The JACKSON Times Vol. 21 - No. 5
In This Week’s Edition
BREAKING NEWS @
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Government Pages 7
Community News Pages 8-10
Dr. Izzy’s Sound News Page 12
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Animal Shelter Sees More Pets After Nearby Center Closes
Photos By Bob Vosseller (Left) Felix the Cat was in need of a home when this photo was taken. Hopefully, he’s found one but if you wish to learn more about Felix and other cats and dogs in need of homes, contact the Jackson Animal Shelter. (Right) Dogs are barking to be adopted at the Jackson Animal Shelter which is also taking on some of the sheltering that took place at the recently closed Toms River Animal Shelter. By Bob Vosseller JACK SON – T he Jackson Animal Shelter has been receiving more an i mals f rom Toms River following the closure of that facility, county officials conf ir med during a recent tour. The Toms River Animal Shelter was closed on Ju ne 6. All employees were put on administrative leave except the one who
does animal control – responding to calls from residents about stray or hurt animals. Toms River Mayor Daniel Rodrick promised for months that he wouldn’t close his community’s shelter a nd pushed for t he Ocean County Board of Health to take it over. After the closure, he said “The fact is the facilit y does not meet the Board of
Health’s standards and must be shut temporarily for construction upg rades.” He then had a list of things the shelter needed, such as dog runs and ventilation. The closure left residents and animal lovers to ponder, “is the county ready to handle this influx?” W hen asked what the Jackson Animal Shelter’s maxi mu m
capacity was, Brian Lippai, the chief of administrative services/ publ ic i n for m at ion officer told The Jackson Times, “It varies. There are 12 adoptable dog runs and we have another 13-14 for hosting, and extra pens for out of season dogs which helps in case of emergencies we put them there. There is (Animal Shelter See Page 4)
July 27, 2024
School Board To Sue NJ Over Funding
By Bob Vosseller JACKSON – Members of the Board of Education rejected the district’s 202425 $165.7 m il l ion budget that would include the closing of the Sylvia Rosenauer Elementary School and they also moved to sue the state. The proposed budget featured numerous staff cuts and elimination of late buses. It also included a 9.9% tax increase. State law normally prevents districts from raising taxes more than 2%. However, a special, onetime exception to this was granted for districts facing state aid cuts this year. A taxpayer with property at the average assessed value of $330,688 would receive a $4,861 school
tax bill, a $146 rise over 2023, under the budget. The district’s budget included $18 million in cuts and was rejected by the School Board at their most recent meeting. The state previously informed the board that the district would be unable to open its schools in September if it didn’t approve a budget by July 22. The Board was left with two alternatives: raise school t axes 9.9% to close the budget gap – an option it already rejected – or fi le a lawsuit as the Toms River School District did to have its state aid restored. The Board’s unanimous rejection of the budget was quickly overturned following (School Sues See Page 5)
Page 19
Forum Teaches How To Prevent Scams
Traffic Reports Provided By Bob Vosseller JACKSON – Council President Jennifer Kuhn provided an update on the continuing traffic studies and a timeline for their completion during her council report during a recent meeting. She started off with Beam Avenue, explaining “the 85th percentile was 28 miles
per hour. The average speed was 23 miles per hour, the average daily traffic was 207 vehicles a day, pace going 12 to 28 miles per hour.” According to the State Department of Transportation, the “85th percentile speed is the speed at or below which 85 percent of the drivers travel on a road seg ment. Motor ists
traveling above the 85th percentile speed are considered to be exceeding the safe and reasonable speed for road and traffic conditions.” “Beam with the section of South Cooks Bridge to Tilford Street was 37 miles per hour with an 85 percentile. The average speed was
(Traffic - See Page 5)
Photo by Bob Vosseller Ocean County Sheriff Michael Mastronardy speaks at the podium at the Crestwood Village Club House. Ocean County Director of Consumer Affairs Ronald Heinzman, seated at left joins Commissioner Gary Quinn and Ocean County Senior Services Director Maria Laface.
By Bob Vosseller OCEAN COUNTY – A forum to fight fraud drew over 160 attendees, showing just how many residents are concerned with scams – particularly the ones that target seniors. Noting the increase
in local scamming incidents, Judy Noonan, the Mayor’s Confidential Aide and Township Senior Service Liaison, assisted by fellow township staff member Frank Nicolato and the leadership of Crestwood (Scams - See Page 16)
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