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Employee of the Year 2023

Middle Tax Collector named Township’s Employee of the Year

Veteran employee Sandy Beasley has worked with the township for 30 years

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Middle Township Tax Collector Sandy Beasley regularly earns appreciation from residents and colleagues. Now she
has won the Township’s 2023 Darius Graham Employee of the Year award for her helpful and caring ways.

Middle Township’s Tax Collector Sandy Beasley is known for her expertise, but her dedication to the municipality and its residents is what’s made her a Township treasure over the past 30 years.

Beasley goes above and beyond while on the job, and her diligence has earned her the title of Middle Township Employee of the Year. She was surprised with the 2023 Darius Graham Employee of the Year award during a staff holiday event last week. The award is named for a longtime employee of the Clean Communities Program and is given to those who demonstrate a deep commitment to their work, the Township, and its residents.

“Sandy has served our community with the highest standards for three decades,” Mayor Tim Donohue said. “She works hard every day to ensure that the taxpayers of Middle Township are well-informed and treated with care and dignity.”

Middle also presents Employee of the Month awards throughout the year, and the annual winner is selected from those honorees. Beasley was awarded this honor in August, after helping resident Rita Foss during a crisis that threatened her home.

One week before Christmas 2022, Foss received notice that her home was going into foreclosure.  Beasley reviewed Foss’ paperwork and discovered an address error on a tax-service company document.  After multiple calls to Foss’ mortgage firm and the tax-service company it contracted with, Beasley finally got the tax company to investigate and confirm the error.

At the time, Beasley’s colleague, tax clerk Julianne Calverley, made sure to give credit to her modest co-worker.

“I said, ‘Sandy, you saved this woman’s home. That’s a big deal!’” said Calverley, who nominated Beasley for Middle Employee of the Month honors.

Beasley said she enjoys troubleshooting tax issues for the community. She takes pride in being able to explain bills to residents who call and stop in for help. Known as a “go-to person” in her field, Beasley is quick to answer questions from other municipal tax collectors, too.

“We have wonderful people living in Middle Township, and my colleagues and I work together to resolve challenges and get to the bottom of problems,” Beasley said. “We will help everyone that comes in here.”

Employee of the Year 20232023-12-04T17:13:54-05:00

Middle Township Christmas Events

Middle Township offers nice list of Christmas events

Residents can spread holiday cheer at a tree lighting and parade or by entering a decorating contest

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Middle Township residents know home is the best place to be for the holidays, especially when the community has a nice list of Christmas events.

Residents are welcome to bundle up, join the festivities, and help make this season merry and bright for all. The activities include:

Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting: Residents can kick off the holiday season at Middle Township’s Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting. The event will begin at 6 p.m. on Dec. 8 at Memorial Field. The parade will travel north on Route 9 to Mechanic Street, where guests can enjoy a spectacular tree lighting in front of town hall. After the tree lighting, dance performances will take place in front of the library. Refreshments and a visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus follow at the Firehouse, 112 Hand Ave. To participate in the parade, opens in a new windowregister here by Dec. 4.

Christmas House Decorating Contest: Haul out the holly and enter Middle Township’s Christmas house decorating contest. Homes will be judged on theme and design, creativity, effort, and overall presentation. Judging will take place on Dec. 19. Prizes will be awarded to the first-, second- and third-place winners. Residents interested in participating must opens in a new windowregister here by Dec. 13.

Middle Township Christmas Events2023-12-21T15:16:54-05:00

Middle Township Committee Introduces Business Registration License

Middle Township Committee Introduces Business Registration License

Business owners can purchase the license through GovPilot, an online municipal program

Business owners operating in Middle Township have until Jan. 1 to purchase a business registration license through a process that brings the municipality in compliance with state law.

Township Committee adopted the ordinance to establish a business registration licensing requirement at its Nov. 20 meeting.

The licensing protocol complies with an August 2022 state law that requires owners of businesses or rental units to register their certificate of insurance with a municipality. Without a business licensing system, the Township had no way to enforce the state law.

Business owners and owners of rental units are required to maintain liability insurance policies of at least $500,000. Those who own a multifamily home of four or fewer units, one of which is owner-occupied, are required to maintain liability insurance policies of at least $300,000, in accordance with the state mandate.

