RESIDENT OF: Brookforest Drive, for an undisclosed length of time.
MARITAL STATUS: Married, to wife MaryLou Heath
CHILDREN: Two daughters, Jessica Campbell and Coral Ballister-Clark, and one son, C.B. Plante IV, age 17.
EMPLOYMENT: State of New Jersey, Forest Fire Service – Division Firewarden, 30-plus years.
CLUBS, ORGANIZATIONS & CHARITIES, NON-GOVERNMENTAL: No answer given.
GOVERNMENT SERVICE: Member, South Toms River Borough Council, 1992 – 1997; Member, South Toms River Borough Planning Board, 1997 – 2003.
Q&A
1. Why did you seek the nomination, and who nominated you?
Current council members approached me to determine if I might be interested in running for a seat again. I am a generally fiscally conservative, and my record resulted in that request.
2. What is your reaction to the nomination?
I am looking forward to serving the residents of South Toms river once again. In difficult economic times such as these, it is important to maintain tight control of the town’s finance and not indulge in the urge to do so much that our taxes increase beyond what is reasonable and prudent.
3. What are some things you would like to do, if elected?
The interest in re-establishing the Brookforest Beach Club is exciting. In addition, I am open to exploring regionalizing services, if it can be accomplished at a saving to the borough’s residents.
4. What are your top priorities, if elected?
Maintaining one of the lowest tax burdens in Ocean County.
5. Is there any theme you would give the borough Republican ticket?
Not at this time. [Editor's Note - this question was posed earlier this year]
6. Optional additional comments:
We must not lose sight of the fact that the property tax bill for a home in South Toms River is one of the lowest, if not the lowest in Ocean County (we are always in competition with Lakehurst for this distinction!). As a past councilman, I have always been proud of this. In fact, we have managed to maintain this condition, while still providing a level of service that many towns in the county do not. Just as an example; two-day a week garbage pickup. I think this message is important, and I will work to make sure our neighbors understand this. Many of our residents are first-time homeowners, and work very hard to make their ends meet. I remember how tough it was, and how both my wife and I had to work to make all of this happen, as a result I have always been open to suggestions on how to make life better in our town.
EMPLOYMENT: Self-employed computer network consultant with 20 years of experience; South Toms River Land Use Board Secretary, for the past three years.
CLUBS, ORGANIZATIONS & CHARITIES, NON-GOVERNMENTAL: Website administrator, STRNJ.COM; Advisor, Gatherer Institute; Member, South Toms River Community Club (baseball); Member, South Toms River Municipal Alliance; Member, South Toms River Neighborhood Watch Committee; Member, South Toms River Optimist Club
GOVERNMENT SERVICE: Member, South Toms River Recreation Commission; Member, South Toms River Land Use Board; Member, South Toms River Office of Emergency Management; Member, South Toms River Sewage Authority
Q&A
1. Why did you seek the nomination, and who nominated you?
I sought the nomination for South Toms River Council to help steer the borough through these challenging times. I was asked to be a candidate by the members of the South Toms River Republican Club due to my service, dedication, and beliefs about what public service means.
2. What is your reaction to the nomination?
I am ready to continue to work hard for the borough.
3. What are some things you would like to do, if elected?
I would like to see the borough develop revenue streams besides taxes and reduce expenditures so we can lower taxes.
4. What are your top priorities, if elected?
Develop ways to make the borough more energy efficient to help lower the cost of government and become more environmentally friendly.
5. Is there any theme you would give the borough Republican ticket?
Not yet. [Editor's Note - this question was posed earlier this year]
6. Optional additional comments:
It would be nice if we could provide audio and or video of our meetings.
BOROUGH: South Toms River
POLITICAL AFFILIATION: Republican Party
RESIDENT OF: Attison Avenue, since 1962.
MARITAL STATUS: Married to wife, Anna.
CHILDREN: Two sons in Toms River High School South and one daughter at South Toms River Elementary School.
