June 10th, 2016 The Ocean County Gazette - www.ocgazette.news 1 The OC Gazette P.O. Box 577 Seaside Heights NJ 08751 On The Web at: www.ocgazette.news JUNE 10TH, 2016 VOL. 16 NO. 564 THIS WEEKS MANCHESTER TOWNSHIP POLICE BAIL REFORM ISSUE K9 UNIT RECEIVES $1000.00 COSTS CONCERNS Pages 10-11 FREEHOLDERS Ocean County TOMS RIVER – Ocean County officials say that Featured Events while the state’s criminal justice bail reform may have good intentions, it’s the price tag Pages 12-18 that will be passed along to taxpayers that Around all the has them very concerned. Ocean County Citing the impact the downturn in the Towns - News, economy and Superstorm Sandy has had Information on the County’s finances, officials voiced Events disappointment that the mandated bail reform program comes with no financial help Pages 22-23 from the state for implementation. Ocean County “We can’t print money like the federal Library Weekend government nor should we have to impose Events and Exhibits upon our taxpayers to fund the state’s criminal justice reform,” said Freeholder John Page - 26 C. Bartlett Jr., who serves as liaison to the Long Beach Island eft – Manchester Police Patrol Bureau Commander/ K-9 Unit supervisor, Department of Finance. Foundation of the Lt. Vincent Manco, Right- Whiting Business Association President, Michael New Jersey voters, in the November 2014 McCullough Arts & Sciences general election, approved an amendment Events Manchester Township—On Tuesday, June 7, Lt. Vincent Manco of to the state Constitution that allows for bail the Manchester Township Police Department was honored to attend reform. Page 30 a meeting of the Whiting Business Association where a check for Freeholder Deputy Director Gerry P. Little Museums, Historic, $1,000 was presented to the K9 Unit. said however the ballot question didn’t Arts & Exhibits This generous donation from the Whiting Business Association mention it would come with a significant cost to the taxpayer. Page 30 will be put to good use to help ensure the continued success of the Manchester Township Police K-9 Unit. The funds will be used to “The ballot question, unfortunately, seemed A Summary of to omit several key impacts but our greatest purchase training equipment, canine-related vehicle equipment, Comedy & Stage concern is who will be responsible to pay Performances and additional training for the Unit. for its implementation,” Little said. “The The money was raised during the WBA funding source for bail reform comes from see POLICE page 4 Page 33-36 Food and Wine Tasting Event held on local taxpayers. It should not have to be our Classified Ads taxpayers.” & Real Estate Little strongly emphasized the people of MTHS Class of 2016 Receives Awards New Jersey approved a state mandate state Page 37 pay constitutional amendment and it’s the Fishing & Outdoor at Senior Recognition Night state’s responsibility to fully fund this new Sections coming Manchester Township High School is proud to announce that over mandate. Spring 2016 200 awards were presented the Manchester Township High School According to the New Jersey Courts website, Class of 2016 at Senior Recognition Night and we extend our thanks starting Jan. 1, 2017, the state will shift from Page 36 for the tremendous support of our very generous community. a system that relies principally on setting Toms River Senior monetary bail as a condition of release Center News to a risk-based system. The statute also Other News sets deadlines for the timely filing of an Horoscopes P. 4 indictment and the disposition of criminal Weather P.2 charges for incarcerated defendants. Pilot programs in three vicinages, Camden, Blue Claws News Morris/Sussex and Passaic counties are all P. 8 underway and all have noted the heavy price tag associated with the program. see BAIL page 6 2 June 10th, 2016 The Ocean County Gazette - www.ocgazette.news Berkeley Township “A+” Credit Rating has ACCREDITATION been affirmed by Standards and Poor’s June 10th 2016 VOL. 16 NO. 564 ASSESSMENT TEAM All rights reserved and all material is copyrighted ©. No part of this publication (S&P) may be reproduced without the written INVITES PUBLIC consent of the publisher, The OC Gazette, assumes no responsibility for errors and/or opinions expressed in the publication nor the BERKELEY - Mayor Carmen Amato is pleased to announce that the performance of the advertisers. COMMENT The OC Gazette is not responsible for Township’s Bond Rating with Standard & Poor’s (S&P) has been typographical errors in the advertising content TOMS RIVER – A team of assessors from of this newspaper. The publisher reserves affirmed at an “A+”. the right to approve all subject matter of the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs advertising. Liability of error is limited to the cost of the advertising in question and of Police (NJSACOP) will arrive on Sunday, is available as a full credit only, refunds are “Once again