On Friday, February 16, 2018, Deputy Mayor Teresa Kelly was named the President for the Atlantic County League of Municipalities.  New Jersey Assemblyman Vince Mazzeo performed the swearing-in ceremony.

Also appointed were Third Vice President Councilman Clifford Mays, Jr. of Egg Harbor City, Second Vice President Committeeman John Williams of Buena Vista Township, First Vice President Weymouth Township Mayor Kenneth Haeser and as Secretary Paula Geletei, City Clerk of Atlantic City.

Buena Vista Township Mayor Chuck Chiarello has become the new President of the New Jersey Conference of Mayors (NJCM).  On January 10, 2018 NJCM President Jim Perry announced that as a result of the annual re-organization in his municipality he was no longer the Mayor and as such in accordance with the NJCM Constitution and By-Laws could not continue as NJCM President.

Due to the vacancy, First Vice President Mayor Chuck Chiarello immediately assumed the position of President for the balance of the term of Former President Perry, through April 2018, and continues for another year of his regular term as President until the end of April 2019.

New NJCM President Mayor Chuck Chiarello and the members of the NJCM Executive Board all extended their appreciation to Former President Jim Perry, on behalf of the NJCM Membership, for his many efforts in support of the NJCM and wished him well in his other efforts.

Mayor Chuck Chiarello was sworn in at the NJCM winter summit on Thursday, February 8, 2018 at the Mosonic Temple in Trenton by Governor Phil Murphy. There were over 150 Mayors in attendance from around the State.

The colonel of the New Jersey State Police Patrick Callaghan also spoke on behalf of Mayor Chiarello.  Legislative issues were discussed which Senate President Stephen Sweeney, Senator Tom Kean and Assembly Minority Leader John Bramnick.

Buena Vista Township has received one of the biggest grants in recent history. Mayor Chuck Chiarello received a call from the Office of Governor Phil Murphy announcing that the Township will receive a state municipal aid grant in the amount of $356,000 that will complete the reconstruction of Weymouth-Malaga Road from Route 54 heading east.

A process which began in 2012 will finally come to completion as the Township will begin the sixth and final phase of paving which is anticipated to be completed by the summer of 2018. The Township recently reduced the speed limit from 45 to 35mph after many complaints from residents regarding speeding on Weymouth-Malaga Road.

The Township understands the decrease in speed is an adjustment not only for the residents of Buena Vista in that area but also for transit vehicles that utilize Weymouth-Malaga Road as a pass through from town to town. With the newly paved sections of the road vehicles were traveling at a speed above the originally posted 45mph zone.

The reconstruction of Weymouth-Malaga Road has been a long term investment the Township has made in sustaining a local road program.

The New Jersey State Police Color Guard led by SSgt. Oliver Sissman presented the American Flag at Buena Vista Township’s Annual Reorganization Meeting held on Tuesday, January 2, 2018.

New Jersey State Police Troop A welcomes new Station Commander Lt. David Liberto. Mayor Chuck Chiarello and Township Committee presented Lt. David Liberto with a card and planter for his new position leading Troop A. The NJ State Police Barracks is located on Route 54.   Committeeman Steve Martinelli is shown making the presentation.

Assemblyman John Armato presented Richland Vol. Fire Company Chief Anthony Monfredo Jr. and Lieutenant Ron Grattini with a proclamation from the General Assembly recognizing their heroic efforts in deploying Narcan and saving the life of a young man that overdosed in Buena Vista Township.

The Buena Braves Varsity Football Team was presented with Certificates from Committeeman John Williams and Committeeman David Turner on behalf of Committee for Making Buena Vista Proud on their Championship win in their 2017 season.  The Buena Braves Cheerleaders also received Certificates for Making Buena Vista Proud for cheering on the Football Team to their Championship win. Congratulations to all!

A new speed limit is now in effect on a portion of Weymouth-Malaga Road. From Route 54 east to the border of Hamilton Township the new speed is 35 mph. After many complaints from residents regarding speeding on Weymouth-Malaga Road, the Township performed a speed study to determine if a reduction in the speed limit was warranted. The Township Committee agreed with the recommendation of the Township Engineer that Weymouth-Malaga Road met the criteria for a reduction in speed limit from 45mph to 35mph as well as a no passing zone.

The Township understands the decrease in speed is an adjustment not only for the residents of Buena Vista in that area but also for transit vehicles that utilize Weymouth-Malaga Road as a pass through from town to town. With the newly paved sections of the road vehicles were traveling at a speed above the originally posted 45mph zone. There is an analysis that is required to be performed under the traffic laws and as Weymouth-Malaga Road is predominately residential, the change was warranted. New Jersey State Police will continue to monitor that area for speed violators.

