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Woolwich introduces ordinance to recover emergency-response costs from vehicle incidents
Summary
Councilors introduced Ordinance 2025-06 to allow cost recovery for emergency and non-emergency responses to vehicle incidents; committee split 3–2 on introduction amid questions about scope and wording.
The Woolwich Township Committee on March 3 introduced Ordinance 2025-06, which would permit the township to recover costs for deployment of emergency and non-emergency services by the Woolwich Fire Company in response to motor-vehicle or commercial-vehicle incidents.
Deputy Mayor Nocentino moved to introduce the ordinance. Committee members questioned whether the measure would apply only to turnpike incidents or encompass incidents within Woolwich Township, whether exhibit A’s reference to "illegal fires" is appropriate or redundant, and what oversight or audit mechanisms would accompany cost recovery. Mayor Matthias said the draft was intended to cover both the turnpike and township and that seven Gloucester County municipalities already use comparable ordinances. Committeeman Frederick proposed removing the phrase "illegal fires" and updating an anniversary date in section 6; Matthias agreed to revise the language before further consideration.
The motion to introduce passed on a 3–2 vote (Nocentino and Matthias in favor; Frederick, McGovern and Minhas opposed). Matthias emphasized that introduction was intended to provide transparency before a scheduled townhall meeting where the public can review the ordinance.
Next steps: the ordinance was introduced for public review; the committee directed updates to the ordinance language and plans to discuss it further at a forthcoming townhall. The transcript does not record a final adoption vote.
