The Fiscal Oversight Committee voted unanimously to send a recommendation to council to futher research and put together bid specifications for a solar panel system to provide power for Town facilities. A recommendation will also be sent to the Hammonton School District. This is an excellent opportunity for the Town and School District to work together and share services on this project. It is also a great opportunity to explore savings for the taxpayers of our community. According to a report in the Gazette, initial findings were not too promising. The cost reported as opposed to the savings would mean it would take just over 46.5 years to break even on this project. However, we realize that it is very early in this process and much more research has to be done. We suggest that either the Fiscal Oversight Committee or the newly created Green Committee contact Ocean City, NJ to find out information on the system they plan to install and have operational by this summer. Below is an excerpt from a web site explaining a little bit about their project:
SOLAR ENERGY
The City of Ocean City is taking the lead on implementing a solar project with the potential to provide 1.3 Mw of power for four municipal buildings and all three schools located within the City. The initial municipal buildings to have solar panels installed include the Civic Center, the Community Center, the Henry S. Knight Engineering and Operations Center, and the former public works site.
The City and School District could see the potential savings of $100,000.00 in the first year with no cost to the taxpayer by using private partnerships, grants and rebates. Overall, savings on energy costs from the project are expected to be between 10% and 25%, depending on the final number of buildings that will have solar panels installed.
As redevelopment of City property progresses throughout time, the City plans to evaluate the possibility and potential effectiveness of utilizing roof space for solar energy.
We also suggest that in this year's budget for both the Town and the School, money be put aside to fund some type of project rather than resorting to bonding and adding to our already record high debt. Of course, the best option is being able to take advantage of the same situation Ocean City has and have no cost to the Town.
The Democrats fully support further exploration into this project and are willing to assist in any way we can.
Hammonton going green? The Mayor and his brothers have been stealing all the green for years from Hammontonians. Their pockets are lined with taxpayers' money! Especially since the mayor took advantage of tax incentives put in place to attract outside businesses. He pocketed over a hundred thousands dollars! THATS A LOT OF GREEN!
hey spin master, please read the oridance on the books as it relates to tax breaks.There is no one breaking the law here. Just you trying to spin a lie. Why don't you do your reading on this issue? Are the business's in that shopping center new to hammonton, you bet, you just don't get it , do yea? Is the building new to the town ? sure is ..the town is now getting more tax dollars from this development than from the empty farm ground that was there, plus the site has been such a beautiful improvement to the gateway to our town. One would guess that when Sears builds its' new store on the White horse Pike they will not be entitled to a tax break with a new store on a now vacant piece of property.Isn't it better to get a little tax vs none? Your thinking is behind the times my boy. Do some research, tax ratables are down in Hammonton, the town needs some serious growth if now we will all experience increases in our tax bills very shorthly no matter who is sitting in the drivers seat. One also thinks that you have crossed the line in saying that they are stealing money, just another one of your spins, because if they were, they would be in trouble, and you spin master know that most of all. For you campaign season must be a year round event.
Hey thick head . get it right tax breaks are good.. it's called thinking for the future. the mayor did nothing wrong. jimmy bertino passed the ordiance for tax breaks.
But the law says Councilmen are entitled to benefits, but you don't like that. Spin Spin Sugar!
That was one Republican solicitor's interpretation of the law. He took the stance that because they were on call the council were considered full time. Of course, we all know that is ridiculous. Council members are part time employees and therefore not eligible for benefits. Let's fix this mistake NOW!!!
why do they need a green committee if the fiscal oversight committee is looking into going green ( i.e the solar panels)? Too much micro-management bull----!
why do they need a green committee if the fiscal oversight committee is looking into going green ( i.e the solar panels)? Too much micro-management bull----!
Hammonton has become over politicized and over micro-managed and then they tell us It's All Good.
hey spin master, please read the oridance on the books as it relates to tax breaks.There is no one breaking the law here. Just you trying to spin a lie. Why don't you do your reading on this issue? Are the business's in that shopping center new to hammonton, you bet, you just don't get it , do yea? Is the building new to the town ? sure is ..the town is now getting more tax dollars from this development than from the empty farm ground that was there, plus the site has been such a beautiful improvement to the gateway to our town. One would guess that when Sears builds its' new store on the White horse Pike they will not be entitled to a tax break with a new store on a now vacant piece of property.Isn't it better to get a little tax vs none? Your thinking is behind the times my boy. Do some research, tax ratables are down in Hammonton, the town needs some serious growth if now we will all experience increases in our tax bills very shorthly no matter who is sitting in the drivers seat. One also thinks that you have crossed the line in saying that they are stealing money, just another one of your spins, because if they were, they would be in trouble, and you spin master know that most of all. For you campaign season must be a year round event.
Another zero tax increase this year. And next year will be four in a row!
