LAKEHURST – The governing body discussed the robo cans that have led to some confusion among residents.
Mayor Harry Robbins was absent for this meeting leaving Council President Steven Oglesby in charge. Oglesby noted that on social media “I have heard some rumors regarding the new trash cans and pickup for recycling. I was told by the mayor that if somebody has their own robo cans that they could also put them out but apparently on social media it is flying around that they will not pick them up.”
“I wanted to clarify for the record, yes or no,” he asked.
Councilwoman Patricia Hodges who serves as the liaison to the Department of Public Works (DPW) had the answer. “If the cans are in compliance and if they are the same as being used for pickup they can be used, yes.”
“I have seen a few people had their recycling next to their cans and those are not being picked up and some of them have gotten the message that it has to be in the (recycling) cans and they are a separate pickup,” the council president added.
Councilwoman Bernadette Dugan said, “I have a smaller robo can and I can use that if mine is filled up.”
Hodges added later in the meeting that as to the Department of Public Works, “everything is going well.” The director is curious how the new pickup system will impact landfill fees. “By the end of the year we should know through a comparison.”
Street Sweeper Required
Hodges also noted the upgrade of the water plant was moving along and that a state mandate has come up requiring towns to have street sweeping performed even if the municipality didn’t have their own street sweeping vehicle. This will require communities like Lakehurst to hire out for such services or to purchase its own vehicle.
The Borough is seeking a loan to purchase its own which Hodges said would provide a cost savings in the long run as opposed to contracting out that service. She said having a vehicle would save the town between $10,000 and $12,000 annually. “We are still shopping around for one.”
A new municipal street sweeper vehicle costs between approximately $200,000 and $350,000, depending on the type of technology (mechanical broom, regenerative air, or vacuum). Other factors influencing the cost include regional variations, the size of the vehicle and its features plus whether the municipality is buying it new or used.
Speeding Around Lake Horicon
Oglesby said he has also heard a few residents complaining about “speeding cars along the (Horicon) Lake. There are walkers there and bicyclists especially in the summer months and they are afraid somebody is going to get hit. Maybe we can ask the police to step up patrols.”
He said the incidents reported concerned speeders during the late afternoon and early evening.
Celebrations And Events
Councilwoman Dugan, who also serves as president of the Lakehurst Borough Historical Society, noted that representatives of other county historical societies visited the Lakehurst one recently. “They wanted to know if we would be interested in bringing awareness to 250th anniversary of the American Revolution next year. They are asking for a resolution saying we were in favor of the activities that are being planned.”
“They are looking for 100% participation,” Dugan said among the various historical societies and communities. A resolution is expected to be presented at a future council meeting.
She also plugged an event by the Lakehurst Borough Historical Society taking place from noon to 3 p.m. on October 25 at the Borough Community Center on Center Street. “We are going to have an appraisal fair as a fundraiser for $10. We will have two appraisers there and they will appraise any item and it will be $5 for any additional items and we will have refreshments on other things for sale.”
New Fire Response Rules
Councilman Robert McCarthy reported that he had attended a meeting of the borough’s public safety committee and new safety regulations are calling for communities that have over 1,000 people in one square mile was classified to be “urban” and therefore “we are required to respond (to a fire emergency) just like Jersey City, Newark or Elizabeth to have 15 firefighters in nine minutes for a structure fire 90% of the time.”
McCarthy explained the borough’s fire department now has to rearrange its current mutual aid agreement which has it currently responding simultaneously with the Joint Base fire company on a mutual aid call. “They aren’t okay with that. They want us to move the Joint Base to the bottom of our mutual aid list because of what they are already doing on the military base.”
New Officers
New police officer Brian Henry was sworn in as the newest member of the Borough police department by Municipal Attorney Ian Goldman as he was surrounded by family members. Chief Matthew Kline and fellow members of the department were observing the ceremony held early on at the meeting.
The governing body also accepted a letter of resignation from Anthony Farmer who worked as a laborer for the Department of Public Works in Lakehurst. His last day on the job was August 29.
