Gloucester Township Observer Podcast – February 3rd, 2025

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Gloucester Township Observer Podcast – February 3rd, 2025

January 27th Council Meeting Recap

Public Hearing for an Inclusive Playground at Valleybrook Sports Complex.  (Jakes Law)

  • CLIP 1 Explains Jake’s Law
  • GreenAcres funding of 75% while GT will pick up 25%
  • 81% of the public voted for additional park space.   68% felt the need for an inclusive playground. 
  • The Public suggested a few things.
    • Shading around benches.
    • More accessible bathrooms
  • The 9 requirements are for Jake’s Law
    • Accessible Parking
    • Accessible Routes to the playground facilities
    • Safety Surfacing (Rubber base like a few GT playgrounds already have)
    • Accessible Bathroom Facilities (plans to convert a storage shed to a bathroom)
    • 25% of the surface must be shaded.
    • Must be fenced
    • Inclusive equipment
    • Ramps
    • Quiet Zones
  • Cost $749,842
    • $562,500 from Grant
    • $187,500 from a 20 year no interest loan

Public Hearing

Matthew wants to know if we can borrow more money for maintenance.  CLIP 3

  • We cannot because the Green Acres max (Grant and Loan is 750K)
  • Matthew makes some final remarks. 

Nancy Kelly is looking for yearly maintenance costs.

  • They don’t have a figure, but state the material used it permanent.
    • No playground is permanent.  Generally this would have a 20 year lifespan,
  • Nanc also asked about the comments from the survey, but they didn’t have them.

Denise Coyne (Orlando doesn’t recognize her)

  • asks about yearly maintenance and why it hasn’t been discussed. 
  • also asked if the county was planning to build any of these so that the burden wouldn’t fall directly on GT.   They were not aware.
  • Why put the park in this location when Taylor Ave is already ADA compliant. 

Ira Eckstein says we can’t afford it and it’s all their fault. 

Jarod Thomas

  • Would maintenance from the park replace maintenance from the softball field it’s replacing. 
  • Can we add a slash pad?    No we can’t
  • He calculates the park cost at 37.5 cents per house per year for 20 years.  $75 over 20 years.

Ron David from Field of Dreams

  • Has pride in GT and the Branding.
  • Wants to donate to the costs.  CLIP 10

1st Public Portion

Katherine

  • Would not like to be recorded by Ms Smithman
  • There is no expectation of privacy in public. 
  • She would like more of a difference between Spayed and Unspayed animals in licensing fees to lessen the chance of breeding. 
    • They didn’t even acknowledge her when the vote came up.

Denise would like to know more about our Affordable Housing Requirements from the last meeting. 

  • Answer

E-Gov

Dave Leader

  • How long is the paid week for GT employees?
  • How can I redress my government when you limit it?
  • Orland hid behind the law on this one.
  • Can we bring back the MUA?
    • No, but Keith can.

Michael McCale

  • Ferrel cats are a problem and wants to know what we are doing about it.

Marge Bonano

  • Why add a new playground when the others aren’t maintained?
    • Public works will check out Timber birch.

Dena Hendry

  • Questions about the Lake Land Project.  CLIP 17

2nd Public Portion

Denise Coyne wanted to know if the Lakeland Property has to go in front of council because that area is a redevelopment zone. 

                Answer CLIP 19

Someone else from Glendora asked about the cat problem. 

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