Moorestown Council Funds Plan To Upgrade Security At Water Plants

MOORESTOWN, NJ — All of Moorestown’s water treatment facilities and pumping stations will soon be monitored using remote security cameras following legislation Moorestown Council approved last week.

Council approved a proposed bond ordinance on second reading to appropriate $980,000, including borrowing $931,000 in bonds or notes and a $49,000 down payment, to be used for the extension of its fiber network to its water and wastewater treatment facilities. The proposal was approved with a 5-0 vote by council on Sept. 10.

The original cost was $1,050,000, including borrowing $997,500 in bonds or notes. That wasapproved on introduction in August. At that time, then-Township Manager Tom Merchel said there were some intangibles to be considered. He had hoped the price would come down in time for second reading.

The contract to do the work will go out for a competitive bidding process, to be hosted by the state.
Currently, the network connects the Public Works building, two firehouses and the municipal complex - which includes town hall, the library and the recreation center, according to Merchel.

The proposal extends the network to the North Church Street and Hartford Road water treatment plants, water tanks at North Church Street and Westfield Road and 13 pumping stations. Changes can all be made from the Public Works building, and there will be no monthly costs, Merchel said.

Council also unanimously approved a pair of proposed ordinances on introduction at the meeting. The first is a proposed bond ordinance that appropriates $190,000, including the borrowing of $180,500 in bonds or notes for the purchase of four police Sports Utility Vehicles (SUV) and a new breathalyzer.

The other calls for the granting of an easement of 2,254 square feet at 510 Hartford Road to the county. The public hearing and final vote on both proposals is scheduled for the Sept. 24 meeting.

Also at the meeting, Moorestown was presented with a Killed In Action (KIA) flag that can be flown at the municipal complex.

Last year, the state legislature and governor enacted legislation to designate the Killed in Action flag as an official state flag for recognizing all members of the Armed Forces of the United States who lost their lives in any war or conflict in which the country has been involved.

The bill requires that the flag be displayed at the State House in Trenton, and at the principal building in each municipality and county. The flag has a solid red design and a silhouette of a helmet on top of a firearm pictured next to a service member.

The flag has been flying at the County Administration Building in Mount Holly and the County Department of Human Services Building in Westampton, which houses the County's Veterans Office, since Aug. 7. Flags will soon be presented to all 40 county municipalities.

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