JACKSON – Township officials are looking to reduce reckless use of powered bicycles because police have reported issues with them lately.
Among four ordinances introduced during the latest Township Council meeting was ordinance 04-25 that would establish code regulations for low-speed electric bicycles and motorized bicycles.
Council President Jennifer Kuhn explained that such vehicles “have become more and more popular and are subject to safety concerns by the township police department.” She said the department’s Traffic Safety Division reached out to the Public Safety Director Joseph Candido about the issue.
“They are operating without helmets. They are reckless. They go into the streets. I don’t know what is going on but they need to be regulated. I reached out to the council in Brick that passed the same ordinance,” Kuhn said.
She watched a PowerPoint presentation by Township Police Officer Donald Lasko on the issue. He also provided it to Township Attorney Gregory McGuckin to aid in the development of the ordinance.
In other news, Ordinance 01-25 would amend township code pertaining to land use and development regulations entitled, “property maintenance.”
“This ordinance would further clarify regulations related to ground covering and planting. The ordinance also requires sufficient notice to alleged violations for pleas of guilty for first and second offense without the necessary court appearance,” Kuhn said.
She said ordinance 02-25 “establishes “a salary range for all employees of the township for 2025. The township must establish a salary range through ordinance and any employee may only be paid within the salary range so designated.”
Kuhn also spoke about ordinance 03-25 that authorizes the acceptance of a land donation for properties within the community shown on the tax maps on Wright De-Bow Road. “This ordinance authorizes the acceptance of a proposed donation of a certain real estate property by the estate or a former property owner.”
“The property in question if left vacant would have been subject to numerous environmental constraints rendering the value as minimal. If the property owner pays a minimal property tax accessed, the township would bear the cost of the tax foreclosure,” she added.
Kuhn said that the owner reached out to the township and “this has been a long effort. She is an elderly woman who has been in pre-foreclosure since 1990 and 2000, reached out to administration and our mayor (Michael Reina) and administration worked it out.”
The resident said in an email to the mayor, council and various professional staff, “I have had extensive cooperation with the township membership in expressing my desire to dedicate the property mentioned to the town due to a personal hardship. I am deeply grateful that this proposal is being presented and considered.”
Councilman Nino Borrelli said he met the owners last summer “who brought the issue of these properties to my attention and I then brought it to the attention of Council President Kuhn who worked with administration to see if we could help. We worked together with the township’s tax offices. I am sure glad we had met and that it resulted in this ordinance. It will help them and their family and it will add these properties to our open space inventory.”
Township Business Administrator Terence Wall who served in the role of Township Clerk during the meeting as former Township Clerk Mary Moss began her new position in Red Bank a day prior to the meeting, reported that these ordinances will have a second reading and public hearing at the council’s January 28 meeting.
Showcasing Businesses
During the meeting new Councilman Giuseppe Palmeri announced a program to spotlight small businesses “that make our community a vibrant and welcoming place to live and work. As part of this exciting new initiative, I will personally hand-deliver invitations to selected businesses, inviting them to be featured as part of our monthly Small Business Highlight.”
Palmeri said the council-supported program seeks to recognize and honor entrepreneurs whose contributions help promote Jackson Township and that each month a specific business will be invited to attend a council meeting, where they will be recognized for their contribution to the community.
“I think it is really great as small businesses are the backbone of our town. We have more to come on that so stay tuned,” Palmeri added. The business will receive a plaque as a token of the governing body’s appreciation.
Consent Agenda Items
Approved as part of the consent agenda was a shared services agreement between Jackson and Ocean County for stone paths along South New Prospect Road and acceptance of a grant application for the Cops in Shops Summer Shore Initiative for the fiscal year 2025.
Members of the Municipal Alliance Committee on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse were appointed for a term that began on January 1 and will end on December 31.
Former Township Attorney Jean Cipriani, Attorney at Law and Robin La Bue, Esq, of the Firm Rothstein, Mandell, Strohm were appointed as special labor counsel for this year.
A two-year time extension was also approved with respect to the township’s supplemental snowplowing services for a two-year period which started on January 1, 2024 and will culminate on December 31, 2025.
Seeking Funds
The Township is applying for funding through the State of New Jersey Green Acres Program to make improvements to the Justice Complex playground and held its first of two public hearings for this year’s Community Development Block Grant program. The second will be held on January 28.
Kuhn said the township “gets $150,000 for ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliance to update so if you are coming into any of the buildings that we own they will change any of the handles to be ADA.” She said the township’s Department of Public Works director went over a plan last year “and he will take that money when we get it and upgrade the buildings.”
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