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Twin Lights, History & Ship Wrecks on the Navesink Queen

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Navesink Queen

Tickets are available now for the Aug. 14 cruise aboard the Navesink Queen sponsored by the Atlantic Highlands Historical Society.

Nicholas Wood, noted historian and park ranger at the Twin Lights, will be the guest speaker on the noon time cruise. Wood will not only make his presentations from the wheelhouse of the Navesink Queen, but will also mingle with cruise goers taking questions and responding with a wealth of knowledge about the area, the history of the Twin Lights, and Monmouth County in general. Wood will highlight the importance of some of the sites the paddle-wheeler  passes on the cruise, and relate why they have all played a role in creating the Monmouth County of today.

Wood will also tell stories of some of the shipwrecks off the Jersey coast, and other tales about the sea.

The $60 ticket price includes lunch and snacks. No outside food or beverages are permitted about the craft, and there is a bar available for drink purchases.

Boarding begins at 11:30am on Aug. 14  at the Atlantic Highlands Marina, Franks’ Pier, slip 65, and the Navesink Queen leaves promptly at 12:00pm.

Tickets are available both at the museum during open hours and by contacting  www.ahhistory.org/gift-shop.

Rain date for the cruise is Sept. 18.

Looking for a Few Good Ghosts

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Matawan Ghost

The Matawan Historical Society is looking for a few ghosts.

The Society wants to make even more popular its Haunted History Walking Tour. Considering there are more than 300 homes in the borough that are more than a century old, chances are there are a few spirits form earlier decades still residing within their walls.

The Historical Society is asking current and former Matawan residents to help in the search.

Persons who have experienced anything paranormal in their home such as unexplained shadows, orbs or bumps in the night or other unexplained sights, noises, movements or smells, are invited to tell their stories  and share experiences with the Society.

More information on the event will be released in the coming weeks, and the Society urges residents to follow its Facebook page for the latest updates.

To learn more about this and 300+ years of Matawan’s unique history, join the Matawan Historical Society by visiting .

https://matawanhistoricalsociety.org/join-or-donate/

Regionalization: It’s Confusing, but Follow the Candidates

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Regionalization

Even if the regionalization of a K-12 district for Highlands, Atlantic Highlands and Sea Bright gets on the ballot in November and is approved, it would not go into effect until 2023.

Despite the fact the boards of educations of the three schools in Highlands and Atlantic Highlands have to continue running the schools as three  boards of education  during that time, no one from Atlantic Highlands filed for the one seat up for election this year on the regional school board and only four persons filed for the four seats on the Atlantic Highlands school board.

In Highlands, two people filed for the two seats to be decided at Henry Hudson, and no one filed for the one seat on the  Highlands board to be decided in November.

That leaves the score, between the two boroughs,  that both communities left vacancies on board of Education. Atlantic Highlands has candidates to fill the local board  but not Henry Hudson, and Highlands candidates are for the Henry Hudson board but not the local board.

At Henry Hudson, where two seats from Atlantic Highlands and one from Highlands are up for election no one filed from Atlantic Highlands, and Diane Knox and Melissa Zachok-Fiekko, both new to the board, filed for election for the Highlands seats. None of the incumbents, Jill Karshmer, Mark Heter and Ezra Ardolino is seeking another term.

In Atlantic Highlands, where three three year terms and one one year term  are on the ballot for the local board,  Elizabeth Eittreim was the only member who did not file for re-election. Filing for another full term are Ryan Palamara and Deborah Appello, with newcomer Cory Wingerter seeking the seat currently held by Eittreim.  Daniel Sutton is unopposed in  filing for the one year unexpired term he was first appointed to when Erin Dougherty left the board due to a possible conflict. Dougherty’s husband is on the Borough Council and both the governing bodies and school boards are involved in discussions about K—12 regionalization.

With only four candidates filing for four seats on the local board, and no one filing for the Henry Hudson seat, there will be no battles at balloting unless there are write-in candidates.

In Highlands, where there are two seats up for the  regional school board, and two candidates,  Knox  and  Zachok-Fierro, and no one filing for the local board, there will be no contests in that borough either absent write-in candidates for either board.

Neither Highlands board members Nancy Messina nor  Serena Jerinsky, whose term would be for one year, are seeking reelection.

That means in Highlands  there will also be no competition for any of the board seats without write-in candidates expressing interest prior to the November election.

Hanging at the Casino

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Casino

The Shore Casino now offers special appetizers and an opportunity to relax and enjoy afternoon and early evening outings with friends every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Shore Casino owner Kathleen Sweeny announced this week.

