Delanco Tackles Traffic and Insurance Challenges Amid Development

At the recent Delanco Town Council meeting, attention was given to the challenges of managing the township’s development, with a particular focus on the need for a comprehensive traffic study and the complexities surrounding the renewal of the town’s insurance fund membership. These issues stood out amongst discussions on a range of topics including storm water regulation ordinances, public works updates, and health benefit costs for government employees.

The council was presented with a detailed update on the Burlington County Joint Insurance Fund by Steve Walsh, the Risk Management Consultant, and Paul Myola, the executive director of the fund. Myola outlined the challenges faced by the insurance market, such as reinsurance cost increases, medical cost inflation, workers’ compensation, and statutory regulatory changes. He highlighted the financial stability of the organization and the efficient operation, which includes the release of dividends to members. Myola also compared their fund with other joint insurance funds, shedding light on the value proposition and the benefits of various programs such as safety and risk management training, environmental risk management, cyber risk management, and claims management. Emphasis was placed on training and safety measures that reduce lost time accidents, with the utilization of transitional duty programs to facilitate employees’ return to work.

The discussion on insurance also covered the town’s approach to managing occupational injury treatment, with a focus on selecting the best possible specialists to save on long-term costs. The effectiveness of the town’s defense panel and the wellness program in reducing workers’ compensation costs were also highlighted. Statistics were presented to show the difference in costs and time between employees with comorbidities and those without.

A representative from the transportation group Aton proposed a township-wide traffic study to address the incremental increases in traffic volumes due to rapid development in the area. The study would collect data on traffic crashes, analyze traffic signal plans, and observe traffic counts at intersections. The aim is to develop a meaningful circulation element for the town’s master plan and to demonstrate to the county the need for assistance in resolving traffic issues. Council members discussed the enforcement of proposed remedies, especially on county roads, the need for collaboration with the county, and the potential for grant opportunities. The inclusion of police reports in the study was seen as essential to providing a complete picture of the traffic situation.

The traffic study discussion was part of a broader conversation on the need for a comprehensive approach to traffic management in the township. Concerns were raised about the effectiveness of advanced warning signs, communication with Burlington County, and the impact of vacant warehouses on traffic flow. The council expressed skepticism about the county’s willingness to act on the study’s findings but also acknowledged its potential to provide valuable data for future development and infrastructure improvement.

In addition to traffic and insurance, the council discussed the storm water pollution prevention plan, which is nearing completion. There was a discussion on the need for ordinances related to privately owned salt storage and tree removal and replacement. The salt storage ordinance aims to prevent salt from washing into the storm sewer system, while the tree ordinance would apply to the removal of any healthy live tree by any party. Health benefit costs for local government employees were also a concern, with a projected 16% rate increase for the upcoming year prompting the council to explore alternative options.

The council also addressed ordinances related to storm water regulations, with concerns about the potential loss of the MS4 storm water license if not adopted. Other topics included the challenges homeowners face in obtaining tree-cutting permits, the use of Gator bags for watering newly planted trees, updates from the Police Department on officer recruitment, and public works activities such as brush collection and property maintenance.

The meeting concluded with the execution of several resolutions, including the contract renewal for the insurance fund, awarding a contract for acoustical panels, and authorizing a change order for the Field of Dreams field lighting project. Public concerns were raised about pavement cracks and illegal U-turns by driving schools, with the police department urging residents to report any violations. The possibility of installing a temporary speed bump to address speeding issues was also discussed.

Note: This meeting summary was generated by AI, which can occasionally misspell names, misattribute actions, and state inaccuracies. This summary is intended to be a starting point and you should review the meeting record linked above before acting on anything you read. If we got something wrong, let us know. We’re working every day to improve our process in pursuit of universal local government transparency.
Mayor:
Matt Bartlett
City Council Officials:
Carolyn Suess, Kate Fitzpatrick, Fern Ouellette, Michael L. Templeton

Receive debriefs about local meetings in your inbox weekly:

Trending meetings
across the country:

Meeting Date
Filter by bodytypes
Agricultural Advisory Committee
Airport Advisory Board
Art and Culture Board
Beach Committee
Bike and Pedestrian Advisory Committee
Board of Elections
Board of Health
Borough Council
Building Committee
Cannabis Control Board
Cemetery Commission
Charter Revision Commission
Child and Family Services Board
City Council
City Identity Committee
Code Enforcement Board
College Board of Trustees
Community Appearance Board
Community Preservation Committee
Community Redevelopment Agency
County Council
Disability Advisory Committee
Economic Development Board
Elderly Affairs Board
Electric Advisory Board
Environmental Commission
Financial Oversight Board
Historic Preservation Commission
Housing Authority
Human Relations Committee
Human Resources Committee
Insurance Fund
Land Use Board
Library Board
Licensing Board
Mental Health Commission
Municipal Alliance
Open Space Commission
Oversight and Review Committee
Parent Advisory Board
Parking Authority
Parks and Gardens Commission
Parks Commission
Pension Board
Planning Board
Police Review Board
Port Authority
Property Assessment Board
Public Safety Committee
Recreation Commission
Redevelopment Agency
Rent Control Board
Rent Leveling Board
School Board
Sewerage Authority
Shade Tree Commission
Special Magistrate
Taxation & Revenue Advisory Committee
Tourism Board
Trails Committee
Transportation Board
Utility Board
Value Adjustment Board
Veterans Committee
Water Control Board
Women's Advisory Committee
Youth Advisory Committee
Zoning Board
Filter by County
FL
Bay County
Bradford County
Brevard County
Broward County
Clay County
Duval County
Escambia County
Gulf County
Hendry County
Highlands County
Hillsborough County
Indian River County
Lake County
Lee County
Leon County
Levy County
Liberty County
Manatee County
Marion County
Martin County
Miami-Dade County
Monroe County
Okaloosa County
Orange County
Osceola County
Palm Beach County
Pasco County
Pinellas County
Polk County
Putnam County
Santa Rosa County
Sarasota County
Seminole County
St. Johns County
Taylor County
Volusia County
Walton County
MA
Barnstable County
Berkshire County
Bristol County
Essex County
Franklin County
Hampden County
Hampshire County
Middlesex County
Norfolk County
Plymouth County
Suffolk County
Worcester County
MN
Anoka County
Becker County
Beltrami County
Benton County
Blue Earth County
Brown County
Carver County
Cass County
Chippewa County
Chisago County
Clay County
Cook County
Crow Wing County
Dakota County
Freeborn County
Goodhue County
Grant County
Hennepin County
Isanti County
Itasca County
Kanabec County
Kandiyohi County
Koochiching County
Lac Qui Parle County
Lyon County
Mcleod County
Morrison County
Mower County
Nicollet County
Olmsted County
Pipestone County
Polk County
Ramsey County
Rice County
Scott County
Sherburne County
Sibley County
St Louis County
Stearns County
Steele County
Waseca County
Washington County
Wright County
NJ
Atlantic County
Bergen County
Burlington County
Camden County
Cape May County
Cumberland County
Essex County
Gloucester County
Hudson County
Hunterdon County
Mercer County
Middlesex County
Monmouth County
Morris County
Ocean County
Passaic County
Somerset County
Sussex County
Union County
Warren County
NY
Bronx County
Kings County
New York County
Queens County
Richmond County
TN
Shelby County
Filter by sourcetypes
Minutes
Recording