Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Pennsauken public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
28 issues with medium priority
Leaf Collection Season
Pennsauken’s annual leaf pickup is starting, so residents need to rake leaves to the curb and check the Public Works schedule for their neighborhood. Miss the dates and you’ll be stuck with soggy piles until the next pass.
Veteran Tax Exemptions and Refunds
A new policy makes the township cancel taxes effective from the exemption date when a totally disabled veteran's application is approved, giving qualifying veterans their full relief.
Body-Worn Cameras for Police
The township planned to buy body-worn camera equipment for police through the state NJSTART cooperative contract with AXON Enterprise.
Former River Road Landfill Remediation
A resolution supporting remediation and redevelopment at the former River Road landfill on River Road was scheduled. Redeveloping the old landfill site could change how that land is used for years to come.
Traffic ordinance for Horner & Upsal Avenues
First reading of an ordinance changing vehicle and traffic rules at Horner and Upsal Avenues — it needs a second reading and public hearing before final adoption.
Police fleet vehicle upfit funding
Three new Ford Explorer police vehicles will be bought from Winner Ford for up to $140,000 under the state contract. Mayor Olivo abstained on this one.
Pennsauken Country Club turf products contract
A $240,000 bond ordinance funds bunker rebuilding, cart path relocation and golf course maintenance equipment. The course has been outperforming last year's earnings despite a six-week snow closure.
No-parking sign enforcement dispute on Froschhoffer/King Street alleyway
Old handicap parking restrictions on 45th and 44th Streets are being removed, and parking will be banned in the alley behind 3735–3725 King Avenue with new signs.
School crossing guard staffing
Barbara Mount resigned as a crossing guard, and the township hired Linda R. Sweeney and Joan M. Mignano to keep school crossings covered.
Senior bus service expansion with Stonegate Three
The Township signed an MOU with Stonegate Three LLC adding a weekly senior shopping bus run, with the property chipping in $1,000 a year.
Incomplete curb construction safety concern
A resident reported dangerous curb and mailbox-area construction in her neighborhood and asked whether crews will return to finish. Staff took her information to follow up.
Irving Avenue Roadway Reconstruction
The township is applying for a NJDOT grant to reconstruct Irving Avenue — a state-funded road improvement project for the neighborhood.
Planning Board study on data centers and server farms
Data centers are booming across New Jersey, and Pennsauken wants to get ahead of it — the Planning Board will study how to regulate server farms and hyperscale facilities, weighing concerns about power use, water consumption, noise and air quality.
New stop intersections on Camden Avenue and residential streets
Four-way stops are coming to Camden Avenue at 45th and 46th Streets, plus new stop signs on Bannard, Jefferson, Woodruff and Horner Avenues — aimed at slowing cut-through traffic.
Illegal dumping and neighborhood quality of life near 36th-43rd Streets
A resident flagged chronic trash dumping along Chestnut Street near the railroad tracks, clothes left at a corner trash can, speeding, and dirt bikes riding without helmets on weekends — and asked for a camera to catch dumpers.
Postponed police officer swearings-in
Pennsauken swore in five new officers, two sergeants, a lieutenant, and K-9 West, the department's first crisis response canine. The new hires will hit the streets after field training, and the canine team will support officer well-being and community policing.
2026 Municipal Service Contracts
The consent agenda locks in year contracts for landscaping materials, dumpster services, lawn maintenance, concrete repairs and storm drain repairs — the routine work that keeps parks, roads and cleanup services running.
Autism Awareness Month and child abuse prevention efforts
Committee members highlighted April's Autism Awareness and Child Abuse Prevention months, including the township's third annual autism expo on April 24 and a Pinwheels for Prevention event April 9 at the police station.
2026 Temporary Appropriations
The Committee moved $505,000 between 2025 budget reserves to pay bills that arrived without purchase orders late in the year, and passed emergency temporary appropriations to keep the township funded until the full 2026 budget is adopted. This is standard year-end cleanup, not new spending.
2026 Country Club fees set; course revenue offsets taxes
The township set all golf course prices for the 2026-27 season — memberships run $1,389 for residents versus $3,500 for non-residents, and greens fees range from $41 to $68 in season. Rates can swing up to 20% daily under dynamic pricing, so the posted price isn't always the price you'll pay.
Culture Transformation Contract with DillonMarcus
The township is spending up to $75,000 on a year-long internal culture program for township employees through a Cherry Hill firm, awarded without competitive bidding as a unique professional service.
Felix Produce Market expansion to Pennsauken
A family-run Camden produce and grocery business wants to open at 4747 Westfield Avenue, bringing fresh produce, sandwiches, and household goods plus four jobs. They still need to go through planning/zoning approvals.
Peddling and soliciting rules tightened
A first-reading ordinance would require anyone canvassing homeowners for fire-damage repair work to get an annual license through the Fire Marshal's Office, and bars public adjusters from cold-calling or contracting with victims in the 24 hours after a loss.
CY 2026 budget cap bank
The township is reserving the right to spend up to 3% more than last year's budget instead of the state's default 2% cap — banking about $418,000 in flexibility it can use over the next two budget years if needed.
Winter storm readiness and snow removal rules
Public Works is prepped for the weekend snow and ice storm. Officials are asking residents to park in driveways, limit travel, and shovel onto grass instead of streets — shoveling into the road is a township ordinance violation.
NJDOT Route 130 alternatives (closed session)
The Committee went into closed session to hear NJDOT's presentation on Route 130 alternatives between Beacon Avenue and Westfield Avenue. No action was taken, and details remain confidential for now.
National Highway Roadway Improvements Grant
The committee authorized applying for an NJDOT grant and signing the grant contract for National Highway improvements. Grant money means road work without the full burden on local taxpayers.
Monument Removal
Pennsauken officials quietly took down their Christopher Columbus statue following the nationwide push to remove controversial public monuments. It's part of a broader local effort to rethink which historical figures get honored in our shared spaces.