The owners must provide proof of insurance annually to the municipality in which they do business.

The Middle Township ordinance applies to permanent, year-round businesses as well as all transient and seasonal businesses, such as landscapers. Contractors, builders and other businesses that are based outside of Middle but operate within the Township also will need business registration licenses.

“The Township has a legal responsibility to follow state mandates,” said Mayor Tim Donohue. “Our goal in forming this ordinance was to create an affordable and convenient process for businesses to obtain licenses.”

The annual license fee is $75. It can be purchased through GovPilot, an online municipal licensing program that the Township already uses for dog licenses, OPRA requests, short-term rentals and vital record requests. A link will be posted on the website when it is available. For more information, call (609) 465-8732.

Middle Township Committee Introduces Business Registration License2023-11-21T12:29:29-05:00

Middle Township Water Supply Project for Del Haven, Green Creek Communities is Complete

Middle Township’s water supply project for Del Haven, Green Creek communities is complete

Residents can connect to the water system by May 1, 2024

Middle Township’s project with the Lower Township Municipal Utilities Authority (LTMUA) to bring fresh water to the bayfront communities of Del Haven and Green Creek is complete, and all homeowners can now connect to the fresh water service.

Middle spearheaded the project as an innovative, affordable solution to bring safe drinking water to areas experiencing saltwater intrusion. The initiative created access to water connections for 906 properties, and about 400 have connected to the service so far. The work was done in three phases, and owners of homes included in the last phase of the project have until May 1, 2024, to connect to the water system.

“After several years of hard work on the part of so many, we are gratified to witness the completion of this historic expansion of water service in Middle Township,” said Mayor Tim Donohue.

“After decades of suffering with poor water quality and saltwater intrusion, thousands of residents in the Del Haven area are now guaranteed a clean and safe water supply for years to come.”

Residents who want to connect to the water service are required to complete an application and pay the water connection fee. The $1,600 fee can be paid in full, or homeowners can make an initial installment of $400 and then make interest-free monthly payments over the next five years.

The township has waived the fee for a plumbing permit. After obtaining a permit from the Middle Township Construction Office, residents can hire a plumber to install the water service and disconnect the well water from the home’s water system. A plumbing inspector will examine the completed work.

Health code regulations prohibit connections between home wells and the LTMUA water system, but homeowners can keep their wells for outdoor uses such as irrigation, washing cars and filling pools.

Homeowners will receive a quarterly bill once connected to the water system. For more information, contact the LTMUA from 8 am to 4:30 pm Monday through Friday at (609) 886-7146, ext. 3.

Middle Township Water Supply Project for Del Haven, Green Creek Communities is Complete2023-12-21T15:17:09-05:00

Middle Prioritizes Public Safety and Quality of Life in Rio Grande

Middle Prioritizes Public Safety and Quality of Life in Rio Grande

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Homeless encampments in Rio Grande create unsanitary and unsafe conditions.

Faced with a chronic homeless problem, rising petty crime, and open drug use in the Rio Grande area, Middle Township officials vowed to protect the rights of residents and business owners while continuing to offer available housing and social services to those in need.

“While Middle Township remains a community committed to helping those in need, our number one priority will always be public safety,” Middle Township Mayor Tim Donohue said. “While we debate the complicated root causes of these problems and work every day to build partnerships to alleviate the associated suffering, Middle Township will stand firm on upholding law and order to ensure our residents feel safe in their homes and our businesses can operate successfully.”

Donohue cited the local impact of decisions made in Trenton by the Governor and State Legislature. State actions on bail reform, decriminalization of petty crime and drug abuse, and a general anti-police bias have removed the tools that police officers have traditionally utilized to protect the community, he said.

“We recognize the social problems we face and the rights of the homeless to be treated with dignity. But, while addressing these issues, we must balance our approach to protect the rights of our families to be safe in their own homes and on their own properties,” Donohue said. “We will not allow our quality of life to deteriorate due to misguided policies, based on a radically progressive philosophy, that have forced law-abiding citizens and business owners to abandon once-thriving cities and communities across our country.

Evidence of homeless encampments on private property in Middle Township reveal dangerous conditions associated with illegal drug use, lack of basic sanitation, large campfires, violent crime, and disrespect for property owners’ rights. As public health is aligned with public safety, the Township is using all legal measures within its means to protect the health and welfare of its residents.

