When Christopher Bobbitt took the oath of office as Lawrence Township’s mayor in January 2018 for a two-year term, he emphasized that the environment would be one of the key issues on which he would focus.
Now, as Bobbitt enters his second and final year in the largely ceremonial post, he plans to focus on many of the same things as in 2018 – the environment and business.
“I will be focused on many of the same things in 2019. The environment is still an important issue,” Bobbitt said following the Lawrence Township Council’s Jan. 2 reorganization meeting.
Lawrence Township is one of a handful of communities that offers a curbside organic recycling program. Residents separate food scraps, raw food, cooked food, pizza boxes and egg shells for weekly pickup. Residents also recycle bottles, cans and paper, which is picked up twice per month.
All of the buildings owned by the township have undergone an energy audit to qualify for energy efficiency upgrades through the state’s Clean Energy Program, and steps are being taken to reach out to the business community to take advantage of similar measures.
And, Lawrence Township was certified as a “silver level” community by Sustainable Jersey in 2016. Silver level status, the second highest available, is achieved by earning a combined 350 points in numerous categories established by Sustainable Jersey. Lawrence Township earned 365 points.
“I think the Trenton Water Works is another environmental issue that affects residents,” Bobbitt said.
The water utility owned by Trenton serves customers in the southern part of Lawrence Township.
The Trenton Water Works has been plagued by quality control issues over the past several years, most recently when the level of a disinfectant exceeded the maximum amount allowed.
Bobbitt said he has been in touch with Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora about the Trenton Water Works issues and how to be proactive in addressing them.
Turning to the issue of business, Bobbitt said he will continue to look to support businesses and to encourage “appropriate development” in areas of the township that may have been neglected in the past, particularly in the southern end of the municipality.
“The Lawrence Shopping Center is moving in the right direction,” he said.
The new owners of the shopping center are renovating the facade. The plaza is in the southern part of the township.
Several new businesses have opened and more are expected to follow suit. Cooper Pest Control has moved into the former movie theater/fitness gym, and the former Huffman Koos furniture store will be demolished and replaced with a LA Fitness gym.
The mayor said the “other piece” on which he will focus is balancing the needs of residents, providing the services they deserve, while keeping an eye on property taxes.
Finally, Bobbitt said he would like to encourage residents to become active in the community by volunteering on advisory boards and committees. Volunteerism and the connection it forges with the township is what makes the community so special, he said.
