JACKSON – Seven council candidates will be on the November 5 ballot seeking three, four-year seats on the Township Council.
Voters have concerns about overdevelopment, traffic safety, transparency and the future of Rova Farms Park. Other issues include the updating of the township’s master plan and the zoning ordinances that codify them. The Jackson Times asked the candidates about these topics.
Proven Leadership
The Jackson GOP candidates supported by Republican Mayor Michael Reina are running with the slogan of “Proven Leadership.” They include incumbents Councilmen Nino Borrelli and Mordechai Burnstein. They are joined by Giuseppe Palmieri, the current Jackson Board of Education president.
Borrelli said, “Public service is a noble calling to me. My desire in wanting to continue to serve as a Councilman is to continue to give back to the town we call home. Local government is the closest to the people, the most grassroots, and where you see the most can get accomplished. I’ve seen and been a part of that on the Council.”
“Having served on Council and volunteered with numerous local organizations, I am confident that I can continue to make a positive impact on behalf of our residents and am prepared to address the issues we face on Day One,” he added.
Borrelli said his experience “has given me a unique understanding of those issues. This is particularly true when it comes to land use, which is an integral part of being a Council member especially in a town as big as ours and in enforcing our zoning ordinances and Master Plan as best as possible in order to protect our town from overdevelopment, keeping Jackson a suburban community.”
He said he and his running mates would “continue supporting and voting for fiscally responsible budgets and cutting the municipal tax rate like we did again this year. We’ll continue to maintain our town’s excellent AA+ credit rating and the healthy budget surpluses.”
“We’ll continue to support and vote to give our Police Department the resources they need to keep our town safe and secure. As a result, Jackson has been named one of the safest communities in our state,” he said.
Borrelli added, “we’ll enhance direct communication with our town’s active adult communities, mobile home park communities, and veterans’ groups and continue to support and vote for upgrades and improvements to our many parks and active Township Senior Center.”
“We voted for a professional grant writer to search for and obtain grant funding for the Township to utilize which will also continue to help save tax dollars and lessen the burden on the municipal budget,” he added.
Borrelli said that he has worked for 20 years as a Human Resources representative at the state of New Jersey. “I’m an Ocean County native who has lived in Jackson for nearly eight years, in one of our town’s great active adult communities Four Seasons at Metedeconk Lakes.
Concerning development in the township, the candidate said, “We’ve listened to residents’ concerns regarding these issues and work every day to address them. On overdevelopment, we’ve continually searched for, recommended, advocated, and voted for the purchase of hundreds upon hundreds of acres of available and valuable land that will be protected from future development.”
“This year, we reached 3,000 acres of open space inventory the Township has acquired. I was a part of a Council that wrote the ordinance for the creation of an Open Space Committee to also pursue additional land preservation,” Borrelli added.
“We’ll continue working with our Township’s traffic safety unit and with the county – which this Council has a great relationship with – to improve road traffic conditions in our growing town. We’ll continue to keep on schedule in repaving hundreds of miles of roads in town. Code enforcement efforts have been expanded under our leadership. Funding in the budget has been increased for it over the last few years to ensure legal compliance and building is conforming to the area,” the candidate said.
Borrelli said, “Since the purchase of the Rova Farms property, Jackson Township has been looking at how best this land can be utilized as a recreational facility for the residents of the township. A citizens committee was formed with the idea that it would review the natural attributes of this property and preserve some of the community’s rich history there.”
Borrelli also noted that “Rova Park is moving forward for residents and visitors alike. I’m excited for its completion. I’m appreciative of the time and efforts the volunteer Rova Committee has put into this project and look forward to continuing working with them on the Council on our vision for the park.”
“There are traffic issues in the area and state DEP restrictions on the property that have to be addressed before any amenities or structure can be considered or built,” Borrelli said in reference to Rova Park.
