COURT HOUSE – Township Clerk Kimberly Krauss is involved in the logistics for each presentation of Middle Township’s Employee of the Month. That made the decision by Mayor Timothy Donohue and Township Committee to surprise Krauss with the award for February a difficult task to pull off.
Deputy Mayor Daniel Lockwood said it had been a secret for about two weeks, but to fool Krauss they had to fake “an award certificate” seemingly making another employee the one honored in February. The subterfuge could only go so far, however, and the usual picture and write-up on the township website were held back.
The award given at the Feb. 18 committee meeting, moved from its normal day because of Presidents Day, was the latest in the township’s ongoing program of employee recognition.
Donohue cited Krauss’ energy and continuous effort to serve the committee and help employees better serve the citizens of Middle Township. For once, Krauss, who usually spends the minutes before meetings setting up awards for presentation by the mayor, got to take one back to her seat, along with a bouquet of flowers.
Laud Lifesavers
Recognition for extraordinary service continued when Donohue presented awards to two police officers, two emergency-medical-technician employees, and a communications officer for their shared efforts in saving a life Jan. 20.
When a call came in concerning a resident’s medical emergency, Communications Officer Keith Woodrow was able to get officers there ahead of EMTs. The ability of the officers to resuscitate the individual, the handoff to EMT personnel, and the eventual airlift of the patient to the University of Pennsylvania Hospital, ended up saving the life of the resident, who is back at home.
Police Officers Len Larkin and Allison Akke, along with Woodrow and EMTs Nancy Burke and Jennifer Teasenfitz were honored. Larkin was unable to attend the ceremony.
Limit on Special Law Enforcement Officers
Awards over, Krauss was back reading resolutions and recording votes at a routine committee meeting. The first ordinance passed set limits on the number of special law enforcement officers in the township. Donohue took a moment to recount the efforts by the township to increase the staff of full-time officers. Staffing of full-time officers had been reduced following the financial crisis in 2008 but is back up to a staff level of 48. The new ordinance sets a limit of seven on “Class Two or Class One special law enforcement officers.”
New Construction Fees
Resolutions were passed approving a new set of construction fees. Another authorized acceptance of credit card payments for collection of taxes and municipal court fees. Committee also clearly established the jurisdiction of the Middle Township Police Department over Dorothy Mack Road within the Goshen Recreation Complex. Drivers will find stricter enforcement of the posted 15 mph speed limit.
Boost Eco-Tourism
In a series of resolutions, committee expressed its support for eco-tourism and efforts to broaden its appeal in the township. Starting with an expression of support for a bill sponsored by Assemblyman Samuel Fiocchi (R-1st), which seeks to establish an “ECO-AG Tourism Council.”
Committee also expressed strong support for another Fiocchi bill which would require consideration of ecotourism when evaluation applications from local governments for acquiring lands for recreation and conservation purposes.
The committee continued in this vain to support bills that would establish an annual photography competition to promote ecotourism and one that requires the Division of Travel and Tourism to increase web promotion and advertising of ecological and agricultural tourist attractions.
Efforts to push ecotourism opportunities in the region have grown in recent years across Cape May County.
To contact Vince Conti, email vconti@cmcherald.com.
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