Fire Companies Respond to Boro Hall Call

Pine Beach Volunteer Fire Company also responded to last
night's fire call at Beachwood Borough Hall, as per the two companies'
mutual aid policy, reported Beachwood Volunteer Fire Company Chief
David Petracca.

Beachwood – Yesterday evening, fire companies from this borough andPine Beach were dispatched in response to a reported electrical fire at borough hall, here.

As reported by Beachwood Volunteer Fire Company Chief David Petracca:

"The call was dispatched at 6:35pm for a reported electrical fire at1600 Pinewald Road. Stations 16 and 38 (Beachwood and Pine Beach)were dispatched simultaneously, per our mutual aid policy, and investigated the odor in the building. Investigation teams located a burned out HVAC blower motor located in the attic area of the municipal building. Power was isolated and secured to the blower, and no residual heat was detected around the surrounding combustible material through the use of a heat gun and thermal imaging camera. All units cleared a short time later."

Longtime Beachwood Volunteer Fire Company member and former chief Don Wiesner monitored the perimeter of the borough hall complex with an unidentified member of the Pine Beach Volunteer Fire Company during last night's fire call.

A lighthearted message was recently posted on the Beachwood Volunteer Fire Company's sign, seen here following last night's fire call to borough hall.

Scenes Along the River

April 13, 2010

Beachwood First Aid Squad Medical Technicians Graduate

Among thirty-three from county

Beachwood First Aid Squad member Jacquelyn Brown and Danielle
Tansley were among thirty-three new emergency medical technicians who
marked the completion of their basic training during a graduation
ceremony Wednesday, April 7, at the Ocean County Training Center
in Waretown.

Beachwood – Thirty-three new emergency medical technicians marked the completion of their basic training during a graduation ceremony Wednesday, April 7th, at the Ocean County Training Center in Waretown.

"On behalf of the Board of Chosen Freeholders, we congratulate these men and women as they join their local first aid squads to proudly serve their communities," said Freeholder John P. Kelly, Director of Law and Public Safety. "We thank each and every one of these individuals for their hard work and future service to the residents of Ocean County."

The Ocean County EMS Academy, housed at the Training Center, follows national guidelines for EMT-B certification. Each applicant for this program must be certified in cardio pulmonary resuscitation before entering the program.

Each of the graduates successfully completed 120 hours of classroom work and rigorous hands-on training. They also spend 10 additional hours in a local emergency room assisting hospital personnel.

"Since the freeholders opened this training facility more than 11 years ago, over 1,300 new EMTs have received their training here," Kelly said. "The task at hand is not an easy one. These new EMTs are charged with making decisions that can mean the difference between life and death. My colleagues and I on the Board of Freeholders deeply respect the dedication shown by each graduate. We are happy to provide them with the tools they will use as EMTs."

To complete the curriculum, each student must score 70 percent or higher on a 100 question written final exam. They must also pass a practical skills test demonstrating they are mentally and physically prepared for the challenges that lie ahead.

Recognized with the John G. Glowacki Award for Academic Excellence was Ashley Mlotkiewicz, of the Jackson Township First Aid Squad.

The graduates are: Adam Beckett and Carlos Borges, both East Dover First Aid Squad; Artur Bielen, Caitlin Feeney, Brett Golden, Trevor Good, Brian Mueller, Stephen Vaughan and John Woods, all Stafford Township First Aid Squad; William Bigos, Henry Farnkopf, and Justin Meehan, all Lanoka Harbor EMS; Jacquelyn Brown, and Danielle Tansley, both Beachwood First Aid Squad.

Also, Margot Caussade and Bonnie Strawser, both Great Bay Regional Volunteer EMS; Paula DeNicola and Laura Jelinski, both Barnegat First Aid Squad; Angelo Fiorentino, Long Beach Township Police Department; Sean Lagravenis and William Lange, both Manchester Township First Aid Squad; Asher Leiser, Hatzolah EMS; Ashley Mlotkiewicz and Michael Schaefer, both Jackson Township First Aid Squad; Frank Peluso and Thomas Washington, both Pleasant Plains First Aid Squad; Anthony Pruneau, Waretown First Aid Squad, and Brian Cairns, Robert Chrystal, Brian Delpriora, Danielle Economos, Dana Gencarelli, and Nichole Roveda.

Real Estate Report with Robert Suarez

Beachwood – This is the real estate report for single-family homes in Beachwood for March 2010.

There are 24.75 months of inventory (months to sell present inventory at present sales rate), 96 active listings with an average list of $265,215 spending an average 128 days on the market.

Throughout the month, there were 18 new listings carrying an average list price of $237,344. The number of new listings for March of last year was 19; however, the average list price was $289,500, indicating a drop in the pricings of new listings over the course of the past year.

Sixteen homes are presently pending with an average list price of $236,349 after 74 days on the market. This is in contrast to last February’s four pending sales with an average list price of $229,675 and 122 days on the market.

There were four sales this March, carrying an average list price of $257,200 and a final average sale price of $252,000 after spending 53 days on the market. Last March, there were five sales with an average list of $236,660 and a final sales price of $231,400 after spending 92 days on the market.

Six homes listed expired after an average of 205 days on the market and holding an average list price of $292,299. Nine homes listed expired last March, after an average of 190 days on the market and holding an average list price of $297,400.

Beachwood’s market is showing 24 months of inventory, yet the average sale price went up when compared to last year. Judging the numbers, my opinion is that this shows the government tax credits are helping keep home values up. As these credits end, we might see a drop in value.

Robert Suarez is a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Flanagan Realty and an independent real estate correspondent for the Riverside Signal. For more information, he can be reached at Coldwell Banker Flanagan Realty’s Toms River office, located at 1541 Route 37 East, 732-270-6100 or through e-mail at robert.suarez@coldwellbanker.com and online at www.robertsuarez.net.

Scenes Along the River

March 28, 2010

A view of Atlantic City Boulevard from the interior of one of Beachwood Borough's local establishments, La Villa Pizza.

The Beachwood Community Center's deck replacement and annual maintenance neared completion this month, delayed only slightly by
February's fierce winter storms.

This original Beachwood bungalow, located on Barnegat Boulevard, recently had its lot cleared and is being offered for sale as a "fixer-upper" special
with a listed price of $149,900.

Volunteers with the Northern Ocean County Habitat for Humanity recently prepped and seeded the grounds of their latest home, located in Beachwood.

Mizzen Avenue Crash Leaves Barnegat Man, 26, Dead

Brother: “I didn’t just lose my little brother, but my best friend, too”

Josephine Giordano, a Mizzen Avenue resident, points to where the car came from as it struck her holly tree and crossed the lawn.

Beachwood – A high-speed effort to evade local police ended in a fatal accident on the 500 block of Mizzen Avenue, here, leaving a borough man charged with driving while intoxicated and vehicular homicide following the death of his passenger, a Barnegat resident.

Borough police did not return calls for information at press time, but officials and family members close to the case confirmed the identity of the two men to be Joseph Hamilton, 32, of Spar Avenue, as the driver, and Joseph Lazarus, 26, of Barnegat, as the passenger.

Robert Danzieri, a neighboring homeowner of the property on the western side of the street where the car - a late 1980s model Ford Mustang convertible – came to rest, said he was told by police on the scene that the men were fleeing area police after being caught travelling in excess of eighty miles per hour on Route 9 shortly before 3 am.

Block resident John Serratelli, whose home is located across the street from the accident scene, heard the car as it approached his block.

“It was a little before three; I was just going to bed, and I heard the car coming,” he said. “They go down this street pretty fast - there's no stop sign until you get to like the 800 block, so it's like eight blocks of no stop signs - but this was really comin’, [and] I just heard ‘boom, boom, boom.’”

Josephine Giordano, a resident on the western side of Mizzen Avenue whose front yard suffered significant damage after Mr. Hamilton’s car lost control and ran across it, was asleep.

“I heard a noise. My bedroom was all the way down at the other end, and I heard this bang, and I woke up looked out the window and saw a police car right in front of the window,” she said. “I grabbed my stuff and ran out the front door and… it was a total mess. There was a guy lying in the middle of the road - I understand he was the driver.”

Physical evidence still present at the scene early this afternoon combined with accounts from the block residents show that Mr. Hamilton’s car appeared to leave the roadway at the northern corner of Mrs. Giordano’s property, ricochet off a holly tree in front of the northern side of the house, cross her front lawn at an adjusted angle - destroying her mailbox, birdbath and exterior freestanding lamp in the process – and crash through the chain-link fence along her southern property line before coming to a rest facing northeast.

Mr. Serratelli came out to see what happened, and found the car sitting across the street and facing his front door, the opposite direction it came from.

“When I first came out the headlight was still on, and I couldn’t see the car [due to the glare],” he said, recalling that what he did see lying at the end of his driveway was the driver, Mr. Hamilton. “I heard one of the cops yelling, "There's an ejection! There's an ejection!", then when he got over there [gestures toward where the car came to rest], he said “Two! Two bodies ejected!”

“There's no way he got thrown when it ended, to come [in front of the driveway],” Mr. Serratelli said, regarding Mr. Hamilton. “He had to come from across the street, in the air and land right there.”