“So many people have asked us to open for  a place to socialize and enjoy some good food a few days a week, and so we started this new program, “ said Jay Strebb Casino manager. “And already, we have learned our guests really like the opportunity drop in casually, have a drink and some appetizers, then either go out for dinner or go home  to spend the rest of the evening at home,” Strebb said.

The Shore Casino is now open Fridays from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., and on Saturdays and Sundays from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and is offering an appetizer menu that some say  doubles as dinner, customers have indicated.

The Weekend menu includes appetizers, entrees and desserts, ranging in price from $6 to $21.

The Appetizers menu includes specialty menu items included Shrimp balls with garlic, with wine, and cheese served with a tomato sauce, and Shishito chili peppers with guacamole aioli

Entrees, which range in price from $10 to $21, include  shrimp Po Boy with remoulade sauce, open faced beef sandwiches with sides,  and the most popular item offered in a variety of ways, Stuffed Bake Potato.

“That’s been very popular,” Strebb agreed, “these are large baked potatoes and they’re stuffed with broccoli, cheese, bacon, butter and yes, sour cream as well.  If that isn’t enough, or if our guests  want something extra special, the chef can also stuff them with either chicken fingers, shrimp or steak. We’ve found our guests like these every way they’re offered.”

The Bananas Foster is probably the most popular of the desserts, the manager continued, though the Casino’s famed rice pudding runs a close second.  “I have to admit,” Strebb laughed, “it is a tie between the Bananas Foster with the caramel sauce on its own, or Bananas Foster with peanut butter.”

No reservations are necessary for the weekend events, and small groups can be accommodated.

Regionalization … Snakes in the Grass

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Lawyers

I’m not a lawyer. I’m not a feminist.  But I am a woman and I work with an awful lot of lawyers in one of my volunteer positions that I participate in several days a week.

Yet I have never been so dismayed, so surprised, and so disappointed when I learned what the Machado Law Group appears to have done.

I have never heard or seen a lawyer who did not identify himself when talking about a case in which their firm is directly involved. I have never seen or heard of a lawyer directly involved in a case who would seek to get answers about things the opposing side is doing, thinking, saying or planning without identifying himself as a lawyer from the firm representing the ‘opposition.”

But I saw this with the Machado Law Group of Springfield. I saw it in the person of Christine McGee. Indeed, that is who this person who reached out to me is. There is a Christine McGee listed with the firm. That I saw on their website. But no where did I see, from posted minutes of Oceanport board meetings to websites from either  the board or the law group, that this is the firm representing Oceanport.

How perfectly shameful. How devastatingly unethical. How cheap, low, and so beneath a professional.

And for feminists who have fought so hard, continue to fight so hard, and have made great achievements, what a tragic setback to their cause and goals to show how brilliant, capable, upright, educated and ready women are in the 21st century.

Christine McGee as a member of the Machado Law Group of Springfield, has done her profession, her sex, the Oceanport Board of Education, all of Sea Bright, Highlands and Atlantic Highlands, a terrible injustice.

I’ve seen released prisoners with higher standards of morals and integrity.

Planning Board to make Recommendations

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Cannabis

With fewer than two dozen people both on ZOOM and in person at the meeting, the planning board reviewed a number of recommendations they will have to the Mayor and Council before the public hearing and possible adoption next Thursday  of an ordinance which would enable both retail and manufacturing cannabis operations in specific sections of the community.

The recommendations from the planners do not have to be adopted by the governing body;  they are simply areas where the planning board members feel the governing body could incorporate specific items in the ordinance. The board had already determined cannabis businesses are in conformance with the borough’s Master Plan.

Council can react in several different ways at Thursday’s meeting, expecting to draw large crowds from residents on both sides of the issue. They can decide to withhold any further action on the ordinance until they looked more carefully into the planning board recommendations, they could decide they did not want to accept any of the recommendations and hold the public hearing and final vote at their meeting,  they could hold the public hearing and  delay their vote on the final approval of the proposed ordinance for another meeting, or they can decide they want one or more of the planning board recommendations included.

Should the Mayor and Council opt for that last possibility, or make any changes in the proposed code, the code would be ended right then, and a new process started. That process would once again include an introduction, referral to the planning board, public hearing and adoption, which would mean final action on a new code could be delayed until October or possibly November.

