlands and Germania sections of the township.

“Some are banks, and some are residents who are new to the township and are not familiar with the services we have and don’t have in the township,” Gorman said. “We have new residents who will put their trash out front and wait for it to be picked up until someone tells them they have to take care of it themselves. We used to hear from just a few people, but in the last year, we’ve had a lot more complaints.”

Regular trash pickup is privately contracted in the township, and Galloway put an end to bulk pick up three years ago for budgetary reasons.

Gorman attributed the escalation in complaints to the economic downturn and uptick in foreclosures, among other issues.

“You have some situations where there are animals in it, kids playing in it,” Gorman said. “It’s a matter of safety and not just unsightliness.”

“You have people breaking into the houses and the banks don’t care,” Purdy said. “It’s not fair to the neighbor. We need to keep our code enforced. We need to put something in place to enforce it.”

It also impacts property values around the township.

“If you’re trying to sell your house, and your neighbor has four-foot high grass, you’re not going to be able to sell,” Gorman said. “The person buying will go around the block or somewhere else."

According to Purdy, Liston is in the process of analyzing the Public Works Department for a possible candidate for the position. No timeline to enact the policy has been specified.

"I’d like to see something done sooner rather than later. If we can help one person sell their house, we can help the township move forward," Gorman said. "If they can getter a better price for their home, Galloway gets a better ratable.”