MANCHESTER – Township Council members adopted two ordinances during its most recent council meeting – one involved a land sale and another appropriated money for capital improvements.
The land sale is for 608 Amsterdam Avenue, a residential lot.
The second ordinance approved was for various capital improvements and other related expenses for the Department of Public Safety and appropriating $750,000 and providing for the issuance of $712,500 in bonds or notes.
Another ordinance was introduced for various capital improvements and other related expenses for expenditures of the Department of Public Works. A public hearing on that ordinance will be held on October 13 during its second reading. Governing bodies introduce an ordinance during one meeting and then approve it during another.
In response to a resident’s inquiry as to whether the township was aggressively seeking grants from the state concerning COVID-19 reimbursement programs and if so, could that money be put toward the payment of bonds, Council President Sam Fusaro responded, “I can’t say if we can put that money toward the payment of bonds. We hired a company to gather information on every grant that is possible for the council to get.”
“It may not be advantageous for us to pay down the bonds,” Fusaro said adding that for some grants “we don’t know what the parameters are. We will do what is best for the town.”
Business Administrator Diane Markulic added that “whenever we have gotten grants they don’t just give us cash and tell us to do whatever we want. In some cases, we pay 10% back and they pay 90%. We couldn’t use it for say, paying down bonds. We check the state’s website diligently.”
“We’ve put in for several fire grants and have been denied but we have been applying for grants. The Ocean County CARES grant will pay us back eventually $300,000 that we have paid for COVID-19 expenses,” Markulic added.
Councilman Robert Hudak added that about the Ocean CARES grant: “the money is narrow for what you can use it for.”
Also discussed was the township’s waiving fees for heaters that certain township businesses are seeking to use to allow for continued outside dining to supplement the limited capacity currently permitted for inside dining. With cooler weather coming such units will assist businesses to continue some of their outside dining.
While fees will be waived to businesses Township Clerk Sabina Martin said inspections would still occur.
Martin also noted a resolution that would indemnify senior communities providing immunity from any lawsuit of anyone contracting COVID-19 “because of any action of their opening their clubhouses so we are in support of those bills that would do that.”
The council approved a resolution supporting Assembly Bill A-4390 and Senate Bill S-2695.
The Senate bill is sponsored by Senators James W. Holzapfel (R-10th) and Christopher J. Connors (R-9th), which establishes immunity for senior planned real estate development associations relating to COVID-19.
The Assembly bill is being sponsored by Assemblyman Benjie E. Wimberly of District 35, Assemblyman Craig J. Coughlin of District 19, Assemblyman John Armato, District 2, and Assemblyman Gerard Scharfenberger of District 13, and permits extension of certain deadlines applicable to local government units under emergency circumstances.
Councilman James Vaccaro once again called for the council to consider an ordinance that would ban the growth and distribution of marijuana in the township.
He noted a stated ballot question that would legalize recreational marijuana use throughout the state. Vaccaro had asked the governing body for months to consider such an ordinance but it was not entertained.
Council President Sam Fusaro said during a prior meeting that such an ordinance might prove fruitless if the state ballot question was approved.
“If the ballot question relevant to marijuana fails in the general election, I will ask and encourage the council to consider discussing and preparing an ordinance banning the growth of marijuana in Manchester Township and banning the distribution or recreational marijuana in Manchester Township,” Vaccaro said.
Vaccaro urged all residents to adhere to COVID-19 guidelines of hygiene, wearing of masks and social distancing to protect their health during the ongoing pandemic.
Councilman Hudak urged people to exercise their right to vote.
Fusaro added to that that “things are happening every day, so if you have any questions (about voting) the Ocean County Clerk’s office has a phone number and a website that is very through and informative.”
Martin added that the township has two drop off boxes for residents to drop off their completed ballot to. One is located at the township’s library branch at 21 Colonial Drive while another is located in Whiting section of the township at the Ocean County Library reading room at 400 Lacey Road. She noted the township’s website provides a link that lists all the drop off boxes and their locations in Ocean County.
“If you mail in your ballot or if you do the drop off your vote will be counted and you will see your vote included in the election day results. If you go to the polls and fill out a provisional ballot which are paper, it will take at least a week for them to go through all the provisional ballots and they would not be included that day,” Martin said.