Emergency personnel from the Beachwood, Pine Beach and Toms River police departments, the Beachwood First Aid Squad and the Beachwood and Pine Beach fire companies responded to the scene.

“At approximately 3 am, the [Beachwood Volunteer Fire Company] was dispatched to a motor vehicle crash with a fire,” reported David Petracca, fire company chief. “There was a minor fire present in the engine compartment of the vehicle which was severely damaged. This fire was suppressed prior to the [fire company’s] arrival by police officers who were already on location.”

The chief added that Dennis Allen, the company’s assistant chief,
“assumed command of suppression and rescue efforts.” Mr. Allen's son, also named Dennis Allen, is a police officer with the Pine Beach Borough Police Department, and it was reported by Beachwood Police Sgt. Glen DeMarco to the Asbury Park Press that he initially had clocked Mr. Hamilton’s vehicle travelling at 88 mph on Route 9.

Shortly after Mr. Serratelli came outside to view the accident, Mr. Hamilton regained consciousness.

“Outta nowhere, this guy's head lifts up - tell you the truth it spooked me, [it seemed like] he was dead,” he said. “His head lifts up, and I heard him yell, "What, what happened? What happened?", and then he started yelling, "I wasn't driving!"”

Mr. Hamilton was later confirmed as the driver of the vehicle.

“Then the guy stands up and [emergency responders] had to come running over and they sat him down [on the edge of my front lawn],” he continued. “He’s lucky that he's alive.”

“I heard somebody yell at [Mr. Hamilton], “Stay down!” stated Mrs. Giordano. “I think they put him in a police car, and then an ambulance came and took him away.”

Mr. Danzieri observed the scene from his property.

“The guy who was driving, they took him away last night in a neck brace,” he said. “The other guy died right here [pointing to his neighbor’s property]; he was laid out right here.”

“They tried CPR on him for a long time,” Mr. Danzieri noted.

“The passenger of the vehicle was pronounced at the scene,” confirmed Chief Petracca, “while the driver was transported to [Community Medical Center] with minor injuries.”

Sometime later, Mrs. Giordano said, an uncle of the deceased man, Mr. Lazarus, stopped by to view the scene, as did six of the 26-year-old’s friends.

“From what I understand from the friends of his, they really didn't know each other that well; [Mr. Lazarus] only met [Mr. Hamilton] the day before and [at the time of the accident] they were coming from a party,” she said. “It's too bad.”

The passenger’s brother, David Lazarus, a resident of North Carolina, stated that Joseph was “loved by so many people.”

“It hurt so much and I can’t bear the pain I have and will have for the rest of my life,” he said. “I didn’t just lose my little brother, but my best friend, too.”

Mrs. Giordano reported that members of the borough police, along with the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office and other investigation units, were present at the scene until approximately 8 o’clock this morning.

“There were car parts all over my yard all over the place - my front window was broken by some little piece of metal – thank God that tree was there, he would have been in my bedroom,” she said. “My next door neighbor [the owner of the property where the car came to rest] told me he slept through the whole thing - I saw him leave and he said, ‘Wow, what time did it happen? I must’ve been out.’”

When the car was eventually towed, the Mizzen Avenue resident continued, it broke into two pieces.

Chief Petracca further reported that the crash is currently being investigated by the Beachwood Police Department, the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department.

Mayor Jones Hit With $25,540 Federal Tax Lien

Accounts for unpaid taxes 2002 – 2007

Beachwood – Trouble continues to roll in for embattled borough Mayor Ronald W. Jones, Jr., with the latest notice from the Internal Revenue Service that he owes them $25,540.04 for unpaid taxes during the years 2002 through 2007.

The notice, which was first brought to the Riverside Signal’s attention by Geraldine M. Morris, the wife of former borough Mayor Harold Morris, was filed with the Ocean County Clerk’s Office on March 24th.

An accompanying press release statement also submitted by Mrs. Morris stated that Mayor Jones “won his seat in the 2007 election by campaigning that the previous mayor failed to pay his tax obligations to the IRS,” and noted that the surfacing of this federal tax lien against the current mayor showed that he “failed to inform his constituents about… his own failure to file and make payments on his tax returns since 2002.”

According to the tax lien document, Mayor Jones owes the I.R.S. $499.74 for 2002, $922.02 for 2003, $4,362.66 for 2004, $10,122.86 for 2005, $4,815.85 for 2006 and $4,816.91 for 2007 for the $25,540.04 total.

The mayor confirmed the validity of the lien and responded to its filing.

“I am represented by legal counsel in this matter and anticipate an equitable offer and compromise agreement forthcoming with the Internal Revenue Service,” he stated. “It is unfortunate my ability to address this financial liability in a timely manner has been compromised by frivolous litigation lodged against me by my political opponents that has caused me to redirect my financial resources to paying substantial amounts of money to defend myself.”

Shortly after Mayor Jones’ successful November 2007 election and subsequent inauguration, where he and Democratic running-mate Katina L. Clark displaced the Republican re-election ticket of Mayor Morris and Councilman Gerald W. LaCrosse from the borough council, turmoil and allegations have run high at borough council meetings from a number of regularly attending borough residents that include Mr. LaCrosse, former councilman and one-time Jones/Clark campaign manager Robert DiBella, and Mrs. Morris, who contest many governmental, operational and personal issues of the mayor and Mrs. Clark.

In addition to contentious debate during borough council meetings, Mayor Jones has been the subject of three recall attempts since last summer. The first attempt was denied last fall as not having enough signatures by Borough Clerk Bette Mastropasqua, and the second was rescinded when the recall committee found typographical errors in the committee chairman’s name and a lack of cost estimate to hold a recall election. The third attempt is currently ongoing.

Mayor Jones also responded to Mrs. Morris’ statement that he attacked Mayor Morris for similar tax issues while concealing his own during the 2007 election campaign.

“There is absolutely no similarity between my personal liability and that of former Mayor Morris,” he said. “Morris failed to pay the Internal Revenue Service for his employees’ taxes he collected for their benefit and he was able to refinance his home several times utilizing the borough's official bank without paying off his lien as required by law.”

Mayor Morris is the owner of Ocean Office Equipment, located on Atlantic City Boulevard in the borough.

Mrs. Morris disputed Mayor Jones’ statement, saying that “whenever he is accused of anything, he tries to point blame or make accusations elsewhere.”

“The fact is, Mayor Morris paid his debt to IRS as he stated several times during that campaign that he was doing [so],” she said, adding that tax liens were filed after the bank loans had been made. “Banks will not lend money if there are any liens.”

Mayor Jones disagreed.

“This issue was raised by Rob DiBella in the 2003 mayoral campaign - Morris stated [then that] he was paying the lien,” he said. “By 2007 he had not paid one penny towards the obligation although he refinanced his real estate holdings and obtained a county job – [he] was defeated because he represented years of stagnation and arrogance.”

Mrs. Morris further stated that the current issue is “not [about] the former mayor, whose name was dragged through the mud in 2007 when he never committed any crime - Mayor Jones did commit tax evasion by not filing, not reporting his income for six years.”

When called for clarification on Mayor Jones’ current federal tax lien, Ocean County Clerk Carl W. Block stated that the lien represents money the IRS feels it is owed for those particular years, and does not necessarily mean that Mayor Jones failed to file his taxes.

Mr. Lacrosse, who was recently announced as half of the borough’s Regular Republican Party ticket up for election this November with Edward Zakar, the former borough land use board chair, also disagreed with the mayor’s assessment.

“The general hypocrisy of his activities back in the 2007 election, and the words he used to denigrate, to accuse and to try to put as much hurt on the Morris family…” he said, “I really don’t know what to say, other than what comes around, goes around, and this time what came around was fast and furious.”

The candidate continued by stating “it’s obvious that Mr. Jones doesn’t believe the laws really apply to him, just to everybody else, and it’s a shame.”

Mayor Jones disagreed that he tackled Mayor Morris’ tax issues immediately in his campaign.

“Frankly, when the original story came out in the [Ocean County] Observer in 2007, I stated that Morris’ tax issue was a personal matter,” he stated. “It became an issue when I discovered he failed to pay his employee's withholding taxes and he was releasing a fictitious campaign flyer alleging I owed child support.”

The candidate continued by stating “it’s obvious that Mr. Jones doesn’t believe the laws really apply to him, just to everybody else, and it’s a shame.”

“I don't see Mr. LaCrosse refusing to accept the Republican nomination from [Ocean County Republican Party] Chairman George Gilmore who had a $2.3 million levy,” replied Mayor Jones, adding that Brick Township’s Republican Mayor Stephen C. Acropolis and Toms River Township Council President and Republican, Gregory P. McGuckin, also had tax liens filed against them in the past.

“This same issue has faced other elected and appointed officials in Ocean County who have continued to serve in their positions with distinction and honesty,” he said. “This type of obligation has not impaired their ability to serve and I do not anticipate any conflict on my part either.”

“If you recall, this past election Governor [Chris] Christie admitted he erred in a matter involving his personal taxes,” the mayor continued. “Does that admission mean he is unable to serve in an admirable capacity? Frankly, no! He acted to correct the matter as I intend to do too.”

