Page 4 • Wednesday , March 30 , 2022 • The Hammonton Gazette
Planning board approves CTX plan , variance
BOARD , from Page 1 town . We want to be here ,” Fetter said .
The company would have 16 employees at the property at any one time , Fetter said .
There are also 50 vehicles involved with the company ’ s operation , Fetter said , adding that they would not be in the yard on the property .
“ If they ’ re sitting in the yard , that ’ s a problem . They ’ re not making money ,” he said .
Schaefer , a planner / engineer , said he was working for CTX Infrastructure and also on the site plan for a nearby project , turning the former skating rink facility into “ flex space .”
Talvacchia then questioned Schaefer about the project in front of the board members .
“ The site ’ s not being overdeveloped ?”
SCHOOL , from Page 1 2022-2023 school year is $ 63,861,820 with a local tax levy total of $ 19,982,897 .
“ We have almost a $ 64 million budget here with lots of money that comes in from lots of different places especially during the pandemic a lot of the additional funding we received from COVID-19 ,” Board Vice President John Lyons said during the finance committee report .
“ This budget represents about a $ 3.8 million in increased state aid . That is money based on the state ’ s funding formula that was owed to us … This particular budget also represents a one-half cent tax decrease on the school portion of the budget ,” Lyons said .
Board President Sam Mento III called the meeting to order and all board members were present at the Samuel A . Donio Memorial Library except for Board Member Thomas Attanasi and Folsom
Representative John Thomas who were absent .
Business Administrator Barbara Prettyman presented the 2020- 2021 audit . The audit synopsis and corrective action plan are available for the public as required by NJSA 18A : 23-4 .
“ Our reserve accounts at the end of the year remain stable at $ 11.6 million minus the $ 2 million from the last state aid payments that are now made in our fiscal year for a net balance of $ 9.6 million . We ’ ve been able to maintain those balances due in part to the State of New Jersey funding the district closer to what is owed to us ,” Prettyman said .
Prettyman added that “ there were no audit findings .”
“ As you ’ ve heard , Mrs . Prettyman talked about yet another audit with no findings , and that ’ s certainly a testament to Mrs . Prettyman and her staff and the folks at the front office ,” Lyons said .
Hammonton Superintendent of Schools Robin Chieco gave her report next .
“ State-mandated standardized testing has begun and will continue through May ,” Chieco said .
“ This evening we ’ ll hear the overall budgets projected for the 2022-2023 school year … We are fortunate that our state has recognized our district is deserving of the student state funds ,” Chieco said .
Board member Kelly Donio gave the report from the community cohesion committee .
“ We reached out to the town and we are working with the town to hopefully livestream our school board meetings and possibly other things ,” Donio said .
Currently , the board meetings are livestreamed on YouTube . The community cohesion committee is working to livestream meetings and other school events on Channel 9 .
Talvacchia asked .
“ No ,” Schaefer said , later adding that he did not think the development would be a substantial detriment to the town and that the application should be approved by the board .
“ How many office employees will there be in the space ?” board member Michael Hozik asked .
Fetter said there would be 10 office employees .
Vettese said the town had concerns , including the emergency overflow of the basin .
“ There might be the ability to provide an emergency overflow spillway ,” Vettese said .
Secondly , Vettese said the reduction in parking on the site plan was good , and suggested that the applicant could put “ reserved for additional parking if needed ” on a grass area of the plan .
Talvacchia said CTX Infrastructure would agree to both of the items Vettese noted .
Talvacchia also agreed to CTX Infrastructure putting in curb and sidewalk along Second Road when asked by Vettese .
Hozik asked to look at architectural renderings for the exterior of the buildings being constructed on the site .
The board approved the CTX Infrastructure application for major site plan unanimously , and also approved the company ’ s application for a “ C ” variance unanimously , with stipulations .
In other board business , the Hammonton Independent Volunteer Fire Co . No . 2 , located at 51 N . White Horse Pike ( Route 30 ) asked the planning board for a continuance
“ I think a lot of people in the community would love to be able to watch things that are happening in the school — not just the board meetings ,” Donio said .
Board member Raymond Scipione gave the community relations report .
Scipione congratulated the Hammonton Middle School
regarding its application to the board for a new electrical message board sign to replace the current sign on their property .
“ Applicant will be asking for a continuance to be heard at the April 6 , 2022 meeting which they are seeking approvals to replace the current , outdated sign with an electrical message board sign in order to provide information about events , fundraisers and activities to the public in an efficient and effective manner ,” the planning board agenda said . The board granted the continuance . Board members Councilman Jonathan Oliva , Gordon Pherribo and Raymond Scipione were absent .
The next meeting of the Hammonton Planning Board will be held at 7 p . m . on April 6 in town hall .
Board passes budget with 1 / 2-cent tax decrease
THINK team that competed at Mainland High School on February 26 . He also read the winners of the Hammonton Middle School spelling bee : Landon Calen ( First Place , seventh grade ), Julian Felipe ( Second Place , sixth grade ) and Lana Torres ( Third Place , seventh grade ). Calen also finished
See DISTRICT , Page 16
Easements sought
MEETING , from Page 3 care of that ,” Herrmann began , and then Vettese helped to finish the statement .
“ Between now and the next meeting , we ’ re going to try and see how far we get along with the people saying they are going to give us easements … we ’ re going to concentrate on the westerly side of 12th Street , and … North Chew Road . Anything that has to do with the water main replacement , and that connection along Chew Road ,” Vettese said .
Once the easements are in place Herrmann said that they can finalize and get ready to start the project .
Rodio said that Vettese has been doing well with the easements , as out of 47 , he only has 19 left to contact . He thanked Vettese , and said that contacting the homeowners personally has helped a great deal .