“Transparency has certainly improved on the Council. Council meeting agendas are on the Township website the Fridays before the Tuesday meetings for public viewing. Regarding the Citizen’s Leadership application, I helped rewrite it on the Council. It’s a more open and transparent process and helps to thoroughly vet a resident who’s applied to serve on one of our Township boards or commissions,” Borrelli said.
Borrelli explained that each application received is forwarded “by our Township Clerk to the Council for us to review. Under our tenure on the Council, our Township website has been updated like never before and will continually be including with information for residents to readily access.”
“We’ll enhance direct communication with our town’s active adult communities, mobile home park communities, and veterans’ groups,” he added.
“We’ve also streamlined the process for residents to apply online for certain Township items or services instead of having to come into a municipal office to accomplish that. Our goal on the Council will continue to be to protect Jackson’s unique environment and abundant resources,” Borrelli said.
“My wife and I chose Jackson nearly 10 years ago as the best place to build our family and raise our kids,” said Burnstein, who is president of the Jackson GOP. He added that he was “running for Council to make sure that the Jackson we all love is around for my kids to grow up in and future generations to enjoy.”
Burnstein said “We are thrilled to be raising our kids here. Professionally, I am the Dean of a school. It is no secret that Jackson is growing. People want to live here and bring their families here. Our job as local leaders are to make sure that we allow for that growth responsibly and in a way that preserves the fundamental character of our town.”
“That means fighting overdevelopment by preserving open space, working with the county to improve our roadways and alleviate traffic, enhancing code enforcement and supporting our police so that they have the resources necessary to keep our communities safe. We can’t just dig our heads in the sand or stomp our feet,” Burnstein said.
Concerning the use of the Rova Farms property, Burnstein said, “The Rova farms project is a top priority for this team. We want to preserve its land and its legacy. These plans currently include a museum, an all-season platform for events, a restroom facility and more. The unfortunate reality is that these things do take time. We have to work within the confines of what is allowed there.”
Burnstein said, “I am proud to have supported and spearheaded a number of efforts in my short time on Council aimed at improving transparency. The fact is, we work for the residents and the taxpayers.”
“Our agenda is publicly available the week before our meeting. We moved our deadlines up so that everyone can see the agenda earlier. We record and post our meetings on YouTube for all residents to view and we’ve expanded our citizen boards to bring in new voices. I’d love to see all our commissions and new ones be active,” Burnstein said.
Palmeri said, “I’m passionate about making a difference in our community and ensuring that Jackson Township continues to thrive. Running for council is an honor and I look forward to representing the voices of our residents and collaborating with others to shape a brighter future for our town.”
“I’ve been in retail market management for many years and have been fortunate to call Jackson Township home for 15 years. I’ve seen the community grow and evolve. The concerns of our residents are very important, and I believe the primary focus should be on smart, sustainable growth which improves, rather than complicates, our quality of life,” Palmeri added.
The candidate noted, “improving infrastructure to alleviate traffic and ensuring that we have strong, fair code enforcement are key steps we can take. Open communication with residents and thoughtful planning will go a long way in addressing these concerns.”
“The Rova Farms property is such a unique asset for our community, and I believe it should be maintained with a focus on both recreation and preservation. Balancing recreational features like trails, picnic areas, and perhaps a cultural center with environmentally friendly and cost-effective planning would make it a treasured space for generations to come,” he added.
Palmeri added, “transparency is incredibly important in fostering trust within the community, and I’m happy to see that progress has been made. There’s always room for improvement, and I would strongly support efforts to revitalize commissions like the historical and environmental commissions. I served with distinction, transparency, and a never-give-up mentality for three years on the Jackson Board of Education.”
The Voice You Deserve
Elenor M. Hannum, her husband Eric B. Hannum and Amanda Trombetta are running as independent Republicans under the motto of “The Voice You Deserve.”
Elenor Hannum is the leader of CUPON whose website describes the citizens group as “aiming to control inappropriate development and uphold the beauty and character of our neighborhoods. We aim to combat any safety violations that endanger families and first-responders and threaten the environment.”
