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Vol. 2 – No. 34
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April 21, 2018 – April 27, 2018
Council Seeks Explanation from Birnbohm Over Proposed 7.24 Cents Tax Levy Increase By Mark Hatoff For the Pine Barrens Tribune
MEDFORD LAKES—A Lenape Regional High School District Board of Education proposal to raise the regional school tax levy in the Borough of Medford Lakes by 7.24 cents for the 2018-19 school year is causing the Medford Lakes Council to grumble. The grumblings came as council introduced the borough’s municipal budget for the year on April 12. The Lenape Regional High School District’s preliminary 2018-19 school year budget, “66 percent introduced by the of our local school boa rd on March 25, calls for a taxes go to $204.32 increase in the schools. regional school taxes So, we need to on a home assessed a t t h e b o r o u g h manage what average of $285,500 we have in a t o h el p s u p p o r t $162 ,630,0 0 8 i n way that will district spending. not burden The borough taxpayers any i s o n e of e i g h t municipalities that more than they make up the Lenape already have district. The anticipated been” municipal budget Dr. Robert Burton, for Medford Lakes is Medford Lakes $4,926,829; $65,649 Manager. less than last year’s municipal budget. Borough Manager Dr. Robert Burton said that if the municipal budget is approved by council on second reading, despite a decrease in spending, municipal taxes (excluding regional school taxes) will increase by $53.02 over the previous year to $1,870.86 per average home. Combined with the proposed regional school tax increase, Medford Lakes property owners could soon be paying an extra $257.34 in taxes. Still unknown is the Medford Lakes School District tax impact. Medford Lakes School District includes
Fiery Debate Rages Proposal to Clear Cut 16 Acres of Trees in Bass River State Forest Met With Opposition By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer
BASS RIVER—16 acres of White Pine and Loblolly Pine trees obstructing the view from an 80 ft. tall fire lookout tower in Bass River Township may soon be clear cut and replaced with short growing trees. The New Jersey Forest Fire Service, part of the Parks and Forestry Division of the New Jersey Depar tment of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), has met with Pinelands Commission staff and local stakeholders in recent months to introduce a clear cutting and silviculture plan that would completely unblock the fire tower’s intended 360-degree view of the Bass River
Photo By Ryan Marchese
Jeremy Webber, assistant forest firewarden of the New Jersey Forest Fire Service, explains how trees are obstructing the view of the Bass River State Forest from the Bass River Forest Fire Tower. State Forest. Within the next few months, the Forest Fire Service hopes to file a formal application with the Pinelands Commission to obtain a permit to carry out the plan. “There is an obstruction preventing Forest Fire Service personnel from being able to see and spot a wildfire,” s a i d C a r y n S h i n s ke , a NJ DE P spokeswoma n. “ T he Forest Fi re Service proposes to clear trees to vastly improve sightlines.” The view from three sides of the
tower’s square observatory, located less than 500 feet off East Greenbush Road, is at least partially blocked by the 16 acres of 80 to 100 ft. tall trees. The obstructing trees also sit off East Greenbush Road. “It is an im minent need,” said Assistant Forest Firewarden Jeremy Webber. “270 degrees of the 360-degree view has at least a par tial or full obstruction.” Webber and his NJDEP colleagues See DEBATE/ Page 20
See PROPOSED/ Page 14
INDEX Automotive.................... 23
Health............................ 15
Opinion...........................11
Business Directory........ 18
Gardening...................... 13
Scanner........................... 9
Community.................... 12
Local News...................... 2
Worship Directory.......... 12
Fun and Games............. 17
Marketplace................... 21
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