Palmyra Borough Council agreed to build a six-foot, un-scalable fence along the Broad Street side of the railroad tracks that run along Legion Field after hearing various options from Borough Engineer William Kirchner, including building two new six-foot fences, during its meeting on Aug. 17.
Councilman Richard Dreby said it would be better to keep the existing four-foot fence on the Legion side of the tracks and build the six-foot fence on the Broad Street side.
“We have $150,000 in state funding for this Legion Field safety fence project,” said Borough Administrator John Gural, referencing the tragic death of Matthew Dickinson who was hit by a River Line train while crossing the tracks to go to soccer practice on Aug. 12, 2024.
Kirchner also presented several options to replace the existing Pavilion roof structure at Legion Field, adding that the least expensive option would be a prefabricated structure with steel columns that would cost just under $350,000. He also discussed plans to renovate the concession stand restrooms.
All three issues are expected to be on the agenda and finalized during the next regular meeting of Council on Monday, Sept. 21.
This month’s meeting started on a positive note as Mayor Gina Ragomo Tait administered the oath of office to Palmyra’s newest police officer, Xavier Mourey, whose relatives and friends were in the audience.
Police Chief Stephen Coveleski said Mourey was a Palmyra High School graduate from Beverly and that he returned to Palmyra after serving with the Burlington City Police Department.
With his parents by his side and fellow officers standing along the meeting room wall, Mourey proudly pledged to serve the town’s residents as a member of the Palmyra Police Department.
He received a rousing round of applause after Mayor Tait said, “Congratulations Xavier, and welcome aboard.”
In other business, Gural gave series of updates about redevelopment projects, including getting the Pamarco/Armotek Industries property at 701 Roto Ave., the Callahan Chemical property at 806 S. Broad St. to be a part of the Route 73 South Redevelopment Area.
He said representatives of the NJ Department of Environmental Protection will attend the next meeting of the town’s Brownfield Development Area steering committee to see if this effort to include the properties will be possible.
As for the former Palmyra Liquor Store at 107-9 W. Broad St., Gural said the town has received a proposal that would include a brewery at the location, and that the former store could also become a tavern.
Council members also approved a series of resolutions under consent agenda, including a change order from the Pioneer General Contracting Company which upgraded all the stormwater inlets in the borough that are now up to current state-mandated standards.
A second resolution extended the grace period for third quarter property taxes, a third one authorized the cancellation of taxes for a totally disabled veteran, and a fourth resolution authoring a change order increase of $1,840 in the contract with C. Stevenson & Son, Inc., for the Palmyra Wastewater Treatment Plant’s blower building HVAC and lighting upgrades.
The next regular Borough Council meeting will be on Monday, Sept. 21, at 6:30 p.m. in Borough Hall.
