We look forward to 2025 as a year of hope and optimism. We should take one last moment to reflect on the eventful year that was 2024.
• Under the leadership of Chief Lou Bordi and Public Safety Director Jackie Fetbroyt, our Voorhees Township Police Department allowed our families to sleep easily at night. They continued to be equipped with body cameras and we had police officers in all of our schools all day every day. They engaged with our community through such programs as the 9th Annual Junior Police Academy and the Police Holiday Fund. They also established a Special Needs Registry to alert officers of medical or behavioral issues at a home to better address emergencies. The VTPD has also partnered with Volunteers of America to pair officers with Impact Specialists to provide immediate social services to those in need.
• Under the leadership of Chief Jim Poland, the Voorhees Township Fire Department kept our families safe. They engaged with our community through Fire Prevention Day, Santa on a Fire Truck, our Holiday Parade and Tree Lighting and Cookies with Santa. They battled the recent wildfires to keep our borders safe.
• Under the leadership of Joe Lovallo, the Voorhees Department of Public Works continued to keep our streets, parks and athletic fields safe. In spite of a significant increase due to more people working from home, trash removal was seamless.
• Under the leadership of Township Administrator Stephen Steglik, our Town Hall employees continued to provide the highest level of municipal services in an efficient and effective manner.
• The Township Committee worked hard to reduce spending and control costs. Voorhees engaged in sensible shared services programs with Eastern Regional High School, the Voorhees Township Schools, Gibbsboro, Laurel Springs, Brooklawn, Stratford, Berlin Township and Camden County. We continued our programs of side-arm trash collection and single stream recycling collection, allowing our manpower to be used more efficiently.
• The Voorhees Road Program continued with the repaving of 19 Township roads, including Laurel Oak Rd. Improvements were made to our sewer system with the rehabilitation of almost 5000 linear feet of sewer pipe. The construction of a salt dome at Connolly Park has been completed, helping DPW keep our roads safe in the winter. With a grant, a new walking path was installed next to Eastern Regional High School.
• We continued to improve our parks and athletic fields. A new swing set was installed at the Elliot Drive playground. With a grant, a new playground is being installed in the back of our soccer complex.
• To help keep our community safe, we continued our Safe Exchange Zone, DNA Home Asset Program, the NextDoor App, the E-Ticketing System, Project Medicine Drop, the Anonymous Crime Tip Line, Nixle and the Safe Cam Program.
• We continued to make our local government transparent and accessible. We televise all Township Committee Meetings and we regularly update the Township website. Over 7200 follow the Township on Facebook, 3000 on Instagram, 1000 on Twitter, almost 6000 on the Township App and almost 10,000 on the Next-Door App.
• We continued our “Voorhees Saves Lives Program.” Through contributions from private donations, free Uber rides home are provided to Voorhees residents from Dooney’s Pub, Iron Hill Brewery, Ott’s Tavern, the Library II and the ChopHouse in Gibbsboro from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. Since the inception of this program, DUI incidents have been dramatically reduced.
• We continued with our Shop Voorhees Property Tax Rewards Program, allowing a portion of your normal purchasing dollars spent on goods and services to be applied toward your property tax bill, thereby reducing your taxes at the end of the tax year. Last year, 3200 households participated with total purchases of over $400,000, leading to thousands of dollars in tax savings.
• Over 7000 people attended our Summer Concert Series with tributes to the Beatles, Jimmy Buffet and 80’s music.
• Our Voorhees Got Talent Competition drew talented contestants who competed over the course of several weeks. The winner was Kelsey Brown, a vocalist, pianist, educator, and Arts Administrator.
• Treehouse Cannabis Dispensary opened in Voorhees. We now have three operating cannabis dispensaries and two more approved, creating much needed revenue for our town.
• Voorhees Township continues to be a destination for new businesses. Last year, a total of 36 new businesses opened in our town.
• The arts are alive and well in Voorhees. In 2024, the Voorhees Art Commission sponsored many programs for residents of all ages, including “Healing Art for a Hero’s Heart,” “Classics by Candlelight” and art tables at community events.
• Saddlehill Vineyard and Winery opened and immediately became a popular destination for the South Jersey community.
• As ordered by the Camden County Board of Taxation and the State of New Jersey, a revaluation of all properties in Voorhees occurred in 2024. The goal of the revaluation program is to update all property assessments to fair market value. The process is revenue neutral and does not raise the total amount of taxes collected for the schools, county or municipality.
• Michelle Nocito and Jason Ravitz were re-elected to the Voorhees Township Committee.
Thank you to the many volunteers who serve on our Township’s boards, committees and
commissions.
Thank you for allowing me the privilege of serving as your Mayor in 2024. I will again embrace the honor in 2025. On behalf of the Voorhees Township Committee, we will continue to work hard to make Voorhees a great place in which to live, work and raise a family.