“My opponents should be ashamed of themselves for admonishing me on this issue that their fellow Republicans faced and still serve in office while condoning pure corruption in the borough on the part of their allies,” he stated.

Another point of contention with his detractors is their statements that he does not currently own property in the borough, and so does not pay taxes toward the borough budget. Mr. LaCrosse questioned the honor of being the borough mayor without paying property taxes, stating that Mayor Jones was “a taker - he takes other people’s tax monies and he takes what he can get from them and gives nothing back in return.”

Concluding his response to the tax lien, Mayor Jones said that he “intend[s] to complete [his] term in office and continue to supply to the federal and state government with evidence of questionable acts occurring in the borough.”

No other members of the borough council returned requests for comment at press time.

Correction: Following publication of the above article, it was learned that Mayor Harold Morris is no longer the owner of Ocean Office Equipment.

Annual Easter Egg Hunt & Easter Bunny Breakfast

Beachwood – The borough will be hosting its annual Easter Egg Hunt this weekend at Mayo Park, March 28th at 1pm.

Councilman Steve Komsa, during last week's meeting of the borough council, here sent out an invite to all residents with children to "come down and visit us."

The rain date for the event is to held on April 4th at 1pm.

Beachwood Fire Company to Hold Breakfast with Easter Bunny this Sunday

Severe Storm Re-cap

Beachwood – The severe wind that tore through the northeast two weeks ago caused severe damage to many municipalities in our region, including Beachwood.

During last week's meeting of the borough council, here, Councilwoman Beverly Clayton reported that damage along the waterfront could be seen from Beachwood Beach to the borough's community center and boat slips.

"It really was a horrendous windstorm [and] we sustained a lot of damage," she said. "The marina lost 2 boat slips and there was erosion at the beach. It is the worst it has ever been."

Ms. Clayton also added that a few signs had been blown down, as had much of the newly-installed vinyl fencing at the borough's recycling yard at Pinewald Road, across from Toms River Intermediate School South.

During the storm, she reported, the Beachwood Volunteer Fire Company still held their annual corned beef dinner even while answering 13 calls throughout the event.

"Thank you to everyone who worked so hard getting the town back in shape," the councilwoman added.

Beachwood Beach to Host New Residents

Two of the bat houses that were recently installed by local
Eagle Scout Andrew Brown on trees along the picnic area of
Beachwood Beach.

Beachwood – Beachwood Beach is about to get a little bit spookier, thanks to the work of one local Eagle Scout.

During last week's borough council meeting, here, Councilwoman Beverly Clayton announced that Andrew Brown, a local resident and Eagle Scout, has worked with the borough to install a series of "bat houses" on trees along the picnic area at Beachwood Beach. The houses, she said, would help mitigate the presence of small insects, most notably mosquitoes, as a single bat could eat up to approximately 1,200 each day.

This was confirmed by the Organization for Bat Conservation, whose website states that "a single little brown bat can catch hundreds of mosquito-sized insects an hour".

It added that "bats are not blind, and are actually very clean animals. They do not get caught in peoples’ hair or chew through the attic of your house. Bats will not interfere with feeding backyard birds, and they will not be disrupted by pets or children."

Ms. Clayton thanked Mr. Brown and noted that it would take some time for the bats to find and move into their new homes but that "maybe we'll benefit next season."

The next meeting of the borough council will be on Wednesday, April 7th at 7pm in borough hall.

Mayor Jones Calls to Abolish Sewer Auth; Privatize Water Dept.

Cites economic crunch; criticizes cost of water tower Seminole icon

Mayor Ronald W. Jones, Jr. called for the Beachwood Municipal Sewerage Authority's disbandment at last week's borough council meeting.

Beachwood – Sweeping changes to the borough infrastructure were the order of the day in statements made by Mayor Ronald W. Jones, Jr. during last week’s council meeting, here.

Calling for the dissolution of the Beachwood Sewerage Authority and privatization of the borough’s water department, Mayor Jones read from a prepared statement that hard economic times called for drastic measures and he praised Governor Chris Christie for his “bold step to rein in spending.”

As the mayor read out the issues he had with recent borough spending, operational matters and personal attacks, council members looked on and some members of the public openly jeered and heckled.

Sewerage Authority – Abolish It

“I am putting forth again my own “Executive Order 15” in examining the merits and savings of abolishing the Sewerage Authority,” Mayor Jones read, referring to the recent executive order that Governor Christie recently issued to review and reform all state authorities, boards and commissions. “I believe there is absolutely no tangible economic calculation that would support its continued operation.”

The Beachwood Sewerage Authority, according to the official borough website, was established in September 1972 and as a municipal authority is not a borough entity nor considered a borough utility. It is governed by five commissioners - a chairman, vice chairman, secretary, treasurer and commissioner.

Walter “Bud” Erickson, its current chairman, when called to comment on the mayor’s statements, responded by stating the mayor was “totally off the wall.”

“He’s totally wrong, and the reason he’s doing it is not because he wants the sewerage authority gone - he wants to punish someone on the board,” he said, not revealing specifically who that person was. “If he was really interested, then he would attend our meetings - he goes to a lot of other meetings, but never comes to our meetings outside of one time asking for something.”

That one time, said the chairman, was to ask permission to store the borough first aid squad’s new ambulance in the authority garage after it was learned to be too big for the then-existing squad building, which dated back to the 1940s.

“We couldn’t take the [authority’s] back truck out because it has to be kept warm due to the pumps that are in it,” Mr. Erickson stated.

“What would President Reagan do?” asked Mayor Jones during the meeting. “I can confidently state [he would] abolish the authority and either merge it into the normal operations of the borough or run it in a regional partnership with other local sewerage authorities.”

“But then who’s gonna control your rates?” Mr. Erickson replied. “Very few sewerage authorities get sold for the simple reason that towns can run them a lot more efficiently than a private business can – a private business can hire as many people as they want and charge what they prove what they need. [Borough residents] get charged $408 a year [under the current authority]. I don’t know any service you can get that cheap for what you get.”

The chairman added that besides the board, the current sewerage authority consists of “two field people [and] two office people.”

“We’re very, very frugal in how we spend the taxpayers’ money,” he continued. “For the last two years, we’ve been sucking off surplus to keep the rates stable because people are definitely in trouble right about now, and we can tell that from how many delinquent bills there are and stuff like that.”

At the council meeting, Seaman Avenue resident Donna Timony asked the mayor what he specifically meant by abolishing the authority.

“Taking the building, selling it and merging its operations either into the borough or merging it into other municipalities,” he replied.

“[The authority] has five or six employees – would they get to keep their jobs?” Ms. Timony asked.

“Possibly. I’m not sure, it would have to be explored,” he replied.

Councilwoman Beverly Clayton is currently employed as the senior clerk of the authority, and allegations surfaced during last November’s election – of which Ms. Clayton was a candidate for the Beachwood Republicans up for re-election - that the authority regularly awarded contracts to a contracting firm associated with her family under illicit circumstances. The allegations were denied, and the borough Republican ticket was re-elected to office.

Mr. Erickson commented on these allegations.

“He said we were corrupt, and that we weren’t doing the bidding process,” he stated. “We proved we were and had always done it that way – it’s strictly a political thing with him. There’s nothing wrong with the sewerage authority. We get a good reputation from everybody – the [Department of Environmental Protection] and everyone else.”

Ms. Timony further defended the authority employees.

“Their knowledge is in that field - if you sell the building, get the money but put them in here with the rest of the people but let them keep their jobs,” she said, asking for consideration for the years that the authority employees had put into their positions.

“If it can be done, absolutely,” the mayor replied. “It’s something that can be explored.”

“[Mayor Jones] thinks we’ve got a million of dollar in surplus, and we don’t - we’re lucky if we’ve got $500,000,” responded Mr. Erickson. “$500,000 of surplus has to be kept on the account for reclamation and repair to the system. The state requires that we hold that kind of money in advance in case we have a disaster.”

“$500,000 would not cover it if you had a bad disaster,” he added. “He thinks he can sell the building for a lot of money and take the money and put it in his current funds, but he’s wrong. First of all, the building is not geared to anything but office space, and as to the garage? If he took the Jet-Vac truck, he’d still have to put it someplace and build another garage somewhere anyway.”

The mayor, in his statement, said that instead of being called “crazy” for such ideas as merging or eliminating “some agencies [that] have budgets without any meaningful purpose,” Governor Christie was “praised for taking such a bold step to rein in spending.”

He added that Governor Christie is “fortunate not to be the mayor of Beachwood.”

Mr. Erickson concluded his remarks by stating that he had been a resident of the borough since 1945, and that despite its current political issues, “You couldn’t ask for a nicer place to live.”

Mayor Jones called for the Beachwood Water Department to become a privatized firm in a move he expected would cut costs for the borough and its residents.

Water Department – Privatize it

“I also support the governor’s plan to privatize some state operations and would suggest this governing body consider this concept regarding the Beachwood Water Department,” said Mayor Jones. “In fact, if we privatize, the value of the system - less debt - would realize between $1.5 to $7 million for the citizens of Beachwood. It is this kind of innovative thought that will become the hallmark of the Christie governorship.”

When reached for comment, Beachwood Water Department Head Clifford Schiel said he was unaware that the mayor had called for the department’s privatization, but refrained from commenting, deferring instead to the borough mayor and council for official comment.

