JACKSON – Township officials recently voted to eliminate a permit requirement for large trash receptacles on residential property, added a member to the township Municipal Utilities Authority and are seeking additional police parking spaces.
The measure to eliminate a ban on residential construction containers removes an ordinance enacted a few years ago which received some resident criticism.
This will serve residents who are performing home renovations and have to place a container on their property. While homeowners will still need to notify the township, there will be no requirements for permits. Residents who wish to place a container on the roadway, would be required to apply for a permit and pay a fee. The council unanimously voted to approve this ordinance.
Council members also voted to add an additional member to the Jackson Municipal Utilities Authority. Councilman Mordechai Burnstein told The Jackson Times that he was made aware that the MUA has only one alternate commissioner where other towns have two.
“By adding the second MUA alternate, the Township is ensuring that there is constancy and more oversight over this independent board. With the upcoming retirement of the current MUA director and new members joining the commission, we want to ensure a smooth transition,” he said.
Council Vice President Scott Sargent added that they were looking out for the best interest of the ratepayers and residents of Jackson and that he is looking forward to interviewing the various candidates for this position.
While Council President Jennifer Kuhn and Councilman Steven Chisholm also voted in support of adding the extra member to the MUA, Councilman Nino Borrelli voted against the ordinance during its introduction and again during its second reading. He commented, “no, we’ve always had four members. There is no reason or purpose for another member.”
The mayor and council are also studying the feasibility of expanding the parking lot for the police department at the Jackson Justice Complex.
Council members recently attended the monthly P.B.A. meeting where union members mentioned that due to the department’s steady increase of personnel the department has been using the adjacent county library and park parking lot for overflow.
Council members Kuhn and Burnstein contacted the Administration relating to the parking concerns. Kuhn, Sargent, DPW head Shawn Bolinsky, and Business Administrator Terence Wall met and went over the area to be used for the expansion.
The township will continue to study the police department lot adjacent to headquarters to see whether or not the department can store their vehicles in a more suitable and secure location. Kuhn said she learned “there is grant money available from the county for projects like this one.”