With a sparse crowd at the planning board meeting and no one wanting to be heard either in person or on ZOOM concerning the recommendations,  Dr. Merissa Zuzulock and other members of the subcommittee which has reviewed the proposed code cited  about ten suggestions they would make. These included  consideration of limiting foot traffic, spelling out  buffer zones, eliminating black shades be required  on retail cannabis businesses, limiting the size of the businesses, including height restrictions for manufacturing, and granting conditional use for specific times to see how the new business fares. Members talked about the buffer distance  in relation to the elementary school, and the impact on parking and additional law enforcement but made no specific recommendations any of those areas.

Planning board member John McGoldrick chaired the meeting in the absence of Chairman Douglas Pepe. The board unanimously agreed to have attorney Michael Steib write a letter by Monday listing the recommendations, with the plan to have that information to the Mayor and Council in time for the governing body to review it before Thursday’s public hearing and possible adoption.

That there will be a crowed at the meeting  is anticipated in light of a recent gathering at the Senior Center in the Yacht Harbor called by a grass roots of residents opposed to any cannabis businesses in town. Councilmen James Murphy, Brian Boms and Steve Boracchia were all present at the meeting, with Murphy highly vocal in his  opposition to any of the businesses permitted anyplace in Atlantic Highlands. The group has received donations from local residents, has had signs printed and displayed on residents lawns throughout the borough and has circulated petitions all in opposition to cannabis businesses in the borough.

Likewise, dozens of people in favor of cannabis have been at council meetings showing their support for some type of business, arguing a larger percentage of the local population voted in favor at the state election which made cannabis legal for sale, manufacture, distribution and use in the Garden State.

In other business at the meeting the planning board gave unanimous approval of  a variance  for the Paskewich property at 104 Asbury Avenue,  and after presentations and hearings, also approved  a minor site plan and use change for True North Management LLC at 68 First Avenue to permit another medical business within the complex of businesses already active in the building. Planners also approved a variance the Kelley property at 35 E. Garfield ave. enabling the Kelley’s to make renovations to a century old garage for personal use and storage.

Regionalization: The Wool Pulled Over My Eyes

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Attorney

When I got an e-mail from an attorney back in February,  an attorney from a Springfield firm, I didn’t think anything of it.  As a long time writer, and one who was born and raised in Union, right next door to Springfield, it did not even seem unusual.

Every day because of my blog, I get dozens of phone calls or e-mails, occasionally letters and texts, from people who have read my blog, researched me and had something they wanted to either tell me, ask me, or have me write. So this one was no different from so many.

It was certainly nice and friendly.

Hi Muriel,

     My name is Christine Magee, and I have seen your articles on the Highlands school district regionalization on various news sites. I found your contact information on your blog site and was wondering if you have heard any further updates regarding whether the Highlands or Sea Bright have submitted their petition to the Commissioner of Education for authorization to hold the referendum on the creation of the all-purpose school district. It is a story we are interested in following. Please feel free to give me a call at 973-232-5291 if you like.  Thanks so much for your time!

Sincerely, 

Christine Magee,

Associate, Machado Law Group

I had no way of knowing, and there was no indication in this very friendly letter, that the attorney who was reaching out for me, a reporter, actually is employed the Machado Law Group, the  reported attorney for the Oceanport Board of Education. That’s the very same Board of Education from which Sea Bright wants to leave so it can become a part of a new, revitalized, and all-inclusive K-12 regional school district.

As I pointed out in a previous story, the minutes available on the Oceanport Board of Education webpage include the reorganization meeting of January 2022, when no attorney was named for the reorganized board.

After three attempts to obtain what should be information readily at hand in a board office, I OPRA’d the board. That’s when I learned the last time the Machado group was retained as attorney  for Oceanport was for one year starting January 2021. Still my OPRA revealed the law group has been paid every month until July of this year, including $11,725.50 June 30 for ”Sea Bright legal services.”

Yet Christine Magee, the attorney in the Law Group, didn’t think it was important enough when asking me questions about the regionalization issue, to inform me, a reporter, she is a member of the firm representing an involved party?
Without any further knowledge about to whom I was now e-mailing, but being a reporter always willing to share information, we continued conversations over the next four months right up to two weeks before that “Sea Bright Legal Services”  posted payment.

Never, in the course of all of these e-mails, did Ms Magee think it important enough to let me know she represents a  law firm involved in the regionalization issue.

I responded to this e-mail highlighting everything I knew and promising I would give more information as I learned it …  Not unusual for a reporter to do for anyone who asks.

