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Southampton committee adopts audit, multiple resolutions and hears residents’ concerns about St. Davids Place and crosswalks
Summary
The Southampton Township Committee accepted the 2024 audit, approved several routine resolutions and storage-container licenses, recorded abstentions on the 2025 salary resolution and bills list, and heard residents raise landscaping and sidewalk concerns on St. Davids Place plus requests for additional crosswalks in Leisuretowne.
The Southampton Township Committee on May 20 adopted the 2024 Annual Report of Audit and several routine administrative resolutions, approved temporary storage-container licenses, and heard multiple residents raise infrastructure and landscaping concerns in Leisuretowne.
Deputy Mayor Elizabeth Rossell moved to adopt Resolution 2025-61 accepting the 2024 audit report; Committeeman James Young seconded and the resolution passed by roll call. The Committee also adopted Resolution 2025-62 (insertion of a special item of revenue pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:4-87) and other administrative resolutions governing state-contract vendor utilization, estimated tax-bill preparation and a corrective action plan for the audit recommendations; roll-call votes were recorded for those items.
Resolution 2025-69, adopting 2025 salaries in accordance with the Township Salary Ordinance, was adopted but recorded two abstentions: Committeeman William Raftery and Committeeman James Young did not vote in favor; Committeeman Arnold Harrison, Deputy Mayor Rossell and Mayor Heston voted yes.
The Committee approved temporary storage-container licenses at multiple properties after Committeeman William Raftery questioned whether the containers were permitted in residential areas; Administrator Brandon Umba responded that the containers on the agenda had prior approval from the Land Development Board.
Township Clerk Melanie L. Brown confirmed the audit would be posted online: "The audit is online under the audit tab," she said.
During the public-comment period, resident Joann Moschetto asked when planting would begin on the island where a switchgear box had been removed and whether a meeting would be held to review plantings; Mayor Heston said a meeting had already been held to approve a landscape plan and Administrator Umba said the Township Engineer (ERI, Inc.) has requested the contractor plant as soon as possible and that Pinelands has asked BEMS for corrective actions. Resident Evie Doherty thanked officials for recently installed crosswalks in Leisuretowne and asked whether Wooton Drive could receive a crosswalk; Administrator Umba said Wooton Drive has handicap ramps and could receive a crosswalk, while Chatham Place does not currently have ramps and is being reviewed as an alternate that would require ramp work.
Representatives of local fire companies reported on operations and grants: Scott Mitchell of the Vincent Fire Company said the company applied for a $49,000 grant to cover equipment for a potential new fire truck and obtained a turbo-draft device for drafting water from shallow sources; Michael Rathjen of the Hampton Lakes Fire Company reported that vehicle maintenance and tool purchases are underway and that a stipend program was reduced pending FEMA payments but that the township can issue purchase orders for approved repair quotes.
The Committee adopted Resolution 2025-70 authorizing an executive session for attorney-client privilege at 7:07 p.m.; they returned at 8:00 p.m. and the township attorney stated no formal action was required. The meeting adjourned at 8:00 p.m.
