At the heart of the meeting was a significant proposal from residents Dutch Morley and his sister, who advocated for changes to Ordinance 525-120. This ordinance governs the timing of political sign postings, currently allowing signs to be displayed “more than 45 days prior to the election” and mandating removal “within 14 days after the election.” Morley argued that these timelines are outdated, given the rise of vote-by-mail and early voting in New Jersey. He proposed adjusting the timeline to allow signs to be erected just “two days prior to the election” and removed “seven days after the election.”

Morley emphasized that the current setup, allowing signs to remain for up to 59 days, does not reflect the earlier distribution of vote-by-mail ballots, which starts 45 days before elections, or the onset of early voting 10 days prior. His proposal aims to better align the ordinance with these practices. During his presentation, Morley thanked a council member for discussing the ordinance amendment process with him and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to present his proposal to the council.

The Mayor responded positively, acknowledging the relevance of Morley’s points and assuring that the township committee would consider the suggestions. The Mayor also expressed appreciation for the residents’ civic engagement.

Following the public comment on the ordinance amendment, the council proceeded with other agenda items, including a public hearing on Ordinance 2025-13. This ordinance seeks to establish an age-restricted affordable housing zoning district. The planning board had previously deemed the concept consistent with the township’s master plan, and procedural discussions among committee members preceded the public comment session.

This initiative aimed to introduce young residents to local governance processes. Student representatives, acting as committee members, presented various reports. Sophia Anderson, serving as the acting committee member for administration and health services, reminded attendees of the upcoming November 4th election, emphasizing vote-by-mail and early voting options. She announced a seminar on Medicare open enrollment scheduled for October 29th at the Cinnaminson Library.

Other student-led reports included Riley Flank’s update on public works, which highlighted the beginning of curbside leaf collection in November and ongoing construction projects. The township received a $1,150,000 grant from the New Jersey Department of Transportation for a pedestrian sidewalk installation on Union Landing Road and a $525,000 grant for the reconstruction of Pheasant Run Drive. Public works also planned to plant 20 new trees across various parks and held a fall cleanup event with high resident participation.

Matthew Kenny, acting as the public safety liaison, detailed police activity statistics, including 3,174 total incidents and 29 arrests. He highlighted community engagement initiatives like the first-grade reading program and “Adopt a Cop” in local schools. Upcoming community events, such as the annual breakfast with Santa, were also mentioned.

Acting Deputy Mayor Carter Sheran discussed finance and economic development, focusing on a public hearing for an ordinance related to a senior development along River Road. This development aims to address affordable housing obligations. Sheran announced new businesses, including Gold’s Burgers and Four Quarters Plumbing, and discussed potential redevelopment plans for local shopping centers.

The Mayor’s report covered parks and recreation, announcing the completion of an inclusive playground funded by a $175,000 grant and the refurbishment of basketball courts at Garfield Park with a $70,000 grant. Upcoming community events included a trunk or treat on October 24th, a holiday lighting celebration on December 5th, and a house decorating contest in December. The Mayor also highlighted the importance of Veterans Day on November 11th.