Friday, May 18, 2012
A bill floating in the state Assembly would do just that
A bill up for consideration by a state Assembly panel next week would decriminalize possession of less than 15 grams of marijuana. The Assembly Judiciary Committee on Monday will review bipartisan legislation that would replace criminal penalties with fines for possession of enough weed for just less than 30 joints, according to a report in today's Star Ledger. The state director of the Drug Policy Alliance told the newspaper that the bill is the farthest marijuana decriminalization has ever gotten in the state Legislature. Currently, the penalty for possession of small amounts of the illegal drug is up to six months in jail and a $1000 fine. The proposed bill would drop the penalty to a $150 fine for a first offense, $200 for a second …
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Governing body finds it 'really useful to hear directly' from pupils
The public portion of Thursday's Belmar Council meeting contained several requests from residents that the governing body has likely not heard all year. It probably had something to do with the fact that those residents were sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders. The list of requests from students of Belmar Elementary School, where once each year the governing body holds its regular meeting, included an arcade, ice skating rink, swimming pool and water park. While several items on the youngsters' wish list would most likely have to be fulfilled by private sector developers, a few, such as a walking bridge over Silver Lake, are actual possibilities, Mayor Matt Doherty said. "I thought they were really good ideas and suggestions," Doherty …
Miss Thursday's meeting? Read the transcript!
The Belmar Borough Council and mayor held this week's meeting at Belmar Elementary School on Thursday at 1:30 p.m., and Patch was there providing live updates. Mayor Matt Doherty said the governing body moved their regular meeting from Wednesday at Borough Hall to the school in order to give its students a first-hand look at the workings of local government and let them know that they, too, have a voice in the community.
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Parents of children with disabilities invited to Belmar Public Library
The American with Disabilities Act (ADA) Committee of Belmar is hosting a meeting for Belmar parents of children, teens and young adults with disabilities on Thursday, May 24, at 7 p.m. at the Belmar Public Library, at the corner of Tenth Avenue and E Street. Committee members want to extend support, and learn how they can better serve the area's youngsters who are disabled, physically and intellectually challenged included, Borough Council President Claire Deicke said. Please contact Deicke, ADA Chairperson, at ctd@verizon.net, if planning to attend.
Mayor hopes to give students afternoon look at their local government
The Belmar Borough Council and mayor will hold this week's meeting at Belmar Elementary School on Thursday at 1:30 p.m. Mayor Matt Doherty said the governing body moved their regular meeting from Wednesday at Borough Hall to the school in order to give its students a first-hand look at the workings of local government and let them know that they, too, have a voice in the community. Aside from the change of setting, the meeting will be like any other at Borough Hall, as the agenda includes a resolution to adopt the 2012 budget and the second reading and final vote on the adoption of a $4.5 million refunding bond ordinance that will refund general obligation bonds from the borough's 2003 series. In addition, the governing body will vote on…
NJ’s governor and Cory Booker channel Seinfeld in video parody for correspondents show.
Just because they're the state's two most prominent politicians doesn't mean they don't have a sense of humor. The office of Gov. Chris Christie yesterday released a lighthearted video co-starring Newark Mayor Cory Booker as a peripatetic go-to guy, riffing off his now national-scale image as a man of action following his rescue of a neighbor from a burning building several weeks ago. As the Democratic mayor of the state's largest city is depicted doing everything from coming up with a spare guitar for Bruce Springsteen to catching a falling baby, a faux-frustrated Christie hisses "Booker!" The video was produced for the New Jersey Press Association's Legislative Correspondents Club show.
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
UPDATE: Council votes for preliminary approval for second ordinance giving bars the option to pay fees to stay open until 2 a.m.
Point Beach council voted on Tuesday night for bars to close at midnight, two hours earlier than the current 2 a.m. closing time. Councilmembers Kristine Tooker, Bret Gordon and Michael Corbally voted for the earlier bar closing, while Councilmembers William Mayer, Tim Lurie and Stephen Reid voted against it. That left Mayor Vincent Barrella to break the tie, and he voted yes. The ordinance goes into effect on July 1. The council also voted for preliminary approval for a second ordinance giving bars the option to pay fees to stay open until 2 a.m., which is the current closing time. However, councilmembers agreed to postpone the deadline for bars to request a later closing time from the town. That deadline had been May 24 but was moved to …
Measure aims to stave off 'relentless' toll increases, Assemblyman says
A group of Ocean County state legislators have proposed a bill that would allow commuters to claim a tax credit if they spend $1000 or more on highway tolls per year. Senator Jim Holzapfel and Assemblymen Dave Wolfe and Greg McGuckin (all R-10) proposed the bill in their respective chambers Tuesday. If it becomes law, commuters would be able to receive a $1000 state income tax credit if their E-ZPass toll accounts register $1000 or more in toll payments in a given year. Holzapfel said the law is aimed at providing relief for commuters who have seen "relentless" toll increases in recent years. "By providing commuters with a means to offset a portion of their commuting costs, our bill recognizes that these taxpayers are paying more than …
Boardwalk still offering $800,000 over five years, despite state saying proposed bar ordinance "appears to be unlawful"
A Boardwalk offer to pay $800,000 over five years is "still on the table," despite that the state says a related town proposal "appears to be unlawful." Marilou Halvorsen, Director of Marketing for Jenkinson's Boardwalk, said late Tuesday afternoon that Jenkinson's and Martell's are still jointly offering the payment, despite that the state Department of Community Affairs is questioning the legality of a proposed ordinance that would compel bars to pay fees to stay open past midnight (see related story posted on top of home page). "But if they pass a 12 o'clock bar closing, I'm sure it won't be," Halvorsen said. "But our offer is still on the table because it's in everyone's best interest to come up with a resolution," she said. Now it …
Manasquan Borough Council has until May 22 to appoint Grasso's replacement
The list of three potential replacements to fill the Manasquan Borough Council seat vacated last month by former Republican Don Grasso are in, and the governing body has until May 22 to choose just one. Mike Sinneck and Greg Olivera, both running for two council seats in November's general election, are joined by Marilyn Jacobson as the three candidates the Borough Council must decide between and select to finish Grasso's term that expires Jan. 1. If the council selects Sinneck or Olivera, either would enjoy incumbency status, and arguably an advantage, going into November against two newcomer Democratic hopefulls vying for as many seats. Jacobson, if picked, would likely serve out the remainder of Grasso's term before going quietly …
bayboat
11:54 am on Saturday, May 19, 2012
Decriminalize, legalize..whatever. Do SOMETHING! cause what we have now aint workin'! The fact that its illegal to smoke a joint in your own home is disgraceful. more ›