Oldmans Township Committee approves temporary budget, authorizes $585,970 tanker purchase and adopts budget-cap ordinance

The Oldmans Township Committee met on Feb. 12, 2025, and approved a series of routine and substantive municipal actions, including an emergency transfer to operate under a temporary municipal budget and authorization to purchase a tanker fire apparatus for the Logan Volunteer Fire Company.

The Committee unanimously approved Resolution 2025-42, an emergency transfer to fund operations while the municipal budget is finalized. Members also introduced and later adopted measures related to the 2025 municipal budget, including Ordinance 2025-02 to exceed municipal budget appropriation limits and establish a cap bank.

The Committee released Purchase Order 25-00069 to Defender Emergency Products for a Commander Series tanker apparatus for the Logan Volunteer Fire Company in the amount of $585,970; the minutes state a grant will partially fund the purchase. Jeff Newman moved the purchase approval and Brian Porch seconded; the motion carried unanimously. The Committee also approved several personnel and membership actions for Logan Volunteer Fire, including a full membership approval for Caitlin Peachey, reinstatement for Michael Lemke and a conditional junior membership for Gabrielle Lemke subject to a parent/child interview.

On emergency services and staffing, the Committee held a public hearing on Ordinance 2025-01, which would change the Fire Department deployment section to lower the minimum number of firefighters on a responding apparatus from four to three. Resident Justin Adams asked the Committee to change the junior firefighter age range from 14–16 to 14–15; Melissa Powell requested a copy of the ordinance.

Administrative actions included approval of a recommendation to the Salem County Commissioners to improve the Perkintown Road ballfield (Resolution 2025-45); support for legislation allowing municipalities to publish legal notices on official municipal websites instead of newspapers (Resolution 2025-46); and acceptance of Fralinger Engineering’s proposal to pursue NJDOT grant work for Donna and Diane Drives. The Committee instructed Public Works (Scott Myers) to obtain cost estimates to repair broken fence posts and rails at the Lennox Run stormwater basin and to continue reconciling nonfunctioning streetlights with Atlantic Electric.

In other items, the Committee approved a renewal of Bay Hill Environmental’s contract for lead-based paint evaluation and introduced an ordinance establishing inspection fees for lead-based paint (Ordinance 2025-04). Clerk Melinda Taylor informed the Committee the state has consolidated tax-rebate applications into a single online form. Resident Cordy Taylor announced a public County Cross Acceptance Presentation meeting at Salem Community College on Feb. 19 at 5:00 p.m.

Transportation updates included a notice from Mayor William Ferrell III that the drawbridge at U.S. Route 10 over Oldmans Creek will be closed Feb. 18–March 23 for painting. Jeff Newman outlined several road projects, including a planned mid‑April start to raise the Perkintown Road overpass on Route 295 (closure expected about one year) and repairs to a newly paved section of Straughns Mill, which Newman said will have its “washboard” fixed.

The Committee entered executive session at 7:50 p.m. to discuss contract negotiations (including 78 Perkintown Road and affordable housing), litigation matters concerning 15 S. Railroad and the former Country Store compliance, personnel and a tort claim; members also discussed proposed upgrades to municipal computers. The meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m.

Votes at a glance: Resolution 2025-42 (emergency transfer) — approved (motion: Dean Sparks; second: Jeff Newman). Resolution 2025-43 / Ordinance 2025-02 (budget cap introduction, later adopted via Resolution 2025-48) — introduced and adopted (motions recorded; unanimous). Resolution 2025-44 / Ordinance 2025-03 (Public Works salary ordinance introduction) — introduced (unanimous). Purchase Order 25-00069 (Commander Series tanker) — approved (motion: Jeff Newman; second: Brian Porch). Resolution 2025-45 (Perkintown Road ballfield recommendation) — approved. Resolution 2025-46 (support allowing online publication of legal notices) — approved. Resolution 2025-49 (Salem County Mitigation Plan Update) — approved. Resolution 2025-50 (renew Bay Hill Environmental contract) — approved. Resolution 2025-52 (enter executive session) — approved. Many routine motions and appointments were recorded unanimous in the minutes; when a motion, seconder and unanimous approval were recorded, the article lists the motion and outcome as noted in the minutes.

The Committee’s minutes record motions and seconders but do not publish individual roll-call votes. The minutes also note that a grant partially funds the fire apparatus purchase but do not specify the grant source or amount.