we are extremely pleased that S&P has recognized the not available. The OC Gazette will not be June 12, to examine all aspects of the responsible for errors after the first insertion, extreme effort we have made to be financially responsive to our when correct Proof of Advertisement has Ocean County Sheriff’s Office policies and been given, only a re-run of the ad is taxpayers despite these difficult economic times.” Mayor Amato permissible procedures, management, operations and FOR ADVERTISING said. support services, according to Ocean County & CONTACT INFO The OC Gazette - PO Box 577, Sheriff Michael G. Mastronardy. Seaside Heights, NJ 08751 In 2015, the Township’s Bond Rating moved up two notches to an email: [email protected] As part of the on-site assessment, agency Tel: 1-800-621-1262 • Fax: 866-326-4484 “A+” Rating, which is a significant increase. employees and members of the community OC Traffic News TOMS RIVER – Ocean County Freeholder Director are invited to offer comments by calling 732- James F. Lacey has announced that traffic delays and In 2009, the Bond Rating for the Township had been assigned a 244-2418, Ext. 7102 between 9 and 11 a.m., detours may exist at the following locations, which rating of “A,” this was lowered in 2011 one notch to “A-“. are being improved. Sunday, June 12. ROUTE 166, Old Freehold Road Telephone comments are limited to five to Highland Parkway, Toms The “A+” rating affirms a stable financial outlook and was based River Township minutes and must address the agency’s ability Updated : Monday, June 06, on the Township’s significantly improved budgetary flexibility and to comply with the NJSACOP standards. 2016 liquidity. Extent: Lane Shifts and A copy of the standards is available at the Closures, and Changing Traffic Ocean County Sheriff’s Office, 120 Hooper Patterns Some of the rational by S&P for the significant increase in the Bond Purpose: Road Reconstruction Ave., Toms River. The local contact is Lt. Craig and Resurfacing, and Utility Rating included several factors, some of which are as follows: Relocation Johnson who can be reached by calling 732- Time: March 28, 2016 to June 288-7630. 2018 Adequate management, with “standard” financial policies and Anyone wishing to offer written comments ROUTE 9, Westecunk Creek practices; about the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office to Garden State Parkway, Adequate budgetary performance; Little Egg Harbor Township, ability to comply with the standards for Tuckerton Borough, and Adequate budgetary flexibility; accreditation is requested to write to: New Eagleswood Township Very strong liquidity; Updated : Monday, June 06, Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police, 2016 Low overall Net Debt at less than 3% of market value and rapid Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission, Extent: Daytime Lane Shifts amortization with 75.7% of debt scheduled to be retired in 10 and Shoulder Closures, and One Greentree Centre, Suite 201, Marlton, Nighttime Alternating Traffic years; and N.J.,08053. Patterns A strong institutional framework. Purpose: Milling and Paving, The Ocean County Sheriff’s Office must and Roadway Improvements comply with 112 standards in order to Time: March 28, 2016 to Another key factor taken into consideration by S&P in affirming our October 3, 2016 achieve accredited status. “A+” Bond Rating is the Township’s “debt to borrow” ratio. GARDEN STATE PARKWAY “Accreditation is not just a certificate,” said INTERCHANGE 91, Herborn Sheriff Mastronardy. “It clearly indicates our Avenue, Burnt Tavern Road, The total Borrowing Capacity of the Township at the end of 2015 Lanes Mill Road, and Burrsville commitment Road, Brick Township was $179 million. The Gross Debt in percentage to which can be to perform at see PUBLIC Page 5 Updated : Monday, June 06, borrowed is 3.50% of the 3 year Average Assessed Valuation. The 2016 Extent: Lane and Shoulder Net Debt in percentage Closures with Changing Traffic to which has been Patterns Purpose: Construction of borrowed is only .82% Northbound and Southbound of the 3 year Average Entrance and Exit Ramps, and Tonight Mostly clear, with a low around 57. West 33 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Local Road Widening Assessed Valuation. wind 5 to 7 mph. Sunday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 59. Time: May 18, 2015 to February The Remaining 2017 Borrowing Capacity at Saturday Isolated showers and thunderstorms after Monday Mostly sunny, with a high near 82. WEST VETERANS HIGHWAY, the end of 2015 was 1pm. Increasing clouds, with a high near 83. Light Monday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 62. Whitesville Road to Siena Drive, southwest wind becoming south 8 to 13 mph in the Jackson Township $137 million. morning. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Tuesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 79.