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Woolwich Committee reviews proposed emergency-service billing, adopts Kings Highway no-parking rule and accepts state housing obligation
Summary
At its Jan. 21 meeting the Woolwich Township Committee reviewed a proposed ordinance to bill certain nonresident businesses and group homes for emergency responses, adopted an ordinance restricting parking on Kings Highway, accepted Round 4 housing obligations calculated by the New Jersey DCA and tabled a redevelopment amendment pending further information.
Deputy Mayor Nocentino presided over the Woolwich Township Committee meeting on Jan. 21, 2025, where the committee reviewed a proposed emergency-services fee ordinance, adopted a restricted-parking ordinance for Kings Highway and voted to accept the state-calculated Round 4 housing obligation.
Fire Chief Valichka presented draft Ordinance 2025-02 proposing a fee structure aimed at businesses and group homes that generate frequent emergency responses. Chief Valichka said the plan would not charge Woolwich residents and listed specific chargeable services such as certain river responses, motor vehicle fires and nuisance alarms. He estimated potential annual revenue of $15,000, described differential billing (residents exempt; nonresidents billed), and noted that alarm-system fees would carry a 20% system fee.
The presentation included an operational-allocation slide identifying “78% of operational funds” and explicitly listing $7,800; the committee requested clarification because $7,800 is not arithmetically consistent with the $15,000 revenue figure shown elsewhere in the packet. Chief Valichka said he would provide detailed monthly billing reports and supporting materials. Committee members pressed for clearer language in the ordinance draft about who may modify rates, and asked how mutual-aid responses and third-party collections would be handled if bills go unpaid.
Public commenters raised multiple concerns during the public-comment period. A resident at 39 Long Leaf Lane asked whether a Woolwich resident assisted by another department would face a charge; another attendee asked who would bear a 22% third-party collection fee if a billed entity did not pay. A resident with fire-department experience said insurers, not fire departments, often determine whether a bill is paid. Several residents recommended rewriting the ordinance to limit committee authority to change rates and to clarify how “nuisance” calls are defined.
The committee did not introduce Ordinance 2025-02 for adoption at this meeting. Deputy Mayor Nocentino and other members agreed the draft needs revision and a full committee review before its first reading.
Votes at a glance - Ordinance 2025-01 (restricted parking on Kings Highway across frontage of Block 18, Lot 4.03): Adopted. Motion by Committeeman McGovern; second: Committeeman Frederick. Roll call: Frederick YES; McGovern YES; Minhas YES; Nocentino YES (4–0). - Consent agenda (R-2025-37 through R-2025-44, with removal of R-2025-38 and R-2025-40): Adopted 4–0. - R-2025-38 (Binding resolution accepting Round 4 present and prospective need obligations as calculated by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs): Adopted following a phone call with Michael Jedziniak, COAH attorney; roll call 4–0. Committeeman Frederick expressed concern about the calculation of 241 units prior to the call. - R-2025-40 (Amendment to redevelopment agreement with NP Woolwich, LLC for Block 61 lots): Tabled on motion of Committeeman Frederick; roll call to table 4–0. Members cited pending state and Turnpike Authority responses and an upcoming payment as outstanding items.
Other business Administrator Jim Watson and Township Engineer Mark Lardo provided routine departmental updates, including project schedules for High Hill Trail and the Locke Avenue Park expansion; Lardo said DEP involvement is holding up work on 196 Colony Place. The tax collector reported $732,973.11 remitted and a year figure of $53,908,412.41; a committee member questioned a possible typo in a collection-rate number in the packet. Liaison reports included Parks & Recreation event planning for 2025 and solid-waste pickup statistics.
What’s next The emergency-services fee ordinance will be redrafted and circulated to the full committee for review before any formal introduction. The redevelopment amendment with NP Woolwich remains tabled pending additional documentation and state agency responses.
(Reporters: quotes and attributions are drawn only from speakers identified in the official minutes and public-comment entries.)
