The JACKSON Times Vol. 21 - No. 42
In This Week’s Edition
MICROMEDIA PUBLICATIONS
JERSEYSHOREONLINE.COM
Easter Bunny Hops Around Jackson For Annual Egg Hunt
BREAKING NEWS @
jerseyshoreonline.com
Government Pages 7
Community News Pages 8-10
Dr. Izzy’s Sound News Page 15
Classifieds Page 19
Photo by Bob Vosseller (Left) Olivia Grace, (10 months) enjoys her first Easter Egg Hunt at Jackson Church on Bennetts Mills Road on Palm Sunday. (Right) The Easter Bunny hops down the old bunny trail near 1 Jackson Drive after another highly successful Jackson Township Easter Egg Hunt which drew more than 300 children and adults. By Bob Vosseller JACKSON – The hunt was on at two locations for prized filled eggs on Palm Sunday in the township. One was at the soccer field by the Justice Complex while the other was at a township church. At both of them, the children had a basket full of fun and lots of eggs. You can’t keep a good rabbit down and despite
lots of rain for its original date, the Easter Bunny made it near the soccer field at 1 Jackson Drive for the township’s annual Easter Egg hunt. The event that drew more than 300 attendees was coordinated by the Township’s Recreation Department who partnered with the township’s Commission for the Disabled/Handicapped who helped bring (Egg Hunt - See Page 13)
Council Hires Deputy Clerk, Looks At Bus Issues By Bob Vosseller JACKSON – Township officials hired a new Deputy Municipal Clerk during a recent meeting that also focused on issues like bus travel in town. Beth-Ellen Gencarelli, who used to work at the Manchester clerk’s office, was
hired through a resolution to be the new deputy clerk. Bus Safety Resolution 141-2025 regulates the pickup and discharge of children by school buses on certain roadways. Vice Council President Mordechai Burnstein said
“we are working with law enforcement to try to get ordinances that are actually enforceable that will hopefully bring the necessar y safety results.” Council President Jennifer Kuhn elaborated on that resolution saying, “this resolution has multiple streets on
there. We worked with Traffic Safety (Bureau of the township police department) We will have signage. This is not an ordinance. This is a resolution and a call for help from the residents for children getting off of buses to try to keep them safe.” Burnstein added the
resolution calls upon the various bus transportation vendors to meet yearly and have the bus routes for public and private school students reviewed by the police department. “All routes should be reviewed. Last year it was done very late and
(Council - See Page 4)
April 19, 2025
Mayor’s Salary Sliced In Half
By Bob Vosseller JACKSON – Council members moved to cut Mayor Michael Reina’s salary in half during their latest council meeting. The part-time mayor was picking up $65,000 a year but will now be earning $32,000 following a 3-1 vote. When Reina was re-elected three years ago, he ran with council candidates Jennifer Kuhn and Scott Sargent. The mayor was also aligned with Vice Council President Mordechai Burnstein. Things have since changed between the administration and the council. Giuseppe Palmeri joined the council in January backed by the Jackson GOP. Palmeri won the spot that was vacated by incumbent Steven Chisholm who decided not to run for re-election when he was not endorsed by the township’s Republican organization. Kuhn, Burnstein, and Palmeri voted for the mayoral pay cut. Councilman Nino Borrelli was the lone dissenting vote on this measure. Reina was not present at this session. The council itself got a salary increase last year. In a three to two vote back then, they raised their salaries from $8,668 to $32,000, a pay raise of around 370%. The council president pay was raised to $35,000 last year. However, through the same resolution that cut the mayor’s salary recently, the council president will now make $32,000 - the same as Reina. Council salaries will remain at $32,000. The council raise happened in February 2024. Borrelli and Chisholm voted against the salary increases while Kuhn, Sargent and Burnstein voted for their passage. In February of this year, Council President Kuhn called for a DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) type review of key departments such as the building department, Department of Public Works, Code Enforcement and police department stating her belief that modification of staffing appears to be required and there might be areas where financial cuts can be made. Kuhn is calling the council’s version of DOGE, Diligence of Jackson Efficiency (DOJE) which “represents our new focus on careful oversight and getting the most value for every tax dollar we spend. It is a reminder that we work for you the residents and that every decision should benefit this (Salary - See Page 5)
LOCAL NEWS, EVENTS & ADVERTISING SOLUTIONS