JACKSON – The Township Council has seen some shifting seats on the dais with both fresh and familiar faces. The newest change is the addition of Christopher Pollak who was elected last month and sworn in on November 25.
Pollak will fill a council spot and he is calling for change in how the council conducts business.
Last May, Councilman Scott Sargent died following heart surgery. His vacancy was filled by former Councilman Kenneth Bressi. Bressi didn’t run for the council seat however in the fall election.
Two newcomers vied for the seat, long time township first responder Alfred Couceiro and Christopher Pollak who runs a fitness facility in the township and who has been critical towards some of the actions taken by the governing body regarding development and other actions of the council. He won by a comfortable margin during the November election.
With Mayor Michael Reina’s resignation in October, Council President Jennifer Kuhn was appointed to fill his role. Reina’s unexpired term expires at the end of next year and so there will be a mayoral race in 2026.
Council Vice President Mordechai Burnstein became council president and Councilman Giuseppe Palmeri became vice council president. With Kuhn’s resignation on council to serve as mayor, Bressi ended up being appointed to complete that council term which will expire at the end of 2026.
Pollak joined his wife and son during a recent Township Council meeting to begin his term on council. He was sworn in by Township Clerk Sandra Martin during the meeting.
The new councilman remarked later in the meeting that he was “very happy to serve the people of Jackson. Honestly, I am not necessarily happy to be here. This election woke up a lot of people. The results were not subtle and there was a mandate.”
“The residents of Jackson sent a message that they are tired of how business has been done and they want change,” Pollak added. “I didn’t run because I like politics. In fact, I can’t stand politics. I can’t stand politicians and I believe most people feel the same way.”
He went on to say he didn’t trust all the people who have been making decisions within the town. “I got elected by telling the truth and the truth is there are problems that we need to fix.”
Mayor Kuhn took issue with some of his remarks and tried to correct Pollak’s wording where he stated “that” town saying it was “our town.”
Councilman Pollak responded to her remark, “this is how you want to start day one? This is why no one likes you and why no one wants you in this (mayoral) position.”
Cheers from the audience were heard following his reply along with calls for order. “You hear that? Understand, we aren’t playing those games anymore,” Pollak added.
When the mayor resumed speaking, she announced that the township was looking at acquiring 4.5 acres on Patterson Road. “We just got the appraisal back and the township will hopefully be able to acquire some open space.”
