Egg Harbor Township Committee members voted unanimously to adopt an ordinance accepting a stormwater utility easement, accept a donated lot at 210 Wisteria Street, and approved a bundle of consent resolutions including promotions in Public Works and the hiring of a full-time communications officer during their regular meeting. The committee also introduced amendments to the township code to bring local stormwater and land‑use rules into compliance with the Pinelands Protection Act and scheduled a public hearing for those amendments on March 19, 2025, at 5 p.m.

The committee adopted Ordinance No. 6, which accepts a deed of easement conveying Block 5001, Lot 51 to the township for construction, improvement, operation and maintenance of a storm utility easement. A separate adoption, Ordinance No. 7, accepted the donation by deed of Block 801, Lot 71 (210 Wisteria Street) from R D L 13 LLC. Both ordinances were taken from the consent portion of the agenda and passed on roll call with all committee members voting yes.

The committee introduced Ordinance No. 8, an amendment to the Egg Harbor Township Code (chapter 94 and chapter 225 references) to revise stormwater management, design performance and Highlands-area development requirements to implement objectives and minimum environmental standards of the Pinelands Comprehensive Management Plan as required by the Pinelands Protection Act. A public hearing on Ordinance No. 8 is set for March 19, 2025, at 5 p.m.

On the consent calendar, the committee approved Resolutions Nos. 1-27 through 1-39 (consent numbers as read), which included a string of personnel adjustments in the Public Works department and other housekeeping actions. According to the agenda and staff remarks, Keith Foster stepped down from the sanitation division manager role and moved into a heavy equipment operator position; Mikey Kalman was promoted from division foreman to division manager for sanitation; and Walter Goldie was promoted into the division foreman role. Those personnel changes were listed as lateral moves and were described in the meeting as not involving separations from township employment.

The committee also approved a resolution authorizing participation in a New Jersey Coalition automated flood‑alert application intended to let residents download an app, check their area and receive flood warnings. A staff member described the service as a shared service that “doesn’t cost us anything” and said the system was not yet operational but expected to be rolled out likely before the summer.

A personnel resolution confirming the full‑time appointment of Mackenzie Hillshire as a communications officer for the police department was included in the consent agenda. During comments before the vote members and several law enforcement officers in the room praised dispatch staff for the intensity of their work; after the consent vote a committee member told Hillshire, “You are officially hired as of right now.”

The committee performed routine business items including approval of monthly departmental reports, minutes from February meetings, and a resolution authorizing payment of bills. The governing body then adopted a resolution to convene in closed executive session to discuss pending legal matters (a Genoa Avenue notice of violation and a matter described as Acreage Holdings / the botanist taxation) and a personnel matter regarding the deputy tax assessor position; the resolution listed anticipated confidentiality periods for those items (one year for certain legal matters; six months for the personnel item).

Public comment at the meeting was brief. Matt Piskin, who identified himself as a 20‑year Egg Harbor Township resident and vice president at Shore Medical Center, introduced himself to the committee and said he plans to attend meetings regularly.

Votes at a glance
Ordinance No. 6 (accept deed of easement; Block 5001, Lot 51) — Motion adopted (roll call unanimous). Vote record: Ellis, Hodgson, Pauls, Rosenberg, Anne Fremmer — yes.
Ordinance No. 7 (accept donation; Block 801, Lot 71 — 210 Wisteria Street, R D L 13 LLC) — Motion adopted (roll call unanimous). Vote record: Ellis, Hodgson, Pauls, Rosenberg, Anne Fremmer — yes.
Ordinance No. 8 (introduction; Pinelands/ stormwater code amendments) — Introduced; public hearing set for 03/19/2025 at 5 p.m.; roll call to introduce unanimous.
Resolution (consent bundle, including Nos. 127–139 as presented: personnel moves in Public Works; appointment of Mackenzie Hillshire as full‑time communications officer; participation in flood alert app) — Adopted (roll call unanimous). Key actions listed in agenda: promotion of Mikey Kalman; promotion of Walter Goldie; Keith Foster reassigned to heavy equipment operator; Mackenzie Hillshire appointed communications officer.
Resolution No. 126 (release of executive session minutes) — Adopted (roll call unanimous).
Resolution No. 140 (authorize payment of bills) — Adopted (roll call unanimous).
Resolution No. 141 (convene closed executive session to discuss legal and personnel matters) — Adopted (motion and roll call unanimous). The resolution lists Genoa Avenue notice of violation and Acreage Holdings / botanist taxation as legal matters (anticipated disclosure: one year) and the deputy tax assessor as the personnel matter (anticipated disclosure: six months).

Why it matters: The land conveyances and the Pinelands‑related code amendments affect the township’s ability to manage stormwater and fulfill state Pinelands requirements. The consent personnel changes reshuffle Public Works roles and formalize a new full‑time communications officer for the police dispatch operation — a role residents and officials highlighted as important to emergency response. The closed‑session items indicate pending legal and personnel matters the committee considers sensitive at this time.

The township will hold the public hearing on the Pinelands code amendments on March 19, 2025, at 5 p.m.; other items will proceed under the normal implementation steps noted in the consent resolutions.