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Southern Could Seek Grant For School Repairs

By: Nicholas Huba-Writer-Jan.6,2009, Asbury Park Press

STAFFORD — Southern Regional officials are looking at the possibility of applying for a state Department of Education Regional Operating Districts grant to pay for improvements to the middle school roof.
The repairs to the roof were part of a $6.69 million referendum that voters rejected Dec. 9 by a margin of 1,980 to 1,186.
"The state has extended the application deadline for the ROD grant program to Feb. 2," said Craig Henry, superintendent of schools. "Therefore, we will be applying for ROD grant consideration for the middle school roof."
The district Capital Projects Committee met with district architect and bond counsel Dec. 22 to discuss the future of the project. The roof at the middle school was one of the pressing parts of the referendum.
"The state's ability to fund this grant program and the number of schools that will be applying make this a very uncertain option," Henry added. "Nevertheless, it is an option to pursue."
The proposal included spending $3.3 million at Southern Regional Middle School to replace windows, the roof and the hot water heaters in the gym and kitchen areas. In the ninth- and 10th-grade building at Southern Regional High School, the district was slated to spend $2.98 million on a complete heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system for the hallways, gym, locker rooms and guidance department and improvements to the roof and auditorium.
"All other aspects of our previous referendum are on hold as we continue to research and evaluate," Henry said.
Leading up to the Dec. 9 vote, members of the Joint Council of Taxpayers Association voiced their displeasure with the scope of the referendum. The association, which represents approximately 5,500 families, asked that the project be broken down based on needs.
"We understand there are things that need to be done," said Bill Knarre, president of the association. "I'm fine with them going with an alternate route to fund the project."
"If the roof is leaking, you have to repair it," Knarre added.
Knarre said other parts of the project should be put into a long-range plan.
"Items like the extra storage and bathrooms for the bus drivers should be put into a plan and then done each year," Knarre said. "Taxpayers, including those in Stafford, don't want to spend any more."

LBT is applying to be part of the state's energy audit plan

Article by Nicholas Huba* Staff Writer* Asbury Park press Dec.23.2008.
LONG BEACH TOWNSHIP — In an effort to save money, the township is applying to take part in the state's energy audit program.
The board approved participation in the program during its meeting Friday.
The program's administrators review a municipality's energy use and offer suggestions on cost reduction, Mayor Joseph Mancini said.
"Right now we have to look at everything," Mancini said. "Right now with energy costs as high as they are, we could be missing something that is costing us money."
The state's Local Government Energy Audit Program targets government-owned facilities including offices, courtrooms, town halls, police and fire stations, sanitation buildings, transportation structures, schools and community centers, according to the program's Web site.
"With the economy the way it is, you have to look at any ways to save money," Mancini said. "This will show if we are missing anything on the energy side of things."
Mancini said that he did not know when the energy audit would be completed.
When the audit is complete, the township will receive a list of recommended, cost-effective energy-efficiency measures and facility upgrades that would reduce operating expenses and, in many cases, improve the health and productivity of the buildings' occupants, according to the program's Web site.
Mike Mercurio, a resident of West Indiana Avenue and proponent of green energy, said that he is in favor of the audit. Mercurio's home is powered by green energy.
"I'm in total support of this," Mercurio said. "It's a great way to look at different ways to power the municipality. It's a step in the right direction."

Court Rejects Bid To Hear Access Case

Court rejects bid to hear access case
DEP SOUGHT LAND FOR BEACH WORK
By NICHOLAS HUBA • STAFF WRITER • December 18, 2008

The state Attorney General's Office was denied its plea to the state Supreme Court to gain access to five properties for a federally funded beach replenishment project.
The court ruling, dated Dec. 11, rejected the Attorney General's Office petition to hear the case on behalf of the the state Department of Environmental Protection.
"This case demonstrates that the New Jersey courts still hold that the governmental "taking' of private property rights without compensation is taboo even when there is an argument that the governmental taking has a benefit to the property owner," said Kenneth Porro, an attorney representing homeowners in the case.
State officials were disappointed in the ruling.
"This will make it more difficult to maintain the state's important beach replenishment efforts," said Lee Moore, a spokesman for the Attorney General's Office.
Paul H. Schneider, another attorney representing homeowners in the case, was delighted with the ruling.
"This is a true David versus Goliath," Schneider said. "The final chapter has been written, and David has won."
"We knew all along that the state's land grab attempt was unconstitutional, and we are delighted the Supreme Court has agreed," Schneider added.
Borough Mayor Leonard T. Connors Jr. said that he is not surprised by the state Supreme Court ruling.
"This has been going on for sometime," Connors said. "I have always been of the opinion that they were never going to win this case, so this ruling does not surprise me.
"The whole basis for their argument was giving them sand in lieu of money, and it was not going to work," Connors added.
The office decided to appeal to the state Supreme Court a July 15 appellate division ruling. The ruling denied access to the properties.
The case has been going through the court system for more than two years.
On Nov. 16, 2006, Superior Court Judge Vincent J. Grasso ruled the state did not produce enough evidence to be granted access to the properties for the federal beach replenishment project. The state appealed the decision.
The state's appeal cited several areas where it feels Grasso erred.
The state claimed that Grasso said the only way for workers to access the sites was through eminent domain. The appeal also cited the health and safety of the public as a reason to be given access.
The project includes increasing the size of Long Beach Island beaches as well as dunes. The first part of the project was completed in Surf City, except for the properties that were subject to the appeal, and a small section of Ship Bottom.
The project's future depends on federal funding and the municipalities' ability to win easements from property owners in order to access their properties. The next phase of the project is expected to start sometime early next year.
Despite the ruling, Porro said homeowners still are concerned about a variety of issues regarding the project.
"The next horizon is to attempt to seek a balance between the competing parties' goals," Porro said. "All of my clients would agree to a smaller size dune project, which reflects ocean views, access and breezes.

NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH ALERT

To: Long Beach Township Taxpayer Associations
From: Bill Knarre, Brant Beach Neighborhood Watch

Below please find an info release from LBT Police LT. Deely. Lt. Deely has asked our Neighborhood Watch to forward the information to the Taxpayer Associations in LBT. If any of your members have experienced a situation such as this please respond to LBT police and be on the alert if it should happen in the future.
Police Dispatch desk 494-3322

Thanks
Bill Knarre

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: deely@longbeachtownship.com
To: Kknarre@aol.com
CC: bradley@longbeachtownship.com
Sent: 12/12/2008 10:04:51 A.M. Eastern Standard Time
Subj: IDENTIFICATION


BILL,
In an effort to assist the NJSP regarding a ring of Burglaries( BELIEVED TO BE ON AND OFF THE ISLAND) the following information has been cleared for release:

Two individuals (male and female) residing on the Island for the past 3 yrs would engage in the following:
The female would walk up to homes presumable vacant and attempt to make contact (knock or ring bell) if a person answered the door the following would occur:

THE FEMALE WOULD ASK IF THE OCCUPANT HAD SEEN HER DOG, AND THAT SHE WAS LOOKING FOR IT, WOULD THANK THE PERSON AND WALK AWAY:

IF NO ANSWER THE MALE WOULD FORCE ENTRY(PRY AND PHYSICAL FORCE) REMOVE ITEMS WHILE THE FEMALE WATCHED THE EXTERIOR OF THE RESIDENCE

The subjects have been linked to a string of burglaries primarily in Burlington county.
The request is for you to pass on the information regarding the MO of the Burglars similar instances in Brant Beach), and to review the picture to determine if anyone knows the people in the picture:

The NJSP have recovered the picture from a disc that was seized as a result of a search warrant, but have not identified the individuals as of yet, any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

If you would be so kind as to forward info to Holgate group, I have no contact info regarding Neighborhood Watch program-

If you could forward to all the taxpayers groups in an effort to broaden the scope of this request it would be greatly appreciated.

In the event there is a problem with the transmission of this message plase call to advise
<<...>> <<...>>
Dlt. Anthony Deely
609.361.2071

VOTERS REJECT SCHOOL PROJECTS

Voters reject school projects
Barnegat Light... Beach Haven
Yes 40 No 114... Yes 81 No 82

Harvey Cedars... Long Beach Twp.
Yes 18 No 47... Yes 104 No 410

Ship Bottom... Surf City
Yes 57 No 90... Yes 37 No 167

Stafford...
Yes 871 No 1060
Stafford also voted down their Elementary School Referendum

Dune Grass Available

DUNE GRASS PLANTS ARE STILL AVAILABLE
AT THE TOWNSHIP PUBLIC WORKS YARD
7910 LONG BEACH BLVD.

STOP BY MON - FRI 9 AM TO 3 PM

FOR PLANTING ON THE DUNES AND BAYFRONT

Beach Wheels Chair

beachwheels-chair.jpg We are pleased to inform you that your organization has contributed a Beach Wheels chair to the Long Beach Township Beach Patrol. This presentation took place at the Commissioners meeting on Friday,June 20, 2008.

At the meeting Don Myers, Beach Patrol Supervisor said that they had over 30 adult beach wheel chairs available for residents of Long Beach Township. These chairs help individuals who may find it difficult or near impossible to go to the beaches. Children beach wheels chairs are also available. All of these beach wheels chairs were donated by various organizations as well as our sister organization Loveladies Property Owners Association. The enjoyment it gives to the individuals that are using the chairs is unbelievable.

Long Beach Township Phone Number , Extentions, & E-Mail Addresses

Long Beach Township
6805 Long Beach Boulevard
Brant Beach, NJ 08008

Ph:(609)361-1000
Fax:(609)494-5421
Hours: 9AM to 4PM
Monday - Friday

CONTACT: Email Address: Tel. Ext

Mayor Joseph H. Mancini mancini@longbeachtownship.com 6671
Comm. DiAnne C. Gove sbongiovani@longbeachtownship.com 6630
Comm. Ralph H. Bayard rbayard@longbeachtownship.com 6668
Municipal Clerk tsgro@longbeachtownship.com 6635
Registrar sbongiovani@longbeachownship.com 6631
Finance Office ljones@longbeachtownship.com 6640
Tax Assessor hafner@longbeachtownship.com 6660
Tax Collector hample@longbeachtownship.com 6647
Asst. Dir. DPW barana@longbeachtownship.com 6672
Public Works Admin rhirsekorn@longbeachtownship.com 6667
Construction Office building@longbeachtownship.com 6679
Zoning Dept. tallon@longbeachtownship.com 6651
Water & Sewer appell@longbeachtownship.com 6638
Water/Sewer Supt. ward@longbeachtownship.com 6670
Land Use Board krueger@longbeachtownship.com 6636
LBI Health Dept. lbihd@lbihealth.com 492-1212