Lacey Debates Upgrading Town Hall, Building New

By Stephanie Faughnan

LACEY – Township officials are awaiting a report to see whether it would be better to upgrade current township buildings or construct a new municipal complex. Meanwhile, the proceeds from the sale of specific township assets could be utilized to help fi nance either project.

Lacey’s current municipal building was built in 1969, when the population totaled just 4,600 residents. The building is now dwarfed as far as its capacity. As of the 2020 census, Lacey has a population of 28,573, making it the 85th largest municipality in the state. Due to the town’s growth, officials said the current building is no longer sufficient to meet the community’s needs.

The police station is also bursting at the seams when it comes to space, as it was originally

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Town Hall:

Continued From Page 1 built to accommodate eight officers. The Lacey Township Police Department headquarters currently serves as a home base for over sixty employees.

Johnson Controls, a Minnesota-based corporation, has been tasked with studying the available options. Township Administrator Veronica Laureigh expects Johnson Controls to issue a report by the end of the month for the governing body’s review. The information will ultimately be made public.

“We are going to have what it will cost to renovate this building and that building,” said Mayor Tim McDonald said at the most recent township meeting that the report will estimate costs to renovate the buildings versus constructing a new municipal complex that would combine town hall, the police station, and an indoor recreation center. If the latter option is chosen, Lacey’s government operations would be situated in a new location.

Any proposed construction would fall under a state program called Public Private Partnership (P3), which would allow Lacey to enter into agreement with a private organization for various aspects of the project. The state would have the final say in determining if Lacey can financially afford development plans within the confines of its own budget.

Johnson Controls would be involved in financing the proposed construction and would have access to different avenues to capital than the government entity.

“I cannot bond for this project,” shared Laureigh. “A P3 project doesn’t allow me to bond for the money because bonding for the money is a useful life of a new item that you’re buying – not something that we already have.”

Part of the municipality’s plan is to sell property to fund a downpayment for the project. This includes the former community center, priced initially at $2.9 million and now reduced to $1.5 million due to a lack of bids. The price drop has already attracted three bidders, two of which are restaurant franchise owners.

Any proceeds from that sale would first go towards paying off the $700,000 owed on the Knights of Columbus building, which currently serves as the community center.

Additionally, several 20 x 100 lots are available for purchase, and Fish and Wildlife may buy 72 acres as preserved land. Finally, if the township decides to proceed with a new municipal complex, the current town hall property will also be put up for sale.

Meanwhile, not everyone seems to be on board with the concept of a new construction. Residents stormed the November 2022 governing body’s meeting to express their dismay and spoke out against the consideration of a new municipal complex. While the most recent committee meeting was sparsely attended, two individuals reiterated their opposition to the proposal.

An individual who identified himself as both a public advocate and tax advocate in Lacey for the past 13 years claimed there was a real disconnect between those in power and the people they represent. Richard Bidnick said he joined many other residents who saw no reason the existing structures could not be renovated. Bidnick has also accused some governing body members of “scheming away tax dollars for their own pie-inthe-sky ideas.”

To alleviate the need for more space in Town Hall, Bidnick suggested following the growing trend of allowing employees to work from home. Officials dismissed the recommendation because much of the township work involves confidential information and interaction with the public.

Bidnick urged officials to consider the financial burdens on taxpayers and seriously evaluate the project’s necessity and cost.

Another resident, Steve Bahrle, said he only recently began attending Township Committee meetings and was upset that other residents did not see the need to become active participants. Bahrle expressed his disappointment that local officials would make the determination to build a new municipal complex instead of having the decision made by voters through a public referendum.

During his time at the microphone, Bahrle polled local officials to secure an agreement requiring a referendum on township expenditures in excess of $1 million.

“(This) would prohibit the Township Committee from unilaterally approving the cost of current and future capital expenditures,” said Bahrle, “Exceeding the cost of $1 million.”

The officials responded negatively to Bahrle’s informal survey, noting that although $1 million may seem like a large sum for individual households, it is not significant when managing the town.

