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Florence residents press council for action on park safety, parking and speed monitoring
Summary
Residents raised repeated safety concerns at Roebling Park, asked about a digital speed monitor on Railroad Avenue and pressed for progress on Morris Court parking; council and staff said policing and engineering work are underway and promised follow-up at the July workshop.
At the June 17 Florence Township Council meeting, residents urged action on neighborhood safety and parking issues, focusing on repeated harassment in township parks, the placement of a digital speed-monitoring sign on Railroad Avenue, and long‑pending questions about parking on Morris Court.
"Are those signs permanent?" asked resident Janet Pruden, seeking clarity on a digital speed-monitoring device on Railroad Avenue. Township Administrator Thomas A. Sahol replied that "there are two signs, one in each direction and that they are moved periodically around the community depending on where police are observing issues" to provide advanced warning before enforcement.
Don Nemeth, who said he represents neighbors on Morris Court, told council he and his neighbors had waited nine months for action on a parking study and asked whether engineering recommendations had been followed. Sahol said the engineer recommended against diagonal parking because it would reduce net spaces and that expanding municipal parking on the adjacent municipal parcel would require significant stormwater improvements under New Jersey stormwater rules and likely debt financing; he said he would report back with cost estimates and estimated spaces.
Several residents described safety problems at Roebling Park. Caitlin Summers Motta said recent incidents involved "the same individuals" and urged more engagement from School Resource Officers and greater coordination among schools, police and council. Kim Bernardon said she saw 15–20 youths and some riding mopeds and dirt bikes through the park; she said police arrived only after the group had left. Administrator Sahol said he had discussed the concerns with Command Staff and that police are trying additional measures while the Township pursues other options, including reviewing a Gloucester Township ordinance as a potential model.
Council President Joseph Frappolli said he accepted administrators’ assurances that police were engaged and asked staff to place the issue on the July 8 workshop agenda for broader public discussion. Councilmember Talaya Loftin asked county resources be explored; Sahol noted the Prosecutor’s Office has a juvenile unit that can convene social-service partners. The council did not take formal action at the meeting but promised follow-up.
