COUNCIL , from Page 1
“ The town will provide retiree health insurance benefits to employees who retire at age 62 or older who have worked for the town for at least 15 years , provided the retiree pays a portion of the premium for such health insurance coverage ,” the ordinance states .
The ordinance was adopted and published .
In other business , while presenting the report from the Administration Committee , Councilman Thomas Gribbin said that one of the front windows on the third floor of town hall was scheduled to be temporarily removed to allow for the delivery of “ metal framing and sheet rock , which is going towards the renovation for Access Hammonton ’ s studio .”
“ This is a phased renovation of this previously unfinished portion of town hall . As we all know , Access Hammonton provides residents with vital public safety and emergency notifications for our residents . As such , we ’ ll be seeking grant dollars to fund up to all associated costs with this project ,” Gribbin said .
Under the Business and Industry Committee report , Councilman William Olivo gave updates on several local businesses .
“ Exit 28 Boutique at 210 Bellevue Ave .— next to Casciano ’ s — is opening a women ’ s boutique , and plans to be open by May 1 . That ’ s April Carnesale ; she was originally involved in SaDee ’ s boutique , so we ’ re excited to have her back in town ,” Olivo said .
Olivo also noted the arrival of Hand Me Gowns at 251 Bellevue Ave .
“ This is a new business , handling second-hand wedding dresses , and it ’ s in the Ockap Building . They had their ribbon cutting on April 21 , and they ’ re planning on opening on May 7 . When we did that ribbon cutting on April 21 , there was also Four K Nutrition , which is on Third Street , and Perhaps , in their new location on Bellevue Avenue ,” Olivo said .
Olivo said two more ribbon-cutting ceremonies were scheduled for May .
“ National Credit Systems , which is 245 Bellevue , and NB
Wednesday , May 11 , 2022 • The Hammonton Gazette • Page 3
Town council approves salaries for municipal employees
Advisors will be at 251 Bellevue — which is the Ockap building as well ,” Olivo said .
Under the Quality of Life Committee report , Councilman Jonathan Oliva noted that the statewide ban on single-use plastics effective May 4 .
“ In New Jersey , retail stores , grocery stores and food services businesses will no longer be able to provide or sell single-use plastic carryout bags ,” Oliva said .
Oliva said that ban also applies to polystyrene foam food service products or containers .
“ Single-use paper carryout bags will be allowed , and will be able to be provided or sold by certain establishments . Most establishments will not be able to provide those types of bags , as well ,” Oliva said .
Also during that report , Oliva said that he and Construction Department Head Anthony Berenato have been in discussions regarding a potential move from a submission process to a digital one for Hammonton Planning Board and construction matters .
“ There certainly are some technical challenges to making that jump , and there ’ s also some things we would have to identify to see what taking that next step and that leap would look like ,” Oliva said .
Oliva sought the mayor ’ s permission to assemble a team to investigate the various aspects of the project .
“ What would be the technological lift , the financial lift , the training and resource lift to making that next step — not saying that we would , ultimately , take it , but at least identify what would the next steps be , and what would it mean for the town to move forward in that direction ?” Oliva said . DiDonato added another aspect . “ Also , staff would have to be able to handle that ,” he said .
DiDonato asked Oliva if he wished to put that request in the form of a motion .
“ This way , it ’ s just not one man ’ s approval ; it ’ s approval from council to proceed ?” DiDonato said .
Oliva agreed , and made the motion , which Gribbin seconded .
“ I think the Admin committee should mesh in with that , and we should put an ad hoc committee together : Deputy Mayor Gribbin , yourself , and I ’ m going to volunteer Councilman Olivo — he ’ s on Admin also — and look into it and see what our capabilities are ,” Di- Donato told Oliva . The motion passed . While discussing the report from the Public Works and Transportation Committee , Councilman Sam Rodio said that crews have been working on Cedar Brook
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