The modern version of the Beachwood Water Department was established in 1942 under then-mayor Joseph E. Jerue and commissioners Earle R. Closson and John C. Fellows. A plaque dedicating the “Beachwood Water Supply System” is located on the Beachwood Water Treatment Plant and reads, “Dedicated to the Continued Progress of Beachwood.”

The mayor criticized spending approximately $9,000 on painting the Seminole logo on the borough's new water tower last year, stating that the money could have been better spent on a borough environmental resource inventory. Council President Ronald Roma disagreed, stating that it was good for the spirit of the community by making the school students feel part of the borough.

Intermediate South Tower Logo Money Questioned

Mayor Jones opened his comments with references to recent requests made by the borough environmental commission to have the borough fund an Environmental Resource Inventory, claiming that its $9,000 cost could have been covered by the funds recently spend to paint the Toms River Intermediate South Seminole logo on the borough’s new water tower adjacent both borough hall and the school.

The $9,000 price tag was arrived at after getting a quote for $18,000, half of which the state would reimburse the borough.

According to minutes of the July 15, 2009 borough council meeting, Council President Ronald Roma then reported that a quote of $7,050 was received for painting the logo, with additional unspecified costs for the tower’s lettering.

The minutes reflect that at the time, Mr. Roma also questioned whether the high cost would be worth spending the money, but that Councilwoman Beverly Clayton replied it was a “fine idea [and] will boost morale of the students.” Mr. Roma then stated that the money in the “tower account could handle” the cost, and the borough council voted unanimously to approve a resolution “To approve placing a logo for Intermediate School South on the Tower not to exceed $10,000. Facing School.”

The logo was finished this past fall, and Intermediate South has since utilized the tower image and its Seminole logo on the school website, outside electronic bulletin board and school clothing, usually appearing alongside the catchphrases “Tower Power” and “Feel the Power.”

Seaman Avenue resident Donald H. Wood approached the council regarding the logo.

“Did you really spend $9,000 to put that on our water tank?” he asked. “It just don’t make sense in our financial situation.”

“Certainly sometimes you’re right - sometimes for community to feel like community you do certain things, whether that’s mowing the lawn out front, planting flowers in spring or making 800 or 900 students in school feel part of the community,” Mr. Roma replied. “It is an emotional partnership with the children in the intermediate school. I’ve gotten numerous comments from residents at the soccer field who feel proud – you can’t always put a dollar figure on that.”

Ms. Clayton agreed, and added that when the resolution came up to approve the painting, the entire council approved it.

Mayor Jones concluded by stating that regardless the sharp criticism and $70,000 in personal legal fees he and his family have endured, he will “not bend or relent [and will] stand strong, tall, proud and will continue to participate in the process to the best of my ability even though all my ex-officio rights have been denied.”

He added that he “will always encourage open and frank discussions with all members of this governing body, all our employees and appointees and most important the residents of our great borough.”

The next meeting of the borough council will be on Wednesday, April 7th, at 7pm in borough hall.

Artificial Islands To Be Installed at Jakes Branch

Pilot Project to Protect Water Quality

Ocean County Department of Parks and Recreation staff members
will join with students from the county's Vocational Technical
Schools' marine science program to float out a pilot project of
artificial islands that are expected to protect the quality of water
in parks throughout the county.

Beachwood – Ocean County Department of Parks and Recreation staff members will join with students from the county's Vocational Technical Schools' marine science program to float out a pilot project expected to protect the quality of water in parks throughout the county.

"The first of the artificial ‘islands' will be put in place at the ponds at Jakes Branch County Park," said Freeholder John C. Bartlett Jr., who is liaison to the county's Parks and Recreation Department. "With the help of a grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation in cooperation with several other agencies, we will be introducing this program into several of our county parks."

Parks Department workers and students from the Ocean County Vocational Technical Schools Marine Academy of Technology and Environmental Sciences will install the artificial islands made of recycled plastic Thursday, March 25 at the park, here.

Made from layers of recycled plastic matrix, which are bonded together with adhesive foam, the islands called BioHavens are planted with sod, garden plants, or wetland plants and launched onto a body of water.

"There the plants are allowed to grow naturally, and, as they develop, their roots grow through the matrix and into the water below," noted Joseph A. Pirozek, a staff member at the county's Department of Parks and Recreation who helped to secure the grant and is overseeing the project. "Over time, a natural ecosystem evolves. The purpose of these artificial islands is to reduce the amount of pollutants that may affect these bodies of water at the county's park sites and golf courses."

The BioHavens, each measuring about 25-square feet and about 12 to 18 inches deep, are expected to remove pollutants from a waterway, including nitrates, phosphates, ammonia and heavy metals. In addition, they provide critical riparian edge habitat for a host of creatures from microbes to humans.

The BioHavens, which are supplied by Ion Exchange of Iowa, are also said to sequester carbon and other greenhouse gases, provide wave mitigation and erosion control and beautify a waterscape.

Bartlett said the county received technical input from the Barnegat Bay Estuary Program, the Ocean County Soil Conservation District, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the Natural Resources Conservation Service in developing the grant application.

The grant amount is $30,337 and the funding source is the New Jersey Coastal Conservation Fund. The MATES students will do long-term water quality monitoring prior to installing the islands and then after the installation.

"This is a great team effort between the parks and vo-tech and our environmental agencies in helping to protect our water quality," said Freeholder Joseph H. Vicari, who is liaison to the county's vo-tech school district and the estuary program. "We are looking forward to getting this program off the ground and into the water."

Environ. Comm Criticize JCP&L Tree Cutting

Company rep: “We don’t just randomly chop trees down”

Trees along one property on Brigantine Street, including the ones seen here, were subject to cutting by area electric power provider Jersey Power Central & Light following a severe February snowstorm. Michelle Dillon, borough resident and environmental commission co-chairperson, criticized the quality of their work.

Beachwood – The topic of recent tree cutting near utility lines was brought up during this month’s meeting of the borough environmental commission, here.

Commission co-chairperson and Capstan Avenue resident Michelle Dillon questioned the quality of tree cutting done near her home by area power provider Jersey Central Power & Light following an early February winter storm.

“They just chop off [the top] so we’ve got this stump now that’s like 30 ft high,” she stated. “Our neighbor had his trees, like six of them, chopped up – they’re so ugly.”

The trees she spoke about are on a property located on the northeastern corner of Capstan Avenue and Brigantine Street in the borough.

“I don’t want to look at them,” the commission co-chairperson added.

JCP&L spokesman Rob Morano disagreed with Ms. Dillon comments.

“We don’t just randomly go around and chop trees down or cut them back,” he stated. “We employ a certified arborist and techniques designed to encourage growth away from the power lines to insure health of tree.”

Mr. Morano did not have specific information on the Brigantine Street tree trimming, but speculated that it was likely the result of loss of service from the early February snowstorm.

“We try to trim to maintain service to customers – especially during storms,” he said, noting that the trees would begin growing out from their cutback state during the spring weather.

Documentation provided the website of FirstEnergy, the parent company of JCP&L, stated that “tree care professionals… use "directional" pruning techniques,” which “were developed by the National Arborist Association and are published by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI),” and that the practice is “the accepted industry standard endorsed and promoted by the National Arbor Day Foundation and the International Society of Arboriculture.”

The owner of the property where the trees were located did not return calls for comment at press time.

The next meeting of the Beachwood Environmental Commission will take place Monday, April 5th at 7pm in borough hall.

Scenes Along the River

March 18, 2010

Beachwood Volunteer Fire Holds Annual Dinner Despite Severe Weather

Pictured during the Beachwood Volunteer Fire Company's Corned Beef and Cabbage Dinner fundraiser, held last Saturday evening, are Jerry Foley, Megan Dougherty, John Miller and an as-yet unidentified volunteer.

During the Beachwood Volunteer Fire Company's Corned Beef and Cabbage Dinner fundraiser, held last Saturday evening, children were able to tour and sit inside the company fire engines on what was otherwise a busy day of service calls to the company for downed trees and utility lines due to the severe storm that struck the region and otherwise caused flooding, beach erosion and other related damage throughout the county.

Severe Storm Brings High Wind, Erosion
March 16th, 2010

Waves crashed over the Beachwood dock and bulkhead, flooding much of the western end of Compass Avenue during a fierce storm that landed on the Toms River last Saturday, March 13, 2010, causing beach erosion, flooding and further damage across the region.

Flags, such as these in front of the Beachwood Yacht Club, whipped at sheer right angles as their poles lurched away from the strong winds that buffeted the region during a fierce storm that landed on the Toms River area last Saturday, March 13, 2010, causing flooding, beach erosion and other damage.

New Beachwood Habitat for Humanity Home Dedicated

New owner “extremely blessed by it all”

Kellie Rubin and her seven-year-old son, Ryan, pose outside
their new home.

Beachwood – A yearlong journey is finally coming to a close, here, with one family now about to call the borough home.

Late last month, members from the Northern Ocean Habitat for Humanity joined neighbors and family members to dedicate the organization’s latest home and welcome its new owners and soon-to-be Beachwood residents, Kellie Rubin and her seven-year-old son, Ryan.

