MANCHESTER – The governing body presented proclamations to people who do good work in the township, but officials also heard from residents who were upset during recent Township Council meetings.
Gold Star recipients were honored, and Mayor Joseph Hankins presented a proclamation to Township Veterans Advisory Committee Chairman and Gold Star recipient Roger P. Grenier.
Additionally, a proclamation honoring Municipal Clerks was presented to Township Clerk Teri Giercyk and Deputy Clerk Maria Golda.
A proclamation by Mayor Hankins honored those involved with telecommunications work in observance of Public Safety Telecommunicators Week. The mayor was joined by Police Chief Antonio Ellis, members of the police department and other township telecommunications workers.
The officials noted their professionalism, quick decision response and courage for meeting the daily challenges that come with serving as a public safety telecommunicator.
The mayor said that “law enforcement, fire and emergency personnel and other emergency responders” depended upon the efforts of the highly trained specialists who help coordinate responses through clear communications.
Public Comment Period
One recent meeting featured a lengthy public comment period focusing on a variety of subjects including the issue of sheds that were added to senior communities in Whiting decades ago but now require permits from the township.
The issue concerns documentation from those 55 and older communities such as Crestwood Village V, VI and VII and the required permits to be issued by the township.
Karen Perry of Thornbury Lane commented on the matter saying, “the ordinance may need to be changed but it doesn’t mean the other 55 and older communities have to change their bylaws and I think that is very important for people to understand.”
“Each section is separate,” Perry noted.
Judy Noonan of Stonybrook noted, “when you go into an association, they have bylaws and you need two thirds vote to change bylaws. However, in the original document it says you must go in front of the Board. In most associations, you have an architectural committee. We don’t allow (sheds) to my knowledge (in Crestwood Village VI) but if you want to change it you come to the Board. You want to go larger for the sheds you have to get a permit. These documents really need to be looked at maybe in the past someone didn’t pay attention and they didn’t get approvals. You need to pay attention to your own (association) rules.”
William Cooper of Roosevelt City Road brought up a different topic. He had an issue about securing a permit for dumping. He had just purchased a home in the township and was told he needed to show a utility bill but being a new resident, he had not yet received a utility bill.
“I wanted to get a permit; he wouldn’t give it to me. The only thing he kept saying to me was, ‘I don’t care.’ I put it on Facebook and a couple of council people contacted me right away. I had 1,200 comments supporting me,” Cooper added.
Cooper complained about how he was treated by the township employee who he was unable to accurately identify during the meeting.
Council President Roxy Conniff asked Cooper to lower his voice. “Sir we understand why you are upset.” Cooper told her that he still doesn’t’ have a dump sticker.
“I had enough proof and I even asked him to call the mayor or the police department as they all know me but my only response from him was, ‘he doesn’t care,’” Cooper remarked.
“I know you are frustrated,” the council president said.
Cooper asked, “Why does this man have a job if he doesn’t care?”
Township Attorney Lauren Staiger said “we aren’t going to comment on why people have a job or not. We don’t even know what has transpired because you indicated it was one person and it wasn’t him.”
“If people have an issue or concern and you are not getting where you need to be with a particular office and are getting frustrated, I recommend you reach out to the clerk’s office or to the business administrator because what I am hearing a lot of recently is that people are putting things on social media and that is not the proper channel and when that happens, it is complete chaos. That would be my recommendation to people moving forward,” Councilwoman Michele Zolezi said.
Ordinances
The ordinances that were passed at the meeting concerned towing regulations, providing a definition of a landlord within township code pertaining to the Rent Leveling Board as well as an ordinance to allow the township to exceed the municipal budget cost of living allowance and establish a CAP bank. A budget presentation delving into the details of this year’s proposed spending plan is expected to be made by Mayor Joseph Hankins at a future council meeting.
An exchange of properties at 1705 and 1701 Southampton Boulevard, 817 Third Avenue between the township and developer Jeffrey Jerman was passed this week. Properties were also exchanged with Ocean County in an area of Roosevelt City.
