tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13253299425509580782024-03-27T19:53:31.449-04:00 FAA NewsCovering news of interest to our communityUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1364125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1325329942550958078.post-83373628575210136902024-02-29T16:07:00.002-05:002024-02-29T16:07:20.355-05:00MAYOR REINA PATS SELF ON BACK FOR $2MILLION SCHOOL AID, THEN PROMPTLY LOSES $4.5MILLION IN SCHOOL AID<p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIyMC8a3qS6Q5AYrZo3RYrgEWMuJS4XtQ4d606eU-aW39kMfciFcB4lZ_INbZutLkTa7xqOlIXdjhdDW2z-GrjeEXdeN5FXkuJdnhileuub_4OaTyRovr0-IhkXrFL5M8daCxFbKZjWbSNsSy7l82m419RtCaI0dvgIk_N_hQ4JKYJxkR6yOE0cTAEAnJq/s1119/IMG-20240229-WA0017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="781" data-original-width="1119" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIyMC8a3qS6Q5AYrZo3RYrgEWMuJS4XtQ4d606eU-aW39kMfciFcB4lZ_INbZutLkTa7xqOlIXdjhdDW2z-GrjeEXdeN5FXkuJdnhileuub_4OaTyRovr0-IhkXrFL5M8daCxFbKZjWbSNsSy7l82m419RtCaI0dvgIk_N_hQ4JKYJxkR6yOE0cTAEAnJq/w640-h446/IMG-20240229-WA0017.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Jackson Township Mayor Michael Reina yesterday thanked members of the New Jersey Senate Educational Subcommittee for their hard work on releasing $2,137,833 in school funding to be sent to the Jackson School District.<p></p><p><br /></p><p>Today new school aid figures were released as a result of Governor Murphy's budget. The district LOST another $4.5 million in school aid so Reina's efforts netted the district a loss of $2.4million.</p><p><br /></p><p>Reina claimed credit for the additional aid after an alleged meeting with members of the educational subcommittee.</p><p><br /></p><p>“I am extremely grateful that the subcommittee listened to the needs of Jackson Township’s children and teachers and released this much needed funding."</p><p><br /></p><p>Council President Jennifer Kuhn heaped accolades on Reina for stepping in at the state level to fight for the residents and children of Jackson.</p><p><br /></p><p>“Mayor Reina saw a problem and even though it was outside the township’s realm of responsibility did what needed to be done here,” Kuhn said. “Unfortunately, we still have a long fight ahead of us to make sure the Jackson School District is not negatively impacted by a flawed state funding formula and I have full confidence in the mayor to continue representing our town on this long term problem.”</p><p><br /></p><p>That confidence evaporated in less than 24 hours.</p><p><br /></p><p>Kuhn and Reina have not responded to requests for comment.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1325329942550958078.post-89679407292230674372024-02-28T09:57:00.004-05:002024-02-28T10:18:45.004-05:00ACLU SAYS JACKSON COUNCIL PRESIDENT WAS OUT OF ORDER WHEN SHE TOLD POLICE TO REMOVE HANNUM<p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a><div>Last night the Jackson council gave it’s blessing to an ordinance creating a new $200,000 per year job, that of Public Safety Director. Prior to the 3-2 vote, which saw councilman Borelli and councilman Chisholm vote no, the public was given the opportunity to comment on the proposed ordinance.</div><div><p></p><p>It was during publuc comment that council President Jennifer Juhn, angered by a resident's words, ruled that resident out of order and instructed Jackson police to escort that resident out of the meeting.</p><p>Jackson resident and CUPON head Elenor Hannum spoke in opposition to the ordinance citing what she considered an improper vote taken by members of the police union. Hannum alleged that a formal vote was never taken but rather only a show of hands vote.</p><p>But Hannum wasn’t done.
</p><p>Hannum accused Mayor Reina of supporting the new ordinance as a means of undermining Jackson police Chief Kunz, an allegation supported by a secret recording of Reina previously exposed here on FAA News. In that recording Reina expressess his disdain for Kunz because “he pulled over my daughter, he impounded my son’s car…”</p><p>Hannum then targetted council President Jennifer Kuhn.</p><p>Accusing Kuhn of using law enforcement as a prop to support Kuhn’s business, JLK Realty, Hannum expressed her belief that Kuhn might be too close to law enforcement to cast an unbiased vote. Hannum referenced a February 16 post on Facebook made by Kuhn that described her “current situation” by posting a photograph of 6 Ocean County Sheriff Officers poised outside of a home the Kuhn was evicting residents from. It is rare that such a show of force is needed for an eviction and the posture of the officers didn’t indicated any imminent threat.</p><p>Hannum then accused Kuhn of having a romantic relationship with PBA President Jeff Henba which drew an audible shout from the audience. It also drew a strong reaction from Kuhn who gaveled Hannum down, ruled her out of order and then ordered Hannum removed by Jackson police officers, a clear violation of Hannum’s First Amendment right to speak freely.</p><p>The Open Public Meetings Act grants members of the public an opportunity to be heard at public meetings. Hannum was speaking in the proper order and expressing her views when Kuhn ruled her out of order simply because she didn’t like Hannum’s views.</p><p>According to the American Civil Liberties Union it was Kuhn who was out of order.</p><p>“The public body cannot censor your speech during a public comment portion because it does not agree with you or like what you are saying. The public body also cannot prohibit comments based on subject matter so long as the comments relate to any issue “that a member of the public feels may be of concern to the residents of the municipality or school district.”</p><p>Efforts to reach Hannum and Kuhn went unanswered prior to publication of this article.
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</p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='920' height='666' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxYrw-Vtlc1iheNdjHtpKWMbVWheUwFIU4as9O_RDQUWtHjtlRtA4BWCjetQL7mQi3h7DTz8j4LJGySUcpaIQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDkGV8-CDGp2pZU7UXmhbKIi6KyvpdSBz7hxyBkdVwsQJGtxzJufomN4BrtjNUiJyFQ9dIz3FdrnpOIVgyE5xhZkmnOZZuLeBb3TW4XVQPT38-GVtMwhXVPBCwArtq_vpnrOr6EWoHSbZIW3oKuzOx82IbEeCWNh39lUzoqlf-hLEE_-0jbiuLl_byd7IA/s640/Photo_1665683735604.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDkGV8-CDGp2pZU7UXmhbKIi6KyvpdSBz7hxyBkdVwsQJGtxzJufomN4BrtjNUiJyFQ9dIz3FdrnpOIVgyE5xhZkmnOZZuLeBb3TW4XVQPT38-GVtMwhXVPBCwArtq_vpnrOr6EWoHSbZIW3oKuzOx82IbEeCWNh39lUzoqlf-hLEE_-0jbiuLl_byd7IA/s320/Photo_1665683735604.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1325329942550958078.post-87803430945684378412024-02-15T15:20:00.003-05:002024-02-15T15:20:17.158-05:00TOMS RIVER OFFICIALS REMOVE MEETING VIDEO, RESIDENTS CRY COVER-UP<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><a name='more'></a></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy74iKcqJ_ZOdcDmkc5MoH2L9Fnwq9TPpMZXIJ9Nt-WwE0XaudRi8luZyu2p1wj0dUA2zvAPSRSjt76qYMvouwixvQCZdzCPZfxF96DeClNFbDw_JuaJzb4EX-Z6e3wWxtszuI1UUsJaBaA7Y92jhKS5hYWU68eqoRJD4FrAOm9nJE0G0aKmjDrFKxWKsP/s631/IMG-20240215-WA0021~2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="631" height="576" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy74iKcqJ_ZOdcDmkc5MoH2L9Fnwq9TPpMZXIJ9Nt-WwE0XaudRi8luZyu2p1wj0dUA2zvAPSRSjt76qYMvouwixvQCZdzCPZfxF96DeClNFbDw_JuaJzb4EX-Z6e3wWxtszuI1UUsJaBaA7Y92jhKS5hYWU68eqoRJD4FrAOm9nJE0G0aKmjDrFKxWKsP/w640-h576/IMG-20240215-WA0021~2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Yesterday the Toms River council met to discuss, amongst other things, the highly contentious proposed ordinance to slash the police department by three law enforcement officers. The meeting was attended by approximately 200 residents. Of the 34 speakers from the public not a single one rose in support of the ordinance. Now all video evidence of the meeting has been removed from YouTube by the township.</p><p><br /></p><p>Emotions ran high during the public comment portion of the meeting with two residents being ordered removed by police at the direction of the council president.</p><p><br /></p><p>In the end the ordinance was adopted on a 5-2 vote.</p><p><br /></p><p>In discussion on another ordinance, this one authorizing the mayor to hire a politically connected law firm, councilman Jim Quinlisk asked the council president what the purpose of the hiring was. Mayor Rodrick responded that the firm was being hired to “help us with redevelopment.” When Quinlisk challenged the mayor about whether the firm was being hired to try to get the township out of the downtown redevelopment deal struck last year, Rodrick responded by telling Quinlisk that his comments would bring a lawsuit and yelled “you know what you need? You need a muzzle. Put a muzzle on him.”</p><p><br /></p><p>Later in the meeting, when the public had the opportunity to speak on any topic, Toms River Regional School District Board of Education member Jennifer Howe rose to challenge Mayor Rodrick’s decision to run a text message political campaign against her that claimed that she distributed child pornography. After a heated exchange Rodrick called her “disgusting” and a “disgrace” without ever denying that he paid for the political ad.</p><p><br /></p><p>In an unprecedented move, the livestream video has now been removed from the township’s YouTube channel without explanation. Efforts to contact township officials have gone unanswered but residents are furious.</p><p><br /></p><p>“What are they trying to hide? We were there, it’s not like they can pretend that the meeting didn’t happen. In the 8 years that I have lived here this has never happened before. Someone needs to answer for this” said a resident of the North Dover section of town.</p><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1325329942550958078.post-79217460149386241212024-02-14T20:38:00.006-05:002024-02-14T21:08:46.930-05:00IN HIS OWN WORDS; REINA OUT TO GET JACKSON POLICE CHIEF KUNZ<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><a name='more'></a></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMeuZPnipIdRRXaMsFFy_teXO6y43aRC_P8WDZ895dbS1L7VkIJVSwWUTuvPfPYKbHAi2U3OUGowzZQykPEyYDMXLEZZZcvFgHndkbskXWKHK-RdBIpCKc2_legaeLENzldjsXS3e-spRvY_TyPTWiF_k4FZfIybIy1HOHOSbMML8qe4wY19urBiIzqH4h/s654/IMG-20240214-WA0052~2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="653" data-original-width="654" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMeuZPnipIdRRXaMsFFy_teXO6y43aRC_P8WDZ895dbS1L7VkIJVSwWUTuvPfPYKbHAi2U3OUGowzZQykPEyYDMXLEZZZcvFgHndkbskXWKHK-RdBIpCKc2_legaeLENzldjsXS3e-spRvY_TyPTWiF_k4FZfIybIy1HOHOSbMML8qe4wY19urBiIzqH4h/w640-h640/IMG-20240214-WA0052~2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>Many Jackson residents see the move to establish the civilian position of Safety Director as an affront to Jackson PD Chief Kunz and an effort to remove him. This shocking audio confrms that Mayor Michael Reina is on a mission of retribution.</p><p><br /></p><p>When Reina's son was ticketed for driving an unregistered vehicle and the car was impounded, proper police protocol, Reina was furious and expected special treatment. He received none.</p><p><br /></p><p>When Reina's daughter was ticketed for speeding and failing to wear a seatbelt, again Reina sought special treatment. None was forthcoming.</p><p><br /></p><p>In his own words Reina makes clear that he has waited for payback and while he has a council majority he has decided it's time to move against Kunz.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='920' height='666' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwUcowxDwxAVEj7CkvBYb20NgtCUkwA_WhhaW2uaAlARzjEU6KKavjW2sTDsXNKmfStxT0MrdCRUJmtzoJcag' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1325329942550958078.post-64817227356762830532024-02-13T17:47:00.003-05:002024-02-13T17:48:34.398-05:00JACKSON COUNCIL PRESIDENT PROMISING PPP LOANS AND SBA GRANTS THAT DON'T EXIST<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><a name='more'></a></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhckgjKbHKES7GjrqNFQi6mVub-3ZUxVCxgeyASlumTtUGFOyHuf_CBeExcEtJsC6bOuITQEOukeghlXaZED0fesSX-GtO_O1HYPGiE4QTwEIn-A_v8H7Y8gTduRZ2doMWAcE6Ls3AjQTt1cXv-pnkolfxCpPIxp5tJtpO_OPbPm1cGWwyROwWpMt33unX7/s225/IMG-20240213-WA0041.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhckgjKbHKES7GjrqNFQi6mVub-3ZUxVCxgeyASlumTtUGFOyHuf_CBeExcEtJsC6bOuITQEOukeghlXaZED0fesSX-GtO_O1HYPGiE4QTwEIn-A_v8H7Y8gTduRZ2doMWAcE6Ls3AjQTt1cXv-pnkolfxCpPIxp5tJtpO_OPbPm1cGWwyROwWpMt33unX7/w640-h640/IMG-20240213-WA0041.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p>Earlier today Jackson council president Jennifer Kuhn issued a press release announcing that the Economic Development Council had met for the first time in 5 years. Coming out of that meeting Kuhn said that the Council "will begin providing local businesses with information and opportunities such as aiding businesses in finding appropriate grants from the Small Business Administration and to guide them in the right direction to obtain PPP loans needed for expansion and growth."</p><p><br /></p><p>Local business owners excited by the news are sure to be disappointed to learn that the SBA does not provide grants to small businesses and the PPP Loan Program ended on May 31, 2021.</p><p><br /></p><p>According to the SBA website, "SBA does not provide grants for starting and expanding a business. SBA provides grants to nonprofit, Resource Partners, and educational organizations that support entrepreneurship through counseling and training programs."</p><p><br /></p><p>The same SBA website states "The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) ended on May 31, 2021. Existing borrowers may be eligible for PPP loan forgiveness."</p><p><br /></p><p>Kuhn did also suggest that North County Line Rd is ripe for commercial development and that the township would offer incentives to attract new business. Those incentives would likely include tax abatements for developers.</p><p><br /></p><p>Residents are unlikely to support further development in town that does not contribute to the tax base.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1325329942550958078.post-55602898075449011512024-02-06T17:56:00.008-05:002024-02-06T18:27:10.135-05:00EXPLOSIVE AUDIO: TOMS RIVER COUNCILWOMAN'S ANTISEMITIC RANT <p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPSqcINQTL1m5Ikey1cLRMAK1GKhdSQVyaSOlWexWj0hmjA4lvQROM9vAsBT8fSqNaMieCXL5V2iBMr92Y4yzyjybxBal4dsSSPyzM9OvmeD7LDcHYv4OSPaC3jn3F3pP8IHonI5pdsgyF1KwN1If2wZAYramJKu1SVB1hFUu-vPeZKmu6rUeN3gaADCxV/s1600/IMG-20240206-WA0018.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="885" data-original-width="1600" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPSqcINQTL1m5Ikey1cLRMAK1GKhdSQVyaSOlWexWj0hmjA4lvQROM9vAsBT8fSqNaMieCXL5V2iBMr92Y4yzyjybxBal4dsSSPyzM9OvmeD7LDcHYv4OSPaC3jn3F3pP8IHonI5pdsgyF1KwN1If2wZAYramJKu1SVB1hFUu-vPeZKmu6rUeN3gaADCxV/w640-h354/IMG-20240206-WA0018.