MIDDLE TOWNSHIP FIRE DISTRICT #2

November 20, 2025

Meeting called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Chairman Robert W. Zimmerman. Mr. Zimmerman stated that
notice had been given to the Herald Newspapers, the official paper and is posted on the bulletin board
of the Middle Township Municipal Hall as required by P.L. 1975, c231, the Sunshine Law.
Roll call was taken with commissioners Robert W. Zimmerman, Conrad J. Johnson, Jenifer D. Sill, James
G. Neill, and Jean M. Zimmerman present. Also present were Rio Grande Fire Chief Jim Belles, Rio
Grande Assistant Fire Chief John Kendrick, Rio Grande Fire Company Vice President Larry Forsyth, John
Siciliano and Bob Sweeten. Richard Braslow, Attorney and Leon Costello, Ford Scott CPA were absent.
COMMUNICATION: Robert Zimmerman received an email from Gina Picciano from Regulatory Office of
Finance Ethics Board regarding an anonymous complaint about a possible ethics violation by Robert. Mr.
Braslow, Attorney, said he was not aware of any violation by Robert. Robert will be notified by mail if
there is or is not any violations.
OLD BUSINESS: none at this time
NEW BUSINESS: Robert Zimmerman read the 2026 Fire District Budget Resolution which as introduced
reflects Total Revenues of $1,064,725.00 which includes an amount to be raised by taxation of
$908,725.00 and Total Appropriations of $1,064,725.00. All commissioners present voted aye to accept
as read. Jean Zimmerman reminded everyone that there will be a public hearing at 6:45pm before the
regular hearing on Thursday, December 18, 2025 at 7pm.
Bob Sweeten, Fire Apparatus Coordinator, reported: Assistant Chief 72’s 2019 Chevrolet Tahoe went for
inspection and passed; *on November 17 th , Utility 72 had the chevrons installed on the rear of the truck
by MEE in Egg Harbor Township for a cost of $657.17; *requested to purchase a pair of cable steps for
the 5 Ton that would add an extra step on the way up to the cab for a cost of approximately $85-$150
each; *5 Ton needs repair to the fuel system and a service. Bob asked if John Miller or the guy who is a
mechanic in the National Guard should work on the 5 Ton. Greg Neill wants someone who is certified in
emergency vehicles and he only knows of Fire & Safety and John Miller. He prefers the one who is
qualified.
Bob Sweeten asked if the concrete plant development is a PILOT Program and will the township be
charging taxes. He also asked about the preliminary site plans, construction of buildings. He wanted to
know if the buildings will be 35’ tall or will they want taller?
CHIEF’S REPORT: 394 fire calls; new AEDs came in and are in the trucks; *the gloves also came in;
*participating in numerous Christmas parades starting next week; *invoice for the two (2) sets of gear
which will ship December 7, 2025 was turned in; *quote for new gear, which has already gone up since
this last gear we purchased, was turned in; when asked about how many new gear sets they have now,

