A section of a road in Picayune may be renamed to honor the memory of the Picayune Housing Authority’s late director.
Mary Ellen Formby Davis passed away recently. Before her passing, she was heavily involved in the creation of the Picayune Housing Authority and served as the director for many decades. She took over as the director in 1957, retiring from that position in 2012.
During Tuesday’s Picayune City Council meeting they honored her memory with a resolution. Her nephews Mark Formby and Ira Ned Formby Jr., accepted the resolution.
After presentation of the resolution, which described her as a hard worker who loved Picayune, Mayor Ed Pinero Jr., suggested to the council that it would be appropriate to name part of the road in front of the Housing Authority Office in her honor. The Council approved a motion to have the city manager check into the process to accomplish that request.
An update on the progress with sprucing up lots in Berrywood Estates was provided to the Council. Janice Berry said she has ensured the grass was cut in the vacant lots, and will keep them that way. However, she is interested in turning over the drainage ditch, which is overgrown, between that subdivision and Woodland Heights over to the city.
Public Works Director Eric Morris said the city would need an easement to access the ditch, since currently all of the property surrounding it is private. Berry said there is a 25-foot easement available, and said she will confer with Morris at a later date to see what the two parties can work out.
Council members approved granting Berry a 60-day extension to work with the city to have the issue with the overgrown ditch handled.
A request to add a day to the Picayune NJROTC’s flag schedule sparked a minor misunderstanding. Morris presented adding Flag Day to the list of holidays in which the high school’s NJROTC would install and remove American flags from the light posts along Goodyear Boulevard. Morris said the group is provided with $1,200 per year to conduct that service.
Councilor Larry Breland asked, after it was mentioned they would be paid $100 per month, why the council pays the group every month when they provide the service only when the flags are installed and removed.
City Clerk Amber Hinton cleared up the misunderstanding by saying the $1,200 payment is an annual payment to assist the NJROTC and in return the group performs the service.
After the matter was cleared up the Council approved a motion to add Flag Day to the list of holidays in which the flags are installed along Goodyear Boulevard. The other holidays are the Fourth of July, Memorial Day, Veterans Day and Patriot’s Day.
In a separate matter, Police Chief Bryan Dawsey announced to the council that long-time dispatcher Capt. Bonnie Cousin passed away on Monday. He said she was with the department for 15 years, 11 of which were full time. He asked the community to keep her family in their prayers.
“I’m going to miss her smile,” Pinero said.
The next council meeting will be July 19, at 5 p.m.