LAKEHURST – Replacing trees and old street lights were issues brought up by the Borough Council recently.
Council President Steven Oglesby asked for an update concerning the more than 100 trees that need to be removed from around the borough’s sidewalks. There are trees in the borough that are lifting sidewalks causing a possible tripping hazard.
A number of trees were previously removed from the borough’s downtown area because they either damage sidewalks or cause visibility issues. Other trees were also dying and needed to be replaced. There has been no decision on what trees will replace them.
Mayor Harry Robbins said “there are about 132 trees that should be cut.”
It was recommended that a few each month should be cut to get the process rolling. “It is definitely in the works and we’re going to take care of it,” the mayor said adding that there had been ideas discussed with the Department of Public Works concerning the project and how best to go about approaching it.
Council President Oglesby also noted about another update, this one concerning Jersey Central Power and Light (JCP&L) and the transition from the old street lights and the more modern LED lighting. “It has been a while since we heard from them.”
“I’ll reach out to them,” the mayor said.
“I do a fair amount of walking around the town and it seems that dog owners are not cleaning up. I don’t know if the dogs are running lose or if they are on a leash but maybe we could get the police to keep an extra eye out because there is a lot out there and there shouldn’t be any,” Oglesby added.
The Public Works Department got several kudos from members of the council on their work to clean up the town last month during snow storms. “They did a good job during the storms. I didn’t hear any reports of any icy intersections,” Councilman James Davis said.
In a discussion with Councilwoman Patricia Hodges who heads the council’s committee on ordinances and policy, Robbins said that some of the ordinances that need to be codified require approval before they can be placed on the borough’s website.
Borough Clerk Maryanne Capasso said later in the week that she had recently heard from the firm, “so we are moving ahead to review and put online.”
A resolution was also approved appointing Tyler Sypniewski as a part-time police officer to the Borough’s police department.
Councilman Gary Lowe reported that the fire pit at the borough’s lake had been filled in. At a prior council meeting its condition was reported as unsightly and that the funds to restore it would be better used for other lake-based projects. The firepit was hardly ever used by residents who use the lake facility. “It looks good.”
“We are also having an issue with a backhoe. We can’t live without a backhoe,” Lowe said noting that one idea was to replace the backhoe’s engine.
Councilman Lowe added, “everything else on it is in pretty sharp shape but for a new one you are looking at $180-190,000. For a new engine you are looking at $16,000.”
Mayor Robbins and members of Council previously voiced safety concerns regarding a dilapidated building on 6 Union Avenue. The building’s structural integrity and the safety and wellbeing of residents have led to contact with the owner as to its demolition.
“The owner has reached out to a demolition company for a quote and to the Pinelands Commission for approval to demolish the building, no word on a date yet,” Capasso said.