“We strive every day, working with our social service partners, to facilitate a pathway to available housing and services for any member of our community who genuinely wants help,” Donohue said. “At the same time, when our Township employees and local partners visit these encampments, we regularly encounter bad actors who refuse to accept available housing and readily accessible services. Refusing a realistic offer of housing and social services is not a rational decision and does not translate into a right to remain in an illegal encampment.”

Under the leadership of Chief Jennifer Pooler, the Middle Township Police Department strives to balance its core mission to protect and serve the community with a commitment to offer caring and compassionate services in times of crisis. The MTPD consistently works in partnership with several social services agencies, homeless advocates and mental health professionals to bring services to those in need.

“My department regularly encounters individuals who either refuse to accept available services or have been barred from assistance due to their refusal to meet the proscribed guidelines to qualify,” Pooler said. “Certain individuals have been charged with crimes multiple times, have little respect for the law or Middle Township’s police officers, and feel immune to any real consequences to their actions. We will not permit homelessness to be an excuse for criminality and disrespect of our laws, our residents and our business owners.”

The Township, once again, called on the Cape May County Board of Commissioners and lawmakers in the First Legislative District to move beyond talk and meetings to a concerted and coordinated partnership, backed by serious funding, to address the root causes of homelessness and commit to real-world solutions.

“This is not a ’Middle Township‘ problem; homelessness is a national epidemic, driven by a complex combination of factors,” Mayor Donohue emphasized. “While we didn’t create this problem, Middle Township’s residents, partners, and employees have continuously strived to be a part of a solution. We will maintain our steadfast commitment to protecting public safety and our quality of life. Middle carries all the weight and associated costs for the entire county on this issue. Policies driven from Trenton only exacerbate the problems. Our elected representatives at every level of government have an obligation to stop ignoring this crisis and join with Middle Township immediately to address these critical issues.”

Middle Prioritizes Public Safety and Quality of Life in Rio Grande2023-11-21T14:31:20-05:00

Middle Township Fall Events

Fall fun abounds at Middle Township events

Residents can look forward to a weekend-long yard sale, harvest festival and more

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The Olde Tyme Harvest Festival always draws a crowd for rides, entertainment, vendors and food.

Crisp, cool air and houses decorated with colorful mums and pumpkins signal fall is upon us. It is the perfect season to enjoy the outdoors with family and friends before winter has us nestled in our homes.

Middle Township is holding many fall events for the community so residents can gather and enjoy the season. These activities include:

Free Community-Wide Yard Sale: Set up a table or two and greet neighbors at the yard sale taking place on Sept. 15, 16 and 17. No permits are needed for this event. Residents can add their home addresses to the yard sale list on Middle Township’s website and Facebook page by emailing awoodrow@middletownship.com or kborn@middletownship.com. For more information, call (609) 465-8740.

Halloween House Decorating Contest: Bring out the spooky decorations and enter Middle Township’s Halloween house decorating contest. Homes will be judged on theme and design, creativity, effort, and overall presentation. Judging will take place on Oct. 17, and all decorations should be turned on by 5 p.m. Residents interested in participating must register by Oct. 13 at opens in a new windowmiddletownship.recdesk.com. For more information, call (609) 465-8728.

Halloween Parade: All residents are welcome to participate in Middle Township’s Halloween event. The parade begins at 7 p.m. (line-up starts at 6 p.m.) on Oct. 25 at Memorial Field. The parade will travel north on Route 9 to Mechanic Street, with performances taking place in front of the library. Make sure to bring a bag for candy. To register, visit opens in a new windowmiddletownship.recdesk.com. For more information, call (609) 465-8732.

Olde Tyme Harvest Festival: Enjoy rides, entertainment, craft and food vendors at Middle Township’s 25th annual Olde Tyme Harvest Festival. The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Oct. 28. Children and pets can enter the festival’s Halloween costume contest. Register by Oct. 18 at opens in a new windowmiddletownship.recdesk.com. Participants can also register the day of the event. Registration will be held in front of the library and must be received by 11:30 a.m. The rain date is Oct. 29. For more information, call (609) 465-8732.

Middle Township Fall Events2023-11-21T14:30:33-05:00
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