Times
MICROMEDIA PUBLICATIONS, INC.
Inside This Week’s Edition
THE SOUTHERN OCEAN
Vol. 3 - No. 47
Business Directory...................18 Classifieds................................19 Community News.................8-11 Dear Joel..................................16 Dr. Izzy’s Sound News...............14 Government...............................7 Inside The Law .........................17 Letters to the Editor.....................6 Wolfgang.................................23 WWW.MICROMEDIAPUBS.COM
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Is This Wetland Or Not?
Holgate Site In Building Controversy
By Daniel Nee HOLGATE – Are they wetlands, or aren’t they? That is the question that has plagued Holgate since Superstorm Sandy washed sand into an area previously thought to be unbuildable because of its wetlands designation, potentially increasing its value exponentially. The plot of land is located between Beck and Starr avenues in the Holgate section of Long Beach Township. In order for its owners to be able to build there, the state would have to remove its wetlands designation, which bans building on the site. After a public comment period on the matter ended, state officials say they were granted access to an adjacent property by its owner, and determined that even less area still qualifies as wetlands compared to what officials have originally estimated. This new determination will prompt what is known as a “notice of –Photos by Daniel Nee substantial change” to be published, followed by a new public comment period and hearing An area of Holgate could be buildable land, since Superstorm Sandy deposited more sand there, but it would first need its wetlands designation removed. (Wetlands - See Page 4)
Pension Assessment Leads To Tax Hike
By Daniel Nee STAFFORD – Township residents will be reaching further into their wallets this year, primarily due to a dispute between the township and state over Stafford’s contributions to the state pension system. According to officials, $1.148 million of the $34.342 million tax levy for 2016 will go toward the pension assessment, which was originally ordered in 2010. The township, and its attorneys, filed an appeal in 2012 and never heard back from the state until this year’s budget process was underway, said Township Administrator James Moran. “We presented all our evidence and we never heard from them again,” said Moran. “We figured after four years, never having heard from them, that we must have in fact proved our case and that was the end of it.” The township, Moran said, will continue to fight the assessment, but taxpayers must pay it in the meantime. “Unfortunately, although we may very well
prevail in our quest, it has to be budgeted and it has to be paid to the state of New Jersey,” said Moran. If Stafford does prevail, the money would be transferred to a surplus account and used
to offset future property tax increases. With the assessment, taxes in Stafford will rise 2.5 cents per $100 of assessed real estate value this year, a hike of $100 for a
May 14, 2016
Stafford Appoints New Police Chief, Acquires Open Space
By Daniel Nee STAFFORD – Capt. Thomas Dellane has been named the new police chief for the Township. Mayor John Spodofora said recently that after a months-long search and several interviews, they decided to appoint Dellane to the post. He will replace Chief Joseph Giberson, who officially retires May 31. Dellane will take over the following day. “We’re sad to see [Giberson] go, but we’re very thankful to have had him for all the years we had him,” said Spodofora. Officials say the department will be in good hands under the leadership of Dellane, 49, who was one of the township’s most senior officers. Dellane holds an undergraduate degree in criminal justice as well as a law degree, and has also completed the FBI academy. “Under the guidance of Chief Giberson, the department was in very capable hands,” Dellane said. (Chief - See Page 5)
(Pension - See Page 5)
Prison Escapee Apprehended
Arthur Buckel
By Catherine Galioto OCEAN COUNTY – It was a search that sent helicopters with spotlights into the night sky and locked down local schools. But the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department announced at 11:34 a.m. May 9 that a wanted man who escaped from state prison has been apprehended, after a nearly weeklong search. Arthur Buckel was spotted late May 8 at the Forked River rest stop on the Garden State Parkway in Lacey, in a search authorities said continued into the morning of May 9. A tip from a driver who noticed someone in the (Escapee - See Page 4)
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–Photo by Stafford PD Capt. Thomas Dellane, who will become Stafford’s police chief.