Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Community Concerns topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents press council on food-truck parking, taxes and cannabis hours at Lakehurst meeting
Summary
During public comment at the April 3 Lakehurst council meeting residents asked about seating for food trucks, raised concerns about rising taxes and queried the cannabis ordinance’s hours. Council and the borough attorney said safety and consultations with the police would guide any parking changes; the council noted an estimated $75 yearly tax impact on a $250,000 home.
Residents used the public-comment period at the April 3 Lakehurst Borough Council meeting to press the council on food-truck seating and parking, local property taxes and the newly adopted cannabis ordinance’s hours.
Bruce Margeson, identified in the record as a Lakehurst resident, asked whether seating would be provided for food trucks parked near the lake. Council President Oglesby replied that seating already exists in the park. Mr. Margeson also raised concerns about taxes, saying he expected taxes to fall "from the pot shop and Wawa," and asked for louder microphones to hear the cannabis-ordinance discussion.
Council members explained factors affecting municipal costs. Councilwoman Bernadette Dugan said the Finance Committee kept the budget tight and described an estimated tax impact of about $75 a year for a home assessed at $250,000 (a change the council characterized as roughly 2.5%). Council President Oglesby said the borough is contacting unions to reopen contracts and review health benefits, and pointed to fixed costs such as tipping fees and hazmat disposal.
On parking, Council President Oglesby proposed creating three permit-only food-truck parking spots along Lake Street that would require a permit and added that the council would consult the police chief before any changes. Attorney Ian Goldman emphasized public safety as a priority, saying that is why the council will confer with the police department before altering parking.
Alison Chillemi, recorded as a Lakehurst resident, raised safety concerns about parking by the lake and asked whether an officer would be present; she also questioned the cannabis ordinance’s provisions. Councilwoman Dugan noted the public hearing on the cannabis ordinance had concluded and stated the council set operating hours at "8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m." The council recorded no public comments during the ordinance hearing.
The council closed public comment and adjourned at 8:01 p.m. Council members directed the clerk and staff to post the budget public-hearing notice and said they would consult the police chief before making parking changes.