As it stands now, township officials stated they plan to review the report from Johnson Controls. The decision-making process won’t happen overnight, as a number of things need to be in place before the governing body votes on how to proceed.

Journey: Continued From Page 1

What followed was an incredibly alarming event. Upon checking on James after putting him to bed, Kristy was terrified by what she saw. No longer was it just a matter of her baby boy’s lips being slightly discolored. Instead, Kristy now observed with horror that James’ entire head had turned grey.

Kristy had already begun researching infant apnea based on her discussions with her nurse friend. She remembered what she had learned about assisting a baby in recovering from an apneic episode and put her knowledge into action.

“I was blowing on his face and tapping on his feet,” Kristy said. “He wouldn’t come out of it; he was just frozen.”

All of a sudden, James began to cry, and Kristy hugged him close to her body. James wanted no part of nursing and fell back to sleep for the entire night.

Kristy recounted the incident to her nurse friend, who emphasized the importance of seeking prompt medical attention for James. The nurse warned Kristy that the situation could worsen to the point where it might be difficult to intervene, leaving James in a precarious position.

As both parents attempted to come to grips with the fact that something could be wrong with James, they initially downplayed their initial fears. Jeremy and Kristy wanted to believe the issue was nothing more than a case of gas interfering with their newborn’s sleep. The couple was confident that everything would be fi ne.

Nevertheless, doctors admitted James to the hospital for two days and ran a battery of tests. Finally, they sent James home with an apnea monitor to capture his sleep patterns. Unfortunately, the answers didn’t start to make sense until after Kristy was able to video James during one of the episodes.

“He was three months old, and it was just before Christmas,” recalled Kristy. “He was asleep in his stroller like a new baby and suddenly woke up.”

James appeared to be mouthing something as he looked to the side, almost as if he was trying to communicate. Then, out of nowhere, James began crying from a deep sleep, and Kristy attempted to soothe him. Although she couldn’t pinpoint the exact problem, Kristy sensed something was off, as James seemed unusually lethargic.

Once concerned that they might be overreacting, Jeremy and Kristy wanted answers. A call to the pediatrician landed them in Jersey Shore Medical Center’s emergency room. A neurologist called for a consultation, watched the video, and determined that James had had a seizure.

James began his first course of anti-seizure medication that worked for a few days. Jeremy and Kristy became so hopeful –until the seizures broke through. Moving on to the next anti-seizure drug required weaning from the fi rst, as many of these medicines are addictive, and James could not be abruptly taken off them. Each medication came with its side effects, from potential heart damage to peripheral vision loss. Some drugs could only be obtained from off-label pharmacies. None- theless, both parents felt desperate – they were willing to try anything.

“I couldn’t even count the number of ‘episodes’ as we called them back then,” Kristy said. “There were times there were over 100 in one day.”

“They needed to give him intravenous drugs to knock him out,” added Kristy. “To kind of calm his brain down.”

Medical consultants at the Children’s Hospital of Pennsylvania were equally puzzled why none of the medications would work. So when James was six months old, doctors suggested genetic testing to see what they could learn.

The tests revealed that James’ seizures were not caused by a genetic condition he inherited from his parents. However, James did have a form of epilepsy caused by a spontaneous gene mutation.

KCNT1 epilepsy is a rare and severe form of epilepsy that can cause developmental delays and other health problems. Its resistance to anti-seizure drugs is one of the key characteristics of the disease. The diagnosis fi nally explained why none of the medications given to James could halt his seizures.

“After the doctors determined the diagnosis, they knew there was an old medication that would help James,” Kristy shared. “He was the second one to try it, and the seizures started to dissipate.”

Kristy said she preferred not to release the name of the medication and added that the drug could have a potential adverse side effect on the heart.

Researchers believe that KCNT1 mutations caused James to experience malignant mi- grating partial seizures of infancy. James began showing evidence that he was developmentally delayed as a result at a young age. For example, he did not reach for toys or meet typical milestones as he grew older.