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><br /><p></p><p>An audio recording of Toms River Councilwoman Lynne O'Toole has re-surfaced. </p><p><br /></p><p>In the audio O'Toole is heard saying that she's not prejudiced against anyone, right before launching into a series of antisemitic tropes.</p><p><br /></p><p>"What pisses me off is you have a little school in your house and you become tax exempt. But yet you have separate buses that I have to pay for. All the services that I have to pay for, and you pay for nothing. Bullsh#t, we don't need that here."</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='857' height='597' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwKE9GvrfUndy30xqvThhGC1Yom01IrgSnxM7jPUsy587wpBYYsjj8nrCh-nGxSrl4C9JmfZ8KgOSAz36iyTg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1325329942550958078.post-6337370200238377842024-01-30T13:28:00.005-05:002024-01-31T08:45:05.580-05:00MASS EXODUS UNDERWAY AS TOMS RIVER BUSINESS ADMINISTRATOR AND ASSISTANT RESIGN, IS CFO NEXT?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><a name='more'></a></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT1AmgIiPPS57tYVM0DwUMclelOmBb2QhXd0KXykFs7Po5vpg-mE9xHzIFGgc575v2Db6BDupI5qGzwAWJIq-oSr1F-Hnb_5yOXeK6zWGmLUzgH6-bzARGqRXvH6SkQ7uW0vBefiDQuogiPisIQrXl9z_ReC73XukKsel9FZVNmO8mJzUmioY0Lw6uFsPv/s200/Document.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT1AmgIiPPS57tYVM0DwUMclelOmBb2QhXd0KXykFs7Po5vpg-mE9xHzIFGgc575v2Db6BDupI5qGzwAWJIq-oSr1F-Hnb_5yOXeK6zWGmLUzgH6-bzARGqRXvH6SkQ7uW0vBefiDQuogiPisIQrXl9z_ReC73XukKsel9FZVNmO8mJzUmioY0Lw6uFsPv/w640-h640/Document.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /><span></span></p><p></p><p>The honeymoon is over for Toms River’s newly seated Mayor Dan Rodrick and now he has a black eye in the form a resignation of his hand-picked Business Administrator, the Assistant Business Administrator and possibly the Chief Financial Officer.</p><p><br /></p><p>Just 4 weeks into his tenure, as previously reported by FAA News, Rodrick is facing two massive protests over the next two days. Residents angered by his plan to defund the police department by slashing two Captains, two patrolmen and the department’s spokesperson Jillian Messina, are rallying in opposition to the action. Those residents are further angered by the decision by Rodrick and his Council to host tomorrow night’s Township council meeting remotely rather than in-person where they would be forced to confront the masses.</p><p><br /></p><p>Now sources have confirmed that Township Business Administrator Scott Tirella, a Rodrick appointee, is leaving his post, followed closely by his Assistant Business Administrator Loring Dutton.</p><p><br /></p><p>Tirella, a retired Lacey Township Police Lieutenant, was appointed to the position of Business Administrator at the Township’s reorganization meeting on January 1 by Rodrick. Less than one month later Tirella is leaving his $165,000/year job. So too is his Assistant Loring Dunton.</p><p><br /></p><p>Prior to accepting the Business Administrator’s position in Toms River, Tirella spent 4 years working as a Field Crew Manager at the politically connected engineering firm of Morgan Engineering, owned by Ocean County Commissioner Frank Sadeghi.</p><p><br /></p><p>Neither responded in time to inquiries made by FAA News earlier today but both are rumored to be unhappy with Rodrick’s management style and certain actions that the Mayor has taken in his short tenure. The coincidence that Tirella is a retired police officer now working for a Mayor looking to defund the police department cannot be overlooked as one possible reason for his departure.</p><p><br /></p><p>The opening for Business Administrator occurred when Former Business Administrator Lou Amoruso voluntarily moved back to his previous position as public works director, a job he believed he had tenure in the position under state law. Rodrick, desperately wanting to get rid of Amoruso, had his Council introduce an ordinance eliminating the position to which Amoruso returned. That ordinance is slated for second reading and adoption at tomorrow night’s meeting.</p><p><br /></p><p>Hours ago sources inside of Toms River Town Hall informed FAA News that another resignation is in the works, that of the Township’s Chief Financial Officer Judy Tutela.</p><p><br /></p><p>Tutela joined Toms River’s administration in September 2021. Prior to that she had an accomplished career serving as principal in charge of the audit department for governmental, not-for-profit and for profit entities at HBK CPAs & Consultants. Tutela remains heavily involved in volunteerism and has previously served as the State of New Jersey’s lead Ambassador to the Americ</p><p>an Cancer Society.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1325329942550958078.post-4565816466280954362024-01-29T14:46:00.006-05:002024-01-29T14:46:39.911-05:00JACKSON MAYOR REINA ANNOUNCES FORMATION OF MULTI-CULTURAL COMMITTEE, AGAIN<p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMkw7Vhfy0IjOaNPtMKCVr0IIj3XBufKU_h7Mv4HpXtvMLDGdeQt16y5oOYyVnM00uIszwarlMqy8v0k5IaesWYHKC5k2RsTXVbzX1agWXKWUvTRwdsooIj7mQuliLGYOSznlopWUbRFFIh_RdolBcuRv0GXFAPkTQpAx_wHqyUvfbxPNRIJ0J5DMEIO7V/s600/IMG-20240129-WA0007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="598" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMkw7Vhfy0IjOaNPtMKCVr0IIj3XBufKU_h7Mv4HpXtvMLDGdeQt16y5oOYyVnM00uIszwarlMqy8v0k5IaesWYHKC5k2RsTXVbzX1agWXKWUvTRwdsooIj7mQuliLGYOSznlopWUbRFFIh_RdolBcuRv0GXFAPkTQpAx_wHqyUvfbxPNRIJ0J5DMEIO7V/w638-h640/IMG-20240129-WA0007.jpg" width="638" /></a><p></p><br /><p><br /></p><p>Jackson Township Mayor Michael Reina has shaken the dust off of his plan for a “multi-cultural committee”, first hatched three years ago and shelved because residents at the time considered the idea a sham.</p><p><br /></p><p>If the initial response to Reina’s new scheme to create a committee that will “meet regularly to create and organize community events in building bridges and bringing together residents from different religious, non-religious and cultural backgrounds” is any indication, it is.</p><p><br /></p><p>“The Prosecutor’s office held a community dialogue meeting on January 22 but didn’t invite the community. It was at that meeting that the idea of a multi-cultural committee was resurrected but only a select group of people were invited, those of us who showed up without an invitation were turned away. That tells me everything I need to know, it’s another bad joke delivered by Reina”, said one resident of Hampshire Hills.</p><p><br /></p><p>Rather than seek a truly diverse group of volunteers, Reina has decided that the committee should be comprised of 1 person from each of Jackson’s 34 voting districts, strongly favoring seniors and members of the Frum community. These was no mention in the press release about how members will be appointed should multiple volunteers from a single voting district come forward.</p><p><br /></p><p>Jackson Township is diverse, according to the most recent U.S. Census 76% of residents are white, 13% Hispanic, 4.7% Black and 4.6% Asian. The Census Bureau does not factor religion into their demographics however the breakdown is approximately 70% Christian, 25% orthodox Jews and the remainder unaffiliated.</p><p><br /></p><p>“Let’s face it, this committee is nothing more than another attempt by Mayor Reina to bolster his biggest supporters” said a Bennetts Mills Rd resident not wishing to be identified.</p><p><br /></p><p>According to the press release, a stated goal of the committee is to “create and implement a public education campaign that will focus on highlighting diversity within the Township and promoting cultural and religious sensitivity and acceptance of all members of the Township.”</p><p><br /></p><p>Those wishing to serve are asked to send an email to officeofadministration@jacksontwpnj.net and include your name, address, email and best contact number.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1325329942550958078.post-19351535477793615532024-01-29T14:22:00.004-05:002024-01-31T08:45:37.289-05:00TOMS RIVER POLICE CHIEF REFUTES MAYOR'S CLAIMS, PROTEST RALLIES PLANNED<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><a name='more'></a></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivpDzMJdvrMxrw6vKphlEtLOTk8Wox3_N27LcYbliWlGrwheIt9GEFVBiOyKSkBRZkMGe2lCeA3jsRO6e2F12tUPLLtqUstVjeqwDR82_xq9asBvvDWOXernYTczQgQ6JoH6tV021shuqBNpYB1oWgQe9txoDDtWSHp4kJgH2LZ0VbA3iDUf-DLWP2OSaV/s980/IMG-20240129-WA0006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="821" data-original-width="980" height="536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivpDzMJdvrMxrw6vKphlEtLOTk8Wox3_N27LcYbliWlGrwheIt9GEFVBiOyKSkBRZkMGe2lCeA3jsRO6e2F12tUPLLtqUstVjeqwDR82_xq9asBvvDWOXernYTczQgQ6JoH6tV021shuqBNpYB1oWgQe9txoDDtWSHp4kJgH2LZ0VbA3iDUf-DLWP2OSaV/w640-h536/IMG-20240129-WA0006.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>Multiple protests are planned to highlight what many Toms River residents are calling the cowardice of Mayor Daniel Rodrick.</p><p><br /></p><p>As previously reported on FAA News, Rodrick recently announced a plan to downsize the Toms River Police Department by eliminating two Captains positions and by reducing the number of sworn law enforcement officers by two. In his announcement Rodrick claimed that he was actually growing the rank-and-file by eight positions, but those hires are to staff another ambulance.</p><p><br /></p><p>In anticipation of an overflow crowd, rather than move the January 31 Council meeting to a different venue, the Mayor and Council decided to host a virtual meeting.</p><p><br /></p><p>That decision has drawn the ire of plenty of Toms River resident.</p><p><br /></p><p>“He is a coward, plain and simple. I watched him wince at the last meeting as one resident after the next came to the microphone to voice their objections to his plan to defund our police department. Clearly he lacks the capacity to accept constructive criticism” said Sandy, a resident of the Gilford Park section of town.</p><p><br /></p><p>In advance of the Council meeting there are now two rallies planned.</p><p><br /></p><p>One rally is set for 3 p.m. Tuesday at the corner of Washington and Robbins streets, and the second is set for 6:30 p.m. Wednesday outside Town Hall at 33 Washington St., both aiming to show support for the police department.</p><p><br /></p><p>Late last week Rodrick spent $18,000 of taxpayer money to send a letter to all residents of Toms River explaining his decision to downsize the police department.</p><p><br /></p><p>On Saturday Chief of Police Mitch Little responded to Rodrick’s costly letter in a Facebook post, debunking much of what Rodrick had stated. Mayor Rodrick ordered the Facebook post to be removed three hours later.</p><p><br /></p><p>"Let me state clearly and unequivocally, the rank-and-file union, the supervisors union, and I, all stand united in opposition to the elimination of two captains positions to fund the EMT program," Little wrote. "I have asked the mayor for an opportunity to discuss his concerns in relation to the potential unintended consequences of his decision to implement these cuts to our command staff. I believe there is a middle ground that is mutually beneficial to all involved, the police department, the governing body, and most of all, the members of the community."</p><p><br /></p><p>Little went on to say "These SLEO officers are not authorized to carry weapons and have no arrest powers. They are replacements for the 15 SLEO officers lost last year due to them pursuing other full-time law enforcement employment," Little added. "In reality, the department is still short eight Class I officers from last year, with the possibility of losing two full-time sworn police officers through attrition this year, dropping the total end strength of full-time sworn officers from 162 to 158."</p><p><br /></p><p> </p><p><br /></p><p>He noted that the captains are his "support staff" and help manage the 335 total police department employees, including Class I, II and III special officers and civilian staff members. There are 162 officers, the same number as 20 years ago, but calls have risen from 43,885 to 65,000 annually, and the township's population has grown from a bit over 89,000 in 2000 to about 98,000 last year, according to </p><p>the U.S. Census Bureau.</p><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1325329942550958078.post-6651696050681079562024-01-27T19:06:00.001-05:002024-01-27T19:16:35.189-05:00SECURITY CAMERAS PROVE TO BE A DOUBLE EDGED SWORD, SCHOOLS BEGIN REMOVING THEM<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><a name='more'></a></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja_mmd2TIpZxtFaw8ip8PRhbT57bDFO_CFhOIFJxRnqaVb36NtlzAeog4LrdEGoimiUiUx3fvcsnc2BGnrZrXIxszGtLdkTHEBoXwh7RKML0A02EFidmFUFciUqEv2DTD8FHApxi-SD2Oxj9__JstV7_XGaJlJ2vAkqLZCXDmiZ2w2qbtZAgCFOurWvZo7/s761/IMG-20240127-WA0000~2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="761" data-original-width="760" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja_mmd2TIpZxtFaw8ip8PRhbT57bDFO_CFhOIFJxRnqaVb36NtlzAeog4LrdEGoimiUiUx3fvcsnc2BGnrZrXIxszGtLdkTHEBoXwh7RKML0A02EFidmFUFciUqEv2DTD8FHApxi-SD2Oxj9__JstV7_XGaJlJ2vAkqLZCXDmiZ2w2qbtZAgCFOurWvZo7/w640-h640/IMG-20240127-WA0000~2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>Last year the federal government awarded $335 million in non-profit security grants and here in New Jersey, the State made available grants of $25,000 for security personnel and an additional $100,000 for “target hardening equipment” including cameras, software, credential badges providing facility access and communication equipment. Lakewood Township also made available $10,000 grants for eligible businesses.</p><p><br /></p><p>The vast majority of Lakewood schools took advantage of available funding with most investing in security cameras, not only as a deterrent but also to record incidents that may take place on school grounds.</p><p><br /></p><p>In the wake of two troubling incidents over the last few weeks, some schools are rethinking their decision and have begun dismantling their camera systems and removing recording equipment.</p><p><br /></p><p>On two occasions over that period, the Ocean County Prosecutor's office was called upon to conduct investigations into allegations of impropriety at two different locations. In both cases the Prosecutor's office left with recordings of those incidents, effectively removing the decision to prosecute or not from the owners and leaving the decision solely in the hands of authorities. </p><p><br /></p><p>An informal survey found that approximately 30% of all schools and other security grant recipients have begun removing cameras and recording equipment inside of their facilities. Most are not removing equipment that monitors activities on the surrounding grounds.