The next e-mail came Feb. 23, minutes after my response in which I shared the information I knew and also gave my new e-mail friend the assurance I’d get back when I learned anything else. The response to that was “Great, thank you so much Muriel!”

But again, no mention her firm represents Oceanport.

In the next e-mail, in my attempts to be helpful to interested parties who might not be able to attend meetings, I asked Ms Magee, if she had copies of the resolutions she was asking about.

Her response to that was  “Yes, I have the same for Highlands and Sea Bright. I have also been checking regularly to see if Atlantic Highlands posted any resolution on the same but, as you noted, there is nothing so far.”

I still did not know, and even had I thought about it, had no way of knowing she was in the law group representing Oceanport in what is a major question not only in Oceanport and Sea Bright, but Highlands and Atlantic Highlands as well.

Our e-mails continued.  I was certainly helpful, typical for a reporter to tell anyone who asks any information she has.

In my next e-mail I shared more information and an opinion: “I just learned that all three resolutions have to go in together to the Dept. of Education, since the director won’t do anything unless there’s agreement first. Which to me seems like too much power to give to one group, rather than a majority.  And I’m not sure AH will recuse. Tonight is a council meeting, so I suspect it will at least come up during the public portion. The delay rests on the fact the local board of education doesn’t want regionalization in my humble opinion!”

And that prompted a response from Ms. Magee  “Interesting. I didn’t realize AH could have two potential recusals as well. I wonder if the delay in AH rests in part on their spouse’s commenting on the same. “

And in another e-mail, Ms. Magee wrote: “Wow, you are right, that is a lot of power to give to one group. Interesting to see how these proceed.”

Cynical though I may be as a reporter, I also have a high regard for attorneys. It would never occur to me that a professional, especially a women in the legal field since they have worked so hard to achieve equality there, would continue a conversation about some legal matters in which her law firm was involved without letting me know that indeed, that is why our friendly conversations started in the first place.

April was the first time I could have had some indication but even then, I never thought a professional attorney would not identify herself as a contractor with a board involved in the regionalization question.

The April 6 e-mail from my new VeniVidiScripto friend informed me that Ms. Magee “was at the Highlands town hall meeting last night. I thought your question was great, but it seems odd that they were not able to answer such a simple question as the timeline. It will be interesting to see how this matter progresses.”

To which I responded: “Ah, wish you had introduced yourself to me.  Do you live here?  I thought they answered the timeline question, saying 3 months is enough time to get it on the ballot. I did not know all the info that has to be included in the actual question though …  interesting stuff.”

I do no know whether the law firm was reimbursed for this attorney’s presence at a meeting. She did not identify herself during that meeting. Or even to me, whom she obviously could identify since I spoke and would have given my name and address.

Yet, still I did not get any indication I was talking to a paid professional involved in the regionalization issue.

The response to my question?  Christine Magee, a member of the Machado Law Firm which the Oceanport Board of Education says is its official board attorney, even without a resolution at reorganization saying that, responded “ I am from Plainsboro, but I work for an education law firm. So I am just interested  to see how this all plays out.”

Indeed!

Regionalization: Who Does this Law Firm Work For?

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Oceanport Board of Education

The attorney for the Oceanport Board of Education received more than $60,000 in payments from the Board for the first six months of 2022, even though there is no evidence the attorney was ever retained for services this year.

When three telephone calls to the board of education during the past two months failed to release any information on the Machado Law Group which had been hired by the board under a one year contract in 2021, VeniVidiScripto filed an OPRA request to get copies of the minutes the board failed to release despite those repeated attempts.

The OPRA request also asked for payments made to the law firm.

Under OPRA laws, the Board has seven business days in which to respond to an OPRA request and this board took advantage of each of those seven days before producing the information.

It showed there has been no action this year to renew a contract with the Machado Law Group. But the reports obtained through the OPRA request also showed significant thousands of dollars were paid to the law firm since the original contract ended in January 2022.

While minutes of the 2022 reorganization meeting showed there were appointments for other professionals, including an architect, auditor, broker of record and purchasing agent, there was no appointment of a board attorney. The 2022 minutes show numerous appointments for mandated positions a board of education must maintain,  appointments that range from an indoor air quality officer  (Spiro Katechis) to an anti-bullying coordinator (Megan Bonett). But  there is no reference to the appointment of an attorney.

The minutes forwarded to VeniVidiScripto from Laura D Godlesky Ph.D., Superintendent of schools, and signed by Edmund Zalewski, custodian of records only showed that the Machado Law Firm was hired for one year in January 2021.