At 8 years old, James is non-verbal and unable to walk. A school bus takes him to the Lehmann School in Lakewood, where he has both therapies and learns at a slower pace.

“They work on seeing if he can make eye contact in a field of two,” said Kristy, “And maybe look for a letter or listen to songs. He’s got aides who just help him along. The school also gives James some socialization.”

When he’s around his family, there’s no doubt that James is particularly happy. He has an infectious giggle, almost instantly triggered when his little brother makes silly noises.

Jackson, age 6, took his mom by surprise when he opened up about James. Usually somewhat reserved, Jackson admitted he liked pushing his brother’s stroller and enjoyed pulling pranks on the nurses who sometimes visit.

“He takes James in stride,” Kristy shared. “Jackson is really the sweetest thing to him, and I can tell James really likes it when he’s with his brother.”

The Salkewicz family has two dogs, a black lab named Indy and a yellow lab named Duck, who eagerly await James’ return home from school so they can give him kisses. However, James is not fond of the dogs licking his face after he eats and (Journey - See Page 6)

Crash:

Continued From Page 1 what seemed to be a genuine tragedy played out before them. The scene was not real, however. Instead, the entire set-up was part of Project Crash, a meticulously planned event specifically designed to educate students about the perils of driving under the influence.

The presence of actual first responders enhanced the authenticity of the crash scene and its aftermath. As a result, while four high school seniors portrayed the accident victims, the remaining individuals did not need a script to perform their regular jobs.

Barnegat Police arrived first at the scene, with the Barnegat First Aid Squad and Barnegat Fire Department following suit. In addition, Hackensack Meridian Health dispatched a helicopter to the high school field to facilitate the medical transportation of one of the feigned injury victims.

Ensuring prompt emergency medical aid was the topmost concern at the crash site. The first officer to arrive evaluated the scene and shared his findings. Next, first aid squad members did their assessments and preliminary treatment. Firefighters promptly extracted the two girls who could not free themselves from the car. One of them was swiftly prepared for transport to the hospital via an ambulance. Meanwhile, the severity of the situation amplified as the unresponsive girl suffered cardiac arrest and needed resuscitation. The Hackensack Meridian team carefully placed her on a stretcher and loaded the victim into the helicopter.

With an eerie lifelike feel to the entire scenario, the audience remained silent. Event organizers revealed that the student actors, Skylar Dasti, Emily Dasti, Aiden Ortiz, and Joseph Sanchez, had only practiced their roles a handful of times. Nevertheless, their performance had a sobering effect in delivering the message to make responsible choices.

The driver of the initial vehicle remained uninjured, and the officer interrogated him regarding the events leading up to the collision. Additionally, the policeman detected the scent of alcohol on the driver’s breath and inquired about the quantity consumed.

“People were hurt,” said the officer. “I need to know how much you had to drink.”

While saying drinking two beers didn’t seem like a big deal, it was enough to warrant a sobriety test. A hush continued throughout the audience as students watched what would lead to another consequence of driving under the influence.

“You are being placed under arrest,” the officer stated. “For suspicion of driving while intoxicated.”

The totality of the offenses was even more shattering, as the male juvenile was charged with DWI, vehicular manslaughter, and assault by auto. Bad choices led to all-around horrific consequences.

Barnegat Police Officers Michael Moore and Julie Palasits are assigned to the local law enforcement agency’s traffic division. Inspired by the successful implementation of Project Crash by the Stafford Police Department, they began working with the local school district to introduce the same initiative to Barnegat.

Moore said they secured a template from Stafford as a starting point and then tweaked it. The event was quickly planned, with Barnegat deciding to exclude one group Stafford included as part of their mock crash scene.

“Stafford actually has a funeral home come out and take out the dead body,” Palasits explained. “We figured we’d wait and see if we want to do that another year.”

Barnegat High School Vice Principal Frank Pannullo was already familiar with Project Crash and recognized it as an excellent means of conversing with students about making responsible decisions. With the senior prom coming up soon, the timing seemed right.

