Supervisors approve ordinance to permit Community Development Authorities and adopt several routine measures including mural acceptance and opioid settlement
Loading...
Summary
On April 7 the board approved an ordinance enabling formation of Community Development Authorities, accepted a mural design for the senior center, authorized participation in a national opioid settlement, agreed to disband the Utilities Advisory Committee in favor of regular updates, and adopted guiding principles with the volunteer fire and rescue squad for a planned Main Street station.
The Gloucester County Board of Supervisors took several administrative and policy actions on April 7 that the board and county staff said will facilitate future projects and ongoing operations.
Community Development Authorities: The board held a public hearing and adopted an ordinance authorizing the county to accept petitions to form Community Development Authorities (CDAs). County Attorney Ted Wilmot explained state law requires an enabling ordinance; formation requires petitions supported either by 51% of property owners in a proposed district or by 51% of assessed value. Doctor Lemming moved approval; the board polled in favor and adopted the ordinance.
Mural approval: Deputy County Administrator Regine Biggers and Suzanne Scott of the Cook Foundation introduced muralist Michael Rosado, who presented a line drawing and narrative for a large Gloucester-history mural to be installed at the senior center as part of the 2026 arts festival. The board adopted a resolution approving the mural design.
Opioid settlement participation: The board voted to opt Gloucester County into a national settlement with certain distributor/dispenser defendants and authorized the county attorney to execute documents to participate. County Attorney Wilmot reminded members that settlement funds must be used for abatement, education and related opioid-response activities rather than for general budget purposes.
Utilities oversight: County staff recommended disbanding the Utilities Advisory Committee because of quorum issues and to enable more direct, frequent oversight by the board; the board approved a resolution to receive weekly updates from the county administrator and monthly briefings from Utilities Director Katie Legg, and delegated direction on frequency of reporting.
Fire-station guiding principles: The board adopted guiding principles (by resolution) agreed with Gloucester Volunteer Fire & Rescue concerning financing and ownership elements for a proposed new Main Street fire station; members said the resolution will help secure financing for a project estimated in the "20-some million dollar" range.
Each of the items passed with recorded votes: the CDA ordinance and mural resolution were adopted with affirmative polls; the opioid-settlement opt-in carried; the utilities committeedisbandment resolution carried; the guiding-principles resolution was approved with six votes in favor and one abstention.
