JACKSON – A meeting of about 15 minutes long was enough time for new leadership to step up and for a few political barbs to be tossed between officials and a resident.
New Council President Steve Chisholm took charge of the panel during a recent meeting. He replaces Martin Flemming.
Flemming remains a member of the council but said he would be moving from the township and resigning from the council at some point in the future. The entire governing body is Republican, but there is a divide. He ran against Mayor Michael Reina last fall.
Council members Jennifer Kuhn and Scott Sargent voted against Flemming’s nominations for Chisholm to take over as council president and Councilman Nino Borrelli to become council vice president.
They said they were blindsided when Flemming made his announcement to step down from his leadership position.
Resident Sheldon Hofstein noted that during the last two meetings no new ordinances were introduced. “Has the majority of council decided that all the important issues have been solved? Council President Chisholm do you have an agenda now that you are leading the council for improving the lives of Jackson residents?”
Martin Flemming, Steve Chisholm Jr. and Nino Borrelli (Campaign Photo)
“This is not a campaign and my agenda is the people’s agenda. If you have a resolution or ordinance you would like to see introduced, I would love to speak to you afterwards,” Chisholm replied.
“That is passing the buck. You aren’t answering the question,” Hofstein responded.
Chisholm replied, “I thought I answered it.”
Hofstein then asked Flemming when he planned to leave office.
Flemming said he would not be serving that long but could not give a time frame.
“If you are going to be leaving the council I think it is inappropriate for you to be making decisions that affect 58,000 residents and you should consider leaving sooner than later. When you resign I am sure everyone here will thank you for your service. Are you presently a resident of Jackson?” Hofstein asked.
He did say he and members of his family were living in the home that he had lived in and owned for 45 years and were currently leasing. He said he also owns other properties in Jackson.
Hofstein expressed that when the Council does get around to choosing a replacement he hoped it would be someone new “with new ideas and would move Jackson forward and not a former councilmember and a retread.”
Flemming told The Jackson Times a bit about his background in the community. “I became a firefighter in 1976 and still respond today. I was elected a Fire Commissioner in 1998, a position I held for 21 years. I was also the first chairman of the Joint Board of Fire Commissioners.”
“I was also a Board member of Jackson Little League for 15 years and Jackson First Aid for five years. I have been here (in Jackson) since March 1963, got married and raised my family here. All of my sons are active in the Volunteer Fire Company,” he added.
Flemming added, “counting three fire chiefs and three commissioners among them, my grandfather bought the Hardware Store in 1964 and I have worked there all my life.”
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