“I’m so pleased - all the work we do is so rewarding,” said Dick Read, construction supervisor on the project. “It changes her whole family’s life.”

“I’m excited, blessed… just extremely blessed by it all,” stated Ms. Rubin, during the dedication. “I never would have thought it was possible. It’s definitely possible.”

Also in attendance was Beachwood Mayor Ronald W. Jones, Jr., who said he is a big proponent of affordable housing in the region.

“It allows young people to reside either where they grew up - in the borough or county - to raise their family and contribute to the community,” he stated. “This is the positive effect of affordable housing.”

Ms. Rubin recalled the process of applying for the “partner family” program to be considered for the house.

“My mom was volunteering for Habitat’s family support committee,” she said, when she learned of a new house about to be built. “She didn’t know where the house was going to be, but said it was a good idea to fill out application.”

A few months later, Ms. Rubin stated, she was visited by members of the selection committee at her one bedroom apartment in Silver Ridge Apartments, located in Toms River.

“They came and did an interview,” she continued. “You gotta be prepared – [we] cut out costs, didn’t have cable, we did everything. You have to keep records of bank statements and paychecks, everything, for the application.”

After being told they wouldn’t be back, Ms. Rubin, who is now attending Brookdale College to become an X-ray technician, got the call that they needed to come by one more time “to make sure I was a student.”

“They did it to get in to surprise us,” she said. “They came in with balloons – that’s when we found out.”

Applying for and being selected as a partner family wasn’t the end of the process, however.

“I had to fill out a lot of information and complete 200 community service hours,” she continued, referring to Habitat for Humanity’s “sweat equity” aspect of the partner family program. “I put in hours at the Re-Store [a thrift shop that Northern Ocean Habitat for Humanity has operated on Route 166 in Toms River since 2001] and helped build the home; did some siding, the shutters.”

“I put the hurricane ties up so if the roof blows off it’s my fault,” she added, laughing.

Mayor Jones said that misconceptions about affordable housing and organizations that aid in its growth have plagued the concept for years.

“These are regular folks trying to make ends meet and raise their families,” he said. “Just local folks [who] hope to get a job local and make the community a better place for all of us - don’t judge a book by its cover.”

Mr. Read noted that a number of area contractors and businesses contributed to the project, by offering their time and expertise or materials for free or at a much reduced rate.

One such contractor, he said, is Luciano “Luke” Lopes, who came on site to a house in Brick Township that Habitat was building three years ago and wound up framing the entire thing himself.

Mr. Lopes, unbeknownst to the Habitat members, was an out of work framing contractor at the time.

“I drove by and said to myself, ‘they might need some help’,” stated Mr. Lopes. “I fell in love with what they do, and I’m here today – this is my fourth house with them.”

According to information provided by Mr. Read and Habitat for Humanity’s executive director, Suzan Fichtner, the following companies contributed to the Beachwood home:

• Navy – volunteers from the Navy Seabees out of the Naval Air Engineering Station at Lakehurst – installation of roof shingles
• Whirlpool – free oven range and refrigerator and significant discounts on the washer, dryer and dishwasher
• Larson – provided a free storm door
• Square D – electrical panels and all breakers
• Mr. John – free port-o-potty and routine cleaning
• Lowes – through a national partnership provided the carpeting and other house items
• Borough of Beachwood – waived all building permit and inspection fees, a savings of about $3,000 to $4,000
• Glenco Construction - site excavation work
• Jim Grimaldi – mason work
• Yale Locks – door locks
• Eric G. Larson Jr. Electrical Contracting – electric work
• Mark Bode – plumbing
• Sam & Paul Drywall– drywall finishing
• Jerry Lareau – insulation
• Chuck McVaugh – gutters
• Knipper of Lakewood – landscaping
• Tony Britto – heating contractor
• Home Depot – construction items
• Woodhaven – lumber
• Ferguson – plumbing fixtures

For more information on Northern Ocean Habitat for Humanity, visit their website at http://nohfh.com/

Real Estate Report with Robert Suarez

Beachwood – This is the real estate report for single-family homes in Beachwood for February 2010.

There are 12.15 months of inventory (months to sell present inventory at present sales rate), 98 active listings with an average list of $272,933 spending an average 119 days on the market.

Last month, there were 17 new listings carrying an average list price of $253,245. The number of new listings for February of last year was 18; however, the average list price was $349,983, indicating a drop in the pricings of new listings over the course of the past year.

Four homes are presently pending with a list value of $339,470 after 132 days on the market. This is in contrast to last February’s six pending sales with an average list price of $261,316.

There were four sales this February, carrying an average list price of $224,400 and a final average sale price of $212,225 after spending 94 days on the market. Last February, there were seven sales with an average list of $253,971 and a final sales price of $227,857 after spending 97 days on the market.

Two homes are under contract with an average list price of $255,687, averaging 33 days on the market. Likewise, two homes were under contract for February of last year, but with an average list price of $336,500 after 109 days on the market.

Eight homes listed expired after an average of 299 days on the market and holding an average list price of $338,337. Eight homes listed also expired last February, after an average of 156 days on the market and holding an average list price of $295,700.

Judging the numbers, my opinion is that Beachwood’s market is showing activity. However, due to the 12 months of inventory, the price of new listings has gone down considerably. Remember that expired listings are a good gauge of what the market will not pay for a home.

Northern Ocean Habitat for Humanity Director Opens Up

Talks about new Beachwood home; says “Volunteers are the Key”

Early stages of Beachwood Habitat for Humanity home, Summer/Fall 2009

Beachwood - Last Saturday, one local family took one step closer to becoming official homeowners with the dedication of the borough’s first Habitat for Humanity home, here.

Community volunteers, contractors, Habitat members and trustees, Borough Mayor Ronald W. Jones, Jr. and new neighbors came to meet and welcome Beachwood’s latest residents, Kellie Rubin and her seven-year-old son, Ryan.

Prior to this celebration, however, the Riverside Signal sat down with Northern Ocean County Habitat for Humanity Executive Director Susan Fichtner to find out just who Habitat for Humanity is, what goes into building these homes, who gets selected to have the opportunity of purchasing them and why it’s important to have affordable housing in Ocean County.

Riverside Signal: How do you find the land to build these homes?

Susan Fichtner: Land acquisition is our biggest challenge, and even with Beachwood site we traditionally have been buying our pieces of property at market value, which can be almost as much as $100,000.

Once in a while we're lucky and we'll get a piece of property like in Beachwood that was actually owned by a local person who sells it to us at almost half the cost. When that happens, it’s a gift because then we pay a lot less than we normally would if we were traditionally purchasing the land.

The goal going forward is to not be purchasing the land in the traditional manner, primarily because we don’t have the money to be using $100,000 every time we build a house.

RS: How often to you build these homes?

SF: We have been building one house a year, but we're going to be expanding on that.

RS: And how do you see volunteers playing a part in that? How do you sign up volunteers now?

SF: Volunteer recruitment, engagement and participation are so important because the more that you educate people in the community on what we're doing, the more you will have people come forward. People are looking for opportunities to do good things, they really are, and that’s the beauty of volunteerism.

We've had a core group of volunteers that have been on a couple of our committees, but we want new energy, new vision and new people to come on board and bring their new ideas – that’s how you grow! Also, with their connections to their community, it’s a way we can obtain preferably more gift in kind services, building materials, donations, more donors, etc.

Volunteers are the key, as is retaining them - making sure they have enough hands-on work when they're on the site and people are supervising them and giving them the opportunity to work. They don't want to come and watch the supervisors work, they want to put that hammer in their hand and feel a sense of connectedness with the project. They want to leave that day having the mission in their hearts, and there’s nothing better. The way our organization is set up, with the sweat equity component, there’s a good chance they’re going to work side by side with that homeowner, which is absolutely life-changing, it really is. And if the child or children are there, that is so cool.

When we were in Guatemala [members of the Northern Ocean County Habitat for Humanity flew down to that country earlier this year to help build homes for needy residents there] - this goes with the sweat equity - I will always remember Nancy and Victor. Those are the homeowners of the house we built in Guatemala. They will always have a special place in my heart because as we were building that house in a third world country, I knew and was there with their faces and their story and their life in my heart as I was chopping cement blocks with a machete [laughs]. It’s so important to have people embrace the mission and understand what we're doing, what it’s about and how it’s providing for a family that would otherwise be without a home.

RS: Sweat equity?

SF: Yes. The chosen family must complete 200 hours of sweat equity if it’s a single parent or 400 hours if it’s a couple.

RS: So they have to build the house with the volunteers?

SF: They can do it working on their own house, through working at our Re-Store [a thrift shop that Northern Ocean Habitat for Humanity has operated on Route 166 in Toms River since 2001], fund-raising, working different events, committee work, but they have to fulfill that 200 hours before they close on the house.

RS: Do you ever see students signing on to help, maybe as some sort of community service work?

SF: School chapters of Habitat for Humanity are actually now opening up at Brick Memorial High School and Toms River High School South.

A school chapter is an extension of an affiliate; it’s a real official campus chapter. They get officiated and affiliated through Habitat International, and to do so they need to commit to advocacy, education, fundraising and instruction.

