Delran Council members unanimously approved an ordinance on first reading banning people from feeding feral cats on public and private property during its Oct. 13 meeting.
“Whereas the Township has received complaints and concerns regarding the feeding of feral cats in residential and other areas, the Township Council finds that the unregulated feeding of feral cats may contribute to the congregation and proliferation of the feral cats and may result in nuisance, sanitation, health and property concerns affecting residents,” states the ordinance.
One resident said feral cats from a neighbor’s yard “have moved into a small well and are using my yard as a litter box” and asked Council what she should do with evidence of the cats.
Council advised her that she could not go on the neighbor’s property, but she should take pictures and present her information about the situation to the Delran Police Department.
Another resident said there were feral cats on her street that kill small animals and she wants to catch them. She was advised to contact the Burlington County Animal Shelter for information about how they can be trapped, neutered and released (TNR).
In other business, Council unanimously approved a series of 12 resolutions by consent agenda, including the purchase of a 2026 John Deere 544 P Wheel Loader through the Sourcewell Purchasing Network National Contract at a cost of $249,849.62.
Also, members approved the purchase of a 2027 Freightliner Plus Dump Truck Chassis through the same contract at a cost of $205,123.
During the public comment section of the meeting, resident Bill Spytch pointed out that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) proposal to reinforce the bulkheads with riprap along the Rancocas Creek next spring will only include 1,700 linear feet primarily “to save the Wastewater Treatment plant” and will not extend north to Chester Avenue.
“Do you have any idea how frustrating and big this issue really is?” asked a Norman Avenue resident, whose Riverside Park neighborhood gets severely flooded after heavy storms ever since Superstorm Sandy. “What is the next step for the Corps of Engineers?”
“We need the federal assistance to address this issue,” said Mayor Barnes Hutchins, adding that the township has filed an application for flood mitigation.
Council President Lynn Jeney said a previous report by the NJ Department of Environmental Protection stated that by 2100 the “water level will rise three feet” along the Rancocas Creek just one-quarter of a mile to where it merges with the Delaware River.
“The COE is working with us,” said Jeney, adding that it was good that Delran “was able to get the Army Corps of Engineers engaged.”
“No one is happy that the Corps of Engineers are not doing flooding mitigation,” said former mayor Gary Catrabone. “However, they are coming here after 15 years. Things are moving forward.”
“For years, Delran has been pushing for help with the challenges we face along the riverfront,” Mayor Hutchins said. “We are finally seeing real federal investment in our community, and that is a positive step.”
The next regular meeting of Delran Council will be Tuesday, Nov. 10, at 7 p.m. in the Township Building on Chester Avenue.
