Committeemen should stop making excuses

On Aug. 22 the residents of Winding Ways filled the Township Committee chambers beyond capacity. Their purpose was to let the committee know of their frustration over the unresolved issue of tax supported services to private communities.

Township Administrator Andrew Salerno stated that the compensation was “not in compliance with the statute and was higher than it should have been.”

He then said, “I am trying to find a formula that is both fair to the residents and all the taxpayers in the township. The payment was withheld pending resolution of the issues.”

Everyone agreed that the process went on for eight months too long.

[Committeemen] Josh Reilly and Mark Seda, at the Aug. 22 meeting, stated that the Democratic majority had “kept them in the dark” on this issue.

This is the same old excuse they give for not doing anything positive to resolve [a situation] because they are the minority.

That is absolutely not true. Minorities have the ability to speak louder and garnish support for their positions among the committee and the community.

For eight months Mr. Reilly and Mr. Seda were silent, but because of the large audience they once again “grandstanded” and presented themselves as champions of the private communities. How transparent their motives.

They only care about avoiding controversy by not clearly stating their positions, and hiding behind their “kept in the dark excuse” while criticizing the Democrats for trying to resolve inequities that exist in the reimbursement formula.

On Aug. 22 Deputy Mayor Michael Kafton presented a resolution to make payment to Winding Ways at the previous formula immediately. The resolution passed unanimously.

Talks will be undertaken with the communities to create an acceptable formula for the future.

When are Mr. Reilly and Mr. Seda going to stop their lame excuses about being kept in the dark? It is the responsibility of our elected officials, Democrat and Republican, to seek out all information they need concerning township business [and] not complain that it was not fed to them.

Mr. Reilly and Mr. Seda, it is time you started “to light a candle rather than curse the darkness.”

Herb Gorbunoff

Jackson

U.S. govt. needs new way to determine COLA

Soon the government will be coming out with the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) figures for those of us on Social Security. I question if it is figured fairly and equitably.

It is my understanding that it is figured by lumping all of the six components together for the entire United States to arrive at the figure. The components, I am told, are utilities, grocery items, transportation, health care, and miscellaneous goods and services.

It is common knowledge that there can be very large differences in the cost of these items depending on where in the country a person lives.

I have lived my entire life in New Jersey and I realize that it is one of the more costly places to live. I have noted that just a few weeks ago I could get bread for 99 cents a loaf, but now it is $1.19.

Natural gas prices went up 4.2 percent as of Sept. 1, 2004, in New Jersey and now it has just been approved to go up 5 percent in December.

College tuition at the state universities in New Jersey is increasing 7 percent. Gasoline prices have increased over 30 percent in the past year.

The Medicare deduction in 2003 was $704 a year per person and in 2004 it went up to $799 a year per person, or an 11.8 percent increase. Last year the COLA was 2.1 percent for Social Security. What will it be for 2006?

Would it not be more equitable to figure the COLA on a state by state basis of where the person resides? The government has the figures of the cost of living for each state and where all recipients of Social Security reside.

Robert Kellett

Jackson

Howell needs to study all possible forms of local government

If you have not heard about the latest group to spring up in Howell you soon will. Real Accountability for Taxpayers (RAFT) is floating a petition to change the current form of government we have in town with a “better” form that they have chosen.

While changing the form of government is worthy of exploration, it should be done with complete knowledge of what all the different forms of government are available for consideration. The RAFT petition includes the one form that the members of RAFT have decided is the best form for Howell.

The only way to really find out which form of government is best is through the creation of a charter study commission. Unfortu-nately, because of the time frame that RAFT strategically picked, your local government cannot create a charter study commission before the RAFT question can be put on the ballot without a legal challenge. This is assuming they get the 6,000 signatures they need in order to get the question on the ballot. In essence this is forcing a change in the local government by a very small, very vocal minority of citizens whose agenda remains unknown.

While the RAFT people will tell you that this petition is all about making the local government “better,” “nonpartisan” and “more accountable” along with other buzzwords to make it seem as though this change is all in the interest of the people, the real motives behind RAFT were made clear when they continued with their petition knowing full well that the local government officials were not going to be able to get the charter study question put on the ballot this year.

What is the rush to change the current form of government without exploring all our options and creating a charter study commission made up of a group of citizens and evaluating all available forms of government?

