Moorestown Council Looks Back On 2021, Prepares For 2022

MOORESTOWN, NJ — Moorestown Council looked back on 2021 and prepared for the upcoming year at its annual reorganization meeting Monday night.

Quinton Law was sworn in to office following his victory in November’s special election. Sue Mammarella was unanimously elected to serve as Deputy Mayor for the second consecutive year by her peers on council. Both were sworn in by Rep. Andy Kim (D-Burlington/Ocean).

“This past year was an incredible year for Moorestown,” Law said. “Every person sitting up here is here to make Moorestown the best it can be. Moorestown deserves the best services at the lowest cost. With everything going on right now, it is more important than ever for us to stand together. We are here to listen to you.”

It was the second consecutive year in which Law was sworn in, and it may be the second of three in a row. He was appointed to fill an unexpired term in 2021, and that term expires in 2022. He and Mayor Nicole Gillespie will both be up for re-election in November.

Mammarella, who spent part of her first term as Deputy Mayor battling cancer, said she is grateful for the support of her family and the other members of council.

“The more adversity I see, the more grateful I am for all the incredible things that I see,” Mammarella said. “I am committed to keeping taxes low and spending that tax money wisely.”

Mamarella and other members of Township Council touted some achievements from the last year, including passing legislation to allow recreational marijuana businesses, liquor stores and breweries in Moorestown.

To help Moorestown’s restaurants, Township Council made outdoor dining a permanent fixture.
The township’s affordable housing plan came closer to final approval from the state, Cooper Health is setting up an outpatient center at the Moorestown Mall, and the township got a semblance of normalcy back with festivals and food truck events after the statewide quarantine brought about by the coronavirus pandemic.

The budget included a 1.93 percent tax increase, but also included new positions that were needed in the township, including a new police officer. Township Council also passed legislation that expanded the police department’s ability to hire officers.

The township also made progress on the Lenola Streetscape Project and Percheron Park and water treatment.

“We’ve always acted in the town’s best interest,” Councilman Jake Van Dyken said.

While he’s not happy that coronavirus still presents a problem, Councilman Dave Zipin said one good thing to come out of the pandemic is the ability to allow residents to participate in council meetings online.

“I believe the stretching we’ve done over the last two years will benefit us going into the future,” Zipin said.

Mammarella, who worked with Law to explore issues surrounding diversity and inclusion in 2021, wants to continue that work while also focusing on historic preservation in 2022.

In 2022, Gillespie said the replacement of a 100-year-old water main will be among the township’s first priorities. She also said East Main Street needs a lot of work and the township needs to update its code regarding volunteers and committees.

“2022 is the year of the environment in Moorestown,” Gillespie said, noting that the township will focus on a different environmental issue each quarter. In the first quarter, the focus will be on energy use, she said.