Gloucester Township Council Proposes Borrowing Over $6 Million For Various Improvements, Projects

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ — On Monday night, Gloucester Township Council unanimously approved a proposed ordinance on first reading to set aside $6,632,363 and borrow $6,316,635 for the acquisition of various pieces of capital equipment and the construction and completion of various capital improvements in the township.

This includes the reconstruction and/or repaving of various sidewalks in the township and streets, including Cherrywood Drive, Edgewood Place, Broadacres Drive, Orchard Avenue and Prospect Place, among others.

It also calls for the installation of playgrounds at Brittany Woods and State Street Park, and the installation of traffic signals and street lighting.

Buildings that would be improved as part of the ordinance include the municipal hall, recreation center, public works building, community center and library. Public Works would also receive additional and replacement equipment, including leaf machines and various utility vehicles, among other items.

The police department would receive patrol rifles, computers, radio equipment, mobile data terminals, body cameras, traffic safety equipment and all-wheel drive vehicles. Computer equipment for various municipal offices is also included.

Acquisition of equipment and completion of improvements for parks including fencing, mowers and the resurfacing of various recreational areas is also part of the proposal.

Finally, funds will be used to help complete various township projects, including Blackwood Lake Dam, the Compost Facility and bus shelters.

Gloucester Township resident and Republican Committee Chair Ray Polidoro asked why the township didn’t budget for these projects rather than issue bonds and incur more debt, and asked if the township could reallocate unused money from previous bonds for these projects.

“When you have money in your pocket, you don’t take out the credit card,” Polidoro said, voicing concern about the increasing debt in Gloucester Township, which is over $114 million, according to the debt clock posted on gttaxes.com.

Business Administrator Tom Cardis said the township is well below the debt limit permitted by the state. Cardis didn’t respond to a request for comment concerning this story from Patch earlier this week.

Councilman Dan Hutchison recognized that residents are concerned about the debt, but said everything covered by the proposed ordinance was necessary.

“This is a huge town,” Hutchison said. “There are so many different projects that don’t even make the cut, but we have to determine what needs to get done. It’s not an easy choice.”