MANCHESTER – Several public safety issues such as car crashes, dog attacks, and fires were brought up by residents during a recent Township Council meeting.
Gail Apgar of Columbus Boulevard said “I want to talk about people driving into new buildings all the time. I know the Planning Board was requesting bollards. Jersey Mike’s, which is a new building, they have them but the older buildings, maybe we can come up with something.”
Councilwoman Michele Zolezi, who chaired the Planning Board for several years prior to becoming a member of the council said, “when certain properties do come before the Planning Board for any changes…we can certainly ask for the bollards.”
Planning Board Chairman William Barron questioned Councilman Joseph Hankins who spoke about legislation requiring sprinkler installation in town buildings and when that goes into effect.
Hankins replied “I was told there would be some discussion between the Builders Association and the governor’s office. It was signed into law by him (Governor Phil Murphy) so it will probably be some fine tuning.”
Kevin McGuire of Drake Street shared the saga of his dog Lucy who was attacked by another dog. His retriever was injured by the same dog that had attacked him once before and left McGuire with a broken finger. “That dog is a killer.”
The mayor and council were sympathetic to his situation but noted there was nothing they could do in this matter. Township Attorney Lauren Staiger and Council President Roxy Conniff also explained to him that he should seek advice from his attorney.
Jennifer Emer of Riverside Avenue asked about religious use of homes within her area.
“There is an ordinance on the books for a designated house of worship of three acres or greater, to have any official designation in a residential area. The issue we run into is religious freedom. So, if they are potentially using that home to act out their faith is where federal religious law comes in, however there are no tax exemptions in that residential area as nothing qualifies,” Mayor Arace responded.
The Congressman And Israel
Congressman Chris Smith who resides on Molly Pitcher Boulevard, remarked, “my office works very closely with the mayor and the council with so many projects such as the arrangement with Lakehurst to bring in additional water. $2.2 million is within the budget and will be approved and $1.1 million for the Manchester police department.”
McGuire returned to the podium to make a statement about a matter that extended beyond the borders of Manchester but that he felt compelled to express noting the congressman’s presence.
“I’m a citizen of this town and the United States of America and there is a U.S. Congressman here, I am not happy at all about what is going on in Gaza right now with our tax dollars and in our name, genocide and ethnic cleansing, I am outraged by it,” resident Kevin McGuire commented toward the close of the meeting.
Responses from the audience were heard ranging from “this is not the place for this” to “shut up.”
“This is the place,” he replied. “It is municipal government. It is part of the U.S. government so I think I have the right to make that statement here. Maybe I don’t represent anyone in this room but I certainly do speak for others in this township. I am outraged by the genocide by Israel against Gaza. No, I am not going to shut up,” the resident added.
Council President Conniff used the gavel to stop the brief dissension during the session. The meeting ended soon afterwards.
The congressman did not respond to the resident in public. Smith is co-chair of the Congressional Israel Allies Caucus. Last year he spoke out against a movement in the United Nations to investigate alleged Israeli human rights abuses.