She has been a strong critic of Mayor Reina and has directed many pointed questions toward the council over the years. “As a lifelong resident, I see my beautiful town and quality of life deteriorating at the hands of an administration who has an agenda.”
“The Environmental Commission is nonexistent and the Historical Commission went defunct a decade ago. Driving through Jackson the issues are obvious: Code, illegal housing, Zoning, traffic, garbage and major safety issues. After seeing the Republican Club backed 2022 candidates’ donor list and their big contributions, then the heavy hitters from out of town, contributing to the 2024 campaign, it’s obvious Jackson is up for sale,” she added.
Elenor Hannum said, “developers, land investors, property management, architectural firm owners, and others who can cash in. I thought I could fight this from the other side, but I was wrong, especially when we have a majority council who consistently violates residents’ 1st Amendment during public comment, then pacifies residents and does nothing. Zoning must be immediately addressed, and the fast tracking of the Master Plan halted.”
She is a history teacher to students with learning disabilities. “I have a masters in European History with a specialty in European Imperialism in South Africa. Which is why I know what I am talking about when I say Modern Day Imperialism. Growing up in the Edgewood section until moving to our lakefront home in Cassville in 1975. The home was built by my father and friends, with us kids as laborers.”
Elenor Hannum was on the original Rova Farms sub-committee, and part of the team to design the park. She said, “In January, I was removed by Mordechai Burnstein and Council President Jennifer Kuhn who took over the committee, and stripped our two-year project. Every piece of the original design was born from the history of the Rova Farms community.”
“Subsequent to my removal, Kuhn and Burnstein told the residents that the original design could not be done due to New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection requirements. I attended the September meeting, where the new engineering firm (Morgan Engineering owned by Ocean County Commissioner Frank Sadeghi) admitted that our original design could be complete, with minor changes (note: the NJDEP has no wetlands delineation reports).”
She added, “when we started this, monies were allocated to the project, and now those funds seem to be gone. Rova is a jewel that all of Jackson can enjoy. The adult communities have been asking for the arts for a long time. Our amphitheater and community center would satisfy everyone. With excuse after excuse, look to the mayor for the holdup of the project. He has refused to release money for the park to move forward.”
Amanda Trombetta is the mother of two children and said she has watched “decisions made by the current council impact the quality of life for families. I feel the majority of Jackson residents’ voices are not being heard, or their concerns addressed.”
“I felt compelled to do something about it, and that something, is to run for council. I moved to Jackson in 2013 and own two homes. I am a government representative in a law enforcement agency. I also hold an active social worker license (LSW) however, I have not practiced in the last five years.”
Eric Hannum said that “for the past several years, I have watched this beautiful town’s quality of life deteriorate, while watching an administration and council do little to fix the issues. A developer-friendly agenda with clearcutting, massive housing applications approved, warehouses, and traffic safety, and an infrastructure that has gone untouched and cannot sustain such rapid development.”
“I am an attorney in Monmouth County and the owner of the Law Firm of Eric B. Hannum in Manasquan. I have lived in Jackson for approximately 20 years,” he added.
The slate collectively responded to questions concerning township resident concerns. “The major issue in Jackson today is enforcement. Enforcement of our codes and zoning ordinances are violated constantly. The penalties need to be greater for those who violate our laws.”
“That administration needs to be held accountable and we will work to ensure the integrity of the code and zoning officials while strengthening our laws so our employees can do their job and preserve the safety for all residents. Traffic safety has increased again because of zoning without an infrastructure to sustain it,” the slate added.
It was noted that in August, “Jackson had 146 car accidents with several fatalities. In residential neighborhoods, children are at risk with the higher volume and speed of cars flying through, again deteriorating the quality of their childhood. This can also be linked to zoning and higher intensity use of residential homes.”
“The current administration feels that if they say they are transparent, we should all believe them. This administration is the least transparent, twisting the law to hide information that is public,” the candidate slate responded.
