MANCHESTER – Police Chief Antonio Ellis said that officers will maintain a high visibility enforcement program in the Pine Lake Park section of town.
“We are using highway safety funds to respond to some of the complaints we have received of speeding, parking issues, careless driving and distracted driving. There will be no cost to the township for that. We have officers working specifically on that in Pine Lake Park,” he said.
In other news, the chief mentioned during a recent Township Council meeting that the afternoon of June 24 will be the department’s next Facebook Live event. They will be speaking about an upcoming baseball camp and recruiting for the department.
“We are currently accepting applications for new hires until the end of June,” he added.
“Our agency was accredited again for the fifth time by the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police which is an honor to our police department to receive,” Chief Ellis said. Further details about that will be shared at a future Township Council meeting.
Ordinances Reviewed
The Township Council reviewed several ordinances that amended the township code pertaining to the municipal zoning map, repealing and replacing uniform construction codes and vacating roadways within the Roosevelt City section of the community.
Ordinances 25-19 and 25-20 would have amended a chapter of the code. However, Council President Roxy Conniff said those measures needed to be carried, awaiting action by the Planning Board, and would be revisited during the Council’s July 14 meeting.
The remaining ordinances were unanimously approved. Councilman Craig Wallis was absent for this meeting.
Business Administrator Carl Block explained the uniform construction code ordinance pertained to fee adjustments.
Shannon DiFrancia was appointed as alternate deputy registrar. Also appointed was a Fund Commissioner for Central Jersey Health Insurance Fund. Council also authorized an access agreement for Environmental Activities with the Air Force Civil Engineer Center and opposed New Jersey protecting against climate threats/resilient environments and landscape rules.
Councilwoman Sandy Drake thanked the police for their help with the recently held Family Festival Day involving the Manchester Little League which notes the completion of their regular season. “Then they go off into playoffs and teams from all over the district come in.”
Councilwoman Michele Zolezi also commended the township Little League for their recent event. She said she knew some people whose children and students come to the fields for playoff games.
Council Vice President James Vaccaro noted the arrival of summer and the end of the school year and to be cautious on the road. “Put the cell phones down.”
He again called for “pride in our township, Manchester is the gemstone of the Jersey Shore.” He is “aggressively pursuing establishing a Manchester Township a Medical Healthcare Village plus building a senior citizen and youth recreation center within the township.”
He added that there might be some grants available from the Ocean County Open Space Fund for the purpose of constructing the recreation facility.
Mayor Joseph Hankins noted work at a township playground and field. “It is tournament season and it is good to get those children off the main parking area.”
“Try and keep your kids busy and tired,” the mayor said regarding local baseball and soccer programs in town.
