Maurice River Township Committee reappoints leaders, adopts 2025 temporary budget and consent agenda

Maurice River Township held its annual reorganization meeting on Jan. 2, 2025, at the Municipal Hall in Leesburg. Municipal Clerk Denise L. Peterson opened the session, swore in Ben Stowman as a Township Committeeman for a three-year term, and administered the oath to Ken Whildin as mayor and Joe Sterling as deputy mayor after unanimous committee votes.

Mayor Ken Whildin said the township is positioned for progress in the coming year, stating that “a lot of things are in line for 2025 and the year ahead is looking good.” Committeeman Joe Sterling said he is “looking forward to 2025” and emphasized the committee’s focus on projects and resident advocacy. Stowman, who noted years on the Land Use Board, said he intends to “do the best job he can for the Township.”

The committee adopted Resolution No. 01-2025 to permit reading and passing of routine resolutions by title and then approved a consent agenda containing Resolutions 02–30 by single motion and unanimous roll call (Ayes: Sterling, Stowman, Whildin). The consent agenda covered annual appointments and reaffirmations, procurement and depository designations, operating policies, and contracts for professional services and maintenance.

Key items adopted under the consent agenda included:

- Resolution No. 03-2025 (Temporary Budget): The resolution references the 2024 total appropriations of $4,981,713.06 and the allowable interim cap of 26.25% ($1,307,699.70). The listed temporary appropriations for department salaries, operating expenses and other line items total $852,460.50 and were adopted as the interim 2025 appropriations.

- Resolution No. 02-2025 (Appointments): A full slate of municipal appointments and committee assignments for 2025 was adopted, including Testa, Heck, Testa & White as municipal attorney and Raymond Colavita as auditor, along with numerous board and committee chair and member designations.

- Shared-service agreements with the Maurice River Township Board of Education: Resolution No. 16-2025 authorizes sharing a T-1 water treatment operator; Resolution No. 17-2025 authorizes joint gasoline and diesel fuel purchases for school transportation.

- Contracts and service awards: Resolution No. 21-2025 authorizes an MIS contract with Barber Consulting Services (not to exceed $4,400.00 for 2025). Resolution No. 22-2025 awards boiler/HVAC maintenance for the municipal building to CM3 Building Solutions ($11,628.00). Resolution No. 27-2025 recommends Bayhill Environmental for lead evaluation services (max value $20,000). Resolution No. 29-2025 awards animal shelter services to South Jersey Regional Animal Shelter (max value $24,000; annual basic fee $23,975.52).

- Recycling support for schools: Resolution No. 23-2025 authorizes use of the township recycling grant to cover the Maurice River Township Elementary School’s $650 annual container-collection fee.

Resolution No. 24-2025 designated Committeeperson Ken Whildin as the township’s authorized representative for the 2025 municipal tax sale, permitting him to bid on State-owned or other parcels deemed useful for public use and to place premium or interest bids within a prescribed range.

Public comment was brief. The committee opened the public-comment period at 10:14 a.m.; Sheriff Donato and resident Joe Condo offered congratulations to the new and returning officials. The session closed at 10:15 a.m., and the meeting was then adjourned.

All motions and roll-call votes recorded in the minutes were unanimous in favor; no items were removed from the consent agenda for separate discussion. The committee directed publication of required notices and postings as specified in the adopted resolutions.