During prom season, many teenagers attend parties, social gatherings, and events involving driving, increasing the risk of accidents due to impaired or distracted driving. In introducing the program to the senior class, Principal Pat Magee made something clear.

“The purpose of this event is to educate all of us of the dangers of distracted or impaired driving,” said Magee. “Not just in prom season, but in everyday life.”

Joseph Solda, who works as the chief flight nurse for Hackensack Meridian Health, was an invaluable resource for Barnegat’s first Project Crash. Solda, in his 39th year of nursing, said he believed the program could make kids think twice about drinking and driving. Solda has personally participated in several Project Crash events.

“At the end, we hit home and bring the student actors and actresses out,” said Solda. “They start answering questions. That’s more powerful than anything I can ever do.”

Authorities are fully aware that alcohol does not stand alone as the sole substance capable of impairing a driver who operates a vehicle. Cannabis and prescription drugs have also been identified as potential risks in this regard, as pointed out by a speaker from MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving).

Journey:

Continued From Page 5 will make a fuss.

Kristy said daily prayer is a critical part of her life and remembers asking God to stop the seizures. Watching her son’s little body become tired was difficult as the episodes came one after the other.

“They still kept coming,” said Kristy. “It was so frustrating.”

A chance encounter with a random stranger changed Kristy’s way of thinking. A store clerk said his grandfather told him that no matter how bad you think you have it, somebody else always has it worse.

Kristy swears the young man was put on her path to deliver a message, one that didn’t make sense at the time. Her prayers changed to expressing gratitude for the things she could. For example, James can breathe on his own, and he can eat – both things everyone takes for granted.

“There are only about 200 children known to have KCNT1 epilepsy,” said Kristy.

Sticker Shock

The week before Project Crash, members of Barnegat High School’s DART Club met up with the Communities That Cares group to make a powerful statement against underaged drinking.

Students involved in DART Club, short for “Drinking Awareness and Responsibility for Teens,” visited three liquor stores in Barnegat with hopes of discouraging underage drinking through a simple yet impactful method.

Armed with specially designed stickers featuring eye-catching warning messages, students took action by placing reminders on alcohol selections that tend to attract underage drinkers. The intention was to raise awareness among both buyers and sellers, emphasizing the law against purchasing or selling alcohol to individuals under the age of 21.

One of the highlights of stopping in liquor stores came when a store clerk made a startling revelation about the number of people trying to purchase alcohol with fake identification cards. As a result, the store has accumulated a substantial stack of confiscated cards, which they diligently retain to deter repeat attempts by prospective customers.

Barnegat Police Lt. Jeff Ryan is an active member of the Communities That Cares coalition, which focuses on a proven prevention system against substance abuse and works to make a difference. Ryan emphasized his concerns about underage drinking.

“I cannot stress enough the importance for parents to make it clear to their children that underage drinking is unacceptable,” said Ryan. “It is not just about drinking and driving; there’s way more to it.”

“Children who begin drinking at the age of 15 have a significantly greater chance of developing an alcohol addiction than those who wait until they are 21,” Ryan continued. “Kids are a greater risk of unplanned pregnancy, increased suicide rates, as well as other accidental deaths.”

Ryan implored parents to act as parents, rather than their children’s friends.

“There’s more and more getting diagnosed because genetic testing is key. They couldn’t find out what it was without it, and the testing is helping to target treatment.”

The KCNT1 Epilepsy Foundation supports parents who may feel alone in finding resources. According to Kristy, the Foundation is also trying to raise awareness and donations for drug research and development.

“I am doing as much as I can to participate in all the surveys they (the Foundation) provide,” Kristy shared. “They’ve been looking for blood samples, so we’re working on getting blood to them from James.”

James also participated in a year-long natural history study, which required Kristy to document seizure activity and sleep. The family has also participated in interviews with a doctor and a psychologist and donated James’ saliva in conjunction with a study in Chicago.

“I felt like I was not helping enough at first because I was so used to doing this on my own,” said Kristy. “Now there are these people who want to get the word out – and we’re not the only ones anymore.”