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1325329942550958078.post-75254386198218774022024-01-26T13:06:00.004-05:002024-01-26T13:06:22.338-05:00JACKSON TOWNSHIP MUA FLUSHES PLAN TO APPOINT COMMISSIONER TO SIX FIGURE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR POSITION<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><a name='more'></a></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBvr5bPPTvGkBKx_9xhWJKCNGjrq0eHKbPIWKBLcdyPlj0Z6M8i7hG1n_dgywFceZZTA0PeFSz9_MC7ihCHUhTMgnlJhLedcJl1jlw-YxXfevxpUqaoS0upwAx3HzyN3Pk7wyX_zW2sfNc0H8Zb3IHX0p4IMx0gykFMD7Lj8XlO00TF_-eABdqr0upSV8Y/s600/IMG-20240126-WA0023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="328" data-original-width="600" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBvr5bPPTvGkBKx_9xhWJKCNGjrq0eHKbPIWKBLcdyPlj0Z6M8i7hG1n_dgywFceZZTA0PeFSz9_MC7ihCHUhTMgnlJhLedcJl1jlw-YxXfevxpUqaoS0upwAx3HzyN3Pk7wyX_zW2sfNc0H8Zb3IHX0p4IMx0gykFMD7Lj8XlO00TF_-eABdqr0upSV8Y/w640-h350/IMG-20240126-WA0023.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Commission welcomes new member previously forced to resign from Township planning board</p><p><br /></p><p>It's no secret that the Jackson Township GOP is fractured. On one side is Mayor Michael Reina, Council President Jennifer Kuhn and Council members Scott Sargent and Mordy Burnstein, on the other side, the old guard of former GOP municipal Chairwoman Clara Glory and former GOP Club President Todd Porter. Glory and Porter led the campaigns of failed Mayoral candidate Marty Flemming and current Council members Steve Chisholm and Nino Borelli.</p><p><br /></p><p>All of them have their fingers in the pie at the Jackson Township MUA despite the authority's charter to operate independent of the Township.</p><p><br /></p><p>Current MUA Executive Director David Harpell, who earns $171,000 per year, is slated to retire and the Authority embarked on a search for a new Director that elicited over 20 resumes. According to sources however, Commissioners had already settled on appointing one of their own, William Allman. Those same sources indicated that outgoing commissioner Clara Glory, who was not reappointed at the expiration of her term, would be named as Allman's assistant.</p><p><br /></p><p>Last night the Commissioners met and the meeting agenda included resolution 2024-12 which read “Resolution of the Jackson Township Municipal Utilities Authority Appointing an Executive Director to the Jackson Township Municipal Utilities Authority and Authorizing the Execution of up to a Three-Year Contract with the Appointee.” At the last minute the Commissioners tabled the ordinance and will consider it again at it's next meeting in February.</p><p><br /></p><p>The move to table the ordinance may have been motivated by recent action of the Township Council which not only refused to reappoint Glory and instead put longtime Mayor Michael Reina ally Richard Egan on the Authority, but also appointed an additional alternate member to the Commission.</p><p><br /></p><p>According to Township Councilman Mordy Burnstein, “More residents on that board means move oversight and more transparency. We have recently received a lot of questions about the MUA and the process going on over there and we decided it would be better to make sure the council enables proper resident oversight on that board.” Burnstein did not mention whether the questions came from Township residents or political power brokers.</p><p><br /></p><p>It's also possible that the ordinance was tabled due to a possible conflict of interest for Allman, which residents have raised in the past.</p><p><br /></p><p>Allman, currently serving as a commissioner and the heir apparent to Harpell, is the owner of a competing septic business in Jackson Township. As such Allman currently has a vote on the Commission that enables him to deny sewerage to proposed developments, thereby creating prospective customers for his own business. As Executive Director Allman would have the power to influence Commissioners decisions on similar development proposals going forward.</p><p><br /></p><p>The MUA did seat new Commissioner Richard Egan last evening, that move also raised eyebrows.</p><p><br /></p><p>Egan was forced to resign from the Jackson Township planning board and environmental commission in 2019 after making inflammatory comments about the Township's growing orthodox Jewish community that appeared in the Department of Justice's lawsuit against Jackson Township. Egan was also slammed for attending CUPON meetings and decrying development while simultaneously sitting on a land use board.</p><p><br /></p><p>More recently Egan has, according to Jackson resident Randy Bergman, displayed a troubling “bigotry on his Facebook page that should disqualify him from serving in any capacity in Jackson municipal government.” Bergmann referred to several Facebook posts that Egan authored depicting President Joe Biden and former President Barack Obama as gay lovers and featuring other bigoted images, one of which attacked the Mormon faith.</p><p><br /></p><p>The current make-up of the MUA Commissioners still favors an Allman appointment as Executive Director but with the seating of Egan and a new alternate member, the February meeting, normally attended by one or two members of the public, will likely be a crowded one with residents demanding answers.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1325329942550958078.post-92063867875178040052024-01-26T08:55:00.007-05:002024-01-26T13:03:45.487-05:00NEW JACKSON TOWNSHIP WEBSITE RAISES EYEBROWS AS RESIDENTS LABEL IT PROPAGANDA<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><a name='more'></a></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7mko5V3SRNJuxIbkkLGh4JWofhKan8iNs7t8Kmjbb_-GDcFlZqlfAerljsUJM6-ijyu8vzMAKz0oz_1cCOX2FChjffiQhmkB7rxgezUv8DlZ_lJi3izU6iFVX403q0PJBh1e9sKgOhltIXGI2E9Sq6Gr_3GakS_YHB4VKf0A_ZCAhJfp4BpMB0ZWCWqmo/s296/IMG-20240126-WA0013.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="296" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7mko5V3SRNJuxIbkkLGh4JWofhKan8iNs7t8Kmjbb_-GDcFlZqlfAerljsUJM6-ijyu8vzMAKz0oz_1cCOX2FChjffiQhmkB7rxgezUv8DlZ_lJi3izU6iFVX403q0PJBh1e9sKgOhltIXGI2E9Sq6Gr_3GakS_YHB4VKf0A_ZCAhJfp4BpMB0ZWCWqmo/w640-h640/IMG-20240126-WA0013.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Jackson Township has re-launched a second official website, <a href="http://JacksonTwpNJ.news">JacksonTwpNJ.news</a>. Carrying the official Township logo, providing links to the Township's official social media pages and a copyright attributed to Jackson Township, the new website appears to be a public relations ploy aimed at rallying support for Mayor Michael Reina and his Council allies and also acts as a news curator that includes “advertorials” unrelated to Jackson Township.<p></p><p><br /></p><p>Advertorials are advertisements giving information about a product or service in the style of an editorial or objective journalistic article. Featured today on the Township's website are advertorials dealing with telling your anesthesiologist about weight loss medications that you may be taking, reinventing your laundry experience through technology and also a Spanish language article about suicide prevention.</p><p><br /></p><p>Featuring headlines such as “Jackson Township Council has announced that it will be adding one more member to the Jackson Municipal Utilities Authority”, “Ban On-Street Parking Near Busy County Road Intersections” and “Open Space Committee Focused on Preserving More Land in 2024”, the articles/press releases carry the byline Christian David.</p><p><br /></p><p>David's official title in Jackson Township is “network administrator/webmaster” where his duties include the administration of the Township's internal computer network and maintenance of the Township's website. Although there has been no official change in those duties, David now appears to be a public relations officer as well. That didn't sit well with one Township resident.</p><p><br /></p><p>“Why do we need two websites in our town and why is one of them dedicated to promoting Reina, Kuhn, Sargent and Burnstein?” asked one Township resident. “Also, the Township has a public relations firm under contract, why are they paying a Township employee to do the same work?”</p><p><br /></p><p>Another resident demanded answers about whether or not the Township was operating a for-profit website given that it includes the advertorials.</p><p><br /></p><p>“Is someone making money off of this website? If so, who?”</p><p><br /></p><p>A third resident wanted to know why the articles written by David don't also include the advertorial tag since all of those articles are clearly intended to promote Reina and his Council allies at the expense of two Council members not aligned with Reina. That resident said that the website is “nothing more than propaganda”</p><p><br /></p><p>Residents might also be perplexed by the number of articles and advertorials appearing on the website that are unrelated to Jackson Township. A quick count of the homepage this morning revealed that there are a total of 7 articles dealing with issues concerning Jackson Township residents while there are a total of 20 that are totally unrelated.</p><p><br /></p><p>The unrelated articles include state and national news, national sports, business and finance and health topics that do nothing to enhance the quality of life for Jackson residents.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghMeqhgkxhj1pN0dN6U75yhkiDMqgFERB7tZLSRRTEeaNiSBIkrknl0V3m6AM9rHhBDLIcRECkAJ1wBlXfaUv_znxIIgdeRsv8LDRhbr8iJLIaR6C5j9wt9jsnkV3OzIPGp0y7yP3vS59JOgm7aXXolhVD5X03ql9IzwsCcPkg5zSLwnUHcps8IlvsF8ju/s1363/IMG-20240126-WA0014.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="677" data-original-width="1363" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghMeqhgkxhj1pN0dN6U75yhkiDMqgFERB7tZLSRRTEeaNiSBIkrknl0V3m6AM9rHhBDLIcRECkAJ1wBlXfaUv_znxIIgdeRsv8LDRhbr8iJLIaR6C5j9wt9jsnkV3OzIPGp0y7yP3vS59JOgm7aXXolhVD5X03ql9IzwsCcPkg5zSLwnUHcps8IlvsF8ju/w640-h318/IMG-20240126-WA0014.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1325329942550958078.post-74454712187668690322024-01-26T08:02:00.001-05:002024-01-26T08:04:15.864-05:00TOMS RIVER MAYOR AND COUNCIL TAKE A PLAY FROM LAKEWOOD COMMITTEE PLAYBOOK, NEXT MEETING TO BE VIRTUAL<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><a name='more'></a></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH-YuFnpqb0HmSnelGEQvjlQpjs0Z5YpVVgYt3KAXCRyKo72b2wxy4FwZ7-D9c59rS-F91h0mnx5H9-IcIkx1BH1CivfD-7Fng4I_KSMTjTw9F7iVC1rqfhAlbXQn1rVUWYbYaOoV5bqyd7VN9BeIA-2_QktsFxo8CL_gHgeKaeuijxEAuiJN_Mcr-MU7q/s847/IMG-20240126-WA0005.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="470" data-original-width="847" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH-YuFnpqb0HmSnelGEQvjlQpjs0Z5YpVVgYt3KAXCRyKo72b2wxy4FwZ7-D9c59rS-F91h0mnx5H9-IcIkx1BH1CivfD-7Fng4I_KSMTjTw9F7iVC1rqfhAlbXQn1rVUWYbYaOoV5bqyd7VN9BeIA-2_QktsFxo8CL_gHgeKaeuijxEAuiJN_Mcr-MU7q/w640-h356/IMG-20240126-WA0005.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>As previously reported on FAA News, the Toms River Township Council is poised to eliminate positions from the Toms River Police Department, a move that has been met with ire from not only residents of the Township but from the Township's two police unions; the Fraternal Order of Police and the Police Benevolent Association.</p><p><br /></p><p>At a special meeting called by Council on January 18, 2024, an ordinance was introduced that would eliminate 2 captains positions, a public affairs officer, and one rank and file officer that Mayor Rodrick claimed would save the Township $800,000 per year. Rather than apply those savings toward a budget shortfall that Rodrick says is $3.5 million, he and his Council allies are creating 8 new EMT positions to be supervised by the Toms River Police Department.</p><p><br /></p><p>At the same meeting, in a show of strength, hundreds of residents and police officers turned out to voice their opposition to the move. That same group called for “all hands on deck” attendance at the regularly scheduled Council meeting on January 31st when it's widely expected that Rodrick's Council allies will push through the ordinance upon second reading and public hearing.</p><p><br /></p><p>In anticipation of an overflow crowd, rather than move the meeting to a different venue that could accommodate those wishing to be heard, Toms River High School North's auditorium or the RWJ Barnabas arena come to mind, the Council has decided to host a virtual meeting.</p><p><br /></p><p>“These people are cowards, plain and simple. I moved here from Lakewood to get away from this kind of lack of transparency” said one resident of North Dover.</p><p><br /></p><p>Despite pleas from the public, the Lakewood Township Committee continues it's COVID era policy of virtual meetings rather than face an at-times hostile public.</p><p><br /></p><p>Having already scaled back the number of public meetings in 2024, from the usual 24 to just 12, inside sources say that the Toms River Township Council is rumored to be considering a move toward all virtual meetings for the remainder of the year.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1325329942550958078.post-27132957059416688102024-01-25T10:40:00.004-05:002024-01-25T10:41:34.038-05:00OUTRAGE IN TOMS RIVER AS NEW MAYOR AND COUNCIL SLASH POLICE DEPARTMENT<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><a name='more'></a></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge8dmSJIKXjr6-wTx60SrDRWtQgHnKxmaflcA3ntlm7vOlLvsWeey6BhXNrIWOjmDWfO4STnsecxN0-Ziik_Rl9Cn5jzTHitE-3K5AEOx9NBMCuHjSFBjVeLTT9tXzmv-N2r5_Rf59Aka3Mp_IttyEzsGe_fMP65oIaj2y5V6WeIPjrIcgegfxORd255_N/s300/IMG-20240125-WA0004.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge8dmSJIKXjr6-wTx60SrDRWtQgHnKxmaflcA3ntlm7vOlLvsWeey6BhXNrIWOjmDWfO4STnsecxN0-Ziik_Rl9Cn5jzTHitE-3K5AEOx9NBMCuHjSFBjVeLTT9tXzmv-N2r5_Rf59Aka3Mp_IttyEzsGe_fMP65oIaj2y5V6WeIPjrIcgegfxORd255_N/w640-h358/IMG-20240125-WA0004.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>At newly seated Mayor Daniel Rodrick's request, the Toms River Township Council introduced an ordinance Jan. 18 that will permanently cut the number of Police Department captains' positions from three to one. The cuts will be made through attrition according to Rodrick, who added that cutting the captains' jobs will save more than $700,000 in salaries and benefits. Two captains are slated to retire in June.</p><p><br /></p><p>Rather than use the savings to plug what Rodrick described as a “$3.5 million budget shortfall”, Rodrick intends to use the money to deliver on a campaign promise made to barrier island residents.