Last Tuesday’s council meeting marked the beginning of a journey and the end of one for some.
Last Tuesday’s council meeting marked the beginning of a journey and the end of one for some. The department of public safety now has a new police officer, in addition to a new sergeant. Also, the Burlington Township School District has said goodbye to a longtime middle school principal.
Philippe Thibert was sworn in as a police officer and Marc Carnivale was sworn in as a sergeant in the department of public safety. A Burlington Township resident, Thibert graduated from Burlington Township High School and obtained his bachelor’s degree in finance from Rutgers University. Shortly after, he enlisted in the Air National Guard and is active with the 177th National Guard Reserves.
Carnivale attended Holy Cross High School and received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Delaware in criminal justice. With more than two decades of experience in law enforcement, Carnivale has served as a police officer, detective in the Investigation Bureau and has now been promoted to sergeant.
Council also recognized Larry Penny’s retirement from the Burlington Township School District. With 18 years in the district and 33 total years in the field of education, Penny said he appreciated his time in Burlington Township and was thankful to the board of education, mayor and town council for their support.
“Your hard work and dedication to the students has afforded our community with an opportunity to succeed every day,” Mayor Brian Carlin said.
Penny was vice principal of Thomas O. Hopkins Middle School and after four years was promoted to principal. Three years later, Penny took on the role as principal of Burlington Township Middle School at Springdale, where he would remain for 11 years.
“I hope I did a good enough job in educating all of the students here in Burlington Township,” Penny said.
In other news, Carlin appointed Nicholas DiPalo as a laborer in the department of public works, effective July 16. David Ekelburg was appointed as deputy municipal emergency management coordinator, effective July 1 through Dec. 31.
During the public comment portion of the meeting, residents expressed concern over the increased traffic, in particular Neck Road.
Walter Pearson, who has lived in the area since 2001, said the increased traffic with the new warehouses has created issues for people who live on the street. With new families moving in and kids on the street, someone will get hurt, according to Pearson.
“The vehicle traffic, picking up on that road, has been nuts,” Pearson said. “It seems like nothing gets put under control … something has to be done.”
County officials laid out a plan on June 27 to redesign the intersection of Route 130 and Dultys Lane. It involves the county taking jurisdiction of Dultys Lane from the township and widening the roadway significantly to provide two lanes heading toward Route 130. The plan also includes constructing a gentler curve on Dultys Lane approaching the intersection and providing double left-turn lanes on both Dultys Lane and Route 130 North.
“We have had conversations with the county about switching jurisdiction of Dultys Lane and Neck Road, where the township would take over Neck Road to make a cul de sac,” Carlin said. “It is a more complex problem than it might seem.”
“Nobody’s ignoring the issue … nobody is ignoring the problem,” Carlin said.
The next meeting will take place July 24 at 7 p.m. in the Burlington Township Municipal Center.
