Residents urge Wall Township to stay out of county ADP and call for traffic calming on Lakewood Road

During the public-comment portion of the June 9 meeting, West Belmar resident Marcus Korschun Baum asked whether Wall Township would join the county assessment (ADP) program and criticized reassessment timing and practices he said can raise taxes abruptly. Baum described cases where assessed values rose substantially after nearby sales and said he hoped the township would not join the county program: "I hope Wall Township does not go to the ADP." He also asked whether a related lawsuit was resolved.

A township representative identified in the record as Mr. Jabez responded that Wall Township is not in the county program and "we are staying on our own and we are going to continue that process." When asked about the lawsuit he said the township would "continue fighting that and still do it on our own."

Another resident, Paul Alonzo of Lakewood Road, described several years of traffic problems and commended recent police enforcement: "they've done an excellent job of maintaining trying to get the traffic under control." He urged engineering changes including lane narrowing and stop signs at specific intersections, and asked how residents could participate in the ongoing traffic study.

Committee members acknowledged the concerns. The chief and staff said they are working on traffic-calming options for Lakewood Road and may consider narrower lanes and mid-block stop signs as initial measures; follow-up engineering and resident notification were promised.

No formal action was taken during the meeting; the committee closed public comment after roll-call approval.