Jim thinks for the year there is either 12 or 14 new black gear sets; *Wildwood is moving over to county
dispatch on December 10, 2025 and not in January as originally thought. Robert Zimmerman asked if
they heard anything on the radios. Chief Belles has not heard anything on them.
FIRE BUREAU: Greg Neill reported on the Middle Township Planning Board meeting on November 18,
2025 regarding the development at the old concrete plant location in Rio Grande. There was a mixup of
three (3) letters sent and the township is only recognizing the last one received. We need to redraft a
letter stating our concerns about the concrete plant. Preliminary approval was given. John Siciliano, who
also attended the meeting, wanted to make sure that the extra fire hydrants were not the only reason
from the fire district/company. He emphasized that another letter was needed. Robert said he would
redraft another letter. John said that Greg brought up at the meeting about footage, parking, and
closeness of buildings from 50’ to 30’ that had been approved. Allegedly, the developer had prior
approval after meeting with Vince Orlando and the township after multiple meetings before coming
before the Planning Board. Rio Grande was named a Redevelopment Zone which eliminates any other
prior zoning allowing them to make any changes to fit that project. Conrad Johnson asked if the setbacks
here are different from rest of township and was told they are for this project. Zoning requires 50’
between buildings, they got 30’; cars parking was 30, wanted 10 got 15; buildings were 8 units per
building, now they want 16. There are 38 apartments along the railroad tracks, remaining will be
townhomes. It is considered workforce housing not low income housing. They will be sold at market
value at the time of completion. County Planning Board needs a copy of the letter that was sent to the
township addressing the Railroad Avenue situation which would be the one entrance/exit to the
development. The township has no jurisdiction on Railroad Avenue. John said he was writing a letter to
the County Planning Board as well. John also feels that Tony Anzelone is giving the fire company an
opportunity to weigh in. He said that Tony wants a new letter from the fire company; he is not taking
anybody’s word on it. One of the board members asked about sidewalks. The developer said they didn’t
need sidewalks because there is a bike path there. Gregg told them the bike path is not safe for a
walking path.
Robert Zimmerman and Greg Neill received a report from Jake Spiegel and Mark Barham on their
assessment of the fire bureau office. It did not have the financial findings which they hoped for but we
do have the numbers from Greg’s reports last month. Robert said the office is somewhat under control.
He is keeping up with phone calls and checking emails, corresponding with different people, getting
transfer of sale inspections completed, getting inspections caught up, handling calls from Doug, Fire
District #1 and Alicia Woodrow from the construction office. Sue Casey is in the office two (2) days a
week and there is a sign in the door with her days. Robert said that he tried to get the office more
efficient and the status of the current office is not the fault of the current commissioners. With the
report as written with multiple factors being ESP system is outdated and should be replaced with new
program of SPL at the beginning of the year. This SPL program is the same as what District #1 is
switching to at an approximate cost of $11,000. The tablets software are also outdated and need to be
replaced. We would be starting over from scratch. He thinks that maybe it should be dissolved. The
assessment shows that if we did maintain the bureau it would be very labor intensive to get everything
straightened out because of the findings and it would take over a year to straighten out to become
viable for the district. Robert felt that the office was too far in the hole to try and save it. Jean
Zimmerman had suggested several years ago about merging with Court House when we were having
trouble with the food trucks. Gregg said that because of that there was an ordinance change. Jen Sill

mentioned that there are businesses that have multiple properties in both districts and they are dealing
with two (2) sets of people to talk with. She thought it would be more efficient if there was one office
within the township. Greg Neill said it was discovered in the assessment that data input was being put in
wrong, the Fire Bureau is not in it to make a profit but as of October it was $30,000 in the red and there
is a pile of return certified mail. Greg feels a lot of the money owed is sitting in the pile of returned
certified mail. If we were to dissolve the bureau, Greg would like to see it structured so that we have a
say in what’s going on in our district. Conrad Johnson said another option would be to turn it over to the
state. Connie said if the state took it over we would have no control or involvement. And there would be
no option to take it back for a minimum of five years. He said the state is not interested in taking it.
Connie wondered what the options would be with Court House and thought they would have to do
some hiring. Commercial development doesn’t impact the office unless they are rentals. Connie liked
Greg’s idea but he also would like more input. He has more questions than answers right now. Fire
District #1, including districts #3 and #4, is doing approximately 1,800 inspections/year with three (3) full
time inspectors including the fire official; we are doing approximately 700. Robert said fire district #1
feels they would need two (2) additional part time inspectors and a secretary. Robert also said that the
proposed income from here should help offset what they are paying. Jen Sill checked state rules and we
are not compliant with them. Greg said you would be looking at four (4) months to dissolve the bureau.
Motion Greg Neill, second Jen Sill to begin the process of dissolving the fire bureau. Roll call taken with
Conrad Johnson, voted to abstain; Robert Zimmerman, Jenifer Sill, Greg Neill, Jean Zimmerman all voted
aye. Robert will call the state, fire district #1 and Mr. Braslow letting them know where we stand with
dissolving the fire bureau.
TREASURER’S REPORT: Robert W. Zimmerman read the bills, motion by resolution to pay the bills by
Greg Neill, second Jenifer Sill, of $27,739.46. Motion carried.
Jean Zimmerman, Secretary