Asbury Park Press from Asbury Park, New Jersey • Page 21

We D6 Asbury Park PressThursday. September 29. 1988 Rejection of ward system urged ftiAiAiAirti'A By CHARMAINE A. DALE time to look closelv at the form nf By CHARMAINE A. DALE time to look closely at the form of government being township spurred residents to call for change in the a JJL 1 VJ i CENTER AT AMERICAN LUMBER THERMADTRU' MAKING DOORS THAT LAStMADt US FIRST.

Press Shrewsbury Bureau MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP Members of a new group supporting the current form of government in the township called for residents to look closely before voting to change to a ward system. The 12-mcmber committee, "Pride In Middle-town," includes members of various civic and community groups and met for the first time last night The group, which formed last week, opposes the wishes of the Association of Concerned Taxpayers, a committee led by resident Cathy Sullivan, which supports the government change. The issue is to appear on the November ballot Currently, the mayor is chosen from among the five Township Committee members, and voters do not have a say in who is selected mayor. Under the proposed change, the governing body would be expanded to a nine-member council and a directly elected mayor. The township would be divided into six wards, or districts, with one council member elected for each ward and three members elected at large.

One of the major complaints at last night's meeting was that the public was not given enough proposed. "Don't rush into judgment," former Mayor Jim Maher said. "Wait a few weeks to study it." "It's a poor and costly choice of government" said David Handlin, the unofficial spokesman of the group. "A proposal similar to this one was defeated more than 20 years ago. There should be a charter study or a legal committee set up to look into the elements of both governments and see what's best" he said.

Handlin said that this process was bypassed and the issue was placed on the ballot without exploring other options. Both Handlin and Maher said that a charter study, which can take up to two years, is a normal procedure for a government change. "There was little focus on the parts of the plans, just on getting it on the ballot" Handlin said. He said that the ward government would lend itself to corruption. "I don't want to see that in our town." Fran Hanley added, "The mayor would make all the decisions.

That would put too much power into the hands of one individual, and that scares me." Ms. Hanley and other members said that insufficient representation and a recycling issue in the government Residents received bills for recycling surcharges that they denounced as being unfair. "The people were legitimately upset about the recycling bills and they were corrected," Ms. Hanley said. "But that was the result of one error in judgment.

If a child does something wrong, do you banish him from your home? No," she said. Anthony Musella, another member of the group, used a similar comparison. "If you didn't like Carter, you voted him out If you didn't like Reagan, you vote him out Don't change the form of government" he said. "Don't break the township into wards." Ms. Hanley said there were no other specific reasons offered for the change.

"No one explained to me why we need a change in the government I'm in total agreement of the way they vote on the agenda and adopt ordinances," she said. During the next few weeks, Handlin said, pamphlets will be distributed to residents in order to make them aware of some consequences of the change. "We have a lot of networks within the group, since many members are also involved in various civic groups," he said. Fiber Classic Entrance Door SAVE 40 01 6 Scout leader charged in teen sex assault Ft i i i i i 'UfUV 1 i By ELAINE SILVESTRINI Press Coastal Monmouth Bureau cials said. James Lawlor, 45, is free after posting $35,000 bail.

He was arrested Friday and charged with aggravated sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a minor, according to Monmouth County Prosecutor John Kaye and Ocean Township Police Detective Sgt Kevin Quinn. Lawlor, of Stratton Place in the OCEAN TOWNSHIP The Monmouth Council, Boy Scouts of America, yesterday revoked the leader's registration of an Ocean Township High School English teacher who was charged with sexually assaulting a teen-age boy on camping trips, offi tion except to say that Lawlor's registration was revoked yesterday morning. Kay said the Explorers are the high school-age program of the Boy Scouts. Kaye, the prosecutor, said authorities believe the boy was assaulted several times while on camping trips in Berryville, N.Y., Milford, and Stokes State Forest, Pa. Another incident took place during a camping trip in Monmouth County, according to Kaye and Quinn, who said they were not sure where that trip was.

Quinn said the incidents are believed to have happened over the last year or so. Kaye said his office would present the case to a Monmouth County grand jury in the next six or eight weeks. New Monmouth section of Middle-town Township, was suspended with pay from his teaching position effective Monday by Ocean Township Superintendent of Schools Robert Mahon, who said his decision was affirmed by the Board of Education Tuesday night. Mahon refused to comment further. Authorities would not disclose the boy's exact age.

Officials said the boy in question was an Ocean Township High School student who went on Explorer Post camping trips with Lawlor. James W. Kay, council executive for the Monmouth Boy Scouts, said the scouts will provide counseling to those boys in the Explorer Post who need it. Kay refused to discuss the situa THE BEAUTY OF WOOD WITH DURABILITY OF STEELI Energy efficient Secure 25-year warranty Highway 35 Mlddletown, N.J. 741-4444 Store Hours: Sat.

Sun. State American Lumber HOME CENTER) FREE DELIVERY Although the township was one of the first municipalities to submit a plan, it was modified several times, Davison said. Surveys also were necessary to ensure that there were enough units in Freehold for the regional contribution agreement. "From day one, we have attempted to comply with the law, while protecting the nature of our town," Segal said. "I've always doubted the success of the total (affordable housing) concept.

I still do, but at least now we can work within the framework of the law without spending a lot of taxpayers' money on frivolous lawsuits," he added. An ordinance to implement the affordable housing plan must be adopted within 45 days, Davison said. It probably will be introduced at the Oct. 1 1 committee meeting, with a public hearing date set at that time, Segal said. From page Dl he said.

This agreement, between the foundation, the Township Committee and Langeveld Bulb owner of a 375-acre tract off Elton-Adelphia Road, also will preserve 250 acres of open space and allow for the development of up to 65 single-family homes on one-acre tracts. "It is a unique way to meet part of our Mount Laurel obligation without overdeveloping the land," Segal said in May, when the agreement was made. The township's affordable housing plan calls for 31 units above its obligation of 937, Davison said. "It gives us a leg up, if we need it," he said. Pant lm Bowk naLiinisS OIL COMPANY 7 I LJ LJ per gal.

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