EMPLOYMENT: Asset Administrator for the Garden State Parkway division of the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, 27 years.
Also, part-time employed by the BJ’s Wholesale Club in Toms River for the past three years.
CLUBS, ORGANIZATIONS & CHARITIES, NON-GOVERNMENTAL: Steward and Contract Negotiation Committee Member, Teamsters Local 97; South Toms River Community Club, 1999 – 2001; various bowling leagues; South Toms River Youth Athletic League (YAL), late 1970s; Phi Theta Kappa, Ocean County College, 1978.
GOVERNMENT SERVICE: Councilman, South Toms River Borough Council, 1979 – 1984, as Democrat; Mayor, South Toms River Borough, 1987 – 1990, as Democrat; Mayor, South Toms River Borough, 1995 – 2006, as Republican; Councilman, South Toms River Borough Council, 2008 – present, as Republican; Member, South Toms River Borough Planning Board, 1987 – 1990; Member, South Toms River Planning/Zoning Board, 1995 – 2007; Borough Representative for South Toms River to the Ocean County Block Grant Committee, 1998 – 2004.
Q&A
1. Why did you seek the nomination, and who nominated you?
I have lived in our town all almost all of my life. I have served on the governing body for most of my adult life. I feel that I have always worked to better our town, not any one political organization. I believe that I can continue to work for the better of all residents and not just the party in power. I was nominated by several sitting councilmen who all agreed that we as a group worked to better the residents and they wished to see me back in the mayor’s seat to continue our goals.
2. What is your reaction to the nomination?
I will admit that I was very proud, since any of these men could have easily requested consideration to run for the office of mayor themselves. They are great people and have been good public servants for the residents of South Toms River. For them to all ask me to run, I admit it made me feel proud. But I do know that all of us work best together when we are working to better the town as a whole.
3. What are some things you would like to do, if elected?
The most important is to establish a greater method for getting out information to the public. In the past I did a string of television segments for Comcast Cable. I feel we need to find other ways to get information to the public. The recent establishment of a non-political South Toms River website will be a help but so are new reporting organizations such as your own. The Riverside Signal has been in attendance at most of our recent meetings and your continued coverage is something that the public could really use. The big newspapers only feel we are newsworthy if a major problem occurs. Although that may be true, I feel most residents would also like to know the day-to-day happenings for relevant issues that pertain to our community.
Secondly, I would really like to see more interaction with senior borough employees. They are the people who most deal with the public on a day-to-day basis. I have heard council members at public meetings making comments about subordinates and it bothers me. I know I have probably made the same comments from time to time, but I know in the past I have tried to get the employees to realize, that in the big scheme of things, we are co-workers here to work for all of the residents. The residents are actually our “boss” we need to remember that and work together, even in the current bad economic times.
4. What are your top priorities, if elected?
I believe the most important priority for the entire council will be to secure new sources of revenue that can be brought in to help offset the expenses of running the borough. After that will be a coordinated effort between the council and the various negotiating units and the non-bargaining employees to look seriously at ways to cut expenses and still maintain those services that the residents both need and want. We must work together on this since it will affect the entire community.
With all union contracts up at the end of this year, 2010, this will be the time that we seriously need to put politics aside and work together to provide for the residents and the employees.
5. Is there any theme you would give the borough Republican ticket?
C. Bertram Plante, William “Bill” Gleason and I are a dedicated team of experienced workers who have consistently attempted to incorporate non-partisan ideas into our policies. We work for all of the residents of our community. Whether it is Bert serving with the Manitou Park Fire Department or Bill coordinating “Back to School Parties” or various holiday parties through our non-partisan South Toms River Recreation Commission. These are men who have been committed to our borough and I am very proud to have them as my running mates and future partners to work towards bettering our small community and giving everyone a real voice in how it is run.
