Times
MICROMEDIA PUBLICATIONS, INC.
THE BERKELEY
Vol. 21 - No. 31
Inside This Week’s Edition
Business Directory................... 18 Classifieds................................ 19 Community News................. 8-11 Dr. Izzy’s Sound News............. 14 Fun Page.................................. 20 Health................................. 14-15 Inside The Law......................... 17 Letters to the Editor.................... 6 Wolfgang................................. 23 WWW.MICROMEDIAPUBS.COM
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A Second Term Begins For Mayor
–Photo by Catherine Galioto BERKELEY – Mayor Carmen Amato, surrounded by his family, was sworn in to his second term as mayor of Berkeley Township by Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno at the annual township reorganization meeting, January 1. Guadagno also swore in Councilmen Tom Gross and John Bacchione to their terms, and Councilman Keith Buscio to his first term. The reorganization meeting also named official appointments such as Bacchione to council president and Councilwoman Sophia Gingrich to vice president. For more photos from the meeting, turn to page 4.
Beach Replenishment Delay Draws Criticism From Officials
By Daniel Nee OCEAN COUNTY – While the project on the northern barrier island from Manasquan to Seaside is delayed in easement litigation, work on an the Long Beach Island portion of the federal beach replenishment project has been stopped in its tracks following a decision by the Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company to halt operations so its dredge boats could be moved to other projects. The decision by the company to stop work on the Long Beach Island beach replenishment and du ne building project until sometime in the spring
has drawn harsh criticism by state and local officials, who say the project’s completion is central to protecting the island from storm damage during the spring nor’easter and 2016 hurricane seasons. “By suspending its Long Beach Island work, this company will expose lives, homes, businesses and infrastructure to severe winter storms,” said state Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Bob Martin, in a statement. “Their decision shows a callous disregard for the people of New Jersey.” Martin called on the U.S. (Replenishment - See Page 12)
–Photo by Daniel Nee 24th Street in Surf City, where a replenishment project is currently delayed.
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January 9, 2016
Setting The Pace For Year Ahead
By Catherine Galioto BERKELEY – The reorganization meeting is the formal ceremony of swearing in elected officials for their new terms, but it is also used as a means to set the goals and pace for the coming year. In speeches to a packed audience, the mayor and council took the moment to spell out what they would like to work on – or continue – for 2016. Mayor Carmen Amato, taking his second term as mayor, has served on the council and boards of education for more than two decades. Simply put, Amato said he hopes to continue all that’s been set in motion to make Berkeley the best place it can be, and his colleagues on the council agreed. “This is a great privilege, and I promise to work each and every day to serve you to the best of my ability,” Amato said after being sworn in. Officials said the successes of 2015 included finally demolishing the Beachwood (Year Ahead - See Page 4)
Freeholder Lacey Resigns
By Catherine Galioto OCEAN COUNTY – Freeholder Jim Lacey submitted a letter of resignation on December 31, creating a vacancy for the county board of freeholders that the county party chairman said would be filled within 35 days after a county convention is called. Lacey, of Brick, had served as a freeholder since 1993. His term was to end January 2017. Freeholder Director John Bartlett announced Lacey’s resignation December 31 from the five-member, all-Republican board of chosen freeholders. The freeholders meeting after this announcement, the annual reorganization meeting, was January 6, after presstime. For updates from The Times, visit micromediapubs.com. According to a report in the Asbury Park (Resigns - See Page 4)