Again, I am not against eval-uating our current form of government and if need be changing it to a better form. What I cannot allow is a very small minority of people in town to force a change in the local government without a full review of all our options. The charter study commission is the way to proceed to make sure that Howell gets the form of government that will serve the best interests of all the citizens.

My fellow Howell citizens, I ask that you not sign the RAFT petition until the local government has the chance to create the charter study commission and evaluate all our options.

Robert A. Gude

Howell

New Jersey State First Aid Council endorses ICE system

We never know when we might fall ill while away from home, become incapacitated in a motor vehicle accident or even a mass-casualty incident.

To help emergency officials contact a victim’s loved ones, there is a new system called ICE (In Case of Emergency). The ICE campaign encourages cell phone users to program emergency contact information into their phones under the ICE listing.

This could allow emergency responders and hospital staffs to access contacts and quickly alert family or friends. It also might help rescuers obtain vital medical information about a patient who cannot convey the information himself.

ICE is free and easy to use, but it’s not foolproof. Password-protected cell phones might prohibit access to the information, or an accident might render a cell phone inoperable.

Nevertheless, the nonprofit New Jersey State First Aid Council — which represents more than 20,000 emergency medical services (EMS) volunteers throughout New Jersey — endorses the ICE campaign and urges Garden State residents to use it. It could help save precious time and lives.

David Schimmel

Director of Mobilization

and Disaster Services

New Jersey State

First Aid Council

Asbury Park

Local church celebrates first Community Day service

Hope Cathedral Church in Jackson recently celebrated their first Community Day service. Special invitations were presented to friends, family and neighbors of Jackson, as well as those of the surrounding communities. The day was a huge success, with more than 200 in attendance.

The special service was intended to spread the good news of Hope to these communities. Hope Cathedral is an inter-denominational, charismatic church focused on making a positive impact in the Jackson area by creating a citywide family center where all individuals and families can grow in faith and discover true hope only found in God.

The church was started on Nov. 24, 2002, when the first worship service was held in the family room of the home of Pastor Trevon and Minister Qwynn Gross. There were 17 people in the first service. The ministry continued to grow and, as a result, on Jan. 26, 2003, the church moved to the Crawford-Rodriguez School on Larsen Road. The church now averages more than 100 people at each service.

On Feb. 28, 2005, the church purchased a nearly 10-acre parcel of land to house the future permanent home. The property is adjacent to 454 W. Veterans Highway in Jackson. It is west of the township buildings and very centrally located. To learn more about the ministry at Hope Cathedral, visit the Internet Web site at www.Hopecathedral.org.

Sonja Parker

Director of Communications

Hope Cathedral

Jackson

Thanks given to those who helped at scene of accident

On behalf of my husband and myself, we would like to thank and acknowledge the people who responded, stayed and helped during our auto accident on July 23 on Brewers Bridge Road in Jackson.

A thousand thanks to Mike Luna and Kirk Elliot for their involvement, patience and continued vigilance from the moment of impact until we were transferred by ambulance.

Thank you to the EMT crew from MONOC No. 820. I remember a lady standing on the corner with a cell phone. I think she called 911. I apologize, I did not get your name, but thank you.

To Christine and Juan, to Arthur, to all those who wished us well and offered their support.

Special thanks to Louie and Kathleen, the great staff at Kimball Medical Center Emergency Room.

And for her continuing support and assistance, kudos and love to our daughter Laura.

We truly appreciate your involvement and are eternally grateful.

Robin and David Sneddon

Lakewood

Decision will put residents on the hook for bond costs

If I understand the article published on July 21, the mayor and Township Council of Howell expect me to pay $50 per year for 40 years for a piece of land for recreation and I assume we speak of no taxes yet for construction of the rec center, but they wouldn’t allow $20 per year to keep Youth and Family Services untouched and I guess a little more to keep Mr. (Barry) Lefkowitz on the job.

Let me say to the mayor and council, except for Mr. (Peter) Tobasco, “you’re cruel” and is this the “real property tax relief” from your campaign Mayor (Joseph) DiBella?

Gerald Jankowski

Howell

Family appreciates community’s support for daughter

As this August drew to an end, it marked a year since our daughter, Dana, was diagnosed with leukemia. Our family takes this opportunity to thank area residents for their overwhelming amount of prayers, donations and support for us. Dana continues to show her strength and bravery, and rest assured she will win.

Regina and Bret Jefferson

Jackson