</p><p><br /></p><p>"This will put an additional ambulance on the road, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. This is a matter of life and death. This is not an easy decision but we have begun the process."</p><p><br /></p><p>When the ordinance eliminating the two Captains positions and creating 8 additional EMT positions was introduced, Councilman James Quinlisk nearly leapt out of his chair. "My vote is absolutely 'no,'” he said, to loud applause from the crowd. “You're trying to move money from the first people at every call. Taking away our officers, taking away our captains, it's cutting our nose off to spite our face."</p><p><br /></p><p>Quinlisk's running mate, David Ciccozzi, accused Rodrick of “defunding the police.”</p><p><br /></p><p>Toms River Police Officer Ted Maloney noted that the supervisory officers oversee 162 police officers, 30 to 35 Class III officers, including those who work in the township's schools, as well as about 20 Class I and II officers and park police.</p><p><br /></p><p>"Those captains do not only supervise our lieutenants, they are in charge of financing, they are in charge of purchasing," Maloney said. "That is what makes the world go around."</p><p><br /></p><p>One of the other positions being cut by Rodrick and the Council is that of Police Department spokesperson.</p><p><br /></p><p>Jillian Messina, who has served as spokeswoman for the police department for the past seven years, said she routinely worked 60 hours a week at her job. Messina's job has now been eliminated, she will be replaced by township spokesperson Phil Stilton, who was hired by Rodrick at a salary of $89,000 a year. According to Rodrick Stilton will handle both jobs.</p><p><br /></p><p>Rising in opposition to the plan was Toms River Township's Philip Brilliant who demanded that Rodrick explain the financial breakdown, pressing to know if more officers were being cut to cover the cost of the EMT's.</p><p><br /></p><p>Rodrick insisted that the addition of the eight EMT's would not require cuts in police staffing, which are under the supervision of the police department.</p><p><br /></p><p>"You're not being 100 percent honest," Brilliant said. "This is something that needs to be studied and looked at. I don't know why in 18 days we feel we have to do the world's work. I know God did his work in six days and rested on the seventh, but you're no god and it's not going to happen."</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1325329942550958078.post-58868412800448623352024-01-25T09:35:00.004-05:002024-01-25T09:37:04.068-05:00LAKEWOOD OFFICIALS USING TAXPAYER CREDIT CARD TO BORROW OVER $100 MILLION<p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a><div>In an unprecedented move, the Lakewood Township committee is looking to authorize borrowing $106 million, which committee members claim will be used to improve roadways, Township services and playgrounds. The issuance of bonds to make the capital investments will more than double the Township's current outstanding debt of $78 million.<p></p><p><br /></p><p>Last year debt service, the amount paid by the Township on previous bonds issued, was $6.2 million or 5.5% of the Township's annual spending plan. This new debt is expected to raise Township debt service to 8% of spending by the year 2030.</p><p><br /></p><p>The politically influential law firm of Dilworth Paxson will represent Lakewood Township as Bond Counsel and stands to reap tens of thousands of dollars in fees.</p><p><br /></p><p>The largest ticket items to be paid for include:</p><p><br /></p><p>>$29.8 million for sewer, drainage and roadway improvements, most notably toVermont Ave. between Oak and Essex and Vine Ave between Pine and Cedar Bridge.</p><p><br /></p><p>>$22 million on road and sidewalk improvements including Pine St between Route 9 and New Hampshire Ave, the walking path around Lake Carasaljo and the area of the New Jersey Transit bus terminal.</p><p><br /></p><p>>$15 million to complete Phase 2 of the Vine Ave extension from Pine St to Oak St</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>>$12.7 million to upgrade the Township's parks which includes $5 million for an inflatable sports dome at John Patrick Park. Township officials have said that while local sports clubs will be able to use the dome free of charge, there is a strong likelihood that the facility will also be rented out for private events.</p><p><br /></p><p>>$7.2 million for upgrades and improvements to ShoreTown Ballpark, formerly known as BlueClaws Stadium.</p><p><br /></p><p>>$6 million for traffic signal installation and improvements at Vermont Ave and Route 70, Park Ave and E. 7th St, Monmouth Ave and 4th Street and at John Patrick Park.</p><p><br /></p><p>Back in February 2023 Township officials had discussed an $18 million capital improvement plan with the Asbury Park Press, the current plan will spend more than five and one half times that amount.</p><p><br /></p>
<p><br /></p><p><b>To join a FAA News WhatsApp Group, click <a href="https://chat.whatsapp.com/E15QaGnQm7m8rE6bbGr6BD" target="_blank">here</a>.</b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b>To join the FAA News WhatsApp Status, click <a href="https://wa.me/17328065488?text=%20Subscribe" target="_blank">here</a>.</b></p><p><br /></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsCSHc0K_nbrnJ1w6ux7BsOWlNjiVhoytbPXcO4_0tE07c2vqrR1UfgNHUfGxSlIhISfnkljdIUg5fLdlgJ4e1M3XKplhHC6VYYr4rCdfzpoLEm8oBD9Fl_-8j4znR8NVeUjk7f2uPIfFUMtrUJInUw_MkpmPuYncSxs9diIzxH2qQuJs-4nLmxtSVCM-X/s600/IMG-20240125-WA0000.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsCSHc0K_nbrnJ1w6ux7BsOWlNjiVhoytbPXcO4_0tE07c2vqrR1UfgNHUfGxSlIhISfnkljdIUg5fLdlgJ4e1M3XKplhHC6VYYr4rCdfzpoLEm8oBD9Fl_-8j4znR8NVeUjk7f2uPIfFUMtrUJInUw_MkpmPuYncSxs9diIzxH2qQuJs-4nLmxtSVCM-X/s320/IMG-20240125-WA0000.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1325329942550958078.post-33895019017964355682024-01-24T00:43:00.005-05:002024-01-24T00:44:06.016-05:00FACING CONTINUED CONCERNS FROM NEIGHBORS REPRESENTED BY ATTORNEY JAN MEYER, LAKEWOOD PLANNING BOARD AGAIN DEMANDS TRANSPARENCY ON SUNSET ROAD SHUL APPLICATION<p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7zsXKVKUF2ONHrEjIjAifBnDqdyQGcfTGg6IiZ3S1PtmpEWGfBrx7pgHgSHp45QuqeoJsqhL-Z5lpi9QfSYuKbTBdp4xHRn0z1RsU_ZVipKOmyOcBUj71vAWFHLLcdizCNqBZVWj4rzLUg7-Pb_qFKFyCAOvw4Vis8jFipui8ZS2Ew8c_5aJF6g7BE-w/s720/pexels-cottonbro-5976142.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="403" data-original-width="720" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7zsXKVKUF2ONHrEjIjAifBnDqdyQGcfTGg6IiZ3S1PtmpEWGfBrx7pgHgSHp45QuqeoJsqhL-Z5lpi9QfSYuKbTBdp4xHRn0z1RsU_ZVipKOmyOcBUj71vAWFHLLcdizCNqBZVWj4rzLUg7-Pb_qFKFyCAOvw4Vis8jFipui8ZS2Ew8c_5aJF6g7BE-w/w640-h358/pexels-cottonbro-5976142.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>Lakewood Township's Planning Board already voted to approve Sunset Road Sefardic Congregation's Site Plan application. However, facing continued concerns from the neighbors, who are represented by Teaneck Attorney Jan Meyer Esq., the Board tonight held off from voting on the resolution of approval, demanding to first "see the hardware."</p><p><br /></p><p>The revised Site Plan presented to Board at this hearing was for the construction of a proposed two-story synagogue, almost 4,800 sq feet in area. The architectural plans depict a main sanctuary of 2,900 sq feet as well as adjoining 748 sq feet cheder sheni on the first floor, as well as a 1,541 sq feet ezras noshim and 217 sq feet warming kitchen on the second floor.</p><p><br /></p><p>Designing a sizable "cheder sheni" room next to the main sanctuary is a legal loophole to get away from parking requirements as the Township only requires parking on the main sanctuary room area and not on any "accessory rooms." The neighbors highlighted this issue to the Board. However, the Board responded that their hands were tied.</p><p><br /></p><p>As such, the 2,900 sq feet main sanctuary room requires 30 parking spaces.</p><p><br /></p><p>The shul's professionals presented a plan to provide only 2 parking spaces on-site, and to provide the remaining required parking spaces offsite at the shopping center to the southeast of the Sunset Road and James Street intersection.</p><p><br /></p><p>The application was represented by Attorney Adam Pfeffer Esq. and Engineer Brian Flannery, who indicated that they have an agreement with the owners of the shopping center to utilize some of their parking spaces.</p><p><br /></p><p>Per the Board Engineer's review, the application required variances for Aggregate Side Yard Setback, maximum Building Coverage, Buffer, and Parking Setback.</p><p><br /></p><p>Additionally, the revised plans propose the parking lot only 2 feet from the front right-of-way line. This conflicts with most of the proposed Shade Tree and Utility Easement. Therefore, a design waiver is required from proposed street tree spacing since they can only be planted near the property corners.</p><p><br /></p><p>Importantly, the application also sought a design waiver from providing the required 20 foot buffer on each side. The application sought to provide a 0 foot buffer.</p><p><br /></p><p>Neighbors retained Teaneck Attorney Jan Meyer Esq. to represent their opposition to the application.</p><p><br /></p><p>Numerous neighbors spoke up, saying that they have many concerns with the current ad-hoc shul, including substantial illegal parking, trash not being kept in the refuse container, as well as many members smoking close to their property line at all hours of the day and night.</p><p><br /></p><p>Neighbors also emphasized that aside from just a shared parking plan, they also want to see a buffer plan to address their privacy concerns.</p><p><br /></p><p>The neighbors also heavily objected to the proposed off-site parking plan, saying that many congregants will park on Sunset Road which is already congested. They added that the shopping center only appears to have unused parking spaces because Torah Umesorah has moved out and no new tenant has yet moved in.</p><p><br /></p><p>Ultimately, the Board approved the application tonight with the applicant agreeing to revise the plans to show a 20 foot buffer on each side, submit a parking easement agreement to the Board, somehow address the neighbors concerns regarding the smoking, and all of the conditions which Mr. Pfeffer previously agreed to.</p><p><br /></p><p>The Board's draft resolution of approval, which was intended to be memorialized on Tuesday night, stated: The applicant shall provide a non-revocable easement agreement for parking at the nearby shopping center to the satisfaction of the board engineer and board attorney during resolution compliance.</p><p><br /></p><p>The neighbors were once again represented by Mr. Meyer who urged the Board not to memorialize the resolution with permitting the applicant to provide the parking easement agreement to the satisfaction of the board engineer and board attorney during resolution compliance, but rather to the Board before they vote on the resolution.</p><p><br /></p><p>The Board agreed with the neighbors and held off from voting on the resolution, telling the shul's representatives to "first show the hardware."</p><p><br /></p><p>The neighbors are also considering challenging the approval in New Jersey Superior Court.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>To join a FAA News WhatsApp Group, click <a href="https://chat.whatsapp.com/E15QaGnQm7m8rE6bbGr6BD" target="_blank">here</a>.</b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b>To join the FAA News WhatsApp Status, click <a href="https://wa.me/17328065488?text=%20Subscribe" target="_blank">here</a>.</b></p><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1325329942550958078.post-22201956678128187282024-01-23T21:49:00.002-05:002024-01-23T21:53:35.541-05:00MAJOR VICTORY FOR MERKOS & AGUCH: NEW YORK APPEALS COURT AFFIRMS THEIR OWNERSHIP OF 770<p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkGB1yO_iXcIde9zlL5Agd674MBVzLhz2LPQ1NykktwPQHh9oXVVobWySnU2FB8fqzy91egOCyyELUQr-NsSFHY4np1WFJRtn-Vk5NHu3VVfmNCykrGowoRQilw71gmb4SVFaj2_2pPhQHS1EdCiXU4LjBRdmls3lQkgQLtcYLXWADiiEBhga6OWnjPEM/s1320/F140120ns01_2-1320x880.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="880" data-original-width="1320" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkGB1yO_iXcIde9zlL5Agd674MBVzLhz2LPQ1NykktwPQHh9oXVVobWySnU2FB8fqzy91egOCyyELUQr-NsSFHY4np1WFJRtn-Vk5NHu3VVfmNCykrGowoRQilw71gmb4SVFaj2_2pPhQHS1EdCiXU4LjBRdmls3lQkgQLtcYLXWADiiEBhga6OWnjPEM/w640-h426/F140120ns01_2-1320x880.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>The Appellate Term of the Supreme Court of the State of New York has just issued a verdict on the long-brewing case of the ownership rights to the main shul at 770 Eastern Parkway – Lubavitch World Headquarters in Brooklyn, NY.</p><p><br /></p><p>Judges Wavny Toussaint, Marina Cora Mundy and Lisa Ottley have issued a written ruling on the matter, just weeks after the 770 shul made international headlines due to the anarchy displayed there and the unauthorized construction work by bochurim.</p><p><br /></p><p>Agudas Chassidei Chabad (Aguch) and Merkos L’Inyonei Chinuch, central organizations of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement, are the stated owners of the 770 and 778 buildings. Howard Wintner and David S. Abramson of The Abramson Group, PLLC represented them.</p><p><br /></p><p>Fighting them is Congregation Lubavitch, Inc. (“CLI”) led by the 770 Gabboim Zalman Lipskier and Avrohom Holtzberg, and former 770 shamash Sholom Ber Kievman. Edward S. Rudofsky, P.C. represented them.</p><p><br /></p><p>The appellants, Gabboim / CLI claim that the main shul belongs to the Crown Heights community and not the Chabad establishment, and as such, they are the legal caretakers and decision-makers of the 770 shul on the ground floor of the 778 building.</p><p><br /></p><p>The Gabboim have set up offices in the shul building.</p><p><br /></p><p>As the case dragged on in court for some 20 years, the Gabboim had de facto control over the Shul. Under their control, rough bochurim, believing the Rebbe is physically alive, have banished people from the premises, exercised violence, and dug the infamous tunnel to expand 770.</p><p><br /></p><p>A few years ago, the Civil Court ruled in favor of Aguch and Merkos, granting them ownership of the building. The Gabboim appealed that decision to the Appellate Term of the Supreme Court of the State of New York.</p><p><br /></p><p>Judges Wavny Toussaint, Marina Cora Mundy and Lisa Ottley have now dismissed this appeal, writing, "appellants have not established any rights to the subject premises, let alone rights greater than petitioners’ rights."