Up to $2,500 Reward Offered For Information Leading to Arrest of Smithville CVS Robbery Suspect

Surveillance Photo of Suspect

The Galloway Township Police Department and Crime Stoppers are offering a cash reward of up to $2,500 for information leading to the arrest of the suspect believed to be responsible for a pharmacy robbery that occurred at the CVS Pharmacy located 1 South New York Road in Smithville, New Jersey.

The cash reward is donated by pharmaceutical company  Purdue Pharma L.P., which operates RxPATROL^®, a collaborative effort between industry, pharmacists and law enforcement to collect, collate, analyze and disseminate information on pharmacy theft. 

“It’s important for people to know that all information that we get is kept completely confidential. Callers never have to give their names or appear in court.  The Crime Stoppers tip line does not use any tape recording or caller ID devices,” said Crime Stoppers president, Gene Ferrara.

Anyone with information about this robbery or the suspect described below is asked to call the Crime Stoppers Hotline at (888) 4RxTIPS or (888-479-8477).

The Galloway Township Police Department is investigating a pharmacy robbery that occurred at the CVS Pharmacy, located at One South New York Road in Smithville, New Jersey. Crime Stoppers and law enforcement officials are asking for the public’s assistance by offering a reward of up to $2,500 donated by Purdue Pharma L.P. for any information that will help solve this crime.

•        Date/Time: Saturday, December 29, 2012, approximately 5:27 pm

•        Location:  CVS Pharmacy, 1 South New York Road, Smithville, New Jersey

•        Description of Events: The suspect walked into the pharmacy through the front door, approached the pharmacy counter, demanded controlled substances and put what is believed to be a gun into the back of the pharmacist.  The suspect fled out the front door after she was given an undetermined amount medicine.  It is believed the same suspect robbed this location again on 1/8/13.

·        Suspect Description:  The suspect was described as a white female approximately 5’ tall in her 20’s – 30’s with blonde shoulder length hair.  She wore a mask, black leather jacket, black pants and gloves.  

Ole Hansen & Son's Request For Zoning Change May Open Door for Changes in Litigation Settlement Agreement

Map of Proposed Residential Site

Ole Hansen & Sons, Inc and GGHLP, LLC have submitted a formal request to Galloway Township Council on November 14, 2012, requesting a zoning change to an already approved 944 unit age restricted development located on the former "Blue Heron Pines East Golf Course." The requested change according to the documents, would be to allow single-family and multi-family residential housing, as well as age-restricted housing.

The Planning Board granted preliminary approval in 2006 for the 944 unit age restricted development. An approval that was later followed up by a "Settlement Agreement of Litigation" between Ole Hansen and the Township of Galloway. According to the Settlement, "on July 16, 2008, Ole Hansen filed a Complaint in Lieu of Prerogative Writ challenging both the Planning Board's imposition of the Recreation Condition and the Growth Share Condition and the Township ordinances giving rise to both Conditions." 

The current Zoning Request submitted by Stephen R. Nehmad, Esq., on behalf of Ole Hansen & Sons, does not address the Settlement Agreement Obligations. The Township may want to consider a possible amendment to the Settlement in order to meet the current economic changes in Hansen's housing request. 

The court invalidated the Recreation Condition and the Growth Share Condition the Planning Board imposed on Ole Hansen. Both parties settled their differences and agreed to a modified recreation and Growth Share Condition. The agreement requires Ole Hansen to pay 1% of equalized assessed value for each of the units constructed within the Project in order to comply with the Affordable Housing Provision. Ole Hansen must also pay $700 per unit towards recreation as well as provide a paved walking path, two (2) horseshoe pits and three(3) shuffleboard courts.

It is unknown at this time how this Zoning request for single family and multi-family homes will not only impact the Affordable Housing obligation, but also the recreation requirements. As single and multi-family homes will populate with school age children, the recreation previously approved purely reflects those of an age-restricted development.  

The study reflects an anticipated 248 students would be expected to be enrolled in K-8 in the Township's school district while 117 students would be expected to be enrolled in 9-12 at Greater Egg Harbor Regional School District. 

In a Fiscal Impact Analysis performed by Richard B. Reading Associates on September 26, 2012, with reasonable assumptions, it is calculated that municipal operations will yield an annual surplus of $261,850 from an entirely non-age restricting housing development. The Local School District could receive $127,690, Greater Egg Harbor Regional School District $323,000 and $45,950 for Atlantic County Operations. 

The Planning Board previously scheduled the presentation for Thursday January 17, 2013, however, according to online published reported by the Press of Atlantic City, the presentation has now been moved to Thursday February 7, 2013 meeting at 7:00 p.m. located in Council Chambers at the Municipal Complex.

