MANCHESTER – Mayor Robert Arace provided an update on an ongoing concern of residents and a land preservation plan during a recent township council meeting.
“For the past 18 months the township administrator and Tax Accessor Martin Lynch has been working very closely with the Ocean County Land Trust Fund. There is a piece of property on Route 571, 88 acres, with a court settlement agreement that would allow for 440 homes,” Mayor Arace reported.
“Over the course of those 18 months we have worked with the owner of that property as well as the land trust. Two weeks ago the Land Trust has voted to recommend for the acquisition and preservation of that property that would stop any development in that given parcel. That is really big news,” the mayor added.
Mayor Arace said, “this is on 571 across the street from where the several acre county park preservations is by a small creek.” Members of the Ocean County Board of Commissioners voted on the purchase during their July 17 meeting.
The mayor also noted on traffic safety specifically on the Beacon Street and Route 571intersection. He noted that in speaking to the County Business Administrator “they are expecting to have a temporary traffic signal there in the next 30 to 60 days.”
“They do plan on having a permanent traffic signal there as well. We have collected crash data of the many incidents that have occurred on 571 and 70,” he said. The report was given to the county with recommendations on what township officials think should happen in terms of the timing of that traffic signal.
Vice Council President James Vaccaro who chaired that meeting in the absence of Council President Roxy Conniff, repeated some requests he had made at prior meetings including “shop local and support our local businesses. Remember our mantra, Manchester Township, the gemstone of the Jersey Shore. We are the best place to reside in Ocean County. We are very affordable with our rural nature which we will maintain as such.”
He congratulated those township police officers who were promoted during a recently held ceremony. “The best of success in your rank and your career goals and future career enhancement. We run the best.”
Vaccaro also noted the success of this year’s Manchester Day festivities that he, Mayor Arace, Councilwoman Zolezi and Councilman Craig Wallis attended. “The event was very well attended. It was the largest Manchester Day event. I have ever experienced. It was well organized and greatly enlarged over past years.” He and other council members credited Recreation Director Tracey Lynch and her staff and township employees and volunteers that worked during Manchester Day, “a very rewarding event.”
He and the mayor attended a Tourism and Business Advisory Committee meeting hosted by Ocean County that involved Commissioner Frank Sadeghi. Vaccaro encouraged the governing body to “research and secure federal funding to provide a life saving kidney dialysis transportation program to provide reliable sources to transport seniors from the township to the medical care they need.” The program could be administered through the senior services department.
“I am also asking the support of the council and possibly the Economic Development Committee to market the township as the gemstone of the Jersey Shore,” Vaccaro added “To attract small businesses, franchises, family restaurants and a medical care center to move into Manchester Township to provide services for Manchester Township.”
The official also repeated the idea of creating a youth and senior community center to be established within the township “and the exploration of available grants since this requires discussions by the Council.”
Councilman Wallis noted a local karate school that always comes out for local events like Manchester and who provided a demonstration during this year’s Manchester Day. “They are always there when we need them to help us out.”
“Manchester Day was fabulous,” Councilwoman Zolezi commented. “It was great to see everyone out there and nice to see our police department, dispatchers out there meeting with the community, our EMS our public works department as well and a lot of non-profits. If you weren’t at Manchester Day, you should definitely be there next year because it was a wonderful event.”
“With this heat please be aware of your neighbors. This heat and humidity is really not well for our seniors who have breathing problems and that goes for young children as well. We should always look out for our neighbors and there has also been a bit of an uptick on traffic accidents so let’s be mindful and responsible on the roadway,” she added.
