Council

Approves Rent Control Ordinance

By Bob Vosseller MANCHESTER –

The Township Council passed a rent leveling ordinance to help residents of manufactured communities being negatively impacted by high increases from their landlords.

Mayor Robert Arace remarked that as most of those living in these communities are seniors on a fixed income, the increases that they are experiencing have had a big impact on their fi nances. Several senior township communities saw annual increases of more than 6% in their rents.

The mayor said that the ordinance was drafted to protect those residents from greedy landlords looking to cash in on the current economic environment.

“Hundreds of people probably, along the campaign trail, had come to me with this concern … Four communities in town, Pine Ridge South, Pine Ridge of Crestwood, Ridgewood Manor and Pine Acres Manor have all experienced significant unconscionable increases that have hit the pockets our 55-plus residents,” Arace said. Nearly 20 people spoke during the council meeting when it was introduced, stating some of their neighbors have had to move out of the communities as a result of the rent increases.

Frank Gaulrapp of Pine Ridge Crestwood was one of those residents thankful to see the rent leveling ordinance. He said his own landlord “keeps raising the rent $20, $30, $40 - the last rent was $50. Now I’m paying $730. When I moved here, I was paying $600 and change.”

“Those of us on social security don’t get paid every week. We only get one check. He

(Rent - See Page 4)

Smoking Banned At

Lakehurst Public Properties

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Borough officials approved an ordinance aimed at “nuisance properties” that require the police or other services frequently.

This ordinance notes that there are proper- ties located in Lakehurst where nuisances and other activities occur which have resulted in the excessive consumption of municipal services. The added cost of these municipal services “should be paid by the property owner and not through general tax revenues.”

Excessive municipal services are defined in the ordinance as “any qualifying Lakehurst Borough Police Department calls made to a property while (Nuisance - See Page 5)

By Bob Vosseller

LAKEHURST

– Although Lakehurst is one of two towns in the county where cannabis products can be sold, the mayor and council recently moved to prohibit the consumption or possession of open containers of cannabis in public places. Additionally, no one within the Borough can consume any cannabis product in any public or quasi-public place or public building. Smoking is prohibited within or on all property owned by the Borough except as otherwise designated. That includes electronic smoking devices that can be used to deliver nicotine or other substances to the person inhaling from the device, including, but not limited to, an electronic cigarette, cigar, cigarillo, or pipe.

Lakehurst’s public facilities covered under (Smoking - See Page 5)

Rent:

Continued From Page 1 doesn’t need to raise our rent, he can give us a break,” Gaulrapp added.

“I’ve never seen a company that advertises amenities and then they just disappear. Not only are they raising the rent it is also the fact that they are allowed to advertise things that they aren’t giving their residents. That is false advertising,” Tern Court resident John Jasonowicz said.

Andrew Kirsteen, a member of the Pine Ridge South Board of Directors, asked about the appeals board that is set up through the ordinance. “You will be inundated as we well know. The way I read the draft only two permanent members of the Board specify which leads three from who knows where?” other three primary members are mayoral appointments, however, with the advice and consent of council. We would look to fi nd the best people of the community. the development of the ordinance.

Hanlon who represents the owners of Pine Ridge South and Ridgewood Manor asked the Council to table the ordinance for further consideration. He suggested litigation would most likely be initiated were the ordinance passed that evening.

Kirsteen wanted to know who was going to sit on the appeals board to ensure that it is a proper balance “so we end up not creating something that will either go too far in one direction as it will hurt the township and stymie development or go too far in the other direction and hurt the residents.”

“It would go on a mayoral appointment list that would by permission of the council president be on the agenda and there would be an open hearing as to who the appointment would be and there would be public comment to state your case or objection. That is the current process,” Arace added.

“We are going to have these conversations in the context of litigation and respectfully, that really isn’t fair to us,” Hanlon said.

Mayor Arace explained about the membership of the leveling board: “It does mandate one resident of one of the actual impacted communities and a landlord proxy, the

Educators:

Continued From Page 1

Pine Ridge South resident Phyllis Reim said, “I am very appreciative of Mayor Arace for doing this and the council for listening to us. In January 2017 we were paying $697 a month and then that November we got a letter that it would go to $710 a month. As of January 1, 2023, our monthly rent is now $826 so it went up $129.” school district has made in regards to early childhood education while assisting our colleagues in connecting with one another to support all of our students and programs,” Burns added.

She said, “during this session we accomplished the task of connecting with fellow educators and district leaders who received the Preschool Education Aid (PEA) grant. Building principals, supervisors and district leaders were able to discuss best practices regarding curriculum, instruction, profes- sional development and facilities.”

“The Preschool Instructional Coaches (PIC) were able to collaborate with neighboring school districts regarding curriculum, instruction and the Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale (ECERS). Preschool Intervention and Referral Specials are able to collaborate regarding best practices for supporting all preschool-age students,” she added.

