Gloucester Township Council held its regular meeting on Aug. 25 and began with a presentation honoring winners of the Law Enforcement Against Drugs and Violence (LEAD) poster and essay contest.
Police Chief David Harkins, Lt. Jason Frentz and officer Doug Pickard recognized students from township schools for their creative and persuasive work to promote healthy, drug-free choices. Harkins also praised the LEAD program’s impact, noting how it serves all fifth and seventh graders.
“This is one of the premier programs in our community relations efforts,” he noted, commending police officers who act as both teachers and mentors.
Pickard said he’s inspired by connections formed with LEAD students.
“Every year is a new experience and a new lesson,” he said. “These kids inspire me as much as I hope I inspire them.”
The poster contest’s winner is Juliana Cabe, while Joanna Simpkins earned first place for an essay she read aloud at the meeting. After announcing their wins, council moved into the session’s first public portion.
Township resident Bonita Joy Morrison, of the La Cascata neighborhood, raised concerns about road paving priorities. She has attended meetings for nearly a decade advocating for repairs in her neighborhood and pointed to a resolution authorizing bids for the Cherrywood Drive project. She questioned why that neighborhood is getting another round of improvements while La Cascata roads remain unpaved.
“If you don’t want to pave the road, give it back,” she suggested. “We’ll pave it. We have the money.”
Morrison reported that her HOA has already spent nearly $1 million on private lots, while township-owned roads go without upgrades.
Township Engineer Tom McGill responded to Morrison by clarifying that La Cascata’s road project is now official and paving should begin in the next couple of months. It was explained that Cherrywood Drive is a separate project in different stages of paving.
Resident Dave Leader questioned the township’s financial transparency, noting that while council votes on large expenditures, the public cannot always access detailed bill lists. He urged the township to make such information more easily available online, but Clerk Kathy Connolly confirmed that the list is available on the municipal website.
Council then passed a proclamation at the meeting to support the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” Labor Day crackdown, a state-wide effort to combat impaired driving that ended on Monday. Other business included a bid report for hydrogen sulfide control services and approval of routine consent agenda items.
Township residents raised a range of issues during the meeting’s second public portion.
James Transky cited public safety concerns on Central Avenue, where drivers frequently ignore stop signs and one-way restrictions. He urged the township to consider making the road permanently one way. Harkins acknowledged the problem and said the police will make the issue a priority.
Kelly Gentile had questions about the township’s new Blackbox Theater, including rental policies staffing, and operations. The facility’s grand opening is set for Saturday, Sept. 13, with details available online. The theater will accommodate community gatherings and small, live performances.
Leader revisited his concerns about public dialogue during meetings, arguing that residents should be allowed to correct misinformation in real time rather than waiting until the next session. He also pressed for updates on joining the township’s green team and called for stronger coordination between council, county, and school boards before approving new housing developments.
Morrison spoke up again, asking whether paving in her neighborhood of La Cascata would be completed in her lifetime.
Michelle Brock of Cherrywood was attending her first council meeting and raised traffic concerns about the Laurel Road and Chews Landing Road intersection, where turn signals frequently delay traffic even when lanes are empty. Council members explained that the intersection is outside township jurisdiction and falls under the borough of Lindenwold and Camden County, but offered to connect Brock with the appropriate contacts.
Council President Orlando Mercado emphasized that the township follows rules of order during meetings to allow structured public comment, but stressed that all concerns raised are addressed before adjournment.
Council members and staff also offered closing comments at the meeting. Harkins reported on a successful National Night Out, upcoming back-to-school safety efforts and the Labor Day DWI enforcement campaign. Council members congratulated the LEAD winners and praised community events such as the Mystic Ginger Night Market.
Councilwoman Albright-Troxel addressed both the student contest and the passionate advocacy of township residents.
“You make me smile when you come up and speak,” she told Morrison, “and I do hope your road gets fixed soon.”
