Brick Talks Drilling; Passes Ordinances

BRICK – The governing body passed a resolution to oppose offshore oil and gas drilling after the Jan. 8, 2018 announcement by the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management of a draft proposed program for the 2019-2024 Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program.

“This resolution confirms the township’s strong opposition to offshore oil and gas development in the high likelihood of a substantial environmental impact on our beautiful ocean,” said Mayor John G. Ducey.

“It represents a historic threat to the entire Atlantic Ocean, from Maine to Florida, including the waters off of New Jersey as close as three miles to ocean beaches…anything can happen,” he said. “We’re strongly opposing that New Jersey’s waters be used for this purpose at all.”

Additionally, the governing body passed four new ordinances on their final reading during the Jan. 30 council meeting.

The first ordinance is for the acceptance of a property donation on the recommendation of the township Land Use Committee. Block 224.14 Lot 14, located in the Mandalay Road area, was in the same family since the 1930s, and is wetlands, said Council President Heather deJong, and would qualify for CRS (Community Rating System which helps to reduce flood insurance premium rates) points.

The Brick Dragons D8 Small White Cheer Team won first place in a recent competition. (Photo by Judy Smestad-Nunn)

The second ordinance amends the construction fees for elevator inspections. The state changed the way municipalities inspect elevators. A new revision calls for the elimination of six-month, semi-annual inspections of elevators, leaving the annual inspection as well as the five-year load test, she said. Escalators would still have the six-month inspection requirement.

“The township must re-adjust the fee schedule by adding a re-inspection fee, eliminating the six-month fee and adjusting the five year load test fee,” she explained.

The third ordinance approved the recommendation of the township Land Use Committee to update the fees for fire safety reviews for the Board of Adjustment and Planning Board.

The fourth ordinance revised various traffic regulations to semi-public roads, streets, driveway and parking lots located throughout the township.

The ordinance listed some 15 properties that are now subject to traffic provisions, such as the Drum Point Sports Complex, The Brick Township Housing Authority, Brick Township Housing Authority, plus various shopping malls, stores and banks.

Programs For Seniors

Ducey said that he had received a 2017 Meals on Wheels report from the township Senior Outreach Services. The program, which provides hot meals to seniors, provided 33,268 meals to 280 Brick residents last year.

Council President Heather deJong said that Senior Outreach Services is offering free tax preparation for seniors at their headquarters at the Veterans of Foreign Wars on Adamston Road. Seniors must call for an appointment at 732-920-8686.

The Brick Memorial Mustangs D8 Small White Cheer Team. “Their season was capped off with winning and capturing second place in 2017 American Youth Cheer national Championship.” Ducey said. (Photo by Judy Smestad-Nunn)

Recycling Revenue

Councilman Jim Fozman reported that the amount of single stream recycling for 2017 was 8,681 tons, which saved the township some $625,363 in tipping fees at the Ocean County Landfill in Manchester.

The township saved money through metal recycling, with revenue going up from $57,000 in 2016 to $77,000 in 2017, he said.

Fozman said that on Saturday, May 12, household construction materials would be accepted from Brick residents at the recycling center on Ridge Road. Residents must supply their tax bill and driver’s license, and no commercial vehicles would be allowed.

Household construction materials include cabinets, plywood, sheetrock, tiles, wood trim, shingles, decking, outdoor sheds and more.

The Brick Dragons D12 Small White Cheer Team won third place during the National Championship in Orlando. (Photo by Judy Smestad-Nunn)