School district needs state OK first
By:David Koch
MANSFIELD A request by local school districts for the township to issue building permits for two proposed schools without prior state approvals was rejected by the Township Committee at its meeting Oct. 24 on the advice of the municipality’s construction officer.
The Northern Burlington County Regional School District and the Mansfield Township Board of Education requested in writing the Township Committee issue building permits for a new upper elementary school and a new middle school prior to receiving approval for the schools’ water lines from the state Department of Environmental Protection.
The Township Committee agreed with the recommendation of the construction officer, Larry Nixon, that the request should be denied because it would violate the state Uniform Construction Code.
The code states all required state, county and local approvals are needed before building permits can be granted by a municipality, said Township Deputy Clerk Dee Mayors.
Joseph Bruni, superintendent of the Mansfield Township School District, said the request for building permits was the recommendation of the district’s engineers, Van Cleef Engineering, in order to meet the scheduled completion date of September 2003.
The board is still awaiting approval of its final drawings by the Department of Community Affairs and the Department of Education, but everything hinges on DEP approval for the water lines, said Mr. Bruni.
"Once the DEP signs off, then everything falls into place," said Mr. Bruni.
Also at the meeting, the Township Committee saluted the efforts of Mansfield police officers Chief James Humble and Lt. William Kerr for stopping a Fort Dix soldier who went on a violent rampage on Oct. 12.
"I just want to thank you personally for your (Chief Humble) and Kerr’s brave effort," said Committeeman Ernest Dubay after Chief Humble gave his monthly police report. "You helped avoid a possible disaster, and I commend you."
Chief Humble and Lt. Kerr ended Loren Janeczko’s violent spree by fatally wounding him at the Columbus Farmers’ Market on Route 206. Mr. Janeczko, 29, of Fincastle, Va., had wounded two soldiers and two police officers, including Lt. Kerr, after being relieved of his duties at Fort Dix for "irregular behavior."
Township Administrator Donna Snyder said at the meeting that a special ceremony commending the two police officers will be held after Lt. Kerr has recovered from injuries.
Lt. Kerr was shot in the left arm during a shoot-out with Mr. Janeczko, and was taken to Cooper Hospital University Medical Center in Camden.
He was released last Monday, Oct. 22, and is now receiving care at home.
Chief Humble said he was especially overwhelmed by the amount of backup support that came from local police departments all around Burlington County.
"If you stopped to listen for a moment, it sounded like the cavalry was coming," said Chief Humble.
Chief Humble was treated at Virtua-Memorial Hospital Burlington County in Mount Holly after the shoot-out because of chest pains, but was released later that night.
"I was just glad to go home to my family and glad no one else got hurt," said Chief Humble.

