Woodland Township Committee approves $543,112.87 in bills, introduces local emergency management council ordinance

The Woodland Township Committee on Sept. 24 approved routine bills and a set of consent resolutions, introduced an ordinance to establish a Local Emergency Management Council and addressed a resident's questions about a proposed “Phase 4” and speeding in town.

The meeting opened at 7 p.m., with Deputy Mayor Mark Herndon calling the session to order and Clerk Maryalice Brown reading the Open Public Meetings Act statement. On a motion by Herndon and seconded by Committeewoman Donna Mull, the committee approved the minutes from the Aug. 27 regular meeting (DeGroff abstained; Herndon and Mull voted yes).

The committee approved bills and claims totaling $543,112.87 across the current, payroll, escrow and capital accounts after a motion by Mull and second by Herndon. The board also granted an event permit for the Scrub Pine Enduro scheduled for Oct. 26, 2025.

On the ordinance docket, the committee opened and closed a public comment period and — on a motion by Mull, seconded by Herndon — introduced Ordinance 2025-9, which the agenda describes as establishing a Local Emergency Management Council. The clerk was authorized to take all legal steps necessary to process the ordinance; committee members voted in favor at introduction. As introduced, the ordinance is at the initial step of local consideration and must return to the committee for a subsequent action to be adopted.

The committee adopted a consent package of resolutions (Resolutions 2025-79 through 2025-83). Two items were recorded as “termination of deed restriction” documents prepared by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (Resolutions 2025-79 and 2025-80). The package also included approval of the Burlington County Mutual Aid Assistance Agreement (2025-81), authorization to sell surplus property via online auction (2025-82) and delegation to the clerk to review and approve raffle licenses without full committee review (2025-83). The consent package was moved by Mull and seconded by Herndon; the vote was recorded DeGroff-absent, Herndon-yes, Mull-yes.

During public comment, resident Christine Gwin asked whether there would be a Phase 4; she was told that Forest and Pine streets are being applied for as part of that next phase. Gwin also asked about the deed-restriction terminations; according to the meeting record, Mayor DeGroff explained they are intended to remove existing restrictions prepared by the NJDEP. Gwin additionally raised speeding as a concern in the township.

Department reports noted August tax collections of $998,246.15 and clerk-reported miscellaneous collections of $3,120. The clerk reminded the committee the next regular meeting is Oct. 22, 2025, and thanked A&A Construction for volunteering to trim holly trees. OEM reported filing an incident action report with the county for the upcoming festival and training on new New Jersey State Police software; the fire chief said the firehouse will serve breakfast and lunch at the festival and will hold a fire prevention open house Oct. 9. Public works reported landscaping at the municipal building and routine road mowing.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:15 p.m. on a motion by Mull, seconded by Herndon. The committee will take further action on Ordinance 2025-9 and other items at subsequent meetings as required by municipal procedures.