Dear Neighbors,

Welcome to the latest edition of the Mount Laurel First E-News letter.

I would like to wish you all a Happy and Healthy New Year.
I hope you all enjoyed your Holiday.  I apologize for the delay between my last E-News letter and this one but I was very busy with my family and my business last month.

Mount Laurel - Zoning Board:  On Wednesday, January 9, 2008 @ 7:30 pm - The Zoning Board will have its reorganization meeting for 2008 - the township Courtroom. They will choose their Chair, Vice-Chair and their professionals.
The only application for that evening will be for Delco Development LLC - application #07- C/D-49 - for  site plan and master sign program.  They are proposing redeveloping the property that now houses the Laurel Inn, Fellowship Road and Route 73.  They asking to build a new hotel, redevelop the existing office building into a hotel and add a retail center.  The height of the new hotel has been already approved at a prior meeting.  All the other issues are still under review.

Mount Laurel Township Council:  Will convene for its reorganization meeting at 7:30 pm on Monday, January 7, 2008 - the township Courtroom.  At this meeting, the Council will choose the Mayor, Deputy Mayor and make its professional appointments for the coming year.

Mount Laurel - Planning Board:  Will convene its reorganization meeting on Thursday, January 10, 2008 @ 7:00 pm - the township Courtroom.  At this meeting they will choose their Chair, Vice-Chair and their professionals for the coming year. 

Mount Laurel Seniors, Inc.:  President Len Moser has forwarded to me his Newsletter dated January 2, 2008 and I have posted it online for all who wish to view it.  The link is as follows: http://www.mountlaurelfirst.com/Docs/senior%20news%20letter.doc

Lenape Girls Soccer:  At the December 17, 2007 Council meeting, the Governing body presented a Proclamation to the Lenape Girls Soccer team on winning the NJSIAA Group IV State Championship.  Each girl received an individual copy of the proclamation in front of their parents and members of the public.  The Lenape High school Principals, Tony Catanni and Len Westman were both in attendance along with the Athletic director, Bud Johnson.

International Sports Center:  In the early morning hours of December 16, 2007, the Mount Laurel Police responded to multiple reports of shots fired and discovered approximately 400 attendees of a private party present at the ISC on Hovtech Boulevard.  The Mount Laurel Council had an emergency meeting just prior to its Monday, December 17, 2007 public meeting to discuss the incident and what could be done to prevent this from occurring again in Mount Laurel.  There were a number of concerns that were addressed and some measures were taken the following day by the Fire Department and the the Department of Community Development.  A letter (PDF file) from the Management at the ISC was posted online.  Here is the link: http://www.intsports.com/CustomerFiles/C373_5240_1_2_Saturday,%20December%2015,%202007.pdf


Mount Laurel Police Chief Retires:  After 33 years of law enforcement service to Mount Laurel, Police Chief Dennis Moffett retired.  The Chief joined the Mount Laurel police force in 1974 and was promoted to Chief in October 2004. The Chief is an example of dedication to service that will surely be missed.  Congratulations and I wish him well in his retirement.

Per Lisa Conte - Township Resident:  Lisa, along with a number of Mount Laurel residents, attended last month's public hearing with the MUA in regards to their proposed adjustment to the water and sewer rates. 
Here is what Lisa reports:
The MUA informed us that due to expenses, primarily the purchasing of water from a third party supplier (NJ American Water Co.), there is a need to increase the water rates. According to the MUA, the current water rate for 0-10,000 gallons of water is $2.68, sewer is $5.32, metering for both water and sewer is $4.59 and they will increase the rates over the next six years as follows:

Water rates:
Volume charges: 0-10,000 gallons $2.68 (2008 & 2009), $2.81 (2010), $2.87 (2011), $3.00 (2012), $3.09 (2013)

Meter charges for 5/8" and 3/4": $5.95 (2008), $6.22 (2009), $6.50 (2010), $6.79 (2011), $7.10 (2012), $7.42 (2013)

Sewer rate increases are as follows:

0-10,000 gallons: $5.32 (2008), $5.56 (2009), $5.73 (2010), $5.96 (2011), $6.20 (2012), $6.45 (2013)

Meter charges for sewer: $5.95 (2008), $6.22 (2009), $6.47 (2010), $6.73 (2011), $7.00
(2012), $7.28 (2013)

Thank you for your support.

Sincerely,