</p><p><br /></p><p>In granting victory to Merkos and Aguch, the judges noted that Merkos and Aguch wrote in their appeal brief that they are operating the synagogue for religious purposes and that “once [they] regain possession and control of the Synagogue, any person who acts with proper decorum will be allowed to worship at the Synagogue.”</p><p><br /></p><p>Rabbi Eli Cohen, Executive Director of the CHJCC who supports the Gabboim/CLI, told COLlive.com that the Gabboim will comply with the order as far as surrendering the Kingston Avenue buildings to Merkos and that now this case is resolved, they look forward to working together with Merkos and Aguch leadership to restore order to the shul and to planning the needed expansion.</p><p><br /></p><p>Yaacov Behrman, a PR liaison for Merkos, added:</p><p><br /></p><p>“When taken together, these two court determinations confirm the full rights of ownership in Aguch and Merkos and their legal ability to restore order, respect, and reverence to the Rebbe’s Shul.”</p><p><br /></p><p><b>To join a FAA News WhatsApp Group, click <a href="https://chat.whatsapp.com/E15QaGnQm7m8rE6bbGr6BD" target="_blank">here</a>.</b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b>To join the FAA News WhatsApp Status, click <a href="https://wa.me/17328065488?text=%20Subscribe" target="_blank">here</a>.</b></p><p><b><br /></b></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1325329942550958078.post-30625378099136707342024-01-23T20:59:00.004-05:002024-01-23T20:59:38.685-05:00JUST IN: FACING HEAVY OPPOSITION FROM NEIGHBORS REPRESENTED BY ATTORNEY JAN MEYER, LAKEWOOD PLANNING BOARD HOLDS OFF FROM VOTING ON LAKEWOOD KOLLEL'S PLANS FOR MASSIVE EDUCATIONAL CAMPUS WITH 52 HOMES, 400 CHILDREN CHILD CARE CENTER ON WHITE STREET<p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPaSP2yys7duOBKs0TC0oFPvZerFFkspeHKf-TyxXfNtIH94mA6pBAdE4tkcTQrLzNPorXosjCNLNku0yMYW5Dgg7QkL1N5a40MzpN5ALoiS3mKfraAPdJJXrLbrkXe0x_YA349XzTMRo6cgImB_sh6Ib94qwNqpMtXuUwTx7t8Dfs712KZq3JhUGoKnI/s660/1745063-uwAgnNQrkl-high_0003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="371" data-original-width="660" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPaSP2yys7duOBKs0TC0oFPvZerFFkspeHKf-TyxXfNtIH94mA6pBAdE4tkcTQrLzNPorXosjCNLNku0yMYW5Dgg7QkL1N5a40MzpN5ALoiS3mKfraAPdJJXrLbrkXe0x_YA349XzTMRo6cgImB_sh6Ib94qwNqpMtXuUwTx7t8Dfs712KZq3JhUGoKnI/w640-h360/1745063-uwAgnNQrkl-high_0003.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMPEaUFS-CEM3ZUGqQS7Q2gVE8gl5ji8iZjBPwuZTEOYJIwAsZ5TykOVRry2F7bwdfysAF_xvKgClgkj0q-c8v40RieMevs35k7630bZ7LScemY2FOqCEpwiOs_037jlkLl3m77uv26huOGfxPX32s8D0hL67c8LdwHiRx5qWBrj6xkMFsk0hJFxC3uW0/s720/Screenshot_20240123-195834.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="391" data-original-width="720" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMPEaUFS-CEM3ZUGqQS7Q2gVE8gl5ji8iZjBPwuZTEOYJIwAsZ5TykOVRry2F7bwdfysAF_xvKgClgkj0q-c8v40RieMevs35k7630bZ7LScemY2FOqCEpwiOs_037jlkLl3m77uv26huOGfxPX32s8D0hL67c8LdwHiRx5qWBrj6xkMFsk0hJFxC3uW0/w640-h348/Screenshot_20240123-195834.png" width="640" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>Seeing heavy opposition from neighbors - who are represented by Teaneck Attorney Jan Meyer - on Tuesday night, Lakewood's Planning Board held off from considering Kollel Kinyan Hatorah's application.</p><p><br /></p><p>The Board directed the developers to obtain a letter from state officials indicating the progress report of their accreditation application.</p><p><br /></p><p>As first reported <a href="https://www.faanews.com/2024/01/lakewood-kollel-plans-massive.html" target="_blank">here</a> on FAA News, Kollel Kinyan Hatorah Inc. is seeking approval for the construction of a Planned Educational Campus on White Street in Lakewood.</p><p><br /></p><p>The proposed campus will include a 3-story child care center, 10 duplex dwellings, 2 multi-family residential structures, a pool house building (with a mikvah) and 2 playgrounds.</p><p><br /></p><p>In total, 52 residential dwelling units are proposed. These units will be leased to the Kollel members.</p><p><br /></p><p>The child care center will have a capacity of 400 children. The application traffic study claims that 50% of the child care students will reside onsite, and an additional 10% of the children will arrive with a Kollel Kinyan Torah member (i.e. shared driving).</p><p><br /></p><p>The site plan depicts a loading/unloading area for the child care center.</p><p><br /></p><p>All ingress for these new buildings will be from White Street. All egress will be through the existing Yeshiva building and out on to Whitesville Road.</p><p><br /></p><p>No curb or sidewalk exists along the project’s White Street frontage, but both are proposed with this application. Curiously, only minimal widening of White Street is proposed with this application.</p><p><br /></p><p>The proposed one-way ingress driveway on White Street is 18 feet wide. This will lead to a proposed interior parking area and a two-way 24 foot wide loop to provide access for the duplex dwellings, as well as the pool house.</p><p><br /></p><p>All traffic will exit the site by driving along a new one-way 18 foot wide driveway which will connect to the existing building parking lot and then exit onto Whitesville Road.</p><p><br /></p><p>The new parking area from White Street is proposed to contain 77 off-street parking spaces including four 4 ADA stalls and 3 electric vehicle spots. Each of the proposed dwelling units would have a 4-space driveway. This proposes 96 off-street parking spaces. Other site improvements are proposed for the project which includes retaining walls, utilities, stormwater management, landscaping, and lighting. Curbs and sidewalks are also proposed throughout the site.</p><p><br /></p><p>The application is being presented as a Planned Educational Campus.</p><p><br /></p><p>The Township's Planned Educational Campus ordinance permits a "not for profit institution of higher education that is a not for profit entity that is fully accredited and licensed by the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education of the State of New Jersey and one that offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees and is devoted to higher education and no other forms of education" to construct a campus.</p><p><br /></p><p>Campuses require a minimum of 3 acres of land. The campus may contain a variety of types of housing units, including residential apartment buildings, up to 28 units per acre.</p><p><br /></p><p>The land and all structures including dwelling units shall be owned and developed only by the institution of higher education and not by or in partnership or in other arrangement with any investor group, construction company, a not for profit entity or any other third party.</p><p><br /></p><p>An educational campus is intended only for faculty and students who will attend or staff the institution's educational facilities and that is adjoining to or within 500 feet of faculty and student housing so as to create a unified campus setting.</p><p><br /></p><p>The occupancy of the residential uses in the institution of higher education must be limited to: (a) students, faculty or staff of the institution of higher education, or (b) the immediate families of faculty, staff or students.</p><p><br /></p><p>These parcels contain less than 3 acres in area, however, by connecting this property onto the existing building, they net more than 3 acres.</p><p><br /></p><p>Additionally, the application seeks numerous variances and design waivers:</p><p><br /></p><p>• Buffer Areas ( Residential use) Variance as 30 feet minimum is required and “0" feet is proposed. </p><p><br /></p><p>• Buffer Areas (School use) Variance as 20 feet minimum is required and “0" feet is proposed</p><p><br /></p><p>• Recreational Open Space of 0.2 acres (5% x 4.13 acres = 0.2 acres) is required. Only 0.115 acres is proposed.</p><p><br /></p><p>• Window Wall to Window Wall - Distance between buildings; 15 feet (min) 3 feet (proposed)</p><p><br /></p><p>• A design waiver is required from providing a non-residential driveway width less than 20 feet wide. The proposed ingress only driveway is 18 feet wide.</p><p>The Board Engineer notes that the proposed driveway appears too narrow for truck and bus ingress. Due to the inadequate pavement width south of the right-of-way centerline for White Street, they are recommending that the Board deny the waiver request and that the proposed access driveway be widened to at least 20 feet.</p><p><br /></p><p>The Board Engineer has also noted the following plan review comments:</p><p><br /></p><p>• The proposed street tree spacing along White Street shall be adjusted unless a design waiver is granted.</p><p><br /></p><p>• The proposed sidewalk width shall be clarified along White Street. Unless the proposed sidewalk is 5 feet wide, pedestrian bypass areas will be necessary. A second pedestrian bypass area shall be proposed. 200 feet is the maximum allowable distance between proposed pedestrian bypass areas.</p><p><br /></p><p>• No pedestrian access to the site has been proposed from White Street. Pedestrian access should be proposed along the east side of the site to minimize conflicts with vehicles. There appears to be a surplus of proposed off-street parking so this can be accomplished.</p><p><br /></p><p>• Virtually no road widening has been proposed along White Street. The proposed curb has been designed 16 feet from the centerline of the right-of-way. Consideration should be given to proposing the curb 17 feet from the centerline to match the existing west of the site.</p><p><br /></p><p>• Some duplex driveways are proposed only 6 feet from the interior circulation aisle. This presents a safety concern. A revised design should be considered.</p><p><br /></p><p>• The Traffic Circulation Plan indicates that proposed traffic circulation remains tight.</p><p><br /></p><p>Trash pickup from the Department of Public Works is proposed. The residential units and the pool house will have curbside collection.</p><p><br /></p><p>A Landscaping Plan design appears to include street trees and foundation plantings. Additional proposed landscaping for buffering, and/or fencing are recommended. Landscaping must be provided to the satisfaction of the Board and per comments from the Shade Tree Commission, as practicable. The Board should provide landscaping recommendations.</p><p><br /></p><p>The proposed site lighting must be revised to include and consider the impact of the existing school building. Furthermore, the proposed site lighting design must revise the limits between the commercial and residential areas.</p><p><br /></p><p>A Traffic Study has been submitted. We note the following:</p><p>a. The unsignalized intersection of White Street and Drake Road is projected to operate at the level of service “C” and “B” for the AM and PM peak hours, respectively, under both the 2033 no build and build conditions.</p><p>b. The intersection of Cross Street and White Street/White Road is projected to operate at an overall level of service “B” for both the AM and PM peak street hours, for the 2033 no build and build traffic volumes with the Ocean County sponsored roadway improvements.</p><p>c. The Route 528 and Kollel Kinyan Torah egress is projected to operate at level of service “D” during the AM peak street hour and “C” during the PM peak street hour upon full build-out.</p><p>d. The White Street ingress is projected to operate at level of service “A” for both the AM and PM peak street hours.</p><p>e. The Traffic Study does not adequately discuss the proposed onsite circulation. Testimony shall be provided at the Public Hearing.</p><p><br /></p><p>The off-street parking calculations require clarification. Final architectural drawings for the existing structure on Lot 1.06 are required for review. Based on the architectural plans from SP 2335, alterations may be necessary. The calculations should also reflect the proposed electric vehicle spaces. Parking shall be provided to the satisfaction of the Board. Final architectural drawings for the existing building on Lot 1.06 are required as a condition of any approval.</p><p><br /></p><p>As previously reported <a href="https://www.faanews.com/2024/01/just-in-neighbors-retain-attorney-jan.html" target="_blank">here</a> on FAA News, upon receiving notice of this Site Plan application, neighbors of the project immediately retained Teaneck Attorney Jan Meyer Esq. to represent their opposition to the application.</p><p><br /></p><p>At Tuesday night's public hearing, Mr. Meyer highlighted the fact that the Kollel does not comply with the Township's requirement to be fully accredited and licensed by the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education of the State of New Jersey and offer both undergraduate and graduate degrees.</p><p><br /></p><p>Engineer Brian Flannery, representing the Kollel argued back that they do not need to obtain accreditation prior to seeking Site Plan approval from the Planning Board. He added that the Kollel is already in the process of obtaining accreditation.</p><p><br /></p><p>Ultimately, the Board decided to hold off from considering the application until the Kollel obtains a letter from the State indicating the status of their accreditation application and a timeframe for when they anticipate that accreditation will be complete.</p><p><br /></p><p>For the time being, the Board placed the application on their February 6, 2024 meeting agenda.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>To join a FAA News WhatsApp Group, click <a href="https://chat.whatsapp.com/E15QaGnQm7m8rE6bbGr6BD" target="_blank">here</a>.</b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b>To join the FAA News WhatsApp Status, click <a href="https://wa.me/17328065488?text=%20Subscribe" target="_blank">here</a>.</b></p><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1325329942550958078.post-17623579080282409822024-01-23T20:23:00.002-05:002024-01-23T20:24:44.614-05:00HEARTHSTONE SHUL RECEIVES EXPANSION APPROVAL<p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizsG6e4VkBqFNGFbhsC774OxEeJpZTT-s6qqsHrRXxAxsyRkmUiogghXPiUZewOG_4xa-_L3W8D4i1Msuj014Oo6J-PkjahpMSGSLLTQ-DVeTkkfojmgWZTTuPH4xJqfUVFg05YP_xodicxckOd7a_F3o8nhjl0dKql_xZU2hGdsYs-JVJSEVxUkOjrDg/s720/Screenshot_20240123-194037.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="396" data-original-width="720" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizsG6e4VkBqFNGFbhsC774OxEeJpZTT-s6qqsHrRXxAxsyRkmUiogghXPiUZewOG_4xa-_L3W8D4i1Msuj014Oo6J-PkjahpMSGSLLTQ-DVeTkkfojmgWZTTuPH4xJqfUVFg05YP_xodicxckOd7a_F3o8nhjl0dKql_xZU2hGdsYs-JVJSEVxUkOjrDg/w640-h352/Screenshot_20240123-194037.png" width="640" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>On Tuesday night, Lakewood Township's Planning Board granted Preliminary & Final Major Site Plan approval to Congregation Kehillas Hearthstone Inc. for an expansion of the existing shul site located on Hearthstone Drive and Jenna Court.