To empower young people to go out and advocate on behalf of the lack of affordable housing, and to empower young people to educate others, including their own parents and people older than them, on the issues of the homeless and how a house changes a child's life is remarkable, absolutely remarkable. Their energy is so contagious.

When we went to Guatemala, we had with us two students from Monsignor Donovan High School, two Ocean County College students, a Brookdale Community College student and a graduate from the University of Delaware who graduated from high school at Toms River High School North. Their enthusiasm is amazing.

One idea these students had involved doing a school-wide Lakewood Blue Claws fundraiser in May. It’s now happening and it’s going to be advertised through Facebook and through Twitter, everything, and it’s just to get all the school chapters and Ocean County College, Georgian Court University - everyone just to come out in numbers that day in conjunction with a Surf Taco fundraiser on that same day.

They’re just so exciting, and another amazing thing is that when they’re on site - and [Habitat construction supervisor] Dick Read is a testament to this - when you have intergenerational work, where you have an eighty-year-old man with his knowledge and expertise and you have a twenty-year-old college guy working side by side, there’s a sense of, “We're here for the same reason – I’m 80, you’re 20, but you know what? We're both here to build this home for this family.”

RS: What do the varied ages have to offer one another in such a construction-heavy situation?

SF: What Dick can teach these young people is his knowledge and his expertise - he's the brains behind it all - and what they’re bringing to him is their youth, their strength, their humor and lightheartedness. It’s just amazing to have the kids and to bridge the gap with the mission. Remarkable.

RS: How do you get contractors to help in the more technical areas where general volunteers may not have experience?

SF: Over the last ten years, we have been working with pretty much a set group of contractors, but our goal going forward is to start putting some of the work out for bids. They were doing some bidding for a while, and they locked in some good contractors, so the goal with that is to hopefully partner with local contractors that are in the community of where we're building and get them on board to either provide the services gift in kind or at a very, very, very discounted rate.

The more that you market out into the community and they understand the mission, the more people will step up as contractors and say "you know what, I can offer this, I can do this for you’re here” or “I'm an electrical contractor”, etc. It does happen, and it has worked.

RS: Switching gears a bit, how does a family become a Habitat for Humanity family?

SF: In order to be fair and ethical, we advertise and hold an orientation in an arbitrary place, either a church, school, library. The orientation is just an overview on Habitat and our mission, and we [distribute] application packages. Potential applicants have to attend the orientation in order to get a package. We don’t send them out.

They then take the applications - there’s a good two to three week window to fill out and return them – and it requires them to give their job and income. They have to fall into the COAH [Council on Affordable Housing] median income, which is a high and low percentage dollar amount based on the number of family members.

We then have the family selection committee - which is also volunteers - look at that, and besides falling into that income bracket the applicants obviously have to be working, as they have to be able to repay the interest-free mortgage because they’re actually borrowing the money from us. The advantage is if they’ve fallen on some hard times, we're not a bank, so we do, as a Christian housing ministry, understand that they may have lost their job and now are back working again. They may have had some months in there that credit was bad and they were struggling, but the point is that we're not critiquing their applications like a bank would. We want to listen to their story and understand why they fell on bad times, and that they're up and going again and able to meet the mortgage requirements on an interest-free mortgage.

From there, it's a criteria of need first. The committee goes out and visits the current dwelling, assesses the need and then comes back to speak and talk together and more or less rate the application in numbers, saying "this one definitely exhibits need", “can they meet the income bracket?” and “do they have a job and can pay back this mortgage?”

Once they go through this whole process, they eventually come down to the last two or so, then down to the last one, and the family is notified that they have been selected.

It's almost like the lottery; certainly when you're struggling. A normal mortgage payment, because they're doing a 30-year for about $100,000-110,000 is probably $300-500. They pay their own taxes and their insurance, but their payments are less than what they would pay for a market value rental around here. An average rental in Ocean County is $1,000-1,100, so they're going to be paying less than what they would have been paying on an apartment.

RS: How would you respond to people that, especially in these hard economic times, are jealous of such an opportunity?

SF: I guess what I would say to that - and I can honestly tell you based on other affiliates that are building their houses - is that it makes us feel more responsible to figure out a way to obtain more land and build more homes because it is like winning the lottery, and for all of those that are not chosen it’s a huge disappointment. It’s wonderful for the family that was chosen, but there is just so much need in this community, and I can tell you that just from the different committees that I’m on, and studying the working poor and the people that are working really, really hard and doing everything right.

We as Habitat want to be the leaders in providing affordable housing. As we move forward, we want to be seen as part of the solution to this problem, but what we need is the municipalities, the mayors and the freeholders to recognize us as having the capability of doing that. Provide us the land and we’ll do what we do well.

Scenes Along the River

Week of February 22- 26, 2010

The Beachwood Borough Department of Public Works began dismantling the decking at the borough community center, Compass Avenue, to kick off a month-long renovation project of the entire center. The center is expected to remain closed until mid-March.

Snow Removal Bill So Far Over $47,000, says Roma

More snow accumulation predicted next week; $15,000 left in snow trust account

The Japanese pagoda-style bungalow constructed in Beachwood in 1917 by Wanda Lohr, early proponent for the creation of the Beachwood Volunteer Fire Department, as seen during the February 11th winter storm.

Beachwood - The current bill for this season’s snowfall removal has hit $47,737.69, said Ronald Roma, borough council president, during Wednesday’s meeting of the borough council, here.

Approximately $15,000 is left in a trust fund added to each year in the event of an active winter storm season, he added.

“Ocean County I understand spent about 1.8 million dollars on snow removal,” the council president stated. “Here in Beachwood, not that we spent 1.8 million but it might as well have been for a small town like us.”

According to a treasurer’s report given to Mr. Roma and supplied to the Signal, the winter storms of December 19th to 21st cost the borough $22,712.11, the February 6th storm $16,124.82 and last week’s storms of February 9th and 10th, $8,900.76.

A note on that report showed that the borough snow trust was charged a total of $38,350.

“It was a very expensive fun time for the kids,” Mr. Roma said, adding that he’d heard borough children would lose their Easter Monday holiday and now have to remain in school until June 23rd to make up the snow days.

Councilman Greg Feeney said that with the account depleted from the winter storms, it would take a few mild years to replenish it.

“Being fiscally responsible, we put away money each year,” he stated. “We got hit heavy this year we didn't have to go into our own budget. That money was sitting in the trust.”

Mr. Roma thanked the borough’s chief financial officer, John Mauder, and the borough treasurer, Elizabeth Sarantinoudis.

“Keep your fingers crossed that we don't have another big one,” Mr. Roma added.

At press time, the National Weather Service predicts a mix of rain and snow to cover the area through most of next week, with temperatures ranging from the low thirties to forty degrees.

Members of the borough council also publicly praised the emergency and public workers for their service during the storms.

“When we're in bed asleep in our warm houses, [Department of Public Works employees] out there pushing 18 hour shifts trying to clean this town,” said Mrs. Clayton, adding thanks to employees of the borough water department for repairing water main breaks through the inclement weather.

Councilman Steve Komsa reminded borough residents that the annual Beachwood snowman building contest deadline was March 10th, with awards being given during the March 17th borough council meeting.

“[Residents] definitely have plenty of building material,” he said.

The next meeting of the Beachwood Borough council is scheduled for Wednesday, March 3rd at 7pm in borough hall.

To see more photos from recent winter storms in the borough and around the area, check out our Flickr page at http://www.flickr.com/photos/riversidesignal

Bridge Reconstruction to Close Northbound Double Trouble Road

Part of larger parkway expansion project

The Double Trouble Bridge, seen here, located on the southwest border of Beachwood and South Toms River, will be replaced and its northbound side temporarily closed. A detour will take northbound motorists eastward over the Birch Street Bridge and north on Surf Avenue in Beachwood, toward Route 9

Beachwood - Ocean County Engineer Frank S. Scarantino appeared before the borough council during last Wednesday’s borough council meeting, here, to alert local residents of parkway expansion roadwork affecting traffic patterns at the southwestern border of town.

He reported that due to the reconstruction of the Double Trouble Road Bridge, located on the Beachwood/South Toms River Borough border, northbound Double Trouble Road traffic would be detoured over Birch Street Bridge and onto Surf Avenue in the Beachwood Borough.

The project was developed, stated Mr. Scarantino, when looking to expand the Garden State Parkway, running parallel to the Double Trouble Road Bridge.

“We found out that the parkway was going to need to use Double Trouble Road as a detour for parkway traffic,” he said, adding that in order to accommodate the traffic, the bridge structure on Double Trouble Road would need to be replaced. “That type of structure has major problems.”

The project is slated to begin the first week of February and anticipated to take about seven weeks.

“So basically, [the] detour will run traffic from Birch to Surf Avenue, to Route 9, to Dover Road,” Mr. Scarantino stated.

Beachwood Borough residents looking to access South Toms River and area roads headed north after crossing westbound on the Birch Street Bridge will be turned back due to the temporary road closing.

The Beachwood Community Center, Compass Avenue, seen here at night, will be closed the last two weeks of February and first two weeks of March to undergo a refurbishment.

