PETERSBURG — Township Committee has entered into shared service agreements with Woodbine for court services and EMS.
Committeeman Tyler Casaccio said Aug. 25 that negotiations took a couple of months but the municipalities finally were ready to complete the deal for use of the township’s court facilities.
“A couple months ago, I reached out to Mayor (William) Pikolycky and Woodbine to see what interest he had in our court services,” Casaccio said. “He was extremely interested. We had a little back and forth … but it seems like we’ve finally come to an agreement to absorb them into our court system and have a nice shared service agreement with them going forward.”
“That works well for us and the State Police because they cover both districts and can come to one court,” Mayor Curtis Corson said.
Casaccio said the agreement was set to begin Jan. 1, 2026, pending approval of the assignment judge.
Woodbine, which will pay the township $85,000 annually in quarterly payments, will use the judge, court administrator, prosecutor and public defender appointed by Upper Township. The township will have sole authority over all matters regarding services, including personnel.
Deputy Mayor Victor Nappen II added that Township Committee also is entering an agreement with Woodbine for EMS services.
“I want to thank Chief (John) Brittin for working really hard behind the scenes and making those numbers work very well for the township,” Nappen said.
He noted that EMS billing is a source of revenue for the township. In addition, Woodbine will pay the township $25,000 annually.
“Bringing in Woodbine is great for the township,” Nappen said.
Corson noted the Cape May County Board of County Commissioners is attempting to create a countywide court system like the one established in Atlantic County.
He said he and Township Administrator Jimmy Van Zlike attended a Mayors Round Table on Aug. 22 and learned the board is putting together a team to investigate consolidation.
“They will not start that initiative unless five go on board,” Corson said.
He said he was told that Atlantic County was able to absorb all municipal court employees into the countywide system, so there would be little to no loss of positions.
“If we want to get on that subcommittee to investigate it, we can. If we don’t, that’s OK too,” the mayor said.
Casaccio said it was something worth discussing further.
– By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff