Fireworks over Fort Apache Development

RIO GRANDE — After a year away the Regular Meeting of Middle Township Committee returned to the Rio Grande Firehouse. The items on the agenda were pretty standard fare. They included the Proclamation of the week of September 17 as Constitution Week, paying the bills, approving the minutes and accepting the report from the Township engineer Marc DeBlasio. But Agenda No. 13 – a Resolution Acknowledging Employee Status brought comments from the public.
The resolution created the position of director for three centers. They made Tammy Devitt director of the Davies Sports Complex. Robert Matthews was made director of the Martin Luther King Jr. Complex and Marlyn Miller was made director of the Samuel Devico Senior Center. Sam Kelly of Swainton voiced some objections for what he viewed as a lack of transparency in the process. Deputy Mayor Timothy Donohue replied that ample notice had been given by way of a press release which explained everything and notice of the reorganization on the township website. Kelly followed with, “You guys are the kinds of employers that make unions a necessary evil.”
Not on the formal agenda was item No. 19. This was a request for the committee to pass a support resolution for the work of Habitat For Humanity. Shawn Lockyear told the committee that a donor from Stone Harbor had donated a lot on the 200 block of Hand Avenue and Habitat was going to build an affordable dwelling for a family on it.
Lockyear also said that they also planned to build two more homes on Sumner Street. The project would begin in December 2013 and be completed by May 2015. Habitat received a Neighborhood Enhancement Grant to fund the project.
The real fireworks centered on the development project on the land parcel formerly known as Ft. Apache, Fulling Mill Road and Route 47. It is now known as the Ockie Wisting Recreational Facility. Mayor Daniel Lockwood said he hoped that the facility would “identify Middle Township for passive recreation activities,” noting that the original money to purchase the property came from the Green Acres fund.
During the public comment portion of the meeting, Ruth Beckermeyer, acting president for the HOA of Centennial development expressed concerns about the “development of this project.” She said that for years the residents had requested a traffic light but without success. Lockwood told her that a light was coming very soon. Donohue asked her what she would like to see on the property and also agreed to a meeting with the HOA or their representatives to make sure their concerns were heard.
Suzy Voll of Rio Grande stood to voice her support of the project. She said she had waited 40 years to have some sort of recreational venue for the children of the area. She also voiced her concern about the use of drugs in the area. The mayor told her that police presence had been increased by 25 percent in the area and Capt. John Edwards of the Middle Township Police Department had reported crime was down by 50 percent since then.
Rio Grande resident Stan Doniger wanted assurance that “outsiders” would be required to pay a fee for use of the recreational facility. He was told that organized groups are charged a fee for events.
In the coming weeks the committee will hear public input on a proposed begging ordinance.