</p><p><br /></p><p>Attorney Miriam Weinstein Esq. told the Board that the neighborhood has grown by leaps and bounds, and they have a youth minyan for the teenagers which has by now overrun the Ezras Noshim; the expansion will provide a third floor for dedicated space for the youth minyan which will also be used as a study hall for men during the week. There will also be a Kiddush room in the basement which the shul agreed to restrict for Shabbos use only.</p><p><br /></p><p>The Site Plan depicts a three-story addition with a finished basement to the existing two-story shul building.</p><p><br /></p><p>The proposed addition will add a footprint of approximately 3,654 sq feet to the existing building. The proposed addition to the shul will increase the main sanctuary to 4,992 sq feet in area. A new 2,246 sq feet simcha hall will be constructed in the basement.</p><p><br /></p><p>Concrete sidewalk and curb exist in fair condition along both Hearthstone Drive and Jenna Court.</p><p><br /></p><p>The existing parking area for Jenna Court will be revised to propose 4 off-street parking spaces. An existing driveway from Jenna Court is indicated to be removed and replaced with a proposed off-street parking area consisting of 3 spaces, 1 of which will be utilized as an electric vehicle spot, and 1 for a van accessible ADA stall. This brings the total proposed off-street parking to 12 spaces accounting for the electric vehicle credit.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>With the new expansion, a total of 97 parking spaces are required.</b></p><p><br /></p><p>The project is in the R-12 Single-Family Residential Zone District. Places of worship are permitted in the zone.</p><p><br /></p><p>The application sought numerous variances and design waivers:</p><p><br /></p><p>Minimum Front Yard Setback of 26.35 feet where 30 feet is required, Minimum Side Yard Setback of 0.5 feet where 10 feet is required, Maximum Building Coverage of 41.42% where 25% is the maximum, Maximum Building Height of 38.17 feet where 35 feet is the maximum.</p><p><br /></p><p>Additionally, a design waiver was sought from providing the required 20 feet perimeter buffer.</p><p><br /></p><p>In addition, no landscaping is proposed, and only an incomplete lighting plan has been provided.</p><p><br /></p><p>One neighbor opposed the application, saying that the parking variance already causes havoc and will cause even more havoc. He said that the property is simply too small for their big expansion project.</p><p><br /></p><p>Numerous other neighbors spoke up in favor of the application, saying that their driveways are never blocked by shul members.</p><p><br /></p><p>At the request of another neighbor, the shul agreed to provide a 12 foot high fence between the property lines.</p><p><br /></p><p>Board Member Bruce Stern voted against the application, citing the heavy parking variance. The rest of the Board voted in favor of the application.</p><p><br /></p><p>The project will not require approval from the Ocean County Planning Board because it is not on a County Highway, may not impact County facilities, and includes less than 1 acre of impervious area.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>To join a FAA News WhatsApp Group, click <a href="https://chat.whatsapp.com/E15QaGnQm7m8rE6bbGr6BD" target="_blank">here</a>.</b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b>To join the FAA News WhatsApp Status, click <a href="https://wa.me/17328065488?text=%20Subscribe" target="_blank">here</a>.</b></p><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1325329942550958078.post-46598147801120322282024-01-23T19:20:00.006-05:002024-01-23T19:24:04.661-05:00FACING HEAVY OPPOSITION FROM NEIGHBORS RETAINED BY ATTORNEY JAN MEYER, LAKEWOOD PLANNING BOARD TABLES CONG. TALMUD TORAH TORAS YECHIEL'S SUBDIVISION APPLICATION<p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSjt3_Uw-nJUAfrjPvjhQDytar1K2Tb0iJnVEWNkqxoKp0sI6C_hb68zWPzhY1kdS_wbBdlbPo3PEXvykyOB8JTvotb7OXFCjWc6Ro6fVljlO7_NBHvYuQxp4Lvixb_rc_5ldx0XFdD05LvAsUTUfO8OAYNVlLhFO-2vGiYrKQXK6sSXNrIhwTSPlyLmY/s720/Screenshot_20240123-185725.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="392" data-original-width="720" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSjt3_Uw-nJUAfrjPvjhQDytar1K2Tb0iJnVEWNkqxoKp0sI6C_hb68zWPzhY1kdS_wbBdlbPo3PEXvykyOB8JTvotb7OXFCjWc6Ro6fVljlO7_NBHvYuQxp4Lvixb_rc_5ldx0XFdD05LvAsUTUfO8OAYNVlLhFO-2vGiYrKQXK6sSXNrIhwTSPlyLmY/w640-h348/Screenshot_20240123-185725.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>Seeing heavy opposition from the neighbors - represented by Teaneck Attorney Jan Meyer Esq. - Lakewood Township's Planning Board tonight held off from voting on Congregation Talmud Torah Toras Yechiel's subdivision application.</p><p><br /></p><p>Back in 2017, the Board granted minor subdivision and major site plan approval to Zichron Chaim, Inc for construction of a girls school on New Hampshire Avenue south of Oak Street.</p><p><br /></p><p>Subsequently, the property was sold to Congregation Talmud Torah Toras Yechiel, a boys school. Additionally, the subdivision was never perfected and filed, and by now it has expired.</p><p><br /></p><p>Congregation Talmud Torah Toras Yechiel is now reapplying for the same minor subdivision approval already granted to Zichron Chaim. (Likely they will return to the Board for a future site plan application on the Oak Street portion of the parcel)</p><p><br /></p><p>The application is represented by Attorney Miriam Weinstein Esq., and Engineers Joseph Couciba of KBA Engineering Services LLC and Brian Flannery.</p><p><br /></p><p>The neighbors are opposed to fact that the school has grown into some neighboring properties without Planning Board approval or notice to the neighbors. They are also concerned that the existing bus lane may no longer fit once the property is subdivided.</p><p><br /></p><p>The neighbors retained Mr. Meyer to bring their concerns to the Planning Board by way of opposition to the subdivision application.</p><p><br /></p><p>Ahead of the planned public hearing of the application, Mr. Meyer wrote to the Board:</p><p><br /></p><p>Please advised that this letter is addressing a threshold issue related to the application.</p><p><br /></p><p>Our client objects to the request of the applicant to rely on a prior application that took place more than 5 years ago. Quite a lot has changed as to the conditions in or around the relevant property as well as the use is also changed. We ask the Board to assure that full and complete testimony of the applicant be brought before the Board before any determination can be made by the Board on this application.</p><p><br /></p><p>The applicant is coming before the Board with “unclean hands."</p><p><br /></p><p>Quite a lot has changed as to the conditions in and around the relevant property, and in addition, the intended use is also changed.</p><p><br /></p><p>Specifically, I would like to direct the Boards attention to the fact that there have been no construction plans (they do exist) submitted for the almost finished structure on the property. That may actually be by design, since the current structure is different than the structure the Board examined during the prior approval process, by the prior applicant (Zichron Chaim) years ago. The prior application stated that there would only be a two floor school facility with finished basement and an attic for storage, This is no longer the case. The structure is a three floor structure, unfinished at this point, but, now set up for real school use on the third floor as well (allegedly without a required sprinkler system installed on the third floor). The applicant must bring in advance of a hearing before this Board, the old preliminary construction plans and provide the actual as built or current construction plans for comparison before the Board allows this applicant’s hearing to go forward.</p><p><br /></p><p>Secondly, the resolution dated February 20, 2018 granting certain relief also indicated that “should the property owner desire to use the basement for anything other than storage and mechanical uses, he agrees (to) return to the Board for approval of the change of use. This current structure is apparently designed for the use of the basement uses other than storage and mechanical issues. (It also begs the question, of why does a school need both a basement of 5,530 SF and a 3rd floor of 4,262 SF for storage.)</p><p><br /></p><p>Thirdly, the change of use, is already intended to take place. The initial operation was a girls school (Zichron Chaim) and now it is intended to become a boys school with obviously different needs and hours of operation. The applicant must bring the school operator and the owner to testify as to the operations and management of the school. </p><p><br /></p><p>Fourth, the operator is also using the property next door on 1474 Oak Street, Block 1159.03 Lot 17 as a boys school - Tiferes Yechiel, - and in fact added another structure for the use of the school. We are making the inquiry to the Board, if such school use was approved located in the R-20 Zone? The initial and original intent was to use the property as parking for the main building on New Hampshire.</p><p><br /></p><p>Fifth, the operator or applicant is using an additional property for school use located on the residential street at 723 Coral Avenue. Such unlawful use must cease immediately. Teachers and students are currently walking back and forth between 1474 Oak street location and 723 Coral Avenue through the backyard and crossing over the 712 New Hampshire property. It is a clear violation to use the residential property as offices and/or class rooms for the other properties. In addition there is a grave safety concern, since there is an open pool creating a hazardous condition and a violation of State Law. </p><p><br /></p><p>Sixth, the 1474 Oak Street school, Tiferes Yechiel, is currently using the 712 New Hampshire unfinished structure as a lunch room for the boys. This is a clear violation of both construction and safety codes. This could G-d forbid cause injury to the students and must be stopped immediately.</p><p><br /></p><p>Seventh, the parking does not seem to be adequate, as well as the bus lanes and other school requirements are nowhere to be found in this application. The applicant must demonstrate that they are compliant with section 18-906 of the Township Ordinance.</p><p><br /></p><p>Eighth, given the new traffic and commercial building in the immediate vicinity, a traffic study must be presented to the board. It is clear that traffic patterns and the impact from the area did change drastically over the last many years.</p><p><br /></p><p>---------</p><p><br /></p><p>At tonight's public hearing, numerous neighbors spoke up voicing these concerns. Mr. Meyer argued that in light of all of these concerns, the school's operators should come to the Board and explain the school's operations.</p><p><br /></p><p>The Board told the neighbors that all of their concerns, which are regarding the existing school, are under the jurisdiction of the zoning officer and code enforcement, and not within the purview of the Planning Board.</p><p><br /></p><p>As the neighbors were concerned that the existing school is in violation of their original resolution of approval, the Board decided to hold off from voting on the application for 30 days to give the neighbors ample opportunity to further review the existing site with Township officials to determine consistency with their resolution of approval.</p><p><br /></p><p>This is not the first exciting episode regarding this application.</p><p><br /></p><p>As previously reported <a href="https://www.faanews.com/2023/09/how-did-this-application-even-land-up.html" target="_blank">here</a> on FAA News, this application was permitted to be put on the Board's agenda despite that the Certificate of Ownership of Applicant was submitted blank.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>To join a FAA News WhatsApp Group, click <a href="https://chat.whatsapp.com/E15QaGnQm7m8rE6bbGr6BD" target="_blank">here</a>.</b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b>To join the FAA News WhatsApp Status, click <a href="https://wa.me/17328065488?text=%20Subscribe" target="_blank">here</a>.</b></p><p><b><br /></b></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1325329942550958078.post-3193023300878054842024-01-23T14:17:00.007-05:002024-01-23T14:18:06.580-05:00LAKEWOOD OFFICE BUILDING APPLICATION SEEKS SIGNIFICANT PARKING VARIANCE<p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYQSrOyU2s2flCqL4y2oinDnQuLXs5RcJ7TO1ZoF_k03PyOfW3iKe9BI57g1SiaKYvwXjEPkfTJx3XzULN-6iXOK3WaYL8qQhDg90h_XScWTeRGO2xEiz8XikquVCZW0j4IHpEp-oxVkRikQZtcjfkhZuLP2YJeY36x568C_RznlPlMLDkUPv74Uy-nz0/s1084/Photo_1706037264010.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1084" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYQSrOyU2s2flCqL4y2oinDnQuLXs5RcJ7TO1ZoF_k03PyOfW3iKe9BI57g1SiaKYvwXjEPkfTJx3XzULN-6iXOK3WaYL8qQhDg90h_XScWTeRGO2xEiz8XikquVCZW0j4IHpEp-oxVkRikQZtcjfkhZuLP2YJeY36x568C_RznlPlMLDkUPv74Uy-nz0/w426-h640/Photo_1706037264010.png" width="426" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>Lakewood Township's Planning Board is set today to consider an application for a new office building with a significant parking variance.</p><p><br /></p><p>Curiously, the developer's notice to the neighbors does not expressly state the scope of the variance request.</p><p><br /></p><p>Application # SP-2515 was submitted by YJ BSD 545 LLC, which is owned by Yossi Jacobowitz.</p><p><br /></p><p>The proposed site is 545 West County Line Road which is located in the OT (Office Transitional Zone).</p><p><br /></p><p>The applicant is seeking Preliminary and Final Major Site Plan approval to construct a three-story office building on the site which is currently occupied by an existing one-story frame dwelling. As depicted on the Architectural Floor Plans, the proposed building will contain 10,400 sq feet of office floor space.</p><p><br /></p><p>Access to the building will be from ground level with off-street parking under the upper floors. The proposed second and third floors will be utilized as office space.</p><p><br /></p><p>The site has frontages on the east side of Cedarview Avenue, the north side of West County Line Road, and the south side of Kennedy Boulevard West.</p><p><br /></p><p>Sidewalk does not currently exist along the property's West County Line Road or Cedarview Avenue frontages, but is proposed with this project.</p><p><br /></p><p>The entire site is an almost rectangular shaped parcel that totals about 22,000 sq feet or roughly 0.51 acres in area.