O'port revisits parking on lawns
BY LIZ SHEEHAN Correspondent
OCEANPORT — Borough officials are looking into banning the parking of vehicles in the front yards of residences.
At the Borough Council meeting on Dec. 4, Councilman Joseph I. Irace said the council's Quality of Life Committee is concerned about residents parking cars on their lawns.
According to Irace, who is a member of the committee, parking cars in front yards has become more and more of an issue.
He said the council may need to tighten up the regulations on lawn parking.
Borough Clerk Kimberly A. Jungfer said the matter could be referred to the Planning Board.
In an interview last week, Irace said that parking on front lawns is happening more and more, adding, "It's an eyesore."
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Oceanport among first towns to get Sustainable Jersey honor
By CAROL GORGA WILLIAMS • COASTAL MONMOUTH BUREAU • November 15, 2009
OCEANPORT — The borough has become one of only 28 towns in the state to have earned Sustainable Jersey certification — awarded to municipalities that are taking steps to go green — in the program's first year.
According to a news release from the borough, some 240 towns are registered with the program and are in the process of meeting the requirements to receive the certification.
Oceanport will be among the municipalities honored at the Sustainable Jersey awards luncheon Tuesday in Atlantic City during the annual League of Municipalities convention.
Councilwoman Ellynn M. Kahle, who chaired the borough program, will accept the award. Deputy Borough Clerk Jeanne Smith coordinated the program.
"It is through the efforts of these leaders and all of the dedicated members of the community serving on this committee that the certification has been achieved," Oceanport Mayor Michael J. Mahon said in the release.
To become certified, Oceanport submitted documentation to show it had completed a balance of the required sustainability actions, earning at least 100 action points.
Each community also had to create a Green Team and select at least two out of four priority action options.
Oceanport completed four out of the four priority actions, including conducting energy audits for municipal facilities, performing a study of the municipality's carbon footprint, taking the Sustainable Land Use Pledge and implementing a water conservation ordinance.
"The 2009 certified towns are the Sustainable Jersey pioneers that can forever boast that they were the first, having achieved certification in the year one of the program," said Fred Profeta, Maplewood's deputy mayor and chairman of the New Jersey League of Municipalities' Mayors Committee for a Green Future.
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The Best 4 Oceanport Team 2010
"Preserving the quality of life for generations to come in Oceanport"
On Wednesday March 25 Mayor Michael Mahon, Councilman Rick Gallo and Councilman Joseph Irace addressed and took questions from over 90 children from Maple Place Middle School's 7th Grade class. All 3 members of Oceanport's Governing Body spoke about the committee's they oversee and various aspects of Local Government as part of an Assembly on Local Government. Under the tutelage of Mr. John Vaccarelli, 7th grade Social Studies teacher, the students are learning about local government and more specifically the issues pertaining to Oceanport.
"It was apparent to all 3 of us that the kids had learned their material" said Councilman Joseph Irace. " It was like being at a Council Meeting. The students has a firm grasp on all the issues we are facing from Fort Monmouth to Monmouth Park Racetrack to paving streets".
Councilman Gallo was also impressed with the students saying that, "They are light years ahead of where I was at that age. I never learned about Oceanport in school."
Mayor Mahon wanted to "thank Mr. Vaccarelli for the chance to address the students and I look forward to welcoming them to a Council Meeting in May where the students will put their lessons to use and hold their own Council Meeting."
Cell tower ordinance introduced in O'port
BY JENNA O'DONNELL Staff Writer
OCEANPORT - The Borough Council introduced a cell tower ordinance during its May 15 meeting that would allow the construction of communication towers on municipal property.
The ordinance would amend the borough's land use regulations to include a new section titled "Communications Towers."
"The whole purpose of the cell tower ordinance was to protect the borough and the residents from having a cell phone tower erected on private property," said Oceanport Councilman Joseph Irace on Monday. "The ordinance restricts cell phone towers to municipal property only. Obviously, by regulating the location, we can make sure a cell phone tower isn't placed on private property in a residential location."
According to the ordinance, the increase in various forms of communications equipment has created an increase in the demand for facilities for cellular communications systems.
"In order to maximize the usefulness of wireless telecommunications towers and antennas while minimizing any negative impact created by same, and to coordinate all antennas on as few towers as possible and to avoid any proliferation of new towers throughout the borough, the mayor and council desire to regulate the location and installation of wireless communications towers and antennas within the borough," the ordinance states. Read more....
