Hurricane Sandy

VIDEO: Emergency Officials and Volunteer Police Honored for Sandy Response

Manchester's council thanked the volunteer police force and emergency officials for their dedication in Superstorm Sandy's aftermath

Manchester officials thanked emergency staff and its volunteer police force for their efforts in the wake of Superstorm Sandy during Monday evening's Township Council meeting.  "We deeply appreciate it," said Council President Craig Wallis. Chief of Police Brian Klimakowski presented honors to Emergency Management Coordinator Arthur Abline and his deputy, Marisa Wilkins and auxiliary police officers Mathew J. Chester, Michael C. Drybola, Bernadette K. Warren, Lee R. Olson, Michael E. Mancini and Dominick A. Fresco III. During the week that Sandy struck, Abline and Wilkins put in over 170 and 150 hours of duty, respectively, according to the chief.  "It's just absolutely incredible the amount of time that they put in," Klimakowski said.  …

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UPDATE: Manchester Could Benefit If Displaced Shore Residents Move Inland

Manchester's ratable base decreased from $3.9 billion to $3.2 billion following reassessments

Officials said that the high cost of rebuilding from Hurricane Sandy could drive coastal residents inland, potentially helping bolster the township's decreased ratable base should they decide to call Manchester home.  With some coastal residents facing the reality of paying tens of thousands of dollars to rebuild and raise their homes — as well as increases in flood insurance rates — an inland community like Manchester may be a good alternative, said Township Council Vice President Brendan Weiner Monday evening.  "It's almost impossible for some of these folks to rebuild," he said. "They may say, 'we want to live close to the coast — let's check out Manchester.'" After the 2013 reassessment, the township's total taxable value decreased by …

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Council Increases Salary Caps for Several Township Employees

Council members in attendance approved an ordinance that increases the pay ceiling for more than 30 positions

Changes in the training and responsibilities of some Manchester Township employees has led to Council members increasing the minimum and maximum salary caps for those employees. Monday evening at their regular meeting, the council members in attendance approved an ordinance that increases the pay ceiling for more than 30 positions. The caps increased for several employees, including Chief Engineer, Chief of Police, Township Clerk and dispatchers, according to a draft of the meeting agenda posted to the township website. The biggest salary cap increases fell within the township's data processing and communication areas. The cap for the township's director of data processing went up about $15,000, and the cap for the town's management …

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denver

5:12 am on Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Yes, the six-figured have given themselves a salary cap so they can give themselves MORE raises, two in 2012. Meanwhile the worker-bees have been at the mid range or at the bottom of their salary range, without an increase in 3+years, as was promised by the township AND as in their union agreement. how bout THOSE apples? their bonuses should go to the people who work hard, not sit on their rear, …   more ›

Agenda: Township Council to Vote on Salary Range Increases

Manchester Township Council will meet 6 p.m. Monday in the Municipal Complex courtroom

Members of Manchester's Township Council will vote on whether to increase the salary ranges for certain bargaining unit and non-bargaining unit employees when they meet in the Municipal Complex courtroom Monday at 6 p.m. An ordinance introduced at the council's last meeting increases the pay ceiling on over 30 positions, including Chief Engineer, Chief of Police, Township Clerk and dispatchers, according to a draft of the meeting agenda posted to the township website. Also on the agenda is the first reading of an ordinance that would require criminal history background checks for those applying to work in emergency service and public safety positions.

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Council Approves 4 Police Car Replacements

Department has decided to use Dodge Chargers on its fleet

Manchester's Township Council last week approved the purchase of four new police cars as the department continues to cycle vehicles in its fleet. The 2012 Dodge Chargers requested by police will replace three aging and one damaged Ford Crown Victorias used by the Manchester Police Department which are no longer in production. The cost for the vehicles, which will be bought through the Cranford Police Cooperative Purchasing System, will not exceed $99,836, according to the purchase authorization resolution approved Tuesday evening. Of the four cars, three will replace vehicles that have met or will soon reach their 100,000 mile usefulness limit. Another will replace a patrol car damaged in June when an allegedly intoxicated driver struck it…

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Hurricane Sandy

Permit Fees Waived in Manchester for Sandy Damage Repairs

Recommendation for municipalities to waive fees came from state agency

Those who sustained damage to their property in Manchester when Hurricane Sandy struck can appeal to waive permit fees for repairs. Upon the recommendation of the New Jersey Division of Codes and Standards, Manchester's Township Council approved Monday a resolution giving those affected by the devastating storm a means to have permit fees for repairs waived.  "There are provisions in there for proof and the final say will be with the Construction Official once he's received information in order to waive fees for those permits," said Municipal Clerk Sabina Skibo. Waivers will be issued on a case by case basis after review, according to the resolution. Manchester was not as severely impacted by the storm as some neighboring municipalities, …

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Hurricane Sandy

Township Council Addresses Sandy Response

Officials plan to meet to assess storm response and determine what, if anything, should change

In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, Manchester officials discussed how the township handled the storm and said they plan to hold a meeting to determine what worked and what could be done better should severe weather again impact the area. Members of the Township Council on Monday praised the efforts of police, public works and emergency volunteers who responded following the storm that devastated parts of New Jersey. "They did a great effort," said council President Craig Wallis, who attended the meeting through telephone. "They were out there the whole time."  While some neighboring communities experienced severe damage that destroyed homes and displaced families, Manchester mostly dealt with downed trees and powerlines and days-long …

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Agenda: Salary Changes to be Introduced at Tuesday Township Council Meeting

Council will meet at 6 p.m. in the Municipal Complex courtroom

Ordinances amending some salary scales for both bargaining and non-bargaining unit employees will be introduced Tuesday evening when the Manchester Township Council meets.  The upper salary limit of several township positions are proposed to increase, according to the draft agenda for the 6 p.m. meeting posted online. Other items on the agenda include a resolution waiving permit fees for repairs required because of damage sustained during Hurricane Sandy and a request made by the police department to purchase four Dodge Chargers. Council meetings are typically held on the second and fourth Monday of each month, but observance of Veterans Day forced this meeting to be moved to Tuesday.

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Council Meeting Moved to Tuesday as Township Observes Veterans Day

Veterans Day was Sunday, but township offices close Monday to observe the day

Though Veterans Day is Sunday, some will observe the holiday on Monday, meaning Manchester's Township Council will meet a day later than usual.  The council will hold its first of two regular meetings in November on Tuesday, Nov. 13 at 6 p.m. in the courtroom of the Municipal Complex on Colonial Drive. Township offices were closed to commemorate Veterans Day on Monday. Meetings are typically held on the second and fourth Mondays of each month, save for some exceptions including holidays. The agenda for the meeting has not yet been made available on the township's website.  Manchester and Lakehurst schools will be open on a regular schedule Monday.

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Letter to the Editor

Letter: 'Continued Good Government' Team Not a Partisan Group

Letter submitted by Manchester Mayor Michael Fressola

The following letter was authored by Manchester Mayor Michael Fressola, who shares his view on the recent Township Council vote. Manchester Patch: Your article posted on Nov. 7, 2012, entitled "Victorious Township Council Team Faced a Close Race" contains quotes by a defeated candidate which I must take exception to and comment about. First of all I am happy that Mr. Peck ("feels good") about losing the election. He states, in reference to the Continued Good Government team, "It's basically a one party town." The Continued Good Government organization is made up or Republicans, of which I am one, and many Democrats and independents and never once has any individual asked to run with the Continued Good Government team been asked about their…

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