Woodbine Council Victors Watkins, Ortiz Take Seats

By HARRY B. SCHEELER JR.
WOODBINE — On Jan. 7, the Borough of Woodbine added a new councilman, and returned an incumbent to the governing body.
Both council members where sworn to terms on the governing body, and Mayor William Pikolycky gave his State of the Borough address to a packed Borough Hall.
Eduardo Ortiz was sworn into his fifth council term by borough Solicitor Michael Benson. His wife Miriam, mother-in-law Georgina Rivera and daughter Kayla, 15, joined him. Ortiz has been a resident of Woodbine for 32 years.
County Freeholder Director Daniel Beyel swore Republican Douglass Watkins to his first term.
Watkins’ wife Getti, his 6-year-old son, Douglas Jr. and his parents were by his side.
Watkins is a life long borough resident going on 47 years. Watkins is a longtime member of the Woodbine Volunteer Fire Department, has also served as a chief on the fire department and Woodbine Ambulance Corps.
Woodbine Borough Council members and County Freeholders and Leonard C. Desiderio watched as Pikolycky gave his speech that outlined the borough’s accomplishments of 2007.
The mood was very exciting as Pikolycky talked about the approximately $2 million in grants the borough received to fund community programs and economic development projects.
Pikolycky reported, “The borough has a very strong infrastructural and business-friendly way that is attracting businesses and development.”
The mayor stated that that was a result of a developer solicitation the borough has been in ongoing discussions with Garden State Ethanol for the development of a $100- million ethanol plant which would see the creation of new jobs, a substantial ratable base and the identification of Woodbine as New Jersey’s premier site for ethanol production.
Pikolycky also reported that Blue Diamond has purchased the former Vinci’s Express building and the borough will have the presence of two large waste management operations.
The meeting closed with comments from Solicitor Benson. Benson noted how he had grown up in the borough with several members of council, and how he was “proud” of the progress the borough has made since he became solicitor 18 years ago in a time he described the town being “sleepy.”