EMPLOYMENT: Sole proprietor of a law practice as a lawyer in Toms River since 2005.
CLUBS, ORGANIZATIONS & CHARITIES, NON-GOVERNMENTAL: Board member, OCEAN, Inc.; Vice President, South Toms River Borough Democratic Club; Member, Ocean County Bar Association; Member, Law Day Committee; Acting Judge, Mock Trial Competition, 2008; Member, Conflict Resolution Committee.
GOVERNMENT SERVICE: Police Committee.
Q&A
1. Why did you seek the nomination, and who nominated you?
I sought the nomination because it’s time that the people of South Toms River unite for the betterment of this borough. I was nominated by senior members of the local Democratic Party.
2. What is your reaction to the nomination?
I am humbled and honored by this nomination.
3. What are some things you would like to do, if elected?
Among other things, I would like to change the image and perception of South Toms River, basic renovation of the borough hall; promote accountability and transparency across the board; curtail run-away spending; smaller government where possible, diversity, maintain roads and park, review property tax and year round community center programs for kids, adults and seniors; promote a cleaner South Toms River.
4. What are your top priorities, if elected?
Less spending, property tax and community center issues.
5. Is there any theme you would give the borough Democratic ticket?
Several are being explored by the committee and will publish soon. [Editor's Note: these questions were first posed to candidates earlier this year, and at press time no further information has been received on this matter. Additionally, the South Toms River Democratic Club pursued a write-in campaign and has since nominated Marvin C. Sykes and Donald J. Williams as candidates for the two open council spots in the borough; as such they did not receive the initial candidate questionnaire by the Riverside Signal in time for publication. This does not reflect a bias on the part of the Riverside Signal, and we apologize for the error]
South Toms River Sewerage Authority, seen here after February snow storms.
Employee said to be “very nasty” to resident, refused to give name
by Erik Weber
SOUTH TOMS RIVER – An incident stemming from incorrectly dated quarterly bills at the South Toms River Sewerage last week left one resident offended and the mayor, here, angry enough to threaten a disbandment of the public utility.
Lakeview Drive resident William Pine told the governing body at their Monday night caucus meeting that he went to the authority the previous Tuesday to pay his quarterly bill after receiving it in the mail with a past due date of September 1st, and to correct the spelling of his wife’s name, JoAnne, on the bill.
“I thought it was overdue,” he said, but added that after he arrived at the facility, located on the corner of Mill Street and South Main Street, he noticed a sign taped to the wall that stated an error in processing had occurred and that the quarterly bill was not due until October 1st.
When Mr. Pine approached the woman seated behind the desk, he continued, she “turned around and started flailing her arms in, I guess, disgust with me – I said, ‘Ma’am, I’d like to pay my bill and get my wife’s name straightened out on it.”
After an argument ensued over the name spelling, the Lakeview Drive resident stated the unidentified woman said “I don’t care, we’ll just put a ‘J’ there.”
He explained to the borough council that the name spelling was of particular importance to the couple beyond being simply her name, as she was named after her parents, now deceased, including her father, who he said was a “decorated Navy flier, now buried in Arlington National Cemetery.”
“I got very offended,” Mr. Pine noted. “I said if you don’t like your job you should not be there – she said I like my job, and I said, ‘You should learn how to spell.’”
At that point, he said, he asked for the woman’s name, and she refused to tell him.
“I’m very tired of people losing tolerance to fellow human beings,” Mr. Pine added.
Following the incident, he said he followed up by calling Councilman Ed Murray and recounting the issues he had with the authority employee.
The councilman concurred, adding that he has taken “four or five” phone calls in the past by other residents who have echoed Mr. Pine’s complaint of one or more of the authority employees being “nasty” to borough residents, and that he had even encountered their poor attitude personally.
Mayor Michael Keene pointed out that the employees were not residents of South Toms River, and was upset over their apparent lack of respect for borough residents.
