News and pics from
Uptown Hammonton
p. 17-19
Get ready for spring! 12-pg
Lawn and Garden section
p. 23-34
Muppets continue to
remain popular
p. 41
COUNCIL TO LAY OFF 4 PEOPLE
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
Volume 18 • Issue 13
by Lauren Bucci
Gazette Staff Writer
HaMMONtON—at the regular meeting of Hammonton town
Council on March 24, the town approved a layoff plan, already approved by the Civil Service
Commission on february 24, according to Mayor Stephen DiDo-
www.hammontongazette.com
2 part-time and 2 full-time employees to be laid off by town
nato. four municipal employees
will be laid off on april 16, DiDonato said.
Councilman Michael Pullia
voted against the measure. DiDonato outlined the options to the
council.
“i believe there were three options, one was to not have the lay-
offs, to have the layoffs or some
form thereof… in its entirety or
partially,” DiDonato said.
the plan as passed, calls for four
town employees to be laid off: one
full-time employee from the tax
collector’s office, and one fulltime and two part-time laborers
from the highway department, Di-
Donato said after the meeting.
there was some discussion prior
to the decision.
Councilman edward Wuillermin cited the ability to have two
part-time workers fulfill the duties
of a current full-time employee
and considerable cost savings as
reasons to support the plan.
“as it has been explained to me,
on this council, that we can accommodate the same level of service
with two part-time people in one
case as we can with one full-time
person and that we can replace
some of the full-time, part-time
people at the highway department
Blueberry festival, Grasso, Butler retiring from USPS
triathlon on June 29
by Paul J. Macrie IV
Gazette Staff Writer
H a M M O N tO N — S u n d a y,
June 29 will be a busy day for the
town of Hammonton. the annual
and longstanding tradition of the
red, White and Blueberry festival, organized by the Greater
Hammonton Chamber of Com-
by Gabe Donio
Gazette Staff Writer
merce, will once again be held at
the Hammonton High School
grounds on Old forks road.
this year, there is another event
scheduled to make its way
through the town on June 29. it is
a triathlon called Challenge atlantic City.
this triathlon racing event,
HaMMONtON—two longtime postal carriers who served
their customers for decades were
honored on the morning of March
18 at the Hammonton Post Office
in front of their co-workers. Officer in Charge (OiC) Jennifer
richards presented service awards
to Kenny Grasso, who has spent
42 years on postal routes in Hammonton and Scott Butler, who has
spent 28 years covering the same
postal route in egg Harbor City as
his father had before him.
Grasso and Butler will both be
retiring in 2014.
“it’s my honor to present you
both with your service awards,”
richards said.
Pinelands approves
drip irrigation plan
by Gabe Donio
Gazette Staff Writer
HaMMONtON—the proposed drip irrigation plan that includes
applying
treated
wastewater effluent from the
Hammonton Wastewater treat-
See TRIATHLON, Page 10
ment Plant overland on a 26-acre
town-owned area off of Boyer avenue beginning in summer and fall
of 2014 and using a two-tiered underground drip irrigation at the
four newly-built town-owned soccer fields near the corner of Boyer
Sen. Booker comes to town
See WASTEWATER, Page 3
See COUNCIL, Page 12
See RETIRING, Page 4
THG/Gabe Donio. To purchase photos in The
Gazette, call (609) 704-1940.
Kenny Grasso (right) and Scott Butler
(left) are both retiring from the United
States Post Office. A retirement party
was held in their honor on March 18.
Planning board approves
Chew Road subdivision
by Paul J. Macrie IV
Gazette Staff Writer
HaMMONtON—On March
19, the Hammonton Planning
Board held its regular meeting at
town hall. the notable agenda
item of the evening was an
amended minor subdivision from
applicant frank ingemi. ingemi
was seeking to amend a minor
subdivision previously approved
on January 16, 2013. it was for
four separate lots in a residential
zone at 150 North Chew road.
attorney frank Olivo represented the applicant and explained
the reasoning for the amended
minor subdivision.
“the original approval involved
one additional lot. Unfortunately,
even though we were approved
that subdivision and you have extended that approval, we were not
Parks & Rec. addresses
Canoe Club’s request
by Lauren Bucci
Gazette Staff Writer
THG/Joseph Bruno. To purchase photos in The Gazette, call (609) 704-1940.
United States Senator Cory Booker spoke at the Atlantic County Democratic Convention held March 22 at Kerri
Brooke Caterers. See related story on Page 10.
SUBSCRIBE TO
HaMMONtON—the Hammonton Parks and recreation
Commission gave updates on old
business at its regular meeting on
tuesday, March 18 at 7 p.m.
Commission members Denise
The Gazette! ONLY $20 FOR 52 WEEKS! CALL: (609) 704-1940
See PLANNING, Page 10
D’amico, James Borda and Councilman Sam rodio were not present. New alternate member Steve
Struble was present for his first
meeting.
the board addressed the Canoe
Club’s request for help in the purchase of 100 seat cushions for
chairs at the club made at the com-
See COMMISSION, Page 14