JACKSON – Township officials voiced their concerns about the toll taken on the community through conditions of the coronavirus health crisis and took aim at Governor Phil Murphy’s past executive orders that restricted many businesses in the community.
Council President Andrew Kern noted that the ongoing pandemic has caused great hardship for the township’s local businesses. “As our residents and businesses try to emerge from the financial devastations caused by Governor Murphy’s restrictions and forced shutdowns, we need to support them as much as possible.”
“I’m calling on all the companies, non-profit organizations, churches, clubs and even sports leagues to help convince people in need to reach out to the county and state agencies that are available to help them,” Kern added.
Kern noted that foreclosure and eviction moratoriums will be ending “and our residents will need help to plan on what to do next. There are programs of the state and county that can help. If you contact them sooner than later, you’ll be better off.”
“There have been many people who have never been in this type of situation before and wouldn’t be in this situation if it were not for the inept decisions of Governor Murphy. I will be working with the county to assemble a comprehensive list of direct contacts that can help families or businesses in need.” Kern said.
The Council President added that he would be asking the leaders of the organizations he had mentioned to reach out to him to get a copy of that list so “they can identify people within their circles that will need help. Please help do what you can to support your neighbors and support our Jackson businesses.”
By way of comparison, Jackson had about 4,400 known cases of coronavirus, in total, since the pandemic began. This only includes those who received a positive test. Of these, there were about 100 deaths. There are about 60,000 residents, so at least 7 percent of the population has tested positive at some time.
Councilman Nino Borrelli said he was glad to see some of the other resolutions on the agenda that benefit seniors and other people in town who have disabilities. “There are also helpful links about the COVID-19 vaccine on the Jackson website. I encourage our residents to check out this information regularly as things change in our state regarding vaccination station availability.”
He also noted that “we have several resolutions on our agenda tonight concerning mobile home parks. To the residents who live in the mobile home parks in the town please let us know of any issues and concerns in your communities.”
“We are having an active winter so please stay safe on the roads,” Borrelli said.
Mayor Michael Reina echoed those sentiments. “You need to be really careful on the roads and you need to keep this administration up to speed on snow removal, ice, anything that may be subpar.”
“The safety and wellbeing of our residents is paramount. Just keep in mind Jackson Township is 1,100 streets and roads. We are 100 square miles and we will get there but we still need to know if we are missing the ball on anything. Stay safe everyone,” the mayor added.
During the evening an ordinance relating to storm water management and non-Pineland portions of the municipality was approved.
Resolutions included approval of a contract with Automatic Door Systems LLC of North Arlington for the handicapped door replacement at the Jackson Township Municipal Building and Senior Center by increasing the contract amount by $3,045 resulting in an adjusted contract price amount of $29,990.
A similar contract by the same firm for the Justice Complex’s handicapped doors in the amount of $23,875 was approved through another resolution during the meeting.
Several mobile home licenses were renewed in the township for the calendar year 2021 as well as a campground on Brewers Bridge Road. A junkyard license for the year was also approved for a business on Chandler Road as part of the Council’s consent agenda.
Also approved were resolutions approving the submission and acceptance of a grant from the Ocean County Office of Senior Services as well as a grant for individuals with disabilities.
No one came forward from the public to speak during the public comment period of the Council meeting.