William Britton, a longtime volunteer on the Sewerage Authority who was recently appointed chairman following the death of Ralph Hodges, said that it was the first time he’d heard such complaints in his 13 years of service.
“In 13 years we haven’t had anyone come to any of our meetings and complain,” he said, adding that anytime any resident had a complaint, they should attend one of their monthly meetings or call him directly.
Borough Sewerage Authority meetings take place on the first Tuesday of each month at 7 pm in the authority building.
“The next time we have a problem that comes up, I’m looking to abolish the Sewerage Authority,” warned Mayor Keene.
“Usually, it runs very smoothly, but if you want to abolish it, it’s up to you,” Mr. Britton replied. “I’m not going to lose any sleep over it, believe me – I volunteered my time for the last 13 years.”
Mayor Keene wanted the authority to consider installing security cameras with microphones, “this way if we have a problem, we can go back to it.”
Mr. Britton again urged that if residents have a problem with the authority employees, to approach the board at the next meeting or call him directly, but noted that he would work on having name plates purchased and placed at all employees’ desks to prevent them from concealing their identities from residents.
The chairman then detailed some of the benefits of keeping the authority running.
“We paid our bonds off early, saved thousands of dollars, cut the rate, bought a truck and a jet vac,” he said. “If that’s not doing the job, I don’t know what is.”
Addressing Mr. Pine regarding the name issue, Mayor Keene said the error was due to the computer system cutting off the name early due to space limitations, but that the authority had accommodated the couple by removing spaces between their names in order to fit the full name in.
Mr. Murray noted that the unidentified authority employee should have just told Mr. Pine that from the beginning.
The next meeting of the borough council will take place on Monday, September 20th at 7 pm in borough hall on Mill Street.
SOUTH TOMS RIVER – Last Friday, campers from the South Toms River Recreation Commission’s summer camp traveled to the Ocean County Fair, held at Miller Airpark in Berkeley Township.
Below are images of that trip, as taken by William Gleason, borough recreation chairman.
SOUTH TOMS RIVER – Today we’re featuring our photo essay of life in South Toms River for the first half of July.
Enjoy!
2010 Elvis Convention
The Elvis Convention closed with a big finale as a result of Gene Dinapoli inviting all the day's previous performers up for two final songs. The day's performers included Andrew Howard, Johnny Purshock as event DJ, Ray Kaminski, Paul Daniels, Rob Lutz, Rich Ogle, Dan Barella, Lori Howard, and Jerry EL Papp.
Most photos above courtesy Debbie Lutz
South Toms River Residents Clean Brookforest Beach
South Toms River Summer Camp Goes to See the Lakewood BlueClaws
Boarding the bus at the South Toms River Recreation Building.
Above photos courtesy of the South Toms River Recreation Commission
Manitou Park Fire Company at the Ocean County Fair
Manitou Park Fire Company Chief Brian Corvinus.
Manitou Park Fire Company member, Andrew Howard.
John Howard presents fire prevention literature at the Manitou Park Fire Company booth in the Ocean County Fair.
From left: Mary Howard, John Howard, and Dan DeCross III.
by Lori Howard
for the South Toms River Recreation Program
Elvis Presley meeting Richard Nixon, on December 21, 1970. Elvis is on the right. Waggishly, Elvis in this picture is said to be 'of the two greatest recording artists of the 20th century', alluding to Mr. Nixon's infamous penchant for secretly recording Oval Office discussions, which helped accelerate his downfall in the face of Watergate in the following four years.
SOUTH TOMS RIVER – Slip on your blue suede shoes and shake those hips for the upcoming Friends of Elvis 2010 Convention, arriving this July 10th to the South Toms River Recreation Center, located at One Drake Lane, here.
The event will benefit the South Toms River Recreation program and will feature Elvis tributes by local impersonators, Elvis collectibles, refreshments, & more.
