Activists tell Lumberton to pull township funds from Citizens Bank over detention funding claims

At the July 2 meeting of the Lumberton Township Committee, Peter Damato, who said he represents the advocacy group Action Together Burlington County, urged the township to investigate whether municipal funds are held at Citizens Bank and to consider withdrawing deposits if true.

Damato said his coalition has persuaded neighboring municipalities to move funds and alleged that Citizens Bank has financed detention facilities such as 'Delaney Hall.' He said he did not know the exact amount of Lumberton funds held at the bank and that the county had told his group it could not act on county funds until the first quarter of 2027 because of penalties.

Committee members listened but did not commit to a course of action during the meeting. Damato also raised a separate, local complaint about wrecked vehicles stored in the emergency services parking area, saying they can leak fluids and damage pavement; the committee’s liaison to fire and EMS said she would speak with the fire chief about the storage and any leaks.

The committee did not vote on any financial policy at the meeting. Officials said staff would review the matters raised; no timeline or directive to divest municipal funds was announced.