Egg Harbor Township committee adopts Pinelands stormwater changes, introduces liquor-license reduction; approves consent calendar and bill payments, moves to a

Egg Harbor Township Committee members voted to adopt ordinances and approve routine fiscal items during their March 29 meeting, including a change to stormwater rules to comply with the Pinelands Protection Act and the introduction of an ordinance reducing the township’s plenary retail consumption liquor licenses by one.

The committee adopted Ordinance No. 8, described at the meeting as "an ordinance to amend the code of the township of Egg Harbor, Chapter 94 . . . specifically section 94-44 entitled stormwater management," a change the committee said was intended to implement objectives and minimum environmental standards of the Pinelands Comprehensive Management Plan under the Pinelands Protection Act. The public portion on the ordinance was closed with no public comments before the committee adopted the ordinance by roll call vote; all members voting on the adoption recorded “yes.” Paul Rosenberg, Township Committee member, said during the roll call, “As much as I despise agreeing with Trenton on anything, it’s yes.”

At the meeting the committee also introduced Ordinance No. 10, amending Chapter 64 (alcoholic beverages) to reflect the reduction of plenary retail consumption licenses from 28 to 27 “due to the permanent lapse of license number 01833007009.” The ordinance was introduced and set for public hearing on April 30, 2025, at 5 p.m.

The committee approved a resolution consent calendar covering resolutions numbered 158 through 175 and then adopted Resolution No. 176 authorizing payment of all bills. During the roll call on the bill list approval, most members voted “yes”; one member (identified in the roll call as Tom) recorded “no.”

Finally, the committee approved Resolution No. 177 to enter a closed executive session to discuss personnel and legal matters. The resolution listed three topics for closed session: two personnel items (an employee transfer and a zoning-board–related personnel matter) and one legal matter involving fire prevention inspection notices of violations; the resolution specified anticipated confidentiality periods for each item and said minutes will be held until confidentiality is no longer required.

Votes at a glance - Ordinance No. 8 (stormwater / Pinelands compliance): Motion to adopt — outcome: approved by roll call (Alice: yes; Hodgson: yes; Pauls: yes; Rosenberg: yes; Farmer: yes). - Ordinance No. 10 (amend Chapter 64 — reduce plenary retail consumption licenses 28→27): Motion to introduce — outcome: introduced; public hearing set for 04/30/2025 at 5:00 p.m. - Consent Calendar (Resolutions 158–175): Motion to adopt — outcome: adopted (roll call affirmative). - Resolution No. 176 (authorize payment of bills): Motion to adopt — outcome: approved (roll call mostly yes; one “no” recorded by Tom). - Resolution No. 177 (authorize closed executive session for personnel/legal matters): Motion to go into closed session — outcome: approved by roll call.

Why it matters: The ordinance amendments bring township land-use rules into alignment with state-level Pinelands environmental standards for stormwater management, affecting how future development must address stormwater control. The liquor-license change was described as a state-driven reduction tied to census data and will be subject to a public hearing April 30. The consent calendar and bill approvals move routine municipal business forward; the closed-session authorization signals upcoming confidential personnel and legal deliberations.

The committee did not take public votes on Ordinance No. 10 at this meeting — it was introduced and scheduled for public hearing. Committee members and staff said they will return with details at the April hearing or in future agenda packets.