A $15 donation is requested at the door, with all proceeds benefiting the borough recreation program. Doors open at 10:30am, and show times will be held from 11am until 4pm.
To get there from communities on the southern bank of the Toms River, take Atlantic City Boulevard through Beachwood and make a left at the triangle onto Route 9/Garden State Parkway Access Road. Head west towards the Garden State Parkway, make a left at Dover Road at the traffic light before the parkway entrance. Follow Dover Road through South Toms River past the elementary school, and make a right on Attison Avenue. Continue on Attison as it curves toward the right, and make the second left, on Drake Lake.
To arrive from communities on the northern bank of the Toms River, take Route 166 south through downtown Toms River, and make a right on Dover Road, following the directions from Dover Road above.
To get to the convention from the southbound Garden State Parkway, take exit 80 and remain toward the left. At the end of the offramp, make a right toward the traffic light, then a left onto Dover Road, following the directions from Dover Road above.
Coming from the northbound Garden State Parkway, take exit 77 and remain toward the left. Make a left turn on Double Trouble Road, following it down to the traffic light. At the light, make a right onto Pinewald-Keswick Road, and follow it down until the traffic light at Dover Road. At Dover Road, make a right and continue down until making a left onto Attison Avenue, following the directions above.
Friends of Elvis is a sanctioned Elvis fan club, with the 2010 convention run by borough residents Lori & Andrew Howard.
Campers participated in an arts and crafts activity during today's camp opening.
SOUTH TOMS RIVER – The mercury may climb above the 100-degree mark today, but that won’t deter organizers and campers from celebrating the opening day of the annual borough summer camp, here.
The camp, today entering its eighth year, originally included only borough children aged five to twelve years old. This year, organizers within the borough recreation commission, which operates the camp, decided to add a second section in order to engage borough teens that still wanted to participate but did not get chosen for volunteer positions within the elementary school-aged section.
For the elementary school-aged campers, there will be 14 actual travel day trips, including three days swimming at Berkeley Island Park, three days bowling, two days at the Marquee movie theater in Toms River during their free matinee film for camps on Tuesdays and Wednesdays throughout the summer, a Lakewood BlueClaws game on July 12th for their camp day, Jenkinsons’ Aquarium one day, the Ocean County Fair, an Ocean County Parks Department event called Funtasia in Lakewood, Clementon Water Park, and Jakes Branch Park.
Teen volunteers at the opening of the annual South Toms River Summer Camp.
“Many of the same kids return each year,” said William E. Gleason, chairman of the recreation commission and the camp’s liaison. “[This year] we will see a new aspect of education that will incorporate free tutoring of math and reading, and a drug and alcohol awareness program for teens.”
“One of the highlights this year is free drum lessons by local volunteer drummer, Kevin Callanan,” he noted.
The alcohol, drug and substance abuse awareness program was added as a stipulation from the borough municipal alliance in exchange for partially funding the new teen section of the camp. The alliance is part of a state-wide network of volunteer-driven, municipally-based education and public awareness programs utilized to combat drug and alcohol abuse among school-aged children.
Despite being developed and operated by borough officials for borough residents, camp organizers are quick to point out that their program stimulates the area economy through its use of the Ocean County Parks System and its hiring of both currently-working and retired, certified teachers from Ocean and Monmouth counties for its staff positions. Retired area educator Gloria Dix-Adkinson is camp director.
Some of the benefits of participating in the camp setting, said camp organizers, are learning team-work, sportsmanship, socialization, building friendships, and becoming an active citizen in the community.
The summer program will end with a talent show and family bar-be-que that will be open to the camper’s families, and will include a birthday celebration for campers celebrating a birthday during the summer months.
“We would like to wish everyone a happy and safe summer,” said Mr. Gleason, adding that borough residents could find more information on borough activities for their families at the newly-redesigned borough website at STRNJ.com.
From left: Recreation Commission Chairman William E. Gleason, Camp Director Gloria Dix-Adkinson, and Recreation Commissioner Carol Williams.
