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p. 37
BOND RATING SLIPS TO AA-
Wednesday, September 24, 2014
Volume 18 • Issue 39
www.hammontongazette.com
S&P downgrades town from AA status; mayor cites A.C., county economics
by Lauren Bucci
GAzette StAff Writer
HAMMONtON—At the September 22 town council meeting,
Mayor Stephen DiDonato announced the town’s Standard and
Poor’s bond rating had slipped
from AA to AA-. DiDonato cited
the poor economic conditions in
Atlantic City and Atlantic County
as the reasons for the downgrade.
DiDonato reported that the town
also had an audit from Standard
and Poor’s to determine its bond
rating, but he said due to the new
factors used by the committee to
determine ratings, the town was affected by the depressed economic
conditions of the state and county,
particularly the issues surrounding
Atlantic City.
“We had an audit of Standard
and Poor’s, it reviewed Hammon-
ton’s bond rating. Unfortunately
Standard and Poor’s has changed
the factors they use for their ratings. they now go over the major
factor, 30 percent is the economy
and the economy in your county.
the unemployment rate in Atlantic
County is 15 to 17 percent, and we
all know [that’s] because the
largest driver, Atlantic City, is having its issues. the town unemployment rate is only 7 or 8 percent.
the state and county governments
have had several downgrades in
the last six years. i believe the
Grape St. may be Remembering Reagan’s visit
complete in Dec.
by Paul J. Macrie IV
GAzette StAff Writer
HAMMONtON—As fall begins, the road reconstruction project that is taking place on Grape
Street, Packard Street and Second
Street continues and is progressing.
According to Mayor Stephen DiDonato, the installation of curbing
See COUNCIL, Page 3
along these routes will begin in the
next few weeks and the concrete
work will begin no later than September 29. the plan is to have the
pipe installation on this particular
section of town completed by October 15.
this phase of the project includes the implementation of
storm, water and lateral drainage.
Recalling Reagan’s
visit, 30 years later
by Gabe Donio
GAzette StAff Writer
HAMMONtON—President
ronald reagan gave his Hammonton Address on September 19,
1984, drawing a massive crowd of
more than 30,000 people who
See STREET, Page 14
came to hear him give a speech
during the presidential campaign
that year. People were crammed,
body-to-body, between the stage
area near Horton Street and egg
Harbor road.
When he gave his speech, rea-
Uptown fall fest hugely successful Planning board denies
site plan’s approval
See REAGAN, Page 4
Courtesy of John Donio
Ronald Reagan came to downtown Hammonton on September 19, 1984. He spoke before of a crowd of more than 30,000
people. A portion of Central Avenue, near where he spoke, was renamed Ronald Reagan Drive.
by Paul J. Macrie IV
GAzette StAff Writer
HAMMONtON—On September 17, the Hammonton Planning
Board held its regular meeting to
address one major item on the
agenda. Applicant richard Sayer
was seeking minor site plan approval to expand a non-conforming condition (four apartments) to
allow a second floor to the rear of
the structure, located at 36 front
St; near richard Stockton of New
Jersey Kramer Hall. Local attorney frank Olivo represented the
applicant, while Lance Landgraf
Jr., a licensed planner in New Jersey, provided testimony for the application as well.
the property that the applicant,
Sayer, was seeking to expand has
Parks & Rec. looks
into bathroom issue
by Zack Brown
GAzette StAff Writer
THG/Paul J. Macrie IV. To purchase photos in The Gazette, call (609) 704-1940.
Councilman Tom Gribbin, Joanne Bruno of Susquehanna Bank and Chamber of Commerce President Kelly Raso hold the
winning apple pie at the First Annual Blueberry Crossing Fall Festival. The pie was baked by Sue Fognano. For more photos
from this uptown event, please see Pages 22 and 23.
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HAMMONtON—the Hammonton Parks and recreation
Commission discussed upcoming
renovations to Hammonton Lake
Park in preparation of the 2015
Little League State tournament
See BOARD, Page 10
during its monthly meeting at
town hall on September 16. the
meeting was the first to have a
quorum since June.
Commission member James
Borda, reporting on a conversation
with Hammonton Little League
Board President Mark Bianchini,
ONLY $20 FOR 52 WEEKS! CALL (609) 704-1940
See PARK, Page 10