</p><p><br /></p><p>The site is in the OT Office Transitional Zone. Offices are permitted in the Zone. However, a number of variances and design waivers are being sought for this proposed development.</p><p><br /></p><p>Variances include Minimum Rear Yard Setback (8.47 feet where 15 feet is required), Maximum Building Coverage (25.6% where 25% is the maximum).</p><p><br /></p><p>Additionally, a variance is being requested to provide only 41 off-street parking spaces where 52 spaces are required.</p><p><br /></p><p>The proposed access to the site would be provided by a two-way driveway 24 feet wide from Cedarview Avenue. Proposed circulation through the site would be in a one-way counterclockwise direction.</p><p><br /></p><p>The Ordinance requires 1 space for every 200 sq feet of office area in the Office Transitional Zone. Therefore, the 10,400 sq foot of office space requires 52 parking spaces. However, only 37 actual spaces are proposed; of these 4 would be electric vehicle spots, therefore, the electric vehicle credit increases to 41 the number of proposed off-street parking spaces.</p><p><br /></p><p>Importantly, the Board Engineer has noted in his review letter that "a number of proposed stalls shown on the plans cannot be accessed without conflicts."</p><p><br /></p><p>Additionally, the application seeks relief from providing the 25 foot buffer which is required for non-residential development, as well as from providing street trees.</p><p><br /></p><p>A Traffic Study has been provided for review. We note the following:</p><p>a. The proposed Cedarview Avenue site access will operate at the level of service “A” during both the AM and PM peak hours for the 2033 future post development traffic volumes.</p><p>b. The County Line Road West intersection with Cedarview Avenue will operate at level of service “E” and “D” during the AM and PM peak hours, respectively, under 2033 traffic volume conditions.</p><p>c. The Clearview Avenue and Kennedy Boulevard West intersection has not been addressed.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>To join a FAA News WhatsApp Group, click <a href="https://chat.whatsapp.com/E15QaGnQm7m8rE6bbGr6BD" target="_blank">here</a>.</b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b>To join the FAA News WhatsApp Status, click <a href="https://wa.me/17328065488?text=%20Subscribe" target="_blank">here</a>.</b></p><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1325329942550958078.post-45184023373933887412024-01-22T22:03:00.005-05:002024-01-22T22:04:26.396-05:00JACKSON TOWNSHIP SEEKS DISMISSAL OF WHISTLEBLOWER LAWSUIT ALLEGING MAYOR REINA COERCED BUILDING INSPECTORS TO LOOK AWAY FOR HIS BUDDIES<p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAUDCfLhuLCJlOWeZ7tvFrxKDiVQAgXZjNWGrRn7eQBTp2vcHC5p0wCsFTHBAYhtvxi-F2XP8S1xVHtCHp_dMgWBLOtwO4jl1lDLHi1bOjI6Xrqf9WCbqHPFYmKU-8WlbsJ9tziKo1DZY83id6fA8MBFWayHOFuzQrCPJtGki1YimjOt1MVg0CYc6qJVo/s720/099dbe73-085a-4d39-bde4-7308cbf2ba07-ac01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAUDCfLhuLCJlOWeZ7tvFrxKDiVQAgXZjNWGrRn7eQBTp2vcHC5p0wCsFTHBAYhtvxi-F2XP8S1xVHtCHp_dMgWBLOtwO4jl1lDLHi1bOjI6Xrqf9WCbqHPFYmKU-8WlbsJ9tziKo1DZY83id6fA8MBFWayHOFuzQrCPJtGki1YimjOt1MVg0CYc6qJVo/w640-h426/099dbe73-085a-4d39-bde4-7308cbf2ba07-ac01.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Pictured is Vito F. Cardinale, president of Cardinale Enterprises. Photo credit Tanya Breen/ Asbury Park Press.</span></p><p><br /></p><p>As the news was very first broken <a href="https://www.faanews.com/2023/10/whoa-explosive-new-whistleblower.html" target="_blank">here</a> on FAA News, a recently filed explosive whistleblower lawsuit reveals allegations of massive collusion between Jackson Mayor Mike Reina and certain big developers in the Township.</p><p><br /></p><p>Specifically, the suit alleges that Reina coerced the Township's building inspectors to massively "look away" for his important friend - specifically, Vito Cardinale of Cardinale Enterprises - and even threatened to terminate their employment if they didn't do the dirty work they demanded!</p><p><br /></p><p>The Complaint was filed in New Jersey Superior Court in Ocean County by Kevin Schmalz who served as the Plumbing Inspector and Sub-Code Official until October 2022.</p><p><br /></p><p>Township Attorney Patrick F. Varga Esq. has now slammed a motion to dismiss (without prejudice) for failure to make discovery.</p><p><br /></p><p>The lawsuit made references to various records, which include for example: (1) new and amended ordinances; (2) a hold harmless letter; (3) a December 6, 2021 email and response; (4) a June 14, 2021 email; (5) emails from Mr. Wall;(6) Job postings; (7) a February 18, 2022 letter; (8) July 19, 2022 OPRA request and “documents;" (9) an email from Mr. Rudolph; (10) a September 29 letter from Plaintiff; (11) an Email from Plaintiff to Ms. Horta; (12) an October 3, 2022 Complaint filed with NJ Office of Regulatory Affairs; (13) a written discipline; and (14) a letter Plaintiff handed to Ms. Horta.</p><p><br /></p><p>On January 11, 2024, Township attorneys sent a letter to the Plaintiff's attorney demanding that they provide the Township with copies of all documents, letters, emails, site plans, development applications, permits, and recordings which were referenced throughout the complaint.</p><p><br /></p><p>The letter demanded that these records be submitted within 5 days, or "we will have no alternative but to file a Motion to Dismiss your Complaint without prejudice."</p><p><br /></p><p>It is now past the 5 day deadline and the Township has still not received the requested documents.</p><p><br /></p><p>Court Rule R. 4:18-2 reads in full: when any document or paper is referred to in a pleading but is neither annexed thereto nor recited verbatim therein, a copy thereof shall be served on the adverse party within 5 days after service of his written demand thereof.</p><p><br /></p><p>Court Rule R. 4:23-5(a)(1) provides: “if a demand for discovery pursuant to R. 4:18 is not complied with and no timely motion for an extension or a protective order has been made, the party entitled to the discovery may, . . .move, on notice for an order dismissing or suppressing the pleading of the delinquent party.” </p><p><br /></p><p>"The Plaintiff’s failure to produce these records is prejudicial to this Defendant, as it is inarguable that the Township of Jackson is entitled to review each and every document or paper referenced in the Plaintiff’s pleadings in preparing an answer to Plaintiff’s Complaint," Ms. Varga wrote in her motion filing.</p><p><br /></p><p>The motion is returnable before Judge Robert Brenner on Friday, February 16, 2024.</p><p><br /></p><p>As previously reported <a href="https://www.faanews.com/2023/12/jackson-townships-insurance-company.html" target="_blank">here</a> on FAA News, the Township's insurance carrier has refused coverage for this litigation, therefore the Township's taxpayers will be footing the entire bill.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>To join a FAA News WhatsApp Group, click <a href="https://chat.whatsapp.com/E15QaGnQm7m8rE6bbGr6BD" target="_blank">here</a>.</b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b>To join the FAA News WhatsApp Status, click <a href="https://wa.me/17328065488?text=%20Subscribe" target="_blank">here</a>.</b></p><p><b><br /></b></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1325329942550958078.post-62072127559773874232024-01-22T19:29:00.001-05:002024-01-22T19:29:20.843-05:00LAWSUIT WHICH SEEKS TO OVERTURN LAKEWOOD TOWNSHIP'S "BANQUET HALLS IN SCHOOLS" ORDINANCE TO CONTINUE TO TRIAL<p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-kBTBARMsw7_cloz1WGGG3rTP4ZhEaLf5DsOX-gs013AbBQWL1pAmlLApR8OebU5tSC1bs9SVN5GRyp1K_MqEBsC9rRhk3WKggWXouzAFqInCVZ0cRYODWPV97mMbDQFVvUJc_M8ok2eLEqK4rJNxBwEp624BqzjrdcnJ4IOJGaSO7rbGbCxY5WuH9-E/s1800/renaissance-banquet-hall-grand-ballroom-new.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1800" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-kBTBARMsw7_cloz1WGGG3rTP4ZhEaLf5DsOX-gs013AbBQWL1pAmlLApR8OebU5tSC1bs9SVN5GRyp1K_MqEBsC9rRhk3WKggWXouzAFqInCVZ0cRYODWPV97mMbDQFVvUJc_M8ok2eLEqK4rJNxBwEp624BqzjrdcnJ4IOJGaSO7rbGbCxY5WuH9-E/w640-h356/renaissance-banquet-hall-grand-ballroom-new.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>A lawsuit which seeks to overturn Lakewood Township's ordinance banquet halls in schools will continue to trial, FAA News has learned.</p><p><br /></p><p>The saga began when, as the news was first broken <a href="https://www.faanews.com/2022/09/breaking-news-judge-shuts-down-bnos.html" target="_blank">here</a> on FAA News, just before Rosh Hashonah 5783, Judge Ford shut down Bnos Brocha's banquet hall on the legal basis that the Township's ordinances did not permit banquet halls in schools and Bnos Brocha never received a Use Variance from the Township's Zoning Board for the banquet hall.</p><p><br /></p><p>In response, as previously reported <a href="https://www.faanews.com/2022/12/banquet-halls-will-be-permitted-in.html" target="_blank">here</a> on FAA News, back in December 2022, Lakewood's Township Committee adopted an Ordinance legalizing banquet halls in schools.</p><p><br /></p><p>Therefore, as previously reported <a href="https://www.faanews.com/2023/01/just-in-lawsuit-filed-seeking-to-stay.html" target="_blank">here</a> on FAA News back in January 2023, 1650 Corporate Road West LLC, an industrial park property owner and a party to lawsuits filed against Lake Terrace and Bnos Brocha which allege that they were operating banquet halls without Township approval, represented by Attorney Rob Shea Esq., filed a lawsuit seeking to overturn the new ordinance.</p><p><br /></p><p>The First Count of the lawsuit alleges that the Committee meetings which were held virtually, were in violation of the New Jersey Open Public Meetings Act.</p><p><br /></p><p>The Second Count of the lawsuit alleges that Deputy Mayor Menashe Miller was prohibited from voting on the Ordinance because 1) he has sons who currently do, or recently did, attend Yeshiva Toras Ahron which has a banquet hall and would benefit from adoption of this ordinance, and 2) his mother holds "a significant position within the administration of Beis Faiga's girls school which operates one of the oldest banquet halls in Lakewood as well as a boys school within the industrial park, both of which could benefit from adoption of the ordinance."</p><p><br /></p><p>The Third Count of the lawsuit alleges that because Deputy Mayor Miller was prohibited from voting, his vote was "tainted," and without his vote there would not have been sufficient votes to affirm the ordinance, therefore the Ordinance should be overturned.</p><p><br /></p><p>The Fourth Count of the lawsuit alleges that the public notice for the second Committee meeting was insufficient due to the substantial changes to the Ordinance between first and second reading. "Following the Planning Board's review, the ordinance was substantially changed, yet at no time prior to adoption of the ordinance on second reading was the public noticed regarding the changes."</p><p><br /></p><p>The Fifth Count of the lawsuit alleges that the Committee failed to notify the Ocean County Planning Board 10 days prior to adoption of the ordinance as required by State Statute.</p><p><br /></p><p>The Sixth Count of the lawsuit alleges that the Committee failed to provide personal notice to all affected property owners prior to adoption of the Ordinance, which is a requirement for all "substantial changes" to zoning ordinances.</p><p><br /></p><p>The Seventh Count of the lawsuit alleges that restraining Mr. Shea and Mr. Gemma from speaking longer than 4 minutes, especially regarding such a major issue, was "arbitrary, capricious, and unreasonable."</p><p><br /></p><p>The lawsuit specifically calls out Township Manager Patrick Donnelly for muting Mr. Shea's mic "without any prompting from the Committee."</p><p><br /></p><p>The Eighth Count of the lawsuit alleges that the Planning Board violated the Open Public Meetings Act by failing to give the public adequate notice of the Ordinance which they were going to review. The agenda simply stated "ordinance for review," without actually listing the Ordinance by title, number or summary.</p><p><br /></p><p>The Ninth Count of the lawsuit alleges that the Planning Board simply made changes to the proposed parking requirements, but failed to properly conduct a consistency review of the Master Plan as they are required to do when they review proposed ordinances. They also failed to adopt a Resolution memorializing their own vote or findings, as well as to submit a report to the Committee.</p><p><br /></p><p>The Tenth Count of the lawsuit alleges that Planning Board Attorney John Jackson's email to the Committee listing the Board's recommendations, did not constitute a "report" (of the Ordinance) which the Planning Board is required to submit to the Committee, nor did the Planning Board even bother to pass a Resolution adopting Mr. Jackson's email as their report.</p><p><br /></p><p>The lawsuit also notes that this "report" was not actually read into the record at the second Committee meeting, nor was it made available for public review.</p><p><br /></p><p>Furthermore, this report inaccurately stated that the Planning Board recommended grandfathering in currently operating banquet halls, which in fact the Board specifically stated they did not want to incorporate.</p><p><br /></p><p>"This provision is at odds with Mayor Coles' on the record representation to the public at the First Reading that the ordinance "is for future applications. This provision is at odds with Mayor Coles' on the record representation to the public at the Second Reading that an existing school's ability to operate an existing banquet hall "would depend on whether or not they've been to the Planning Board already to get that approval as an accessory use.</p><p><br /></p><p>"Jackson's email also stated that banquet halls should be specifically permitted in the Industrial Park. At no time did any of the Planning Board members state that banquet halls should be specifically permitted in the Industrial Park. Jackson did not read this provision to the Board, nor was it voted on. His comment had no basis in anything the Board stated and further had no bearing whatsoever on the Ordinance as presented," the lawsuit alleges.</p><p><br /></p><p>The Tenth Count (b) of the lawsuit alleges that it can be "inferred that the Ordinance was inconsistent with the Master Plan," and therefore, if Mr. Jackson's email did constitute a "report," the Committee failed to address any inconsistency between the Ordinance and the Master Plan and publish a Resolution containing the reasons for the deviation from the Master Plan, as required by State Statute.