BRICK – In July, county engineer John N. Ernst contacted the township in response to complaints he had received from a number of township residents regarding speeding on Herbertsville Road, said Councilman Derrick T. Ambrosino during a recent Township Council Meeting.
The county engineering department conducted two speed surveys this year on a section of Herbertsville Road – the first one on January 17-23 in the vicinity of Sawmill Road, and a second on January 24-30 in the vicinity of Albemarle Road – where the speed limit is currently 45 mph, he said.
The surveys included vehicle speeds, a review of 85th percentile average speeds, and a review of the number of vehicles exceeding the speed limit by more than five miles per hour and 10 miles per hour.
“In addition, they utilized the Federal Highway Administration speed management safety methodology to determine a recommended speed limit based on various factors,” Ambrosino said.
The resulting collected data supports lowering the speed limit to 40 mph from Maple Avenue where Krauszer’s Food Store is located, to Lanes Mill Road, at the intersection where the Herbertsville Methodist Church is located.
An ordinance must be presented – first to the Brick Township Council, and then to the County governing body since Herbertsville Road is a County Road – before the County can install and maintain the required signage, Ambrosino said.
The introduced ordinance was unanimously passed by township council members. (Councilwoman Melissa Travers was absent).
In other news, the governing body also adopted an amended fire code ordinance, requested by the Joint Board of Fire Commissioners, that is consistent with a state statute that clarifies the age requirement for membership eligibility, said Councilman Vincent Minischino.
In a section of the ordinance called “Members and officers,” the age for members and officers changes from 18 years to 57 years, up from 50 years at the time of their appointment.
And finally, Councilwoman Marianna Pontoriero, noting that it is election season, addressed some of the political statements made by residents during public comment.
“We have a time and a place for political information – we are here at a government meeting to conduct government business,” she said. “I would absolutely love to have an opportunity for the residents of Brick to ask all of us questions and have a debate.”
She said for over 20 years, Lions Head adult community hosted such events, and when she twice ran for council, looked forward to hearing her adversary’s thoughts and opinions in response to questions from township residents.
“I am sorry to say, we are not getting that opportunity this year…we are not having a debate at Lion’s Head,” Pontoriero said. “I would love to have the opportunity…for whatever forum, to give our residents the right to have their questions answered.”
The next Council Meeting will be on Tuesday October 24 at 7 p.m.
Editor’s Note: The next edition of The Brick Times will have an election preview story that includes interviews with both mayoral candidates who answer a series of questions sent in an email by this newspaper.
