Residents spoke about the matter during the public comment portion of the Township Committee meeting Monday night after some in the city voiced a desire to see a painted flag illuminated on the tower.
by James McEvoy, Managing Editor
BORDENTOWN TOWNSHIP — Township Residents expressed concerns about quality of life and home value impacts as City officials look to illuminate a flag on the city-owned water tower.
The residents spoke about the matter during the public comment portion of the Township Committee meeting Monday night.
Recently, veterans in the city have expressed a concern that the flag painted on the side of the tower is not illuminated at night.
As such, township officials have said an investigation is pending about potentially lighting the side opposite of residents in way that would not impact those living nearby.
In response to residents, Mayor Stephen Benowitz, and others on the committee, maintained as much would be done to ensure there is minimal impact.
”We’re going to make every effort,” Mayor Benowitz said. “The idea is to illuminate only one side and it’s the side not facing residents.”
Dean Buhrer, public works director, noted other lights are being looked into that would not be as intensive as those used previously.
”The water tower is owned by the City of Bordentown,” Mr. Buhrer said. “The City of Bordentown put the lights on, our committee shut them off.”
He further noted that the matter is in very preliminary stages and that no money has been spent by the township.
”You’re not going to get the kind of light you were getting previously, that’s for sure,” Councilwoman Jill Popko added.
However, resident Rob Linder, said he was concerned about the impact of lighting the tower.
”I can’t see where this is going to create a better value for us other than to make people drive down the highway go ‘Oh, look a water tower with a flag lit up,’” Mr. Linder said. “I can’t see this being anything positive.
”I would like to have every single resident around the entire area polled and if necessary we will put a petition together,” he said, questioning about the costs involved with setting up a light only to have it not be used,” he added. “Wouldn’t it be better to be proactive and address every single resident that’s involved with this, shoot out a letter to them?”
In response, the mayor directed township officials to keep residents in the loop as the situation develops.
Deputy Mayor Jim Cann noted the concerns of the residents and acknowledged the town should and will look into it.
”We did inherit this problem,” he said. “We’re trying to deal with it. There’s 11,000 residents in the town. When we get voiced a concern it is our responsibility to investigated it
”It’s a matter of us doing a proper investigation, seeing what we can come up with,” he added.. “The engineering for lighting has changed considerably in terms of how they evaluate them, how they direct them, what reflectivity they have.”
During a City Commissioners meeting last month, Bruce Thockmorton, chairman of the city’s veterans committee, raised an issue from the previous month regarding the lights.
”It was mentioned to us that there are flag lights that are apparently not functioning down at the beach,” said Mr. Throckmorton.
A motion was made by Mayor Joseph Malone to make Ed Foley “the keeper of the lights.”
Mayor Malone addressed the ongoing issue regarding the lights on the water tower in the township.
”I have spoken to the mayor and twice since,” said Mayor Malone, adding that both commissioners were also present the first time the matter was discussed.
”They are moving to replace the light fixture and as far as I know at this point it has pretty much been resolved at the township and they will light the tower,” Mayor Malone said. “They wanted a smaller spotlight on the flag.”

