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Residents press Glassboro council on townhouse fence permits and report truck damage; solicitor outlines claims process
Summary
Two residents used public comment at the May 27 Glassboro council meeting to raise concerns about townhouse fence permitting and a pickup truck damaged by a displaced concrete trash receptacle; the borough solicitor advised filing a claim with the clerk for insurer review and the mayor advised waiting for the police incident report.
At the May 27 Glassboro mayor and council meeting, two residents used the public-comment period to press the borough on permitting and liability questions: a townhouse owner asked the council to revisit fence-permit handling, and a second resident described damage to his pickup after a concrete trash receptacle had been moved toward the street.
Jeffrey Baron, who identified himself as a Glassboro resident at 487 North Palace Drive, told the council that he was told by the zoning office on May 15 that fence permits for townhomes "takes 3 to 4 days to get approved." Baron said he followed the zoning office's instructions, paid a contractor and submitted required materials on May 23, only to be told the permit would be denied. He urged the council to consider allowing regulated fencing that preserves emergency access while giving townhouse owners a defined private outdoor space. He framed the issue around safety, property maintenance and residents’ desire to stay in the community.
Another commenter, Andrew Wall of Elk Township (a Glassboro High School alumnus), described a recent incident where his pickup truck sustained minor damage after the corner of his truck contacted a concrete trash receptacle that he said had been moved closer to the street. Wall said he photographed the position of his truck and the receptacle and sought guidance on whether borough insurance might cover repairs.
The borough solicitor instructed Wall to present a claim to the clerk’s office and fill out the claim form so the borough’s insurance company can review the matter: "Normally, what would happen is you would come and present your claim to the clerk's office... and then it's sent to our insurance company for their review," the solicitor said. Mayor Wallace and council members advised waiting for the police incident report (the solicitor said the report would be completed in about five working days) before the borough could make a determination.
The council did not take immediate action on either item during the meeting; residents were told what procedural steps to follow for both zoning questions and damage claims. The public portion was then closed and the council moved on to other agenda items.