</p><p><br /></p><p>The Eleventh Count of the lawsuit alleges that the Planning Board's reliance on Administrator Ally Morris' report was "arbitrary, capricious, and unreasonable."</p><p><br /></p><p>In response to Mr. Gemma presenting his expert report showing that the Ordinance was inconsistent with the Master Plan, Mr. Jackson quickly suggested that Board Engineer Dave Magnos review the ordinance and provide his own expert report. "This was never done. Rather than seeking an expert analysis from its own professionals, the Board instead relied on a report prepared by Morris, who has neither a planner nor an engineer. Morris admitted she did not rely on any expert interpretation or legal authority, but rather, on 'personal experience.' Morris' report set forth that in her personal opinion, banquet halls are an accessory use to a school. Morris is not qualified to make this determination. Since Morris has no expertise in the area of planning, the Board's reliance on her report over Gemma's is 'arbitrary, capricious, and unreasonable.'"</p><p><br /></p><p>The Twelfth Count of the lawsuit alleges that Township Attorney Steven Secare "tainted the record" at the Second Reading.</p><p><br /></p><p>"At the Second Reading, Donnelly muted Plaintiff's Counsel in middle of his presentation of Plaintiff's objection. In response to this, Secare advised the Committee that they did not need to allow Plaintiff's counsel to present their full objection since "he is going to sue us anyway.</p><p><br /></p><p>"Secare vastly overstepped his role as Township Attorney, and in fact took an active position to quash the right's of the public's right to object and be heard. Moreover, he emboldened the Committee to disregard Plaintiff's objection. Most disturbingly, Secare poisoned the Committee against the Plaintiff's position by speculating as to the threat of a lawsuit against the Committee," the suit contends.</p><p><br /></p><p>The Thirteenth Count of the lawsuit alleges that the Committee failed to review a Planning Board report as required by State Statute.</p><p><br /></p><p>"At the Second Reading, Mayor Coles specifically references a report from the Planning Board which contains comments regarding the Ordinance. The Committee relied upon this report. The Committee selectively adopted some, but not all of the alleged report's recommendations. At no time prior was the public made aware of the alleged report. At no time was the public permitted to review the alleged report.</p><p><br /></p><p>"Plaintiff later learned that the alleged 'report' was not actually a 'report' but rather an email from Mr. Jackson's which inaccurately summarized the Board's findings. Same was never reviewed or officially adopted by the Board," the suit charges.</p><p><br /></p><p>The Fourteenth Count of the lawsuit alleges that the Amended Ordinance is not consistent with the Master Plan and "is not drawn with reasonable consideration to the character of each district and its peculiar suitability for particular uses," as required by State Statute.</p><p><br /></p><p>The Amended Ordinance applies to all non commercial zones.</p><p><br /></p><p>The New Jersey Municipal Land Use Law requires that a zoning ordinance or amendment thereof "be substantially consistent with the land use plan element and the housing plan element of the master plan or designed to effectuate such plan element." It further requires "the zoning ordinance shall be drawn with reasonable consideration to the character of each district and its peculiar suitability for particular uses and to encourage the most appropriate use of land..."</p><p><br /></p><p>"The Amended Ordinance impacts the industrial zone where Plaintiff's property is located. Public commentary was provided at the First Reading expressly stating that the industrial park should be excluded from the Ordinance's effects. Gemma provided testimony to the Planning Board and the Committee that the Amended Ordinance fails to consider the character of each zone.</p><p><br /></p><p>"The industrial park is populated with industrial uses. There has been a history of litigation as a result of the existing unapproved banquet halls disrupting the operations of multiple industrial properties. Commercial trucks have great difficulty accessing industrial properties and traversing the overcrowded streets as a result of banquet hall activities. Banquet hall patrons regularly trespass onto industrial properties and park in their lots.</p><p><br /></p><p>"The Amended Ordinance contains no buffer, lighting, or setback requirements, nor does it contain any requirements at all, aside from its minimal parking requirement. Under the Amended Ordinance, a banquet hall would be able to operate a mere 10 feet from an industrial building. The traffic and trespass issues created by banquet halls within the industrial park will be exacerbated by the Amended Ordinance," the lawsuit contends.</p><p><br /></p><p>The Fifteenth Count alleges that the ambiguous language of the Amended Ordinance effectively creates a Conditional Use ordinance.</p><p><br /></p><p>"The Amended Ordinance makes banquet halls into an 'accessory use' in schools. As the parking requirements are a 'specific condition' to the accessory use of a banquet hall in a school, the effect of the ordinance is to create a permitted use with conditions which constitutes a 'conditional use.'"</p><p><br /></p><p>The New Jersey Municipal Land Use Law requires Conditional Uses to "definite specifications and standards which shall be clearly set forth with sufficient certainty and definiteness to enable the developer to know their limit and extent."</p><p><br /></p><p>The Amended Ordinance reads:</p><p>For the section of the school utilized for catering and banquet functions (to be known as the Banquet Hall space, but not including bathrooms, food prep rooms, and facilities not associated with the Banquet Hall function, such as guest preparation rooms, etc.) 1.0 parking space shall be required for every 50 square feet thereof.</p><p><br /></p><p>"The Amended Ordinance contains a non-exhaustive list of areas which do not count toward the parking calculation, ending with the word 'etc.' The Amended Ordinance does not state whether said parking requirement is in addition to that required for the school itself, or if the school spaces can be counted for purposes of meeting the parking condition for a banquet hall. Due to the use of the word 'etc,' the Amended Ordinance is ambiguous on its face, and fails to set forth 'definite specifications and standards' as required by the Municipal Land Use Law," the suit concludes.</p><p><br /></p><p>As recently reported <a href="https://www.faanews.com/2023/07/judge-does-not-buy-lakewood-township.html" target="_blank">here</a> on FAA News, in July 2023, Judge Hodgson granted Mr. Shea's Motion to Amend the Complaint, to add two additional counts.</p><p><br /></p><p>The additional counts involve violations of the New Jersey Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA) on the part of the Township Committee and Planning Board, resulting in the lack of jurisdiction for either party to have held any of the meetings at which the Ordinance was discussed and adopted.</p><p><br /></p><p>Count Sixteen argues that the Planning Board failed to Reorganize for the 2022 term and had no authority to conduct the November 15 and November 29, 2022 hearings.</p><p><br /></p><p>Count seventeen argues that the Committee violated the Open Public Meetings Act, thus rendering the October 20, 2022 and December 8, 2022 hearings ultra vires.</p><p><br /></p><p>NJSA 10:4-18 mandates that a public body must publish an annual notice of all public meetings for the coming year in two official newspapers with 7 days of their annual re-organization meeting.</p><p><br /></p><p>Under NJSA 10:4-8, all meetings which are not contained within the annual notice must be noticed as special meetings, with said notices published in two official newspapers at least 48 hours prior to the meeting.</p><p><br /></p><p>The Committee held their 2022 re-organization on January 3, 2022.</p><p><br /></p><p>The resulting annual notice was published only in the Star Ledger on January 5, 2022.</p><p><br /></p><p>Neither the October 20, 2022 meeting nor the December 8, 2022 meeting were noticed as special meetings.</p><p><br /></p><p>As such the Committee had no authority to take any action at either meeting.</p><p><br /></p><p>As previously reported <a href="https://www.faanews.com/2023/10/breaking-news-judge-questions-if.html" target="_blank">here</a> on FAA News, back in October 2023, Judge Hodgson dismissed Counts One, Four, Five, Six, Eight, and Sixteen.</p><p><br /></p><p>However, at the time, as to Count 17, Judge Hodgson directed the parties to supplement the record to prove whether or not the Township Clerk did indeed mail the required notices to two newspapers.</p><p><br /></p><p>As previously reported <a href="https://www.faanews.com/2023/12/whoa-lakewood-townships-court-filings.html" target="_blank">here</a> on FAA News, the Township's attorneys have been busy flip flopping as to whether or not the Township Clerk did indeed mail the required notices.</p><p><br /></p><p>Nonetheless, at a motion hearing held on Friday, Judge Hodgson back tracked and dismissed Count 17, finding that it the amended complaint was filed past the 45 day timeframe and therefore it was untimely.</p><p><br /></p><p>The balance of the litigation will now continue on to a trial which is scheduled to be held on May 4, 2024.</p><p><br /></p><p>As previously reported <a href="https://www.faanews.com/2023/12/banquet-hall-litigation-has-already.html" target="_blank">here</a> on FAA News, the Township's taxpayers have already forked up over $200,000 for the Township's legal fees in defending Lake Terrace and the banquet hall ordinance.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>To join a FAA News WhatsApp Group, click <a href="https://chat.whatsapp.com/E15QaGnQm7m8rE6bbGr6BD" target="_blank">here</a>.</b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b>To join the FAA News WhatsApp Status, click <a href="https://wa.me/17328065488?text=%20Subscribe" target="_blank">here</a>.</b></p><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1325329942550958078.post-60419068242017912622024-01-22T12:56:00.003-05:002024-01-22T13:38:23.268-05:00LAKEWOOD EMS BUILDING TO RECEIVE DIGITAL OUTDOOR SIGN<p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxNoxE7xXIc_rJsx6Gvy_g6bjxQa37Fcawv_vQZR6Udii0xfqObKRryMzLgA23n4uN4Xo7F5uf4Ftm7He40h1FDxvp-THpzIO8YDhCszcf3kt0i0azCFkeyzLqleU2nawYZ_5GQFlD2UcP06jMLuvMM8ElLKsAY7hnIqO03YKhWPjlQOvWuu1GGOHScZ0/s903/gates-town-hall.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="601" data-original-width="903" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxNoxE7xXIc_rJsx6Gvy_g6bjxQa37Fcawv_vQZR6Udii0xfqObKRryMzLgA23n4uN4Xo7F5uf4Ftm7He40h1FDxvp-THpzIO8YDhCszcf3kt0i0azCFkeyzLqleU2nawYZ_5GQFlD2UcP06jMLuvMM8ElLKsAY7hnIqO03YKhWPjlQOvWuu1GGOHScZ0/w640-h426/gates-town-hall.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>For many years, the Lakewood EMS building on Pine Street has made do with a non-digital outdoor sign.</p><p><br /></p><p>Well, 'tis sure is the times for an upgrade, Township officials have decided.</p><p><br /></p><p>The Township Committee has just approved purchasing a digital outdoor sign from SL&E Services Inc. dba Mr. Sign of NJ for $27,200.</p><p><br /></p><p>The purchase is being procured as a non-fair and open contract pursuant to the provisions of N.J.S.A. 19:44A-20.4 and N.J.S.A. 19:44A-20.5. Mr. Sign has completed and submitted a Business Entity Disclosure Certification which certifies that they have not made any reportable contributions to the political or candidate committees designated in the disclosure forms in the previous one year, and that the contract will prohibit them from making any reportable contributions through the term of this contract.</p><p><br /></p><p>The Township Committee has also approved spending $50,046.08 for the upgrade and installation of the access control security features for the EMS/OEM building.</p><p><br /></p><p>The contract was awarded to Shore Security Technologies, LLC of Toms River. This is the vendor that oversees the Township's current security system.</p><p><br /></p><p>In recent years, Township officials also installed a digital outdoor sign at Public Works, and the Board of Fire Commissioners also installed a digital outdoor sign at fire headquarters on Cedar Bridge Avenue.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>To join a FAA News WhatsApp Group, click <a href="https://chat.whatsapp.com/E15QaGnQm7m8rE6bbGr6BD" target="_blank">here</a>.</b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b>To join the FAA News WhatsApp Status, click <a href="https://wa.me/17328065488?text=%20Subscribe" target="_blank">here</a>.</b></p><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1325329942550958078.post-41924185195929317052024-01-22T00:33:00.003-05:002024-01-22T11:45:20.983-05:00MOE HEINEMANN TO RECEIVE SECOND JACKSON TOWNSHIP POLITICAL APPOINTMENT<p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZEae_3fWcEiQn6JS31VPC37A2-xhYW4WPyIKV-UGBzTrdUPxj0i5Bp2zUGt-_WcI3NQ_Jp9bug0QElbLvMnHvkAHZAC1UNy4pYPoXZe1vE5_ouQKSzRIYWxrHdUCQUlLKevmaEQ2JHSY0-nxeP7lZKfuUvG0Cww72NRVzwnyJnAbVzMcaXDAs7STewlU/s763/1704072401363.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="763" data-original-width="763" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZEae_3fWcEiQn6JS31VPC37A2-xhYW4WPyIKV-UGBzTrdUPxj0i5Bp2zUGt-_WcI3NQ_Jp9bug0QElbLvMnHvkAHZAC1UNy4pYPoXZe1vE5_ouQKSzRIYWxrHdUCQUlLKevmaEQ2JHSY0-nxeP7lZKfuUvG0Cww72NRVzwnyJnAbVzMcaXDAs7STewlU/w640-h640/1704072401363.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>Just weeks ago, Moshe (Moe) Heinemann was appointed by the Jackson Township Council to a police chaplain position, alongside Rev. Dan Schaefer.</p><p><br /></p><p>The Council is now set to give Heinemann a second political appointment in the Township - the "resident" position on the Jackson Township Safety Committee.</p><p><br /></p><p>This appointment will be for a one year term.</p><p><br /></p><p>Heinemann, who works at FellowShip Warehousing & Logistics, has a long history as a volunteer in Lakewood. He has been a member of Lakewood Office of Emergency Management since January 2008, a member of Lakewood First Aid and Emergency Squad since October 2008, and a member of Central Jersey Hatzolah since June 2021.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>To join a FAA News WhatsApp Group, click <a href="https://chat.whatsapp.com/E15QaGnQm7m8rE6bbGr6BD" target="_blank">here</a>.</b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b>To join the FAA News WhatsApp Status, click <a href="https://wa.me/17328065488?text=%20Subscribe" target="_blank">here</a>.</b></p><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1