The minutes from 2022, which are available on the Oceanport Board’s website,  do reflect that “All insurance, tuition contracts, and professional contracts currently in force are reaffirmed for the respective terms of the agreement.” However, it does not appear that that could cover the Machado Group inasmuch as their term of agreement ended at the reorganization meeting.

While the payments paid since January do not reflect much more information that the total paid for diverse vouchers identified at “legal invoice,” or “invoice,” or Legal services,  or “attorney,” the Machado Group received $60,174.73 from the Oceanport Board of Education between January and June of this year. It does not appear there have been any payments for July of 2022.

It is interesting to note, however, that there were two payments in June. One payment which totaled $3704.25, was apparently for legal work done in that month. However, a second payment of $11,725.50, was made to Machado Group for “Sea Bright Legal Services.”

While the cover letter from Mr. Zalewski corrects my spelling of the firm group‘s founding member’s first name, from Isabel to Isabelle, the correction of numbers and or dates received through the OPRA request do not appear to be as completely accurate. Under checks posted, there is a check paid to the Machado Group totaling $3844.50 identified as a “legal invoice. ”

It was issued Feb. 16, 2022. It was for services 12/ 22.

 

Next: Has the Machado Law group been present at  any of the school regionalization workshops in Highlands or Sea Bright?

Atlantic to be Charged

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Charging Station

“This is very good news for Atlantic Highlands,” said Councilman Brian Dougherty, after it was announced the borough has received two grants for Electronic Vehicle  (EV) charging stations.

Announcement of the grants represents more than a year’s work by the borough’s Environmental Commission. These efforts intensified in January when Dougherty became a councilman and was named council representative to the Commission.

Commission Chairman Blake Deakin has been a long time researcher into EV chargers and has been in touch with a number of companies that supply stations. Last year, the commission chairman also presented a Powerpoint presenation that went back into the history of electric vehicles, their decline in use and their rejuvenation in the 21st century. The Powerpoint also  supplied information on the kilowatt hours of batteries, the impact of emissions on renewable energy and the types of emissions,  what the stations are, their benefits, deficits, and how municipalities can benefit  in tax dollars. The presentation is available at

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxFMGc2cz38.

Dougherty declined to take credit for the grant awards, stressing the receipt of the grants was a team effort which included Deakin, Councilman Brian Boms, who was council representative to the Environmental Commission last year,  and was helpful throughout the process, and borough administrator Robert Ferragina.

As announced at the meeting of the Mayor and Council last week, the grants were awarded as Tourism Grants from the NJ Board of Public utilities. Dougherty explained they are not matching grants, but rather will reimburse costs incurred to have EV chargers installed.

A grant for two dual-port Level Two charges, worth up to $9,000 in installation and ‘make ready’  costs was one of the two the borough received. The second grant is for up to $75,000 for a Level Three/Direct Current Fast Charger which would include all necessary electrical infrastructure to operate the changing stations, along with all the conduit and wire to the station locations, and all the concrete work  to make the stations mounted  along with any cellular repeaters if they are part of the installation.

Deakin, who has obviously done considerable study on EVs and their advantages and disadvantages,  pointed out the differences and advantages of both a Level 2 and a Level 3 charger as well as other benefits of the EV car batteries.

Councilman Dougherty said the borough is waiting for additional instructions from the PBU  to be contained  in their official letter from the state on the grant awards.

Once the borough receives that, he said the Environmental Commission will schedule a workshop session during a Mayor and Council meeting to discuss the procedure for continuing to move forward and to explain the many benefits of EV charging stations. The borough would then have up until June of next year in order to complete the work so the money spent  on the stations would then be reimbursed in full.

Dougherty explained why he thinks the grants are a boon for the borough.  “The Route 36 corridor is currently an EV charger desert,” he said. “Aside from the stations recently installed at Bahrs Restaurant in Highlands, I’m not aware of any EV charging stations along Route 36 between Sandy Hook and the Garden State Parkway.”

With EV charging stations here,  he continued, “Any visitors coming to our area to use the beaches at Sandy Hook or Sea Bright, for example, would have to venture over to Route 35 to find a charge for their EV. When these stations are installed in Atlantic Highlands, it would be a definite attraction for visitors to frequent our restaurants and shops downtown while their vehicle is charging. And, as we all know, once people discover how wonderful Atlantic Highlands is, they will come back.”

The charging station at Bahrs is reportedly offered at no charge to the customer, and charges at a comparatively slow rate and could mean it would take a minimum of ten hours to fill a standard EV.  However, the restaurant could elect at any time to change its pricing schedule.

