Ban - See

Continued From Page 1 taxes, but I am in total agreement that there are just too many unknowns and I’d like to see someone else’s mistakes. We can learn from their mistakes and we can possibly move forward in the future.” Hugh Giordano, who speaks for the United Food Commercial Workers Union, UFCW a national labor union that represents cannabis workers from seed to sale adult use, attended the meeting. “We oppose this ordinance. This is an attack on good jobs, an attack on living wage jobs. Jobs that come with health care, sick time and vacation, dental, vision, retirement. These are adult jobs.” Giordano urged the council to review an ordinance from Bayonne which outlined regulations he said would make the community feel more comfortable in allowing cannabis sales. “One cultivation site can create up to 100 full time jobs. When you prohibit this, you open the door up to other folks to sell things. The gateway drug, is the drug dealer.” “We deal in regulated industries. You could have other opportunities outside of retail (for cannabis) with no interaction or purchasing anything. You’ll still get tax credits and create good jobs. To say there are unknowns - there are 20 dispensary sites, cultivation sites up and running and many states have already legalized adult use and the sky is not falling down,” he added. Council President Andrew Kern said “those facilities that he spoke about are not set up under the potential regulations. Right now if we don’t pass this ordinance we can’t do anything for five years which is why we are doing this now to see how things come out. Also with the 100 jobs - we have businesses in the town right now that are looking for workers.”

Contracts And Grants

The governing body also introduced an ordinance amending township code concerning housing standards, resale, compliance and a reinspection fee. A public hearing on this ordinance will be held on July 13. Resolutions included a professional engineering service contract with Colliers Engineering and Design for public web mapping concerning park needs. It also includes an assessment and analysis for an open space acquisition strategy in the total amount of $47,800. The township is also submitting a grant application and grant contract with the New Jersey Department of Transportation for the NJDOT Municipal Aid program for road improvements to North Carolina Drive.

Fireworks And Food Trucks

Councilman Borrelli reminded the council about the July 10 Food Truck and Fireworks event to be held at Johnson Park. “Come out and enjoy the food trucks and fireworks from 3 to 9 p.m. It is free and there will be live music at the event. More information about it can be found on the Jackson Township website.” Noting that Independence Day was a few days away at the time, Councilman Chisholm said, “I hope you will tell your kids the real reason why we have this freedom which is often overlooked unfortunately, whether it is intentional or accidental that it is not being taught properly to our children today.” “While I feel there is nothing wrong with celebrating with picnics and spending time with families, enjoying pools and barbeques and obviously the illuminations are fantastic as Councilman Borrelli said, so please come out and join us on July 10. Celebrate America however just make sure you are teaching your kids. Pass that on. Our freedom is not something we transmit to our children through their blood stream as (President) Ronald Reagan once said. It has to be taught to each successive generation. God Bless America,” Chisholm added.

Toms River Lions Club To Host Annual Car Show

By Alyssa Riccardi

TOMS RIVER – Come show off your car, truck or motorcycle! The Toms River Lions Club is holding their 2nd Annual Judged Car Show on August 8 with a rain date of August 15. The event will be held at the Pizza Hut parking lot on Rt 37 in Toms River from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Trophies will be awarded, including Best Represented Car Club. There will be vendors, music with DJ “Al”, raffles, 50/50 and giveaways. Pre-registration through July 30 is only $15. Registration on-site starts at 8:30 a.m. will be $20. The N.J. Lions Eye Mobile will be on premises at the car show to check people’s vision to see if they need glasses. This service is completely free of charge. To register by check or credit card, call Mel at 732-239-8968. All proceeds from this event will go to benefit Lions Charities.

New Firehouse To Be Built

By Bob Vosseller

JACKSON – Councilman Martin Flemming said the township had taken the first “baby steps in moving some property in one of our fire districts to allow us to build the first new firehouse in this town in just about 40 years. That firehouse will replace an out-of-date structure that is closer to 80 years old. “Hopefully, we can continue to get this done and get some good fire protection for the township for many years to come,” the councilman added. “I’d like to thank Council Vice President Flemming for all his work over the year to get this project where we are now for the firehouse,” Councilman Andrew Kern said.