SOUTH TOMS RIVER – The following is a recap of last week’s council caucus meeting, here.
- Borough Clerk Betty Silvestri announced that the borough would be holding a public auction on July 10th at 11 am at the public works garage located on Drew Lane.
“We have like six car and a few odds and ends,” she said. “I submitted letters to all departments asking if they have anything they wanted auctioned off – I understand some things in the recreation building might want to be auctioned off.”
“Unfortunately it’s of little value,” said Councilman Sandford Ross, Jr.
Ms. Silvestri recalled a past auction when a series of computers that were not working sold for parts.
“Turn it over as a lump sum bid,” suggested Council President George J. Greitz, Jr., who said that anything not bid on would then be eligible to undergo proper recycling.
- Ms. Silvestri noted that the Groundswipers Rod and Gun Club of Lacey Road, Lucky Spirits of Atlantic City Boulevard and the River Cafe of the Lighthouse Point Yacht Club, located on Crabbe Road, all filed for renewal of their liquor licenses, with no interim complaints reported to borough police.
- Councilman Kevin McCormack reminded council members present that contract negotiations for the borough police department were approaching.
“We need to form a committee for contract negotiations for both the police department and public works,” added Mr. Ross. “Historically, it’s been done by three members of the council not on the [regular] police department and public works committees.
A tentative roster of the bargaining committee to meet with representatives of the borough police department was set as being Mr. Ross, Mr. Greitz and Councilman Oscar Cradle, pending mayoral approval.
A tentative roster of the bargaining committee to meet with representatives of the borough public works department was set as being Mr. Cradle, Councilman Joseph Champagne, and Mr. McCormack.
- An emergency repair of a catch basin at the corner of Drexel Court and Easy Street was discussed among council members during the meeting.
Ms. Silvestri said that upon inspection, Mayor Michael Keene, who was not present during the meeting, said he would speak with representatives from the county about having it repaired as soon as possible.
- Mr. Ross reported that the summer camp was rapidly growing in the number of youths registered for both the traditional 5- to 12-year-old program and the newly added 13- to 16-year-old program.
- Mr. Ross also announced that Hummel Drive resident Andrew Howard was moving forward in organizing a clean-up effort at the Brookforest Beach Club area, and that the effort may possibly be expanded to other recreation areas around the borough. Residents interested in volunteering to join the effort are invited to call borough hall at (732) 349-0403 for more details.
Mr. Cradle noted that he would bring the effort up during the next parks committee meeting on Tuesday, June 22nd at 7:30 pm at borough hall on Mill Street.
- The borough council approved the rehiring of a Scott Mulford under the New Jersey Clean Communities grant at a rate of $9 per hour to handle some auxiliary grass cutting and litter cleanup around the borough during the summer season.
- Mr. Champagne brought to light an ongoing litter issue at the corner of Chamberlain Street and Dover Road, where area pedestrians have been throwing trash in the area directly surrounding a trash can with a closed lid, rather than lifting the lid and disposing of it properly.
“What I’m proposing, if we have the funds for it, is to have an open can, one of those metal garbage cans accessible so people can just shoot it right in like a basket instead of having a big gigantic closed can [at the location],” he said. “Instead, have a smaller, more neighborhood-friendly looking can attached to the pole at the same location.”
“What if it rains?” asked Ms. Silvestri. “If we have an open can there and it rains it’ll fill up with water.”
Mr. Ross said the proposed open can would have a mesh design so as to allow liquids to pass through without issue, but noted that he was concerned about attracting insects and vermin if the garbage was not emptied on a regular schedule by the public works department.
“They drive on Dover Road every day,” said Mr. Greitz. “So every day they can stop and empty it – this is not difficult.”
The council president noted that he has been “driven crazy” by the idiosyncrasies of the public works department and their manner of work, citing an automated garbage truck designed to pick up new-style garbage bins with flipper arms mounted to its side that has sat in the public works yard for months needing repair.