Burns noted, “the Community Parent Involvement Specialists (CPIS) were able to discuss the many ways to involve parents, guardians and community stakeholders in their preschool program in order to ensure success. Overall, all of the participating

Two attorneys representing manufactured home communities spoke during the ordinance’s fi nal reading. Lori C. Greenberg a real estate attorney from Marlton and Christopher J. Hanlon, of Hanlon, Niemann and Wright, Freehold, expressed their displeasure over the administration not reaching out to the landlord owners in school districts benefited from sharing their experiences, ideas and best practices in order to support their programs.”

Participating school districts included townships in Manchester, Berkeley, Central Regional, Lakehurst, Jackson, Ocean Gate, Plumsted, Stafford, Barnegat, Lakewood, Brick and Waretown.

“We will have more in the future as the interest is building. The feedback from participants in this initial meeting was overwhelmingly positive,” Burns added. The Township School District’s Early Childhood Education Department plans to host the ECEC on a quarterly basis.

Greenberg added, “I was surprised that the town didn’t reach out to the landlords. Your ordinance includes a 2% cap which is abhorrent. I think we should be involved in this.”

Numerous residents however came to the podium thanking the mayor for presenting the ordinance and applauded loudly when the Council unanimously approved it.

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Smoking:

Continued From Page 1 the ordinance include the entire buildings and grounds of the Borough Hall, Police Department, Public Works building, Lake Horicon beach, park and picnic area, Harold Fuccile Sports Complex, Lakehurst Community Center, Lakehurst Historical Society Museum, all public property, and the grounds of the public schools. smoking even in the parking lots.”

Councilwoman Bernadette Dugan said that under public facilities “it says the Community Center but when you rent it, does it not become a public facility?”

“It is still a public facility,” Borough Attorney Ian Goldman replied. Oglesby noted that smoking areas may be designated in vehicle parking areas outside of the public property and buildings covered by within the ordinance. “We’d have to designate it.”

Except for those specified areas, no smoking shall be permitted in any area of borough-owned property or any areas immediately outside and adjacent to the public building, structure, public works facility, parking lot, open space, park, or recreation area.

$500. Those found guilty of defacing or removing “No Smoking” signs will face a fi ne between $200 and $500, plus the costs of replacing the sign.

“Usually, smoking ordinances involve public locations, such as schools, things of that nature,” Goldman added.

“This includes the beach and everything. That’s good,” Dugan said.

The ordinance also outlines signage specifically designating smoking areas.

Nuisance:

Continued From Page 1

Council President Steven Oglesby pointed out during a council meeting that “we have ashtrays outside the building here (at the Lakehurst Community Center) so people will be outside to smoke. Will that apply to rentals (of the Center) as well? If so, we need to get rid of the ashtrays and make sure it is clearly understood that there is no that property is on probationary nuisance status.”

A nuisance property is described in the ordinance as “properties on which activities occur that result in qualifying Lakehurst Borough Police Department calls for municipal services during any 60-day period in excess of the number of calls listed on the schedule 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. - are considered nuisance properties and are subject to the penalties and procedures as set forth” in the ordinance. There will be a probationary nuisance status designation applied to properties which, as determined by a public officer, have received the requisite number of qualifying calls within a 60-day period. Probationary nuisance status is effective for a 12-month period beginning on the date of the public officer’s determination.

The property owner is liable to the Borough for $300 per offense withing that 12-month period. The list of offenses include violations of laws that disrupt the

Signage will be clearly and conspicuously posted by the Borough at all public properties and shall reference the applicable code provision herein. Provisions of the ordinance will be enforced by police, public works, or building department employees and anyone violating the provisions are subject to a fi ne of not less than $50 nor more than $200 for each violation.

A person found guilty of a second or subsequent offense shall be subject to a fi ne of not less than $50 nor more than peace or harm others.

However, there are some violations that don’t count, because police don’t want people to be afraid of being fined for something so they don’t report it.

Borough Attorney Ian Goldman explained the governing body didn’t want to deter anyone from contacting the police in relation to a 911 call for an overdose, by way of example, which is why it is one of the 10 items not on the call list.

Police Chief Matthew Kline or his designee will administer the necessary re- cord keeping and investigation required in connection with this ordinance. He or his designee will also have to keep and maintain records documenting information concerning the properties serviced.

During that council meeting resolutions were passed regarding the 2023 Community Development Block Grant funding application, authorizing preparation of bid specification for the 2023 NJDOT-funded Pine Street and Union Avenue Reconstruction project, authorizing a contract with Jobs 4 Blue for coordination of off-duty employment of police officers.

The governing body also approved resolutions to hire Brenda Duffy as alternate crossing guard and appointing Jeff Emmons and Robert W. Robinson III as a Class IV members of the Land Use Board.

Councilman Jim Davis asked if the ordinance applied to “maintenance repeatedly throwing junk out of someone’s house because they have repeatedly put crap out on the curb.”

Council President Steven Oglesby said that excessive debris would fall under code enforcement services “if it is a nuisance.”