Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Municipal Governance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Woolwich committee introduces parking restriction on Kings Highway, tables proposed fire-department fee ordinance
Summary
The Woolwich Township Committee unanimously introduced an ordinance to restrict parking on Kings Highway in front of the Kings Meadows development and voted to table a proposed ordinance to charge mitigation rates for fire-department responses after resident concerns and committee questions; two consent resolutions were adopted.
The Woolwich Township Committee on Jan. 6 unanimously approved the introduction of an ordinance to restrict parking on Kings Highway (County Route 551) across the frontage of Block 18, Lot 4.03, the site of the Kings Meadows development, and later voted to table a separate ordinance that would have established mitigation rates for fire-department responses.
Mayor Matthias called the meeting to order at 6:48 p.m. and said the committee would proceed with several ordinance introductions and routine business. Committeeman McGovern moved and Deputy Mayor Nocentino seconded a motion to introduce Ordinance 2025-01, which the committee described as an amendment to Chapter 182 of the township code to establish restricted parking in front of the new Kings Meadows construction. The motion passed on a roll call vote: Frederick YES, McGovern YES, Minhas YES, Nocentino YES, Matthias YES (5–0). Committeeman Frederick said he would like the committee to consider extending restricted parking further down Kings Highway in a future amendment.
During the public-comment period a resident of 115 Coventry Lane addressed the committee with concerns about Ordinance 2025-02, saying their insurance company would not cover the charges proposed in that draft ordinance and asserting that similar measures had been banned in Pennsylvania. Mayor Matthias said the Fire Chief, who had been scheduled to present on the ordinance, was called away for snowstorm emergency duties and requested that the committee agree to introduce the ordinance tonight so the Chief could present and answer questions at the next meeting before any final adoption.
Ordinance 2025-02 would amend Chapter 99 ("Fire Prevention") and Chapter 138-11 ("False Fire Alarms") to establish mitigation rates for the deployment of emergency and non-emergency services provided by the Woolwich Fire Company. After discussion and expressions of concern about proceeding without the Fire Chief's presentation and unresolved questions, Committeeman Frederick moved to amend the introduction motion and table Ordinance 2025-02; Committeewoman Minhas seconded. The motion to table passed on a roll call vote: Frederick YES, McGovern YES, Minhas YES, Nocentino YES, Matthias YES (5–0).
The committee approved a consent agenda covering R-2025-35, appointing the township's risk management consultant for the Gloucester/Salem/Cumberland Counties Municipal Joint Insurance Fund, and R-2025-36, authorizing the issuance of a street-opening permit at 133 Balsam Road. The floor was opened to the public again later in the meeting; no one spoke. With no further business the committee adjourned at 7:04 p.m.
What happens next: Ordinance 2025-01 was introduced and will return for future consideration as required by the township's ordinance-adoption process; Ordinance 2025-02 is tabled pending the Fire Chief's presentation and further committee review. The clerk's minutes note that the audio recording is on file.
