Monday, May 13, 2013
Senate bill 2601 would also allow the county to exercise the power of eminent domain in order to erect dunes to protect lands, property and facilities near the beaches
The Ocean County Board of Freeholders are opposing a proposed state Senate bill that would permit counties to take over the operation of municipal beaches within its jurisdiction. Board members unanimously approved a resolution stating that Ocean County would be “actively impacted” by this legislation at the May 1 board meeting. “If Ocean County were to take over and maintain the 44 miles of just oceanfront beaches in Ocean County, it would not only be cost prohibitive but would also require taxpayers who don’t use the beaches to pay for them,” Freeholder Joseph H. Vicari said. The bill (S2601, A3891), sponsored by Sen. Bob Smith and Assemblywoman L. Grace Spencer, would authorize any county of the fifth or six class — Atlantic, Monmouth, …
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Board of Freeholders unanimously introduce 2013 budget; public hearing on May 1
Ocean County's equalized tax base dropped $10 billion after Superstorm Sandy slammed into the Jersey Shore last Oct. 29. The county's tax base fell from $100.2 billion in 2012 to $90.2 billion in 2013, largely as a result of the massive storm that devastated the barrier island and some mainland sections, Freeholder John C. Bartlett Jr. said. The county tax rate will jump 3.7 cents for each $100 of equalized valuation. But using some of the 2013 county open space tax funds will pare the increase to 3.2 cents, he said. "The tax rate and base work hand in hand," Bartlett said. "We are not going to raise any more in overall tax." Bartlett made the remarks before the freeholders unanimously approved the introduction of the $386,188,713 budget, …
Monday, April 1, 2013
Double Trouble hike, 1st Annual Strike Out Autism Baseball Challenge and more
MONDAY -Yarn Dolls, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Berkeley branch of the Ocean County Library, 30 Station Road, Bayville. Knit or crochet, bring your unfinished projects. No registration required. MONDAY - There's still time to register for the 10 a.m. Millrace Hike on Saturday at Double Trouble State Park. The 2 to 3-mile hike follows the tea-colored waters of the reservoir on Cedar Creek, a century-old sawmill and leads to three cranberry bogs. Please call park office at 732-341-4098 to register. Hike is limited to 20 participants. TUESDAY - Bluebird Trail, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Come and help a park naturalist maintain the trail at Jakes Branch County Park for the spring nesting season, Double Trouble Road, Beachwood. Meet at the Nature Center. The …
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
County will use open space funds to help make up the difference, Freeholder John C. Bartlett Jr. says
Freeholder John C. Bartlett Jr. has been compiling public budgets for 40 years. And 2013 is shaping up be the worst year of all, he said. "It is the most difficult budget I have ever worked on," Bartlett said a caucus meeting of the Ocean County Board of Freeholders today. "We have experienced unprecedented damage from Superstorm Sandy." The county fronted the money for storm cleanup for municipalities who signed on for shared services through a $100 million emergency appropriation last November. That money must be made up in increments of 20 percent over the next five years, Bartlett said. But most of the emergency appropriation funds will be recovered eventually from FEMA and the participating municipalities, he said. As it stands now, …
Monday, March 25, 2013
Meetings, jazz and more
MONDAY - Berkeley Adult Writers' Group, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Berkeley branch of the Ocean County Library, 30 Station Road, Bayville. Novice and experienced writers are welcome, no registration required. MONDAY - All month - Famous Women's Scavenger Hunt, anytime, all month, Berkeley branch of the Ocean County Library, 30 Station Road, Bayville. Find the pictures of famous women, match their names with their accomplishments and win a small prize. Open to all ages. MONDAY - Berkeley Township Council, 7 p.m., Town Hall, 627 Pinewald-Keswick Road, Bayville. Caucus meeting starts at 7, followed immediately by the regular council meeting. Hint: most of the discussion takes place at the caucus. TUESDAY -County Connections Mobile Service Center…
Thursday, February 28, 2013
County is fronting the money, will be reimbursed by FEMA, Freeholder John C. Bartlett Jr. says