And in other news of the Beachwood Borough Council:

Councilwoman Beverly Clayton stated that the Beachwood Community Center, located on Compass Avenue, would be closed for refurbishment during the last two weeks of February and first two weeks of March.
Mayor Ronald Jones, Jr. reported that Habitat for Humanity had recently built a house on Ship Avenue in the borough.
The first public hearing for the Community Block Development Grant (CDBG) was held. Borough Clerk Bette Mastropasqua stated that in the previous 12 years the borough has been involved in the program, it has awarded over $384,000 in grants to “low-moderate income qualified residents in the borough of Beachwood.”
The borough will be establishing another round of CDBG qualification, Ms. Mastropasqua said, due to funds left over from the 2007 and 2008 accounts. She was unsure of the exact date but expected it to occur in the next one to two months.
Mayor Jones appointed former Brick Township resident Lynn Martin to the borough’s Shade Tree Commission, to a term expiring December 31st, 2014.
The borough council approved three 50/50 raffles for the Beachwood Volunteer Fire Company No. 1, to be held on February 12th, March 12th and April 12th of this year.
Bill Knapp, Sr., Douglas Novaky and W. Xiques, Jr. resigned from the borough Recreation Commission, leaving that commission with four openings. Following public comment, in which former borough councilman Gerald W. LaCrosse, Jr. argued for the reappointment of 30-year commission member Charles Cohen, Mayor Jones reappointed and swore Mr. Cohen in, to a term expiring December 31st, 2014.
Karen Kuzminski was officially approved by mayor and council as the borough permit clerk.
Councilman Steve Komsa reminded residents that the annual borough snowman contest would end at 3pm on March 10th. Awards would be given during the March 17th borough council meeting.

Councilwoman Katina Clark Absences Questioned

Council President Roma asks other council members to take over duties

Beachwood Boro Hall.

Beachwood - Citing recent absences and a failure to sign certified bill vouchers, Council President Ronald Roma questioned Councilwoman Katina Clark’s performance doing “the business of the borough” during last Wednesday’s borough council meeting, here.

“I have a memo in reference to some financial complications in the borough and it seems that Councilwoman Clark repeatedly fails to come in sign her vouchers,” he stated, noting that she has access to the building around the clock to be able to do so. “They’re made to accommodate us 24 hours a day, so it can’t be a time constraint.”

Mayor Ronald Jones, Jr. commented that signing a voucher “doesn’t necessarily mean that you agree to the payment of the bills, you’re just certifying that you acknowledge what the bills were valid.”

“It’s not a matter of whether she agrees with it,” Mr. Roma replied, continuing that the bills represented work already completed within the borough that required payment. “We have to pay for it, period.”

“Does anybody know what’s going on with her?” asked Councilwoman Bonnie Verga. “Why she’s not coming to the meetings?”

Mr. Roma stated that Mrs. Clark was not responding to borough phone calls and was not completing her overall duties as a council liaison to the boards and committees she sat on.

Borough Clerk Bette Mastropasqua reported that Mrs. Clark was chairwoman for the Environmental Commission, Shade Tree Commission, and liaison for the beach and lifeguards.

Borough Office of Emergency Management officer Sheila D. Solowynsky, a Cable Avenue resident, stated that during her near-daily duties patrolling Beachwood Beach and checking badges, she had not seen Mrs. Clark once.

“Lifeguards would call her up, she did not call them back,” she said. “She did not do her job.”

“Fire her,” she added.

Mr. Roma inquired whether Councilman Steve Komsa and Ms. Verga would be willing to step up and take on Mrs. Clark’s duties at least until it was determined why she was not present at recent borough meetings or returning phone calls. Both agreed.

“I think at the next meeting we should find out why she’s not coming,” said Councilwoman Beverly Clayton.

Mrs. Clark did not respond to requests for comment at press time.

Land Use Board Meeting Erupts in Turmoil; Borough Police Called

Mayor and Board member temporarily ejected

Beachwood Boro Hall, Winter.

Beachwood - The Beachwood Borough Land Use Board's 2010 reorganization meeting never got past roll call Tuesday night, instead deteriorating in conflict among board members over Mayor Ronald W. Jones, Jr.'s new board appointments.

Borough police were dispatched to restore order in the ensuing discord, ejecting the mayor and re-appointed board member Robert Clark for allegedly speaking out of turn in the process. Applicants set to present that evening and members of the public looked on at a scene that has become more prevalent as increasing animosity between opposing factions within and surrounding the borough government have left it embroiled in lawsuits, allegations and extended meetings, stretching back to the earliest weeks following Mayor Jones's swearing in, in January 2008.

Controversy surrounding the recent mayoral appointments was seen a week earlier, at the reorganization meeting of the Beachwood Borough council on January 6th, during which time members of council and present members of the public openly questioned the mayor's choices. Many argued that other applicants for the 2010 commissions were more qualified than those he picked. The 2010 Land Use Board appointees are Robert Clark, James Fitzgerald, Michael Merola, with Brendan Gallagher as a Class II member and Robert Woodward as an alternate.

Mayor Jones responded that he knows them personally and that he "stand [s] by the appointments.”

Borough hall was locked down for approximately fifteen minutes, with officers standing guard at the courtroom doors as Mayor Jones paced in the lobby.

When the doors were reopened, Mayor Jones and Board Member Clark returned to the dais, only to re-enter a shouting match with Board Member Robert DiBella. Mr. DiBella is a former borough councilman who later worked on Mayor Jones' 2007 campaign but has become a strong voice of opposition in recent years.

Mr. DiBella stated that the mayor's appointment of Brendan Gallagher was illegal due to not meeting legal requirements. It was stated at the earlier borough council meeting that a conflict of interest present between the mayor and former longtime borough councilman Gerald W. Lacrosse, who was one of the applicants for a commission spot, also lent to the mayor's appointments as being invalid.

"We have illegal members holding this meeting, and the police are condoning it,” he argued, referring to the new appointees and that borough police did not have jurisdiction over the board. "It is against the law.”

Mr. DiBella, using his cellphone, then announced he was calling the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office regarding the borough police.

Board Member Tom Prince, who has served on the board since 2007, was present on the dais throughout the turmoil and lockdown and made a motion to adjourn the meeting that was seconded by Board Member Michael Ely. Chaos returned as newly appointed members Mr. Fitzgerald, Mr. Gallagher and Mr. Merola joined the mayor and voted against the motion as a majority. The board again broke down in argument, with Mr. DiBella repeating that the appointments were illegal and therefore did not count.

Nachhattar Singh, owner of Sidhu Petroleum Corporation operating the Sunoco franchise on Route 9 and Mermaid Avenue, viewed the roiling conflict from a bench near the center of the room. He was present to request approval for a conditional use expansion on his business to make significant improvements that were six months and tens of thousands of dollars in the making. Sidhu Petroleum Corporation runs the only gas station in the borough.

Mr. Singh said that, if approved, he would install a new canopy over the pumping stations as well as replace the old pumps and install a new diesel/regular pump that would allow him to meet the increased demand of his business.

"We have old pumps and I have a credit card machine inside the [attendant's booth], but some people don't like it, they want to see their cards go directly into the pump,” he stated. "I applied a couple months ago, and [my contractor] said it would only take two weeks to get the whole thing done.”

"If they gave me the approval, I could start it next week, but now I have to wait until at least the next meeting,” Mr. Singh said. "There's just too much fighting over there.”

After nearly an hour of continued fighting among board members, borough land use board secretary Morgan Blevins announced that she was turning off the meeting recorder and leaving, as there seemed no end in sight. Board member re-appointee Robert Clark argued that sometimes they'd had meetings that went on until late into the night.

"I am not the judge and jury,” she stated before departing. "I am just the secretary and I am not going to be pulled in different directions.”

Within moments, the three borough officers present announced that the meeting was adjourned, and escorted those present out of borough hall.

Mr. DiBella declined to comment for this story, and Mr. LaCrosse has not returned a request for comment at press time.

On his way out, Mayor Jones proclaimed, "What a fiasco!”

Council, Public Question Mayor's Appointments at Annual Organizational Meeting

Re-elected officials sworn in

Beachwood Borough Hall, Winter.

Beachwood - The borough's annual reorganization meeting, held here Wednesday night, began with the gale of patriotic music by the Ocean County Bagpipers and ended with a clamor of borough residents and council members questioning embattled Mayor Ron Jones and his 2010 commission appointments.

Following the opening ceremony, re-elected council members Beverly Clayton and Ronald Roma, surrounded by family members, were sworn in to their fourth and third terms, respectively.

After the mayor and council approved the majority of public contracts, Councilman Gregory Feeney questioned Mayor Jones about his appointments, focusing on the large turnover in the borough land use board.

The 2010 Land Use Board appointees are Robert Clark, James Fitzgerald, Michael Merola, with Brendan Gallagher as a Class II member and Robert E. Woodward, Jr. as an alternate.

"We had letters submitted by members showing interest [to be reappointed] who had served for some time,” said Mr. Feeney, adding that some of the letters were submitted by past members who held years of related experience.

According to records received from the Borough of Beachwood through an open public records request made by the Riverside Signal, the two past serving members who applied for reappointment to the board but were not selected were the immediate past borough land use board chairman, Edward A. Zakar, and Gerald W. LaCrosse, a past borough council member and member of the borough land use board's predecessor, the planning board.

