Temporary Capital Budget Covers Strawbridge Lake, ADA Proposals

MOORESTOWN, NJ - Moorestown Council adopted a temporary capital budget to help it move forward with a pair of proposals Monday night at town hall.

The permanent capital budget will be part of the township’s overall budget, which is set to be introduced at the May 20 meeting. The capital budget will help fund the township’s Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) study and three projects at Strawbridge Lake.

A proposed ordinance introduced on Monday night calls for the appropriation of $760,000, including the borrowing of $532,000 in bonds or notes, for various improvements along Strawbridge Lake.

The improvements include a pathway along the lake, restoration of the Children's Pond, and storm water improvements around Haines Drive. Preliminary engineering and design of the three projects are concluding and the projects are being bid. The township also has a $200,000 county grant to cover the work remaining to be done on these projects.

This is according to the summary included with the proposed ordinance on the agenda, but Councilman Mike Locatell asked for specifics about the projects. He said he was becoming frustrated with the summaries and said more details would be needed to make an informed decision.

Township Manager Thomas Neff said the details were previously discussed during a budget hearing that was open to the public, but more details could be provided if needed.

“We got costs analysis from our previous project manager, and those costs were much lower than what we discussed in the budget hearing,” Locatell said.

“You may want to go back and compare those cost estimates with what we have here,” Councilwoman Victoria Napolitano said. “These are worthy projects, but we need to know we’re doing them in the most cost effective way possible.”

Deputy Mayor Nicole Gillespie said she believed the costs between the two developers were pretty similar.

A resident also questioned why the three projects were being lumped together into one bond ordinance. She recognized the need for storm water improvements, but questioned why the township had to borrow for the Children’s Pond.

The plan for the Children’s Pond would be to dredge the lake, stock it with fish and refill it with water to give the children a place to fish. While the dredging is necessary, she said children can always go across the street and fish at Strawbridge Lake.

Mayor Lisa Petriello said the idea for the children’s pond came from the Environmental Advisory Committee and Neff said each project will be voted on individually. This ordinance just puts the money in place for the project.

The public hearing on the proposed bond ordinance is scheduled for May 20.

The ADA study was approved on second reading. That proposal calls for the appropriation of $95,000 and the borrowing of $90,250 in bonds or notes, to be used for the update of the township's ADA plan.

Having the plan in place and updating it is a condition for certain federal grants, including the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) grant for the Lenola Project.

Moorestown received a $971,500 TAP grant from the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) to cover most of the costs for a majority of the costs for the Lenola Town Center Improvement Plan.

The project focuses on revitalizing a quarter mile of the Lenola Town Center Camden Avenue corridor.

• enhancing software to allow a "public portal" to make the application and inspection process more efficient and user-friendly; and
• allowing for staffing initiatives that will expedite permit reviews and allow more convenient scheduling for residents with respect to inspections.

The fee increases are necessary to continue with improvements without raising property taxes, according to the agenda packet on the township's website. To view the changes, click here.