Business View Civil and Municipal | May/June 2022

63 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 3, ISSUE 5 community and give back to it. That’s why they’re all sponsors of the East Greenwich Little League. With Watson Land Development we have a working relationship based on effective communication and mutual respect. They’re not just a building that pays taxes. Watson along with Scout Capital also donated $10,000 towards the Verkata cameras located along main intersections in town. These cameras, equipped with a license plate reader and facial recognition, provide additional security for our residents. That’s the type of collaboration we have with these developers. They deal with us directly. They’re just a phone call or text message away if we have any issues or if they need anything.” This direct line of communication is useful for all aspects of business, especially during the current labor market challenges. Now more than ever, it’s necessary to cultivate straightforward working relationships to help further economic development. Therefore, Philbin and Archer meet with businesses to find out what they need. It all starts with communication, not just asking them about their workforce. They also work alongside the East Greenwich Business and Economic Development Council as well as the Gloucester County Department of Economic Development on projects ranging from job fairs to job listings. “We help however we can to get business into the township,” Philbin says. “It’s a challenge and will continue to be for a while.” Another way the administration solves challenges, is through shared services. Since East Greenwich is a small town surrounded by other municipalities, this is a strategic way to look after residents while also forming partnerships with the neighboring communities. Archer admits, “It’s been a great success. For instance, Logan Township is the town that handles all our waste management. It’s been a huge business for them and good for us.” Currently, Philbin is part of a team drafting an agreement for New Jersey’s first ever full time EAST GREENWI CH TOWNSHI P , NEW JERSEY Fire Department shared service. He’s hoping it’ll go into effect around July 1st, 2022. The agreement will create the first shared service for partial fire service coverage paid through a stipend program. They will still be volunteer status beyond the 7 am to 4 pm time frame, which is the time frame covered under the shared service. The East Greenwich Township Fire & Rescue Department will work alongside two other towns to be on call for all 911 and fire emergencies Monday through Fridays as well as holidays. According to the local Fire Chiefs involved, most emergency calls occur during weekdays between 7 am and 4 pm, so any extra coverage will be beneficial. As Archer asserts, “We understand that every second counts during a crisis, so we need to have the quickest and best response.” The township’s water infrastructure is not a shared service, but instead purchased from New Jersey American Water. The company supplies approximately 90 percent of the community’s