Here is a look back at some of the people and events that made the news in 2012. Check back tomorrow for some more of what caught our attention.
By SHANNON CAULFIELD
The Marlton Sun
Here’s a look at some of the issues that made news in Marlton in 2012.
January
Marlton began 2012 by handling an issue that had never occurred before in the township.
Council members selected a replacement for Joe Howarth, the departing deputy mayor, who took a seat on the Burlington County Freeholder Board.
It was the first time since switching to the partisan format in 2010 that a decision like this had to be made.
Council received a list of approved Republican replacements 15 days following Howarth’s resignation.
The council then submitted three possible candidates to fill the seat. After the list of potential replacements was received, the township had 15 days to accept the replacement.
The Evesham Township Council welcomed 2012 with its annual reorganization meeting and bid farewell to Howarth and Township Manager Tom Czerniecki.
Czerniecki stepped down as township manager to take a vacant manager position in his hometown of Eastampton Township.
Bill Cromie was announced as the interim manager for the township.
Gov. Christie approved a bill that gives school districts the option of moving board of education elections to November, the same time as the general election.
Additionally, the bill allows all school budgets that fall within the 2 percent cap to be passed automatically, with no approval needed by township voters.
Moving the elections saves money, as well, according to school board president Sandy Student.
The school district pays between $23,000 and $25,000 each year to hold the elections, he said, and with the federal, state, county, municipal and school elections all being held on the same date, it would spread that cost across several entities.
February
Beginning in February, Howarth’s seat was filled by Ken D’Andrea.
D’Andrea served on council from 2000 to 2005. He stepped down from his position on the celebrations foundation and stepped down from the township’s soccer program.
“To quote Yogi Berra, ‘It’s deja vu all over again,’” D’Andrea said. “I’m extremely appreciative of this opportunity. It’s a great honor to serve at the behest of the residents again.”
The school board would have to present a “second question” for voter approval if a budget is proposed to exceed the 2 percent cap.
Board members whose terms were to have expired in April will be extended through January, pending November election results.
Members of the school board were concerned about township voters losing their say about the budget, but Student said anytime a governmental entity can encourage more participation in an election, it’s a success.
“You go from less than 10 percent to possibly 50 percent in a presidential year. You have more people to make decisions with this,” Student said. “It’s also a normal election cycle. It’s a full day for people able to vote; it’s not out of the reach of the normalcy. People can vote before their workday, and it also would take out the possibility of the election happening during spring vacation. I don’t see a negative. Anytime more people participate in the electoral process, that’s a great thing.”
Evesham Township Fire District’s budget was approved for $8.6 million.
The board’s vice president, Thomas Conkey, and commissioner Mark Scian both retained their seats after running unopposed in the election. Both seats are for three years and will expire in 2015.
Conkey received 289 votes and Scian received 264.
March
Increased state aid was awarded to the Evesham Township School District. The monies helped offset the loss of more than $84 million in ratables in Evesham Township.
The township received more than a $437,000 increase over its 2011–2012 school aid total for 2012–2013. The district will receive nearly $13.4 million in state aid to be used for 2012–2013, according to department of education figures.“When you take a look at it, that’s a lot of the extra money. Unfortunately, we’re part of the state health plan benefits and it has a substantial increase in costs for next year. (We) also have an increase for pension contributions,” Student said in March.
Originally, there was supposed to be a $46 tax increase for the average homeowners in the township just to keep the tax levy at the same level as 2011–2012 due to the decrease in ratables last year. The second was a $13 increase for the school district to sustain its programs and support its facilities. However, due to the unforeseen increase in aid, it was decreased to $28.
Later that month, Student was found to be in violation of state ethics standards by the state school ethics commission and was reprimanded.
The matter stemmed from a filed complaint on Oct. 16, 2009, by BOE members Lisa Mansfield and Bonnie Olt, who alleged Student violated the School Ethics Act by contacting TD Bank when the school district published a request for proposal for banking services.
Censure is not legal punishment, rather a verbal reprimand read aloud during a board meeting.
“It tells you that I did nothing that was illegal or immoral. I got nothing of personal gain and these charges are not criminal. It’s not civil — it’s administrative law. The actions say that I ‘may’ have jeopardized the board,” Student said. “My intent was not to do anything. I think that we need some better clarification from the Legislature on these items. They didn’t change their bid, they didn’t get the business, and I never asked them to change it. In the scheme of things, it’s a small one.”
April
Evesham Township received $200,000 in state aid for road improvements on Tomlinson Mill Road. Cromie said the grant will be used to resurface Tomlinson Mill Road. The town has been filling potholes in that area for several years now, he said, and it could use a resurfacing. The township did apply for the grant but didn’t know the dollar amount it would receive if accepted, he said.
According to Cromie, the estimate for the 1.25-mile project is about $345,000.
“The Christie administration strongly supports funding for local aid because it understands how important it is for government at all levels to provide safe streets and roads for motorists and pedestrians alike,” NJDOT Commissioner James Simpson said. “These grants advance local projects without placing a burden on local property taxpayers.”
The Lenape Regional High School District Board of Education adopted a $147 million budget for the 2012–2013 school year.
The total tax levy was $107 million; the increase is less than 1 percent of the state-mandated 2 percent levy cap.
Marlton resident and Bishop Eustace student Julianna Furfari, was named Miss Teen New Jersey in the United States Pageant System.
“I had never done pageants as a child, but I’ve always wanted to be on stage, to be an actress. I started cheerleading when I was young and that was more of a team sport. I wanted to venture out and do something that I could do for myself,” Furfari said. “This is only my second pageant, but I love to perform and be on stage. I absolutely fell in love with it — and competing.”
May
J. Harold Van Zant Elementary School won $15,000 in the “Save, Vote, Win” competition hosted by Cartridge World.
According to Walter Long, owner of Cartridge World in Cherry Hill, the school logged more than 6,000 votes in the contest, blowing the competition away. The school with the closest number to Van Zant received 1,000 votes.
According to Principal Rosemary McMullen, the money was used for technology purposes. The school was going to purchase two Active Boards, and two Notepads to go along with the interactive technology. McMullen said two laptops would be purchased to go along with the technology carts currently being used in the school as well.
The township’s $32.9 million budget was approved in May.
“We will have a zero percent tax increase again. We are staying at the same budget number as last year with no municipal tax increase. We’ve been asked by the residents to continue to provide them services and do it at a reduced cost. We are finding a way to make it happen right now,” Mayor Randy Brown said following the announcement of the approval. “A lot of credit goes to Tom Shanahan and Bill Cromie, and more importantly, all of our department heads who are coming up with creative ways to provide services without increasing manpower, utilizing their equipment better, and working with other entities such as the school district to save money.”
To continue to keep costs low, the township moved to privatize grass cutting services. The outsourced services could save the township approximately $269,000 annually.
June
The school board election ballot was finalized.
Two spots belonged to members Louise Sprouse and Trish Everhart, who filed for re-election, according to the Burlington County Clerk’s office.
The incumbents were joined by five other candidates: Kevin Stone, JoAnne Harmon, Elaine Barbagiovanni, Joe Fisicaro Jr. and Delana Simon, two of whom dropped before the November elections.
Additionally, a seat for the Lenape Regional High School District was set to be filled.
Barry Fitzgerald ran against newcomer Joanne Sanferraro.
Students of the Evesham Township School District performed well during the school year, according to the 2010–2011 New Jersey Department of Education Report Cards.
Evesham Township School District and Cherokee High School District students performed well in the statewide NJ ASK tests, according to the report.
The report is a state-mandated program the districts have been using since 1995.
According to the report, in the 2010–2011 school year the district spent $16,248 per student in the district, about $200 more than districts with similar budget types. However, the district decreased the cost per student by $500.
Cherokee students averaged a score of 531 in math, 508 in verbal, and 497 on the essay portion of the SAT.
