Monroe Township’s latest council meeting on September 23 began with a proclamation. Mayor Greg Wolfe officially proclaimed the month of September as National Recovery Month in Monroe Township, aligning with its national observation.
The township had already been involved in initiatives for National Recovery Month in partnership with the Monroe Township Mayor’s Committee on Addiction Awareness and Williamstown’s Living Recovery Network, an organization founded in October 2025 by two local residents that focuses on providing care, support, services and resources for people impacted by addiction.
On August 30, the organizations hosted the town’s and South Jersey’s first-ever Black Poster Project for International Overdose Awareness Day, which occurs annually on August 31, serving as a start to National Recovery Month. The event honored thousands of lives lost to substance abuse, as well as provided resources for anyone directly or indirectly impacted by substance use and/or overdose. Living Recovery Network also has been offering several events and free services weekly.
Wolfe invited more than 15 members from the Living Recovery Network to join him in front of council as he read the proclamation and to thank the members for its hard work in town.
“There’s a lot of dedicated people that work here. They’re all volunteers. And they help in this fight not only during National Recovery Month, but throughout the entire year,” Wolfe said.
Moving forward, National Recovery Month will be observed each September “to celebrate hope, healing and resilience of individuals and families affected by substance use and mental health challenges” and to “provide an opportunity to recognize the life-changing impact of recovery support organizations and to reaffirm (Monroe Township’s) commitment to creating communities where every individual has the opportunity to thrive.”
Wolfe also presented Living Recovery Network with a Certificate of Recognition for the members’ “outstanding commitment to fostering hope, empowering individuals and families, and guiding those affected by addiction toward sustainable recovery and wellness.”
Each of the plaques were given to co-founders Michele Schreffler-Perez and Richie LoRusso Jr.
“We can’t do any of this without (the township) allowing us to do this,” Schreffler-Perez said. “The support we give saves lives.”
Throughout the rest of the meeting, council approved nine resolutions, including a resolution of “the Township of Monroe awarding the proposal for a renewable energy generating facility on township-owned lands to Cultivate Power, LLC and authorizing the negotiation and execution of a ground lease.”
During the reports section of the meeting, director of code enforcement William Sebastian shared the latest inspection report. In the month of August, there were 262 construction building inspections, 48 fire inspections, 233 electrical inspections, 87 plumbing inspections and 60 mechanical inspections. Across all divisions, there were a total of 690 inspections; so far in 2026, there have been 9,759 inspections.
The public comment portion of the meeting began at about thirty minutes into the meeting, and it lasted for about an hour and a half. Council then held a closed session where no action was taken before adjournment.
The October council meetings will be held on Wednesday, October 14 immediately after the ordinance committee meeting at 6:30 p.m. and on Wednesday, October 28 at 7 p.m. Both will be held at the Municipal Building.
Monroe Township Mayor Greg Wolfe (far right) with the founders and some members of the Living Recovery Network at the September 23 council meeting.
