Mayor Chuck Chiarello

The State of Buena Vista Township is good.  During 2017 we celebrated our 150th 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 2nd 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