Mr. Zakar submitted his form on December 2nd, 2009, citing "14 years and current [land use board] volunteer for Beachwood, Positions held: Member, Vice Chairman, Chairman - 2009.” Mr. LaCrosse's form is dated December 10th, 2009 and lists his experience as seven years on the planning board and twenty-one years on council.

These records also indicate that out of ten applications submitted by residents for consideration in land use board appointments, only five applicants listed prior or other experience. These included Mr. Gallagher, Mr. LaCrosse, Mr. Merola, Mr. Woodward, and Mr. Zakar. Besides Mr. Zakar and Mr. LaCrosse, Mr. Woodward is the only other applicant who listed previous borough land use board experience on his submitted form, though Mr. Clark had been serving on the board up to the expiration of his term on December 31st of last year.

"Can you explain to me the appointees and what their experience is?” Mr. Feeney asked.

"I chose those people because I thought they were best for the board,” Mayor Jones replied, stating that he knew them personally and felt they would perform well for the borough.

Mr. Feeney asked the mayor if he was confident they had the same level of experience as those not re-appointed, focusing on the fact that Mayor Jones had reappointed Mr. Clark.

"You're confident they have the same level experience, including the fact that Mr. Clark sued the borough and the land use board?”

Mr. Clark sued the borough and land use board in 2009 over questions whether a meeting held to appoint a board attorney, which earlier that day had been cancelled by then-board chairman Edward Zakar but later held by Mr. Clark and other board members, was legal.

Mayor Jones stated he was speaking particularly of Mr. Clark as being an asset to the planning board, and that the judge presiding over Mr. Clark's legal case with the borough stated his opinion to be that the meeting was, in fact, legal.

"I believe [he] will serve well,” he stated.

Mr. Feeney then pressed the mayor on Mr. Clark's performance in the recreation committee in 2009.

"I believe the board chose to remove him,” said Mayor Jones.

"Remove him for what reason?” asked Mr. Feeney.

"I believe it was attendance,” the mayor replied.

"And you have confidence that Mr. Clark is not going to sue the land use board again, and that he'll show up to all the meetings?” Mr. Feeney asked.

"I would hope so,” said Mayor Jones.

Most of the other borough council members expressed similar concerns and openly questioned the mayor's appointments, highlighting one citizen's three page document questioning the legality of the mayor's ability to appoint members if a conflict of interest with an applicant was present.

Council President Ronald Roma wanted the council to carefully consider the appointments before going forward, in case it would "cost the borough litigation down the line.”

Despite their displeasure with Mayor Jones' new appointments over reappointing past members, all on council emphasized that they were not criticizing the residents who had chosen to step up and serve.

"Without volunteers we wouldn't be able to do what we do in this town,” said Mr. Roma, adding that when it comes to experienced versus non-experienced or untested new members, "we just get concerned with the overall picture.”

Councilwoman Beverly Clayton singled out longtime borough resident Charles Cohen, who served on the borough's recreation commission since 1980, but did not apply for reappointment this year. Ms. Clayton is also a former member of the recreation commission.

"I'm so thankful for the opportunity to work with him when I was on the commission,” she stated. "He must be the longest member standing - thank you for thirty years of dedication to the youth of Beachwood.”

Residents who spoke during the open public comment period, however, were more pointed in their distaste over the mayor's actions.

"I just feel like every time you're asked a straightforward question, you don't give an explanation,” said Cable Avenue resident Linda Lamar, further asking Mayor Jones for his reasons in appointing new members to the land use board instead of reappointing those with a history of serving on the board.

"I feel that these people are the best for the Borough of Beachwood, and I think the people that are replacing [the past members] are open minded and are dedicated,” the mayor replied.

Mr. LaCrosse pointed out a single remaining spot open on the land use board, and that he had applied for an appointment and felt qualified. Mayor Jones declined his request.

Robert DiBella, a former borough councilman who later worked on Mayor Jones' 2007 campaign but has become a strong voice of opposition in recent years, currently serves on the borough land use board. While criticizing the mayor's recent appointments, he entered a heated conversation with Beachwood Borough Council's attorney, William T. Hiering, over the legality of the mayor's appointments when a conflict of interest exists, citing a recent court decision regarding a case of a similar nature.

Mr. Hiering stated he understood Mr. DiBella's argument but felt that the prior decision did not apply to the current appointments, adding that it was Mayor Jones' right to make the appointments regardless of potential conflicts of interest with an applicant, as otherwise such conflicts would hold up government in many ways.

Commenting later on the turmoil over his appointing land use board members largely without prior experience over others with experience, Mayor Jones defended his decision by stating that the "folks appointed to boards and commissions are just regular people interesting in stepping up for the betterment of Beachwood [who] represent a cross section of occupations and professions.”

Reappointing regularly serving members, he continued, "creates class divisions and diminishes the potential for anyone coming forth to join a commission and to work towards improving the character of the community.”

The mayor added that the criticism over his appointments by political opponents are "just fuel on their parts to bring about another unwarranted recall movement with the hope of returning themselves to office, [and] I object to their selfish agenda because it doesn't benefit Beachwood.” Mr. LaCrosse was defeated in the 2007 borough election along with then-mayor Hal Morris that saw Mr. Jones and his running mate, Katina Clark, Mr. Clark's wife, elected to office.

Mayor Jones referred to an April 2007 borough council meeting, at which time Mr. LaCrosse was a serving council member, for further evidence of political maneuvering.

During this meeting, according to official minutes dated April 18th, he, Mr. and Mrs. Clark questioned the appointment of an inexperienced applicant to the borough sewerage authority over Mr. Clark, who is and was at the time a certified master plumber.

According to these official minutes, Councilman Roma "tried to explain that there are no qualifications for elected office,” and that the conflict "is a political matter to be discussed [elsewhere].”

Mayor Jones said that during this meeting, Mr. LaCrosse stated "we don't always appoint the most qualified people.”

Responding to an open public records request by the Riverside Signal to review the recording of that meeting, Beachwood Borough Clerk Bette Mastropasqua stated that the April 18, 2007 recording of the borough council meeting was authorized for destruction on January 11, 2008 under the New Jersey Division of Archives and Records Management state law.

Mr. DiBella declined to comment for this story, and Mr. LaCrosse has not returned a request for comment at press time.

Following a fact check inquiry on this article, Mayor Jones stated that Mr. DiBella had filed a lawsuit in response to the his statement at the above meeting that the decision regarding Mr. Clark's court case regarding the borough land use board fell in Mr. Clark's favor.

02/17/10 Addendum - Robert DiBella, upon reading the article above, reversed his earlier decision not to comment.

Regarding Mayor Jones statement that a lawsuit was filed by Mr. DiBella after the mayor made remarks stating that Mr. Clark had won the court decision in the land use board case, he said denied there was any truth to the comment and added that while the judge presiding over the case ruled that Mr. Clark did have a right to hold the meeting, he did not uphold any action during the meeting, including the appointment of the firm Montenegro, Thompson, Montenegro as borough land use board attorney.

Fire Companies Respond to Boro Hall Call

Scenes Along the River

April 13, 2010

Beachwood First Aid Squad Medical Technicians Graduate

Among thirty-three from county

Real Estate Report with Robert Suarez

Scenes Along the River

March 28, 2010

Mizzen Avenue Crash Leaves Barnegat Man, 26, Dead

Brother: “I didn’t just lose my little brother, but my best friend, too”

Mayor Jones Hit With $25,540 Federal Tax Lien

Accounts for unpaid taxes 2002 – 2007

Annual Easter Egg Hunt & Easter Bunny Breakfast

Severe Storm Re-cap

Beachwood Beach to Host New Residents

Mayor Jones Calls to Abolish Sewer Auth; Privatize Water Dept.

Cites economic crunch; criticizes cost of water tower Seminole icon

Artificial Islands To Be Installed at Jakes Branch

Pilot Project to Protect Water Quality

Environ. Comm Criticize JCP&L Tree Cutting

Company rep: “We don’t just randomly chop trees down”

Scenes Along the River

March 18, 2010

Beachwood Volunteer Fire Holds Annual Dinner Despite Severe Weather

Severe Storm Brings High Wind, Erosion March 16th, 2010

New Beachwood Habitat for Humanity Home Dedicated

New owner “extremely blessed by it all”

Real Estate Report with Robert Suarez

Northern Ocean Habitat for Humanity Director Opens Up

Talks about new Beachwood home; says “Volunteers are the Key”

Scenes Along the River

Week of February 22- 26, 2010

Snow Removal Bill So Far Over $47,000, says Roma

More snow accumulation predicted next week; $15,000 left in snow trust account

Bridge Reconstruction to Close Northbound Double Trouble Road

Part of larger parkway expansion project

And in other news of the Beachwood Borough Council:

Councilwoman Katina Clark Absences Questioned

Council President Roma asks other council members to take over duties

Land Use Board Meeting Erupts in Turmoil; Borough Police Called

Mayor and Board member temporarily ejected

Council, Public Question Mayor's Appointments at Annual Organizational Meeting

Re-elected officials sworn in

Severe Storm Brings High Wind, Erosion
March 16th, 2010