LAKEHURST – Due to the COVID-19 limits on inside and outside gatherings, this year’s Christmas tree lighting ceremony had to be canceled but Mayor Harry Robbins pointed out that the tree was lit up brightly outside the community center for all to see.
An interior tree also brought out some holiday atmosphere inside the center during a recent borough council meeting. One item that might soon be on the council’s Christmas gift list is a drone.
A resident commended the town for putting up the lights in town and on the Community Center building and the tree beside it.
“There will be no tree lighting ceremony this year because of the pandemic. We couldn’t get the kids in here. The gathering would be limited. We do have the tree lit though,” the mayor added.
Council President Steven Oglesby said, “I was thinking about how inexpensive drones have become and I thought about all the uses the borough would have for one or two with the public works with water tower inspections. They could be used in searches for somebody. Code Enforcement could use it instead of going on the property.”
“The mayor has said he’s taken some classes and we’d have to have one or two people licensed for unmanned aircraft. I don’t know how anyone else feels about it but it has become inexpensive and the quality of the cameras have improved quite a bit,” he said.
Mayor Robbins said special permission would be needed but “I don’t think it wouldn’t be too difficult to get that permission. I think it is a great idea.”
“To operate a drone, you actually have to have a pilot’s license to pilot an unmanned aircraft. You have to have that. There are so many rules. You aren’t allowed to go over a crowd with them,” the mayor added.
On the subject of trees of a more mundane variety the council discussed trees that were near sidewalks. “I’m sure people see many around the town,” the mayor said. “Any specific places we should know about?”
Oglesby said there were some badly elevated sidewalks on Union Avenue.
Councilman Gary Lowe brought up the liability of the borough concerning cases of elevated sidewalks and if anyone should get hurt due to them.
“We should have Public Works go out there and identify them and address those sidewalks and trees,” the mayor said.
The governing body noted the resignations of two members of the Borough Police Department staff. They accepted the resignations of Police Clerk Sharon Van Berkel and Detective Robert Schroeck.
Oglesby said that regulations pertaining to parking at the lake will soon be presented before the council. “The attorney and the ordinance committee has been working on this issue and we pretty much have the final tweaks on it and we should have something on it for our next meeting.”
The mayor gave kudos to the public works department. “The other night a doctor had sanitary backup into his office and was very nervous that he wouldn’t be able to take care of his patients. Public Works went out there that night and got it to flow. They did a fantastic job and he wanted to thank them so kudos to them.”
The council will also be looking at a property near the Borough Hall that is in violation of code and which may be fined and needs to be condemned. Officials discussed their concerns about the condition of the structure.
Borough Attorney Ian M. Goldman said he had sent a letter to the owner and Mayor Robbins said “they are being cited.”
“They have not been fined yet,” Borough Clerk Mary Anne Capasso said.
Councilman Brian DiMeo said he’d like to see fines levied.
The mayor added that he’d like to see the building demolished as soon as possible. He said he’d be directing Code Enforcement to look at the property and also review an issue of trash in that area that was brought to his attention by a resident during the meeting.
