Woolwich amends parks fee to add $900 machine‑grooming option; approves shared‑services SRO pact and multiple routine resolutions

Woolwich Township Committee members on Aug. 18 amended a proposed parks‑use ordinance to add a new optional machine‑grooming fee and approved a series of routine municipal resolutions, including a shared‑services agreement with Kingsway Regional High School for school resource and Class III officers.

Mayor Matthias opened the meeting at 6:30 p.m. and the committee heard one public comment from a resident of 462 Allen Avenue in Gibbstown, who presented a list documenting soldiers interred in two African‑American graveyards and said, “These forgotten soldiers were overlooked for the last 150 years.” Committee members thanked the resident for the documentation.

The committee then considered Ordinance 2025‑15, an amendment to Chapter 135 establishing fees, forms and procedures for use of township‑owned park facilities. Mayor Matthias said Parks Director Dom Bello and former Committeeman McGovern developed a fee structure intended to move township park operations toward break‑even. The change would increase the optional machine‑grooming fee from $400 to $900 — a $500 increase — to be listed on the parks and recreation application for tournament usage. Committeewoman Williams moved to amend the ordinance to add the optional $900 machine‑grooming fee; Deputy Mayor Nocentino seconded. The amendment passed on a 5–0 roll call.

During review of the consent agenda, Committeeman Frederick asked that Resolution R‑2025‑238 (a shared‑services agreement with the Kingsway Regional High School District for Class III officers and a school resource officer) be removed from the consent list for discussion and questioned whether the cash bond release in R‑2025‑234 had been reviewed with the Four Seasons homeowners association. Township Engineer Mark Lodato explained that the cash bond being released was posted to start site work and is being replaced by developer performance bonds. After discussion the committee approved the consent agenda covering R‑2025‑226 through R‑2025‑237 by a 5–0 roll call.

Mayor Matthias then read Resolution R‑2025‑238, authorizing the shared‑services agreement with Kingsway for the 2025‑26 through 2027‑28 school years. Committeeman Frederick asked about the contract’s financial terms and scheduling; Deputy Police Chief Daniels said he had reviewed the agreement and agreed to the terms. The resolution was adopted on a 5–0 roll call.

The consent agenda and other resolutions approved at the meeting included:

• R‑2025‑226 — Payment No. 1 to Rambone Concrete LLC for the NJDOT FY2023 Bikeway Program: High Hill Trail Phase III (adopted as part of consent). • R‑2025‑227 — Refund to Ashley Ober for certified copies of a marriage license (consent). • R‑2025‑228 — Endorsement of a Findings and Determination Statement and authorization for the clerk to submit a bingo license for Four Seasons at Weatherby Games Association (consent). • R‑2025‑233 — Acceptance and filing of Performance Bond #CM101469 for Four Seasons at Weatherby, Section 5 (consent). • R‑2025‑234 — Release of cash bond in the amount of $108,850.50 for Villages I, Sections 2.3, 2.4 and Sections 4.3–4.5 (Block 28, Lot 14; Block 28.02, Lot 13.01; Block 32, Lot 1) (consent; engineer explained bond replacement with performance bonds). • R‑2025‑236 — Elevation within the Woolwich Township Police Department (consent). • R‑2025‑237 — Addition of approved crossing guards for the 2025–2026 school year (consent).

In departmental reports, Township Administrator Jim Watson said the township received seven resumes for a part‑time finance and payroll clerk and had scheduled three interviews; the water‑tower logo project is complete and booster‑pump construction is scheduled to begin the following week with an estimated two‑week timeline. Watson also reported Fair Share Housing site preparation for a 122‑home development across the street. The Tax Collector reported $1,607,392.70 remitted and reminded residents that tax payments are due by Aug. 26. Deputy Police Chief Daniels said the 2025 Drive Sober campaign will fund 40 hours of enforcement across ten four‑hour shifts; the department has applications in for new officers and has hired four crossing guards for the school year. Engineer Mark Lodato reported Garwin Road resurfacing plans have been submitted to NJDOT; Center Square Road walking‑trail ADA ramp and trail rehabilitation work was set to begin the next day and is estimated to take three days; and a conditional certificate of occupancy for 196 Colony Place is pending the fall planting of two rain‑garden trees.

Under new business, Committeewoman Williams reviewed Parks & Recreation scheduling and upcoming events (Senior Craft on Sept. 18; Swedesboro Day on Sept. 27). Deputy Mayor Nocentino noted a $500 Clean Communities grant and that radon tests will be available at the SWEC booth during Swedesboro Day. Mayor Matthias proposed commissioning a comprehensive traffic study using developer traffic counts for Route 322 and the Garwin Corridor to inform intermediate steps and DOT conversations, and asked members to provide suggested wording for Chapter 135 permit priorities and to indicate availability for the Sept. 11 ceremony and the Sept. 25 SADC meeting in Trenton.

The committee entered executive session at 7:15 p.m. to discuss contractual matters (police PBA contract, North Point, zoning amendments) and personnel/shared‑services items (Resolution R‑2025‑239). The committee returned to open session at 9:07 p.m., adopted minutes (the July 21, 2025 minutes were adopted with abstentions recorded and the Aug. 4 minutes were adopted after a reported correction), approved bills and purchase orders (Committeeman Frederick recorded an abstention on Verizon bills) and adjourned at 9:08 p.m.

Votes at a glance • Ordinance 2025‑15 amendment to add optional $900 machine‑grooming fee: motion Williams; second Nocentino; roll call 5–0 — amendment approved. • Consent agenda (R‑2025‑226 through R‑2025‑237): motion Nocentino; second Frederick; roll call 5–0 — adopted. • R‑2025‑238 (Shared services with Kingsway Regional High School): motion Minhas; second Nocentino; roll call 5–0 — adopted. • R‑2025‑239 (entered executive session for contractual and personnel matters): motion Nocentino; second Williams — executive session entered and later closed; no formal public action reported in session. • Minutes and bills: minutes and bills were adopted after the meeting resumed; recorded abstentions include Frederick (abstain on July 21 minutes and on Verizon bills) and Nocentino (abstain on July 21 minutes as recorded).

What’s next: The committee asked staff to prepare traffic‑count information quotes and to circulate draft wording for Chapter 135 permit priorities for follow‑up by email. The next meeting is scheduled for Sept. 2, 2025 at 6:30 p.m.