Police chief rebuts online rumors; township announces playground, pond and electronics pickup updates

Police Chief D. VanNamee told the Carneys Point Township Committee May 7 that only two solicitors currently hold solicitor permits in town and urged residents to call police about unpermitted door‑to‑door solicitors. He also refuted recent online posts alleging murders in town: "This is not true, it is fake news," he said. The chief reported a gas leak at an Amazon facility and said the Office of Emergency Management and the fire chief will hold a safety meeting to review the incident.

Committee member Pelura reported several public‑works and community updates: the Ladies Club Garden Mart will be held at Dunns Park; Public Works will waive fees for televisions and electronics so residents may place them curbside without scheduling a pickup; an aerator has been ordered to address overgrowth in the retention pond on Fenton Drive and crews will remove trees once the water recedes; the street sweeper and the chipping truck have been repaired and returned to service.

Mayor Brown said Dunns Park ADA sidewalk construction will begin soon, that the county has pledged seed money to support a group examining animal‑shelter sites (a meeting is scheduled May 13), and that he and Pelura attended a school budget meeting reporting a 1.356% budget increase pending state action. Dr. Johnson shared a human‑interest departmental note, saying she helped expedite a marriage license and performed a wedding April 19 at Deptford Nursing Home for a resident who wished to be married before she died, and she thanked Clerk June Proffitt for assistance.

The meeting record shows no public comments during the open‑comment period. Officials moved into executive session and later reconvened before adjourning at 7:16 p.m.