JACKSON – Council reports focused on a variety of subjects during the first council meeting of the month.
Council President Jennifer Kuhn opened her remarks with some traffic safety reports beginning with Heathwood Avenue. “The studies were done from November 1 to November 12. Speed is limited at 25 miles per hour. The average was 35 mph, maximum was 55 mph. Total cars in a week was 3,185. The speed is not bad considering others we have heard.”
She noted that on Birch Drive, which is a 25 mph road, the average speed recorded was 33 mph. Cars per week is 5,844. “West Connecticut Concourse (studies of which were done last month) 25 mph, average is 33 mph with the number of cars being 10,063 going down this street in a week and 718 a day.”
“I can tell you the average being 33 (mph) the speed limits are coming down for the most part. We have a lot of traffic. These reports go to our engineers after I read them to you and then they go to the next level,” Kuhn said.
Council Vice President Scott Sargent congratulated “all the candidates in United States government who ran right down to the municipal level and ran for office. You are responsible for your signs so please pick them up.”
Councilman Nino Borrelli noted his visit to the “beautiful Veterans Memorial Garden” for the annual Veterans Day ceremony held there. “Thank you to all our military veterans who served or are currently serving our great country and Jackson one of the most patriotic towns around.”
The councilman added, “I’m ecstatic about being re-elected and serving our great town for another four years and working for all our residents. Please keep our nation’s leaders in your thoughts and prayers.”
Councilman Mordechai Burnstein also thanked those who supported his election. “I look forward to working for all of you. I look forward to voting on the rental control ordinance that Councilman Borrelli introduced at our last meeting.”
The councilman noted a county road project on South Prospect Road that has generated a lot of construction noise “is not done. The way the County explained it to me was that it takes 10 days after the initial striping for the pavement to be prepared for the final coding for the arrows and the signs. I look forward to seeing that addition to our roadway over there.”
Councilman Steven Chisholm said he had just gotten back from Baltimore “and a wonderful view of the harbor so it is actually fitting that I can quote Francis Scott Key “praise the power that has made us a nation. I would like to congratulate my fellow councilmen who won their election and Mr. (Giuseppe) Palmeri and the other candidates who put up a heck of a fight considering it was an uphill battle for them.”
“For those who think your vote doesn’t count, it was close. Don’t think your vote doesn’t count. It absolutely does and it matters. Make your decisions and avail yourself of your constitutional responsibilities,” Chisholm added.
He thanked former Councilman Ken Bressi on once again coordinating this year’s Veterans Day services. “It was very moving as usual and of course thank you to all those of every branch who served and helped to keep this nation free.”
Fire Response
“I am grateful for the New Jersey Forest Fire Service our local fighters including the Cassville Fire Company and the Jackson PTD for keeping the South Stump Tavern Road area residents safe from harm,” Borrelli said in reference to the recent Shotgun Wildfire that occurred. The fire was traced to a weapons discharge by a Brick resident at a Jackson firing range. That resident is now facing charges of arson.
“A big shout out to our fire departments both locally and from surrounding towns that came out to help. You guys did a phenomenal job and we very much appreciate it,” Burnstein said.
Chisholm also thanked the township’s first responders and surrounding town support who came out in response to the wildfire in the township last week. “That is my neighborhood so on behalf of my family and neighbors who are over there they preserved not only life but property as much as they could, the structures. Our heartfelt thanks go out to them for their hard work and dedication.”
Kuhn also noted there was a spot on the township website to apply for a carbon and smoke detector inspection. Also, if a resident is unaware of what fire district they are in, they can find out that information through a link when you put in your address.
She reminded residents going through this process, “you will no longer be going to the building department or code enforcement. You will be contacting your fire district if you are looking to sell your home for a fire certificate.”