The borough charging stations could be set at the owner’s own price and the borough would receive a portion of that overall charge.  Dougherty said the rates will be set by the  terms of the contract in which the borough enters with whichever commercial EV charging vendor the borough selects.  Since all that is still to be determined once the borough gets the necessary approvals to proceed with the work under the grant reimbursement.

Dougherty said, “We are not quite at that point yet, but will certainly be happy to share all additional details with the public as they become clearer.” However, the Commission is continuing to study the utilization rates of chargers in other towns which they have and will gather additional data and will incorporate assumptions into a revenue plan for this borough.

Weed- Not in My Backyard

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No Pot

“This is not a political issue! This is a community issue! And when I feel my hometown is going to be negatively impacted, you bet I’m going to stand up and fight.”

That’s what a very angry and fired up Councilman James Murphy said this week when asked why he is opposing cannabis businesses in the borough of Atlantic Highlands.

The planning board meets Thursday night at 7 p.m.. to review what they have already ruled; cannabis is a permitted use under the Master Plan, but the planners may make changes or additions to the ordinance.  Should they forward their opinion to the council that the proposed ordinance being considered needs no changes then the governing body will hold a public hearing Thursday, Aug. 11 at their 7 p.m. meeting and take a vote on whether cannabis businesses of specific types should be permitted in the borough.

Murphy is urging all residents to either attend the Council meeting via Zoom or attend in person to let the entire council hear what they have been telling him.

Murphy said he has been deluged with calls, comments, e-mails, and people stopping him on the street asking him to be sure to vote against the ordinance. “These people calling me aren’t republicans, they’re not democrats, they’re parents, they’re senior citizens, their young couples who just took out mortgages so they could buy a home here. They’re all saying the same thing,” Murphy said. “They’re all telling me that cannabis businesses will change the town, ruin the borough’s image, hurt local businesses, and end up costing taxpayers for more police, parking, sanitation, and lost revenue to businesses because people who love the looks of our town now won’t want to come here in the future.”

The councilman, whose own family has been here for three generations, and he is raising the fourth by raising his three children here, said residents have told him they don’t think the town is big enough to support a cannabis business.

“We’re not as big as Eatontown, we’re not spread out like Middletown, we’re a community of close knit families,” he said. “Our elementary school is right in the heart of town, our restaurants are so superb they draw diners from all over the county,” he continued. People who live here love it, want to stay, and want it to stay like it is.”

Because so many residents have contacted him and asked him to take action, Murphy said he is doing all he can to preserve the town, its image, and its beauty . But it is important for the people themselves to voice their opinions, he stressed, “and that’s why I want them to come out to the Aug. 11 meeting. Let them tell everyone what they have been telling me.”

He was one of the team who held a meeting last week of many who have complained to him and want to take action. “People have turned over money to this grassroots committee to buy signs, print posters, do mailings, anything that can be done make the people aware of what is going on.”

The councilman was also surprised at how many people do not even know that the possibility of cannabis businesses being within walking distance of churches, schools, parks, and residences could be a vote away at the Aug. 11 council meeting.  “I have been going door to door and finding people who don’t even know this is happening,” he said, exasperated. “I feel an obligation to let people know what a change cannabis businesses will mean for our borough.”  The fact so many turned out for that Monday night meeting, the fact people want to make donations or distribute signs or do something to be sure cannabis is not approved in the borough is enough to give Murphy the determination to fight any possibility the ordinance could be approved.

“While it sounds great the borough will make money from the taxation, the history of cannabis businesses in other states show it is a cash business. How are you ever sure you get the full tax represented by sales?” he asked rhetorically.  “New businesses like this will mean more police, even if only to direct traffic, people complain about lack of parking now, yet in Eatontown they say there are lines waiting to get into the store there. What will happen to our other businesses if people don’t want to support them because they can’t find a parking place, or don’t like the crowds, or don’t think the town looks as beautiful as we know it now?

Councilman Murphy is not the only public figure who has spoken out and been active in opposing cannabis businesses in town. The Rev. Jarlath Quinn, pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, has been to local municipal meetings citing the dangers of  cannabis and calling on the council to think of its impact on this small hometown community.  Former mayors from both political parties, Randi LeGrice, Richard Stryker, Mike Harmon and Fred Rast have all spoken out against any cannabis businesses in the borough, and their works were also echoed by the past two police chiefs, David Rossbach and Jerry Vasto.