LAKEHURST – The idea of having a regular food truck at Horicon Lake during the summer season was brought up during the latest Borough Council meeting where the governing body also introduced an ordinance to buy a new garbage truck.
Councilman Brian DiMeo noted that “we should take advantage of the influx of people we get at the lake.”
Council President Steven Oglesby – who chaired the meeting in the absence of Mayor Harry Robbins, who was excused due to illness – noted that the township ordinance governing mobile vendors within the community might have to be changed to accommodate a regular vendor.
Currently food trucks have to move from the area after a period of time, according to Oglesby.
The Council introduced a bond ordinance providing for the acquisition of public works department equipment, appropriating $700,000 and authorizing the issuance of $665,000 in bonds and notes to finance a portion of the costs by the borough. This is for a new garbage truck.
Councilwoman Bernadette Dugan who chairs the Finance Committee reported that she met with the borough’s chief financial officer and there were planned meetings to commence with the borough’s various department heads would be held “in regard to the 2025 municipal budget.”
Councilman Jeffrey Emmons brought up a concern from residents living on Proving Ground Road wanting to see a yellow line added to that street. “I’m pretty sure it is a borough road.”
Council President Oglesby concurred that the road was owned by Lakehurst and not a county road. “We do need to make sure before we do anything.”
He added that dog licenses were coming due at the end of the month and that residents could come in to the Borough Hall for information. He also issue issued a reminder “that winter is here and so is the snow. It’s snowing tonight and everyone needs to keep their sidewalks clear for access within 24 hours of a storm.”
“It is legal to park on your front lawn during a storm. Cars must be removed from the street,” the council president added. “Keep in mind that the same people clearing off the roads are the employees who pick up garbage so if a storm occurs the night before a pickup day, recycle or trash pickup may be delayed.”
The council president noted that the borough does not have a business administrator and “we have no plans to add one at this time so I urge you all to have regular monthly meetings with our department heads to discuss what their plans are for the next month and to review what they accomplished during the month.”
He also noted that there was a vacancy that the governing body was seeking to fill in the form of a code enforcement officer. William VanBerkel resigned effective December 31,2024. “He retired after many years. We definitely need someone as there are people who will need CO (certificates of occupancy) issued,” Oglesby said.
Council members also voted on resolutions to pay the bills, approve Police Chief Matthew Kline’s contract and 2025 salaries for non-contractual employees. They approved a stipend in connection with a shared service agreement and a stipend with the Plumsted Municipal Utilities Authority for Wayne Sibilia, Renee Jones, Kori Brennan and Pamela Heinzman.
Daniel Mitchell was approved for Lakehurst Fire Department membership and the borough accepted the State Department of Community Affair’s fourth round affordable housing present need and prospective need numbers.
The governing body is also pursuing a grant opportunity that would help beautify the downtown business district on Union Avenue. Council President Oglesby said he’d like to see more trees planted this year.
A resident noted that the mayor and council should consider extending what is considered the downtown business district to include a longer length of Union Avenue that would include a funeral home and other businesses further down that road toward Horicon Lake. “That’s a good idea,” Oglesby commented.
It was also noted that a mutual aid drill is set to occur on February 16 involving the community’s first responders.
