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BY CRAIG RICHARDS & KRISTIN GUGLIETTI GAZETTE STAFF

HAMMONTON — The March 25 Hammonton Town Council meeting took a turn from the norm in the beginning of the meeting . Due to what was labeled by some as a communication breakdown inside the Hammonton Police Department , the council was required to take on the role of judge and jury .

The issues centered around HPD Sargeant David Reustle who left his shift without immediately completing reports . What came under question was the timing of the

BY CRAIG RICHARDS GAZETTE PUBLISHER

HAMMONTON — Landscaping professionals and town officials are confident that the type of tree , the planting process and especially the landscaping company itself who performed the work were all topnotch . Despite some who raised concerns over the project , Mayor Stephen DiDonato said the level of expertise involved in the entire process ensured an exceptional outcome .

“ Louis [ Cappuccio ] is a tremendous landscaper who does beautiful work . He did an A-number one job and they ’ re planted exactly by the book ,” DiDonato said .

That sentiment was echoed by local , regional , and state landscapers interviewed by The Gazette . Although concerns were expressed by members of the Environmental Commission during their March meeting regarding the planting process of the trees , every professional questioned about the work said the job was done right . Professionals interviewed not only confirmed the process as industry standard , but some went as far to say Cappuccio was a premier specialist in this area and often sought out for his expertise and experience in this and other landscaping topics .

Trees are not only transported with the burlap covering the root ball , but also planted with the burlap in place . Following the industry standards , these trees , exceeding 500 pounds , were moved with the burlap to protect the root system during transportation , especially for the size and weight of the trees planted downtown . In the case of the trees planted in Hammonton , each were planted with a bio-degradable burlap sack covering the root ball . In addition , a stabilizing wire basket was utilized to support the tree as per industry standards . Upon placing the tree in the prepared hole , the rope securing the burlap sack was loosened and , in this case , cut loose .

Craig Richards / THG

BY CARINA CAFISO GAZETTE MARKETING SPECIALIST

HAMMONTON — It all began in 1935 , when Earl Rehmann and John Adams performed a survey together in Buena Township . After being paid with a $ 10 bill , the duo ripped the bill and each took half to memorialize their partnership . Nearly 90 years later , Adams , Rehmann and Heggan Associates ( ARH ) continues to make history as the company proudly appoints its first female shareholder , Carolyn Feigin , PE , PP .

Richard Rehmann , the grandson of Earl , became part of the ownership team and has served as President and CEO since 2013 . Feigin joins the leadership team along with current owners Richard Heggan , PLS , PP , and Jeffery MacPhee , PLS , all of whom are dedicated to advancing the ARH mission .

“ We want to find good people who want to do great work . That ’ s the core . What we end up

Town officials and industry professional praise work of Green Giant Nursery and Landscaping

CAROLYN FEIGIN , PE , PP

with is a group of people on a team who are connected to what they do and have an impact on the communities that we serve and that they make a difference … Carolyn fit right into that , right into the ethos , our core culture , and core competencies . She ’ s been a great impact to what do we and she ’ s actually brought people because of her reputation .

It was a really pivotal moment for us . Carolyn ’ s special . It ’ s a special moment ,” Rehmann said .

Feigin ’ s impressive near-30- year career was started at the New Jersey Institute of Technology , where she obtained a bachelor ’ s degree in civil engineering . Furthermore , she holds licenses as a professional engineer and planner in New Jersey , as well as a license as a professional engineer in Pennsylvania . Prior to joining ARH , she worked with DW Smith Associates , FWH Associates , and Own , Little and Associates .

When asked about the distinctive qualities she brings to ARH , Feigin said she is determined .

“ I am determined . I have a personality where I ’ m understanding especially from someone else ’ s perspective . One of our fundamentals is putting yourself in the client ’ s shoes . I always want to be a problem solver and solution finder . I really take it personally when something is

See PARTNER , Page 2

completion of those reports and a subsequent report required by Reustle detailing the reasoning for the delay in the early reports .

Ultimately the issue morphed into a legal issue with Reustle requesting a public hearing . That internal investigation hearing required the town council to adjudicate the proceedings . After nearly two and a half hours of deliberation including testimony for HPD , Mayor Stephen DiDonato called a closed session in an effort for council and both parties to mediate a resolution .

Upon concluding the closed session , a resolution was announced . Solicitor Michael Malinsky said both sides came to the following resolution : Both sides agreed to the following four decisions . Reustle would forfeit 24 hours of comp time . Reustle will write a report as to why he didn ’ t finish the report on August 27 , 2023 , before he left his shift . There will be a dismissal of all charges and finding the charges are unsubstantiated . And neither party would pay the opposing party ’ s legal fees .

“ This is a full and final settlement of the parties and full release of both sides of all claims ,” Malinsky said .

After the closed session and resolution of the case , the council proceeded to conduct normal council business , which concluded shortly before midnight . Several resolutions were approved during the meeting including the following :

Resolution # 060-2024-Temporary Capital Budget – A temporary capital budget was created for the purchase of trash trucks , auxiliary equipment , trash toters , new computer program for construction office , various computer upgrades to town ’ s system , Old Forks Road Roadway improvements , purchase and installation of a centrifuge , purchase and installation of fence to enclose Boyer Avenue Drip and

See COUNCIL , Page 8

STAFF REPORT THE HAMMONTON GAZETTE

HAMMONTON — Carina Cafiso has joined the team of The Hammonton Gazette . Cafiso , whose great-grandparents , Ida J ( Mortellite ) and Joseph Cafiso , chose Hammonton as their lifelong home . Their family history included business endeavors including Joe ’ s Taxi that operated in the ‘ 70s .

The family ties to Hammonton include grandfather , John Cafiso , who spent half of his life in Hammonton before venturing into Vineland to start a business and family . Carina ’ s mother ’ s great great grandfather Jim Cimino was a principle shareholder into the Minotola National Bank in 1917 and eventually opened up a branch at 14 Tilton Street in Hammonton , coincidentally where The Gazette now operates . Although Cafiso was raised in Vineland , she says the pull of Hammonton remains constant and comfort-

GAZETTE MARKETING SPECIALIST CARINA CAFISO

ing through generations .

Returning to the region to continue her career in a community with deep family roots gives Cafiso the opportunity to not only serve businesses but to

See CAFISO , Page 3

On Friday afternoon , March 22 , Councilman Steven Furgione , a professional landscaper himself , revisited the trees planted downtown to review the process . The inspection was in response to photos taken shortly after trees were placed in the hole and before they were completely installed . The photos were provided by a member of the Environmental Committee . Furgione found the trees properly installed with ropes cut away from the tree trunk . Furgione was one of several professionals that said the job was done exactly the way they would have done it , the way it is supposed to be done . Cappuccio said that he had already cut the top rope around the trunk earlier than they typically do in the planting process , at the request of Environmental Commission members , to appease the commission ’ s concerns .

At the March meeting of the Hammonton Environmental Commission , members ex-

See TREES , Page 2

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