PLUMSTED – The Township Committee approved a zoning ordinance that was drafted to meet objectives of the Pinelands Comprehensive Management Plan during their most recent meeting.
The ordinance calls for Plumsted to conform to the minimum standards set forth in the Pinelands Protection Act that concerns flood control, groundwater recharge, erosion control and pollutant reduction using stormwater management measures, including green infrastructure and best management practices.
It also establishes within the Pinelands Area of the township, minimum stormwater management requirements and controls that were authorized by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.
The regulations apply to all development involving the construction of four or fewer dwelling units, any non-residential use and resulting in an increase of greater than 1,000 square feet of regulated motor vehicles surfaces.
It also applies to the grading, clearing or disturbance of an area in excess of 5,000 square feet within any five-year period.
“We were required to pass it,” Township Business Administrator/Clerk Jennifer Witham said.
Proclamations
Members of the Committee presented five proclamations during the evening including one to the New Egypt High School Girls Varsity Bowling Team noting their State Championship standing.
Coach Kirsten Pendleton introduced the members of the team who each received certificates from members of the governing body.
One team member noted that “this marked our second undefeated season and second positional and sectional win and their first state title for their school which is very exciting.”
Pendleton said, “They only lost one match during one game the whole season in Ewing which was a really tough, wonderful game to play. They were named Trenton’s all area team and New Egypt was named their team of the year as well.”
“There were also individual position awards as well. They are the best of the best. They were wonderful to work with. They received certificates for the sectional championships and the state championships this year,” Pendleton said.
Pendleton also received an achievement award from the governing body.
Also noted was National Library Week which ran from April 23-29, National Alcohol Awareness Month, National Service Day and Volunteer Week.
“Our volunteers keep this community moving. Volunteerism used to be something that was common, now people are trying to wind down and enjoy some time with their families. We appreciate those volunteers,” said Deputy Mayor Herb Marinari who ran the night’s meeting in the absence of Mayor Bob Bowen.
Committeeman Leonard Grilletto read the proclamation for National Library Week which noted that “libraries strive to maintain programs and collections as diverse as their population base and ensures equity and access for all. Libraries perform an important function across our nation.”
Committeeman Dominick Cuozzo noted that the Ocean County Library (OCL) system was “actually up for a national award and so they deserve this recognition for sure.” He was referring to OCL being a finalist for the 2023 Institute for Museum Library Services’ National Medal for Museums/Libraries.
Committeemen Michael Hammerstone read the proclamation for National Alcohol Awareness Month stating, “excessive drinking is responsible for more than 4,300 deaths among underage youth each year and alcohol is the most commonly used addictive substance in the United States and more than 1.6 million young people report driving under the influence of alcohol in the past year.”
The township also recognized New Jersey Local Government week which ran from April 16 to April 22.
National Prayer Day
Resident Barbara Diblin who is a coordinator of the event and has been a part of it since its inception in Plumsted accepted the proclamation for the National Day of Prayer. It was noted that the proclamation was originally presented and written by former Mayor Ronald Dancer in 1992 when the community first observed it.
“I am still thankful that our town still reads it every year,” Cuozzo said. The proclamation states, “the National Day of Prayer is an opportunity for the people of our nation to respect one another, to be bound together beyond racial or religious barriers asking God’s unity to restore people.”
Diblin said “this is our 31st year and it will be held on May 4 from 4 to 5 o’clock here in the courtroom (in Town Hall) and we pray for the seven pillars of influence of our country, the military, education, family, church, business, the arts and so we invite everyone to come.”
“There are millions of National Day of Prayer events going on around our nation especially in Washington D.C. and every year it grows bigger and bigger,” Diblin added.
Policy On Invocations
Reverend Jim Gutacker of Child Evangelism Fellowship provided the invocation at the start of the April Township Committee meeting. It is a regular practice that a member from one of the community’s houses of worship open the meeting with a prayer or invocation.
Michael Silvestro asked the governing body about his application for chaplain and how the selection was made for a religious representative to provide the invocation at the meetings of the Committee.
Township Attorney Jean Cipriani added, “I am doing a review on that and I expect to have something back to the governing body prior to the next meeting so I expect there will be some action on that in May or June.”
