CNBNews

William E. Cleary Sr. | CNBNews

photos by CNBNews

GLOUCESTER CITY, NJ (JULY 25, 2023)-- Monday, July 24, CNBNews noticed another sinkhole developing (above) at the newly paved intersection of Stites and Barnard Avenue. Last week we discovered a similar hole in the middle of the block. The contractor left the site last January and hasn't been seen since. City taxpayers paid over $500,000 to have new infrastructure placed on the street and for new curbing and asphalt paving.  City officials told the Barnard Street residents the contractor would return to finish the job once the weather got warmer. Gloucester City has been experiencing one of the longest heat waves in memory and still the contractor hasn't returned.

A resident said, "The contractor responsible for the street's renovations hasn't been seen in months. Some of us on the block are thinking now that the job is finished. What else can we think?  We haven't heard a word from Mayor Baile, or any member of council. And, not a word from the Acting City Administrator/Police Chief Morrell, who had promised us the job would be finished last year.  My neighbors and I believe that it's time for the chief to return to his daytime job, and for the city to hire a full-time administrator to resolve this ongoing issue. The street conditions are so bad that residents can't even open their windows because of the dirt and dust blowing around, and driving on it is difficult. Heavy rain causes flooding that reaches the top of the curbs. And we have had lots of heavy rain storms. If this happened in the private sector all those I mentioned would be let go, and new people would take their place. Unfortunately, we are dealing with politicians and career public employees who could care less about me and my neighbors."

TEN DAYS AGO A Barnard Street resident upset that his street hasn't been repaved after waiting nearly two years for the work to be finished sent the following message to CNBNews to post on our page. "A Big Goose Egg to Mayor Dayl Baile, his City Council, City Administrator, City Engineers, and anyone else I might have forgotten. The taxpayers of Gloucester City spent $526,000 to install new sewers and infrastructure on our street. Before the street has even been repaved, a sinkhole has developed. Do any of you on the city council give a damm? Your lack of attention to our problem tells me NO. The temporary city administrator told me and my neighbors that the street would be paved by Christmas 2022. But when Christmas came, we were told it was too cold to finish the job, and we would have to wait until spring. Spring has come and gone, and summer is here. WE ARE STILL WAITING!!!"