Woodbine Councilman Says State Troopers Not Happy With Court Move

WOODBINE– Borough Council at its July 15 meeting passed a resolution to enter into a Shared Services agreement with Middle Township for Municipal Court Services and a shared municipal court.
Council member Clarence Ryan opposed merging the courts and said the state police are not happy with the change. “I’m all about saving money but our troopers must now travel over 10 miles each way which will cut down on the time they have to patrol the streets,” he said.
Mayor Pikolycky said in a written statement “In the current economic climate, including reduced State Aid, all municipalities have been asked to cut municipal expenses so as to provide for real property tax assistance, while continuing to make ends meet. As neighboring municipalities turn to each other in an effort to make limited resources stretch as far as possible, consolidation and/or shared services with other public entities results in savings in administrative and other redundant costs.”
Ryan said in these hard times many in Woodbine are without work. “Some people have no transportation, they ride bikes and walk,” he explained. Ryan is concerned the struggling residents that need to make payment arrangements for minor infractions will be forced to travel multiple times to ask the court for changes in their agreements.
Ryan said the current judge Christopher Robertson has a three year contract with the Borough that was just started this year. Ryan said the Borough is obligated to pay Robertson for the contracts term.
The new court agreement would be for a term of five years, with an anticipated commencement date of September 1, 2010, and continuing through August 31, 2015.