The candidates said, “most appointments to committees and commissions are born from nepotism or cronyism. This past year, the Council removed some of the most experienced professionals from the Zoning Board, and Rova committee.” T
“Intelligence seems to be a threat. As far as the Environmental and Historical commissions? They have been intentionally defunct to benefit the developers. Reinstituting those vital commissions will be at the forefront of our mission to protect our natural resources and historical value for generations,” the candidates added.
Jackson Needs Hope
Running independently is Hope Drew under the banner of “Conservative Common Sense. Jackson Needs Hope.”
“As a lifelong resident of Jackson, it pains me to see the decline of quality of life in our neighborhoods due to unconstitutional zoning laws. It’s disheartening to see a town I love being pressured into approving every application. I felt it was time to step up and fight for real changes – changes that lifelong Jackson residents deserve. I want to be a voice for the people, advocating for regulations that will allow us all to live in peace and harmony,” she said.
Drew said, “I have been blessed to have been a stay-home mom for close to 20 years, raising my four children. Being a homemaker is a privilege that I have never taken for granted. Being home throughout those many years I became very active in the town. For over 10 years, I attended council, zoning, and planning board meetings, holding our elected officials accountable for upholding their oath to protect our quality of life and enforcing laws equally.”
She added that upon hearing from School Superintendent Nicole Pormilli that there was a a need for substitute teachers she “jumped at the opportunity and am now a permanent building substitute teacher at Christa McAuliffe Middle School, and I truly love it.”
The candidate noted that her primary concern in Jackson was quality of life issues. “Everything that is occurring is a ripple effect from the lack of enforcement in all areas throughout our town. Enforcement falls under the administration control, which is our mayor and our business administrator. What’s occurring here in Jackson is unprecedented in New Jersey.”
“Illegally used residential homes and over-reached discriminatory zoning laws that now permit mixed-use zones are the primary causes of increased traffic in areas where it doesn’t belong. This is wreaking havoc on both our county roads and interior roads, creating congestion in places where it should never exist,” she added.
Drew added, “Out of fear of lawsuits, our building and zoning departments have been approving homes that no longer fit the character or aesthetic of our neighborhoods, along with massive developments that are causing unnecessary traffic and safety issues that are putting our infrastructure and residents at risk. “Laws need to be written, ordinances need to have standards created, giving the tools to our zoning officers and our code enforcement in order for them to do their jobs to protect the quality life of our residents. We need lawyers that will support all of our agencies so our laws can be enforced to the fullest extent of the law,” she said.
Drew said, “the previous council cared more about preserving land than the current council, recognizing the history and importance to the residents. The prior council created a resident advisory committee for Rova Farms with the express purpose of getting residents’ input on the future of this important property.”
She also said the prior council had “drafted plans by an engineering firm with over 20 years of experience, which included designs for beautiful parks. These plans were presented to the Jackson community during what was known as Rova Park Day in 2023. Since then, under the current council – including members running for reelection this year – those plans and the community’s input have been completely disregarded.”
“In typical pay-to-play fashion, the mayor replaced the original engineer with a firm (Morgan Engineering) owned by the newly elected Ocean County Commissioner. This park should have been finished at least two years ago. The original plans include creating the town’s first amphitheater, a fishing dock, a covered picnic area, walking paths, and other family-friendly amenities. Unfortunately, the land continues to sit dormant, but I’m committed to bringing those plans to life,” she added.
“I feel there is a real lack of transparency when it comes to boards and committees. Jeanine Avery dedicated five years of her life volunteering on our zoning board, only to be removed without so much as a thank you or any recognition for her service. Another lifelong resident, Peter Vicinio, has applied multiple times over the years to serve on our boards, but has consistently been denied. Even when he asked for an explanation, no clear or valid reason was ever given. None of our residents should be treated this way,” Drew said.
Drew added that there should be “clear procedures in place to establish a well-defined application process, ensuring fair decisions are made. This should not be about political favoritism or paybacks. Although there are many boards, the environmental and historical commissions are among the most important, particularly with the overdevelopment challenges Jackson is currently experiencing. Ensuring these commissions are fully functional is essential to protecting the future of our community.”
