The Former Brick Mayor Begins New Career As Judge New Council Member Chosen

By Judy Smestad-Nunn

BRICK – Melissa

R. Travers will fill a vacant seat on the governing body that was created when councilmember Lisa Crate was named mayor last month after John G. Ducey resigned to become a superior court judge.

“The method of filling that vacancy is set in state law,” said township attorney Kevin Starkey during the March 15 council meeting.

“The Democratic Municipal Committee makes three nominations…and presents them to the council, and there have been three names presented.”

By Alyssa Riccardi

Ducey was officially sworn in on March 23, shortly after making the major announce - ment of his departure as Brick Mayor. The extensive turnout included judges currently serving in the county’s Superior Court as well as the county’s consti- tutional officers clerk Scott Colabella, Sheriff Michael Mastronardy, and surrogate Jeffrey Moran.

Also in attendance (Judge - See Page 6)

Nearly 400,000 Pieces Of Trash Removed From Beaches In 2022

By Alyssa Riccardi LONG BRANCH

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Everything from cigarette butts to a giant 3-foot teddy bear were among the thousands of pieces of garbage collected off our beaches during Clean Ocean Action’s (COA) 2022 beach sweeps.

The Long Branchbased environmental organization recently released their 2022 Beach Sweeps Report. Volunteers rallied together last year to pick up a total of 376,969 pieces of trash, accord- ing to the organization.

Some of the most common garbage items included thousands of plastic bottle caps and lids, over 37,000 food and candy wrappers, and more than 22,000 cigarette filters.

(Trash - See Page 4)

The council unanimously chose Melissa R. Travers, who will serve until the end of the year. The other two candidates were Erica Demaio and Emma Mammano.

(Council - See Page 5)

Officials Fight $2.5M State Aid Cut

By Alyssa Riccardi

BRICK – School as well as Township officials are urging Trenton to restore funding as the district faces a $2.54 million cut for the 2023-24 school year. Despite the heavy blow, there may be hope on the horizon.

According to the NJ Department of Education, the total state aid for Brick School District is $14,632,033, down $2,542,260 - a

14.80% decrease.

“The reduction in aid is what was expected due to the continued loss of State Aid via the S-2 legislation. The loss will continue to negatively impact the Brick schools and provide challenges for maintaining educational programs,” Business Administrator Jim Edwards told Jersey Shore Online.

The new school

(Aid - See Page 4)

Aid: Continued From Page 1

funding formula known as “S-2” took effect in 2018. Since then, Brick schools lost 49% of their state aid, according to Superintendent Thomas Farrell.

When the state aid numbers were published, the township immediately expressed its outrage. Farrell published a 15-page report stating how schools are short millions of dollars, which are needed to fund a fair and adequate education.

“S-2 claimed that aid would be cut commensurate with enrollment decreases, but that is not true for Brick, with an enrollment having only decreased 10%,” Farrell said in his report. “Brick’s current budget can only generate $2.4M due to the State mandated 2% tax levy cap. Thus, as we further fall below adequacy, it would take Brick over seven years to catch up to other districts.”

Despite increasing class sizes and reducing

Trash:

Continued From Page 1

Amidst the garbage was the “Roster of the Ridiculous,” as COA calls it, which is the most outrageous finds during a beach sweep. Some of these wacky items included asparagus, a car muffler, handlebars from a bike, Legos and more.

COA’s Beach Sweeps are held twice a year with a goal to clean the environment while recording debris for data which helps with federal and state legislation.

COA’s advocacy campaign manager Kari staff, the school district’s budget rose from $153.2 million to $163 million.

“With inflation, cost-of-living increases, and other costs increasing substantially, we are in the ‘perfect storm’ fiscally. State aid to the affected S-2 districts has been reduced at an exorbitant rate that far outpaces what these districts can replenish annually and put back. These are dire times financially and Brick Schools is bleeding budgetarily. Where is the money going? Not to Brick!” Farrell wrote.

Brick Mayor Lisa Crate and the Township Council wrote a letter to Senator Vin Gopal opposing to the $2.54 million reduction in school funding.

“As a public-school educator for over 30 years, Mayor Crate is intimately familiar with the need for this funding and the harm these reductions will do to our school district and our taxpayers.