Pub Ole Hansen Settlement by GallowayTwpNews

Pub BH Zoning Ord Amend Request by GallowayTwpNews

County Executive Introduces Budget, Talks About Waning Casino Industry; GallowayPatch.com

County Executive Introduces Budget, Talks About Waning Casino Industry; via Galloway Patch.com

Noise Complaint Leads Galloway Police to Secure Unlawful Weapons from Residence

Incident Type: Noise Complaint / Poss. of weapon for Unlawful Purpose / Terroristic Threats / Resisting / Obstruction

Date and Time of Incident: 1/13/2013 1958 hours

Accused / City / Age: Benny Arcidiacono / Galloway / 76

Incident Location: Pondview Court

Arresting / Investigating Officer: Ofc. Steve Vernon

Misc. / Other Related Information: 

Patrol responded to a residence on Pondview Court for a noise complaint. Upon knocking on the door the suspect, Benny Arcidiacono, opened the door with a revolver handgun in his hand.  Arcidiacono fled back into the residence and shut off the lights.  Ofc. Vernon radioed for back-up and secured a position on the residence.  Arcidiacono called 911 and wanted to explain his actions to the operator. He was advised by the operator to go outside, without the gun, and surrender to the officers.  Arcidiacono exited the residence, however, refused to follow commands being given by officers.  He was tackled to the ground and secured.  A search warrant of the residence yielded numerous firearms and knives in the residence.  Arcidiacono was lodged in the Atlantic County Justice Facility in default of $15,000 cash bail.

Former Manager Stephen Bonanni & Former CFO Jill Gougher Documented to Receive Over $124,000 in Accumulated Leave Payout

Township Council at their last meeting tabled a resolution that according to Township Clerk Thalia "TC" Kay, would have authorized payment of accumulated leave still owed to former Township manager Stephen Bonanni and former CFO Jill Gougher. The Resolution has now been forwarded to Township "Labor Counsel for review and consideration at the next regular Council meeting which is scheduled on Tuesday, January 22, 2013" according to Kay. 

GallowayTwpNews.com has obtained through various Open Public Records Requests, the Exit Interview Forms of Bonanni and Gougher. These forms are compiled and further executed by a Township representative and the employee who is leaving the Township. Gougher, who signed her form on October 3, 2011, is scheduled to receive a total of $67,569.53 in accumulated leave. Gougher who worked for Galloway for just under 25 years, opted to receive her payout over a three year time period. 

The payment schedule Gougher agreed to with the Township, includes $24,479.10 she already received in 2012. Gougher was scheduled to receive $21,545.23 for 2013 until the Resolution was tabled by Council. Gougher is also scheduled to receive her final payment in 2014 for $21,545.20.  Gougher's payments are now under review by Labor Counsel. As of today, Gougher is still owed $43,090.43.

Former manager Stephen Bonanni retired after 32 years with Township and signed his initial Exit Interview Form on January 24, 2012. According to additional documents the Township released this past week, Bonanni signed a different Exit Interview form on April 5, 2012. The dollar amount listed on the April 2012 form shows Bonanni receiving less money than originally calculated in January 2012. 

One of the differences on the April 2012 form shows Bonanni receiving compensation for Comp Time of 12 hours. Bonanni who was listed as a salaried employee, is now being paid Comp Time. The form also reflects a reduction in Vacation time balance from 2011.  We will be submitting an email of inquiry to the Township in order to request explanation into the difference in Bonanni's calculated time.

Bonanni's final form in April 2012 shows a Total Payout of $57,189.30. According to Township Clerk Thalia TC Kay, Bonanni received a payment of $5,424.06 in 2012, half of which was paid on March 30, 2012 and the second half paid on April 13, 2012. Bonanni was scheduled to receive the final balance of $51,765.24 in January 2013, however that amount was included on the Resolution to be tabled and forwarded to Labor Counsel for review.

According to Bonanni's Memorandum of Understanding with the Township when he became Acting Township Manager in 2011, he was afforded a provision by Council outside the Township's Policies, Procedures and Ordinances. The provision was to grant Bonanni access to his accumulated sick leave up to $10,000, even if legislation was enacted to cap sick leave before he retired. The provision as stated, "shall be deemed valid irrespective of any legislation that may establish a cap on accumulated sick leave."  To our knowledge, Bonanni was the only employee afforded that additional provision in order to secure his sick leave payout.

We have released a copy of the Exit Forms and have also listed the break down for each payout below which includes a combined accumulated amount of $124,758.83.

Jill Gougher:

Vacation - $45,446.56

Sick (Frozen) - $12,122,97

Sick (Capped) - $10,000.00

Stephen Bonanni:

Vacation - $4,700.85

Comp Time - $723.21

Sick (Frozen) - $41,765.24

Sick (Capped) - $10,000.00

Council is scheduled to consider Gougher's and Bonanni's accumulated leave payout balances at the next regular Council Meeting scheduled on Tuesday, January 22, 2013. 

S Bonanni Closed Out Interview Jan 2012 by GallowayTwpNews

Bonanni Exit Interview Form by GallowayTwpNews

 

Gougher Exit Interview Form by GallowayTwpNews