Ms. Silvestri stated that the department had broken another garbage truck during operations in the borough earlier in the day.
Mr. Greitz requested Ms. Silvestri to draft a letter to the public works supervisor stating that the garbage can located at the corner of Chamberlain Street and Dover Road required emptying on a daily basis, and to respond back to council the exact nature of the problem with the automated garbage truck so that the borough could address it and get it back on the road as soon as possible.
“Let’s find out why it’s not fixed if there is a reason, and let’s try and expedite it,” he said.
- Mr. Greitz thanked borough residents and council members in attendance during the annual Memorial Day services at Mathis Plaza on May 31st, and commended William Gleason on photos taken of the event.
“They were great pictures, and I especially liked seeing kids in the pictures,” he said, noting that he was glad they were present to learn some of the origins of Memorial Day and its historic roots in the southern region of the United States.
- Grace Omojola, a member of the South Toms River based-His Blood Church, spoke during open public session to voice her concern that some local residents using the recreation baseball fields on Drake Lane were parking their cars in restricted fire lanes around the recreation building, blocking emergency access points during times when members of her church were utilizing the center.
“We have about 100 people for members, but we also have about 40 children for members,” she said. “They park directly in the fire lane outside the fire exit, and I think this is an issue of safety in the neighborhood.”
Ms. Omojola presented the borough council with a blown up photograph of a large blue pickup truck parked in the recreation center’s fire lane.
“If we have a fire, when the fire truck comes how are they to park to access the building and quench the fire?” she asked, stating that the children members of the church range in age from “a few months old” to 17 years old. “That’s our children ministry – we don’t want to lose these kids, they are our tomorrow.”
The church member said that when the owner of the vehicle was approached about moving the truck by a “community elder,” the owner “started cussing and using the ‘f’ word and the ‘b’ word.”
The owner, she said, told the church members to call the police and that he did not care if he received a ticket.
“I think that is not appropriate,” Ms. Omojola said.
“There are two things we have to do to help our police department enforce this – one is the yellow markings [for the fire zone] as well as a proper fire lane sign,” said Mr. Greitz. “The police department can’t enforce it unless those two things are there.”
Mr. Ross stated that the fire lane passed a recent inspection and that only the sign was now needed for enforcement.
“First off, it’s common sense to know not to park there,” continued Mr. Greitz. “If they get a ticket, tell them I said that’s too bad – it’s about time they start taking responsibility – the whole council lives here and plays here, too, and the kids are more important.”
He noted that the fines levied under the fire lane violations could potentially be used to specifically improve things for the children of the community.
“Let’s not coddle adults anymore,” the council president said.
The next meeting of the borough council will be tonight at 7 pm in borough hall on Mill Street.
CANDIDATE: C. Bertram “Bert” Plante
CANDIDATE: William E. Gleason
CANDIDATE: George J. Greitz, Jr.
CANDIDATE: Joseph M. Champagne, Jr.
Despite being developed and operated by borough officials for borough residents, camp organizers are quick to point out that their program stimulates the area economy through its use of the Ocean County Parks System and its hiring of both currently-working and retired, certified teachers from Ocean and Monmouth counties for its staff positions. Retired area educator Gloria Dix-Adkinson is camp director.
SOUTH TOMS RIVER – The following is a recap of last week’s council caucus meeting, here.
- Councilman Kevin McCormack reminded council members present that contract negotiations for the borough police department were approaching.
- Mr. Ross reported that the summer camp was rapidly growing in the number of youths registered for both the traditional 5- to 12-year-old program and the newly added 13- to 16-year-old program.
“There are two things we have to do to help our police department enforce this – one is the yellow markings [for the fire zone] as well as a proper fire lane sign,” said Mr. Greitz. “The police department can’t enforce it unless those two things are there.”
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