Mayor Crate has sent a letter to State Senator Vin Gopal, Chair of the Senate Education Committee voicing her opposition to the funding cuts,” the Township said in a statement.

Martin said the data has helped push the state’s ban on single-use plastic bags and plastic-foam takeout containers, which have decreased nearly 38% since the ban.

According to the report, volunteers removed 5,833 plastic bags; 21,216 straws and 1,689 plastic food containers in 2022.

“We’re able to turn all of that effort into a legacy of information that we can use to change policies and to make the changes that we need to reduce litter that gets into our ocean and into our waterways,” said Cindy Zipf, executive director of Clean Ocean Action. “It’s is not just ugly on the beaches, but as many of you know it’s lethal or

The Council also created a resolution opposing the cuts, which was approved unanimously. In the resolution, the Mayor and Council “demand that Governor Murphy and the State Legislature revise the school funding formula.”

Farrell discussed the short- and long-term solutions as S-2 continues to affect the district.

“A short-term solution is for the State to utilize some of the unspent billions in federal dollars received and in reserve, and re-allocate monies to those districts negatively affected by S-2 and that are way below adequacy. In addition, the State can re-look at Adequacy Aid and how it is dispersed presently and possibly re-purpose that money based on change is school aid funding over the last few years,” Farrell said.

“A long-term solution is that the State must re-evaluate the school funding formula so as to provide a thorough and efficient education for all students in New Jersey by striving to bring all public-school districts to adequacy – the State’s base threshold established for a constitutional harmful to marine life.”

During a recent press conference, COA staff explained that the amount of garbage pulled off New Jersey beaches last year dropped from 2021. Disposable face masks decreased by 40%, disposable wipes also decreased by 40%, and plastic bottle caps and lids dropped 29%. Other items such as e-cigarette cartridges, dog waste bags, and disposable gloves all saw a significant decline.

During the Q&A session, one person questioned the restriction of outdoor balloons. COA said they are currently working to find a sponsor, as balloons and their ribbons are a great threat to seabirds, sea turtles and marine mammals, COA said.

‘T&E’ education for students,” Farrell added. Have their voices been heard? Well, it seems that the state may be handing out additional aid to districts who were hit hard by S-2.

On March 20, the Senate passed S-3732. It states that if a school district suffered from a reduction in aid under S-2 for the 2023-2024 school year, they would receive 66% of the cut aid back. It appropriates $102,784,455 toward that goal. The money is coming from the Property Tax Relief Fund.

The Assembly version, A-5328, has only just been introduced. An official said that this version will go to a vote on March 30 and that the governor has said he will sign it if it goes to his desk. The results were not known by deadline.

This additional money would be Supplemental Stabilization Aid, and it would only be a onetime award. A district will have to write to the Commissioner of Education with a plan on how they will use the fund, and how they will manage in future years if they don’t get the same kind of stabilization again.

“We really need to change the public awareness about balloons. They’re beautiful. They’re fun, but they’re inside toys or things to be very careful with.,” Zipf said.

This Year’s Sweep

The press conference relaying last year’s information had another purpose: to bring attention to this year’s clean-up.

If you’d like to be a volunteer in the organization’s 2023 Beach Sweeps, it will be held on April 1 from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. across the Jersey Shore. For a list of locations, visit cleanoceanaction.org/ aboutbeachsweeps.

Council: Continued From Page 1

The same is true for Mayor Crate’s term. Both a council member and a mayor will be chosen in a November election, and if elected, they would serve out the remaining terms of their offices. (Crate has announced that she plans to run for mayor). Travers will be sworn in during a future council meeting.

Food Trucks, Open Space & Dredging

In other news, the Township Council Land Use and Business and Finance Committees are recommending amending an existing ordinance to allow for 10 Class 2 food trucks in the township. The Class 2 licenses allow for food trucks to stay put in one location.

“The number of food trucks in this category was previously limited at seven,” said Councilman Vincent Minischino. “These food trucks can only be parked where they have the owner’s permission and required approval by Traffic Safety, Code Enforcement and Zoning.”

There are three trucks on the waiting list, but if a veteran applied, they would be granted automatic approval, he added.

“None of these trucks have approval to be on township property because they have agreements with an ice cream vendor and other vendors for township events,” the councilman said.

Additionally, the governing body voted to accept a donation of 3.2 acres of marshland, located behind Cedar Bridge Manor.

The owners of the property reached out to the township to donate the marshland, on which nothing can be built. One third of the parcel is underwater.

“This property has the added benefit of a prime location for the re-use of dredge materials,” said Councilwoman Andrea Zapcic. “It will also add acreage to our open space preservation areas.”

And finally, the governing body voted to establish requirements and fees applicable to municipal dredging permits.

The township has obtained a townwide dredging permit that allows for individual property owners to contract for dredging without paying for a permit application, which saves each waterfront property owner significant time and money, said Councilman Derrick T. Ambrosino.

“The table’s been set for individual property owners to proceed with dredging their slips by receiving a permit from the township to do so from our engineering department,” he said.

Township Business Administrator Joanne Bergin said the township is not obligated to perform dredging on private property since they’re not public waterways.

“So, to facilitate and assist these lagoon property owners that desperately want to be dredged, we went ahead and processed the ability to have a performance process to make it easier for them,” she said.

Last year’s dredging of Nejecho Beach lagoon was a state-allowed pilot program completed before the townwide dredging permit was in place, Bergin said.. The waterfront property owners and since been assessed for the work.

The next council meeting will be on Tuesday April 11 at 7 p.m.

Judge: Continued From Page 1 were most of the Brick Township Council and new Mayor Lisa Crate, Ocean County Commissioners Joseph Vicari, Virginia Haines, Gary Quinn and Bobbi Jo Crea, as well as well as state Senators Christopher Connors, Robert Singer and James Holzapfel.

State Senator Vin Gopal and Senator Nicholas Scutari also offered remarks. Before Ducey was sworn in, several speakers provided a glimpse of what Ducey has done during his tenure. Ducey had served Brick Township for 12 years, starting as a councilman before being elected as mayor. Brick’s Attorney Kevin Starkey, who emceed the ceremony, mentioned how Ducey always put his family first, making time for his son Jack.

Brick Business Administrator Joanne Bergin said working beside Ducey at town hall was the “best time of my life” and explained how Ducey always made staff feel confident.

“He’d say ‘You got this,’ or ‘We’ve got this’ whenever there were challenges. We all shined under him and because of him,” Bergin said.

Another speaker was Brian White,

Ducey’s brother-in-law who was sworn to the bench in 2021. His speech included the story of how the two met while they were serving as law clerks in Ocean County.

White described Ducey as an “analog attorney” because he always kept a small notebook in his pocket to record important dates. White praised Ducey for being the nicest guy in every room and how he’ll continue to make Ocean County proud.

After Ducey was sworn in and slipped on the judge’s robe, he reflected on his time severing Brick Township as well as his career, going from a solo legal practitioner to having 500 employees at town hall.

Ducey took the time to thank his wife, Deirdre, for always supporting his career.

“She has stood by my side through my various adventures in life,” he said.

He also thanked his mother for the sacrifices she made, especially after his father died when Ducey was in high school.

He gave a special message to his son Jack, who was born just after Ducey was sworn into the Brick Council.

“You’ve never known anything but me serving as mayor,” Ducey said to his son. “This is going to be a big change for both of us, but we’ll get through this together.”

As Ducey’s speech came to an end, he highlighted his fellow colleagues and stated that his experiences will guide him through this new chapter.

“I promise to be impartial, unbiased, and maintain a calm demeanor… work hard, follow the law, and the Constitution… and also show compassion so that justice can always be obtained. I promise to uphold the sanctity of this position so I can be a role model for those who hold this position after me, as those before me were role models to me. I hope that I can live up to all of those great judges who came before me,” Ducey said.

According to the order issued by Chief Justice Stuart Rabner of the New Jersey Supreme Court, Ducey has been assigned to family court.

Giant Annual Yard Sale

BRICK – Brick Township Historical Society Giant Annual Yard Sale will be on April 22 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. (rain date April 23) at the Havens Homestead Museum Property, 521 Herbertsville Road.

Large variety of reasonably priced items including household goods, costume jewelry, linens, etc. The Society will also be holding a bake sale.

Parking is 150ft. east of Museum in a lot accessed by a sign that says “Havens Farm.” No outside vendors. Call 732785-2500 for more information.