The Ocean County Board of Freeholders are slated to approve a $45 million emergency appropriation at the March 6 board meeting to help front the costs for Superstorm Sandy debris removal in municipalities. "So far, so good," Bartlett said at the pre-board meeting on Tuesday. "We can indirectly borrow from certain county accounts. We will be able to complete the entire thing by self-financing upfront." The county will eventually be reimbursed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the participating municipalities, Bartlett said. "We will get it all back," Bartlett said. "The money will be coming back. It's good news we can afford to do it. It's bad news we had to do it. It's a way to protect our financial interests to do it …
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Freeholder wrote letter to President Obama asking that Ocean County senior programs be excluded from possible cuts
Ocean County will continue nutrition programs for the elderly, even if the proposed sequestration cuts go through on Friday, Freeholder Joseph H. Vicari said today. Without the nutrition program, elderly and disabled people who are unable to cook for themselves will "wind up in the E.R.," Vicari said at a Ocean County Board of Freeholders caucus meeting today. "We will do something to maintain services," he said. "We will continue the program. You don't cut programs as important as the senior programs." Vicari wrote to President Obama on Feb. 25, asking his help to prevent "severe cuts" in the nutrition program. "We would need to cut 26,000 meals in Ocean County, when we already have a wait list of almost 200 people for home-delivered …
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Freeholder Joseph H. Vicari doesn't want to lose valuable tourism dollars to competing states
"Virginia is for lovers." "The Outer Banks of North Carolina is an endless source of inspiration. Visit Outerbanks.org." These are not the kind of commercials Freeholder Joseph H. Vicari wants to see flashing across television screens in Ocean County and along the East Coast, not if he can help it. Vicari - who serves as liaison to the county's tourism bureau - is looking for the state to provide $3 million to produce commercials touting the Jersey Shore. And he wants it soon. Very soon. "We lose it this season, they are not going to come back to Ocean County," Vicari said at an Ocean County Board of Freeholders meeting this afternoon." The state needs to shore up its $4 billion tourism industry and let visitors know the Jersey Shore will …
Monday, February 18, 2013
United Water rate increase public hearing on tap
MONDAY - Berkeley Township schools closed for President's Day. Central Regional schools are open. TUESDAY - Learn how to make cake balls, 7 p.m., Berkeley branch of the Ocean County Library, 30 Station Road, Bayville. Please register at www.theoceancountylibrary.org or call 732-269-2144. For ages 13 to 18. WEDNESDAY - Ocean County Board of Freeholders, regular board meeting, 4 p.m., Room 119, Ocean County Administration Building, 101 Hooper Avenue, Toms River. THURSDAY - Public hearing on United Water's request for a proposed rate increase, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Town Hall, 627 Pinewald-Keswick Road, Bayville. THURSDAY - Bingo night, sponsored by the Holiday City at Berkeley Bingo Club, Clubhouse #2, Port Royal Drive. Doors open at 5 p.m., …
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Homeowners and business owners in limbo until the federal agency releases final numbers, officials say
Ocean County residents and business owners cannot wait months for FEMA to release amendments to the agency's controversial advisory base flood elevation maps, Freeholder Director John P. Kelly said. Kelly, county and municipal officials went to Trenton on Wednesday to meet with state and FEMA representatives to try and get some answers. Other than assurances there would be amendments to the maps, they got few answers, only that possible amendments would be released in "...June, July, August..." Ocean County Administrator Carl W. Block said at a board caucus meeting today. "In the meantime, real estate will die," Freeholder John C. Bartlett Jr. said. The high cost of elevating homes or facing skyrocketing flood insurance costs will leave …
foggyworld
6:32 pm on Monday, May 13, 2013
Just seems to not be the time to make a major change. The chaos of late last October is still with us and no particular level of government springs to my mind as showing the wisdom needed to arrange the deck chairs on this Titanic. Let's get down to what is still open business and then obviously based on the debacle called Sandy, structural changes in government must be looked at. Right now watch… more ›