Township Committee unanimously appointed Chuck Chiarello to serve as Mayor and Teresa Kelly to serve as Deputy Mayor.  Chiarello and Kelly are beginning their 27^th year as elected officials for Buena Vista Township.

Committeeman David Turner

On January 2, 2018 newly elected Township Committee David Turner was sworn into office by Atlantic County Sheriff Eric Scheffler. Turner’s wife Carolyn held the bible as his family joined in the ceremony. Turner is a US Army Veteran that served in Vietnam from 1966-1969.

Turner also brings a vast knowledge of government as he served 21-years for the City of Pleasantville as Director of Public Works. Turner previously served on the Joint Land Board and is an active member of the Municipal Drug Alliance and serves on the Dr. Martin Luther King Advisory Board as well as other Township Committees.

Mayor Chuck Chiarello

The State of Buena Vista Township is good.  During 2017 we celebrated our 150^th Anniversary through the Miss Buena Vista Pageant, the Dedication of the “Most Unusual Tree in the State of New Jersey” at Saw Mill Park, and a Special Edition of our Community Calendar celebrating 150 years of Buena Vista in history and photographs.

2017 began an effort to make Buena Vista more energy efficient. All street lights in the Township were converted to LED lighting, our Municipal Building, the Dr. Martin Luther King Community Center, and our Public Works Facility also received LED lighting upgrades and other energy saving improvements.  Security systems at all facilities and parks were added or upgraded.  A new phone system was added replacing equipment that was 20 years old.  A new mini-dump truck and other equipment was added to our Public Works Department.  Plans moved forward with a low-interest loan from the USDA to replace the old portion of our Public Works Facility in East Vineland which dates back to the 1950’s.   Work is expected to start in 2018.

A long delayed Green Acres lighting Project through the NJDEP will finally begin in 2018 to replace the lighting at the football, baseball and softball fields in Michael Debbie Park with new brighter LED lighting and additional energy savings.  Plans for a solar project started in 2017 will move forward in 2018 providing power to the Municipal Building and the Milanesi School in a joint effort with the Buena Regional School District.  A solar project is also in the works for the King Center. Line Street in Milmay and part of Don Road in the New Kuban area of Buena were paved.

More Road Projects are in the plans for 2018. As in past years, the Township Committee has strived to keep our Municipal Tax Rate as stable as possible.  I would like to remind our taxpayers that in most years, 17 cents of every tax dollar you pay to Buena Vista go to operate all the facilities, services and staff that we offer our residents. The balance of 83 cents of that dollar goes to our schools, Atlantic County Government, and our Fire Companies.

This Township Committee is dedicated to serving our residents in a cost effective way and to provide quality services for this rural community. I would like to say how happy we are that even with Pinelands Restrictions and other obstacles business is investing in Buena Vista. The expansion of Teligent on Lincoln Avenue in size and employees in the Pharmaceutical industry is very exciting.  Comar on Tuckahoe Road replaced their Corporate Office with a new Product ID Center to better serve their customers and is expanding manufacturing of medical syringe production at this facility.  Sidelines East Sports Bar & Grill opened in Milmay, the 54 Diner is under new management and is now The 50’s Diner of Buena with an expanded menu of breakfast, lunch & dinner. Luna’s is set to expand in 2018 at Merighi’s Savoy Inn. The Rail Tavern in Richland Village was sold and is completely renovated.  It is set to become the Pickwickian Tavern & Smokery in the near future.

On December 26, 2017, Mayor & Township Committee toasted the efforts of Township Committeeman John Armato as he heads off to be the first Assemblyman ever elected from Buena Vista to represent all the citizens of the 2^nd District in the New Jersey Legislature.  John will still be around, but we will miss him.     We are thrilled to have David Turner joining us officially, though he has already been serving Buena Vista Township on various sub-committees and at the MLK Center for a number of years. David’s work background and experience will be an asset to our residents. Buena Vista should also be proud of the rest of the Members of Township Committee: Teresa Kelly, Steve Martinelli and John Williams.  We are also proud of our staff that serves this community every day. Special thanks to my wife Cheryl for her help in this past year. I wish all our citizens a Happy and a Healthy New Year in 2018.

by Mayor Chuck Chiarello

Mayor and Township Committee say goodbye to Committeeman John Armato who elected in November 2017 to the seat of Assemblyman.

Armato becomes the first ever Assemblyman to have been elected from Buena Vista Township.

Armato joins Assemblyman Vince Mazzeo in representing District 2, which includes Buena Vista. John will remain active with the Township’s Veteran’s Advisory Board and Municipal Alliance as an Advisor.

Good Luck Assemblyman!

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