Development News for Willingboro, New Jersey

New Ordinances Introduced for Towing, Special Events, and Performing Arts Center Management; Performing Arts Ordinance Tabled

The council held introductory discussions and public hearings for several ordinances. Ordinance 26-15, an amendment to the township code regarding towing procedures for the rotation list, was introduced and moved to final adoption. Ordinance 26-16, establishing a formal process for permitting, review, coordination, and regulation of special events within the township, also underwent public hearing and discussion. Ordinance 26-17, intended to establish a municipal performing arts center utility fund, define its governance structure, and provide for its administrative management, faced significant concerns from council members regarding its financial implications, particularly the potential for subsidizing deficits from the township's current fund and the separation of funds from existing operations. Due to these concerns, Ordinance 26-17 was tabled for further discussion at the June 16th meeting, with a request to review the associated contract for the performing arts center management.

Recreation Department Prepares for Summer with New Programs, Facility Upgrades, and Pool Access Details

The recreation department provided an update on its summer programming and facility preparations. Wind screens were installed at Mil Creek Park tennis courts, and sun shades at the Country Club Pool. Repairs were made to Bordio Park bathroom facilities, and 75 potholes were addressed in April. Summer camp registration is open, with 58 campers registered for a capacity of 120. The recreation leader has planned 17 trips for Discovery Day Camp (ages 5-10) and Burrough Explorers (ages 11-14), including end-of-year trips like a Spirit of Philadelphia lunch cruise. The department is seeking instructors for art and cooking classes. The summer movie series will run from June 24th to August 19th, featuring mobile pop-up events in neighborhood parks with recreation, music, food, and resources from various departments. A "Move Your Mind" community wellness challenge is scheduled from June 1st to July 12th, funded by a $10,000 grant, offering complimentary fitness classes. The summer pool will open for Memorial Day weekend, with daily access fees of $5 for residents and $8 for non-residents, managed through an online portal and in-person payments. Free pool access will be available for PreK3-12th grade residents every Friday.

Municipal Budget Amendments Discussed, Including DPW Staffing and Healthcare Coverage

The council discussed proposed amendments to the municipal budget for the upcoming fiscal year. Initial budget figures were submitted to the state for review, which required adjustments due to health insurance cost calculations. Specifically, $345,000 needed to be deducted from the introduced budget. Council members provided recommendations for cuts and additions. A key amendment involved adding $100,000 to the Department of Public Works salaries and wages to hire laborers, funded by cuts from other areas like communications vacancies, tax assessor stipends, and engineer and manager office salaries. Another significant amendment was adding $345,000 back into the healthcare line for library staff coverage, also requiring cuts from other departments. Council members received copies of the proposed amendments for review and further discussion.

Willingboro Police Department Annual Report Shows Increased Calls for Service, Motor Vehicle Thefts, but Overall Crime Reduction

Chief Bucks presented the 2025 annual report for the police department, detailing various aspects of their operations. The report highlighted an increase in calls for service over the past seven years, with specific breakdowns showing increases in ordinance violations while traffic stops decreased. Motor vehicle thefts saw a significant increase of 48% in 2025, attributed to factors like key fobs left in cars and technological theft methods. The Uniform Crime Report indicated a drop of 16 points overall, with specific increases in burglaries. The report also covered use of force statistics, showing it was used in a small percentage of calls for service and arrests, with detailed breakdowns of the types of force used. Internal affairs complaints and their dispositions were also presented. The department welcomed five new hires and celebrated two promotions. Community engagement efforts included participation in over 104 events and raising over $12,000 for charities. Future projects for 2026 include implementing a training unit, acquiring a Polaris UTV for park access, and enhancing the departmental awards program.