As the April 17 referendum swiftly approaches, the community energetically has been voicing opinions both for and against its terms.
Township officials have said in recent meetings that an average assessed home of $333,000 would face an increase of $344 in property taxes if the referendum, which would save municipal trash collection, passes.
Resident Harvey Dinerman provided his thoughts in the public portion of the April 3 township council meeting.
He said Gov. Christie was correct in his recent radio address where he said it’s time to call the council’s bluff, but that Christie gave his remarks too late.
That statement, he said, should have been directed toward former councils.
Dinerman said he will vote for the referendum and emphasized the current council needs to focus solely on keeping bare necessities for the town at this time due to the financial mess handed down from prior councils.
“I love where I live,” he said. “The leaves fall, and they stay there.”
Brush and bulk trash pick up are not necessities, he said. However, regular trash pick-up is a necessity in the township.
Dinerman said Medford needs police who know the area in case of an emergency as a response to the recent layoffs.
Meanwhile, Terri Palmer took to the podium after Dinerman — and agreed she did not want to see the police force lose any more officers.
“We do need our cops,” Palmer said. “And you have picked them to the bare minimum.”
She also agreed brush pick up is not a necessity at this time.
After the public comment section, Mayor James “Randy” Pace briefly voiced his thoughts.
He said the township is currently in a “static position,” and the path it takes will depend on the referendum results.
Medford is going to change — and he believes that change will be significantly for the better in the long run.
He said the town’s challenges would probably get worse before they get better, “but they will get better,” he said.
Fire protective clothing purchased
An ordinance was adopted to appropriate $50,810 from the Capital Improvement Fund for the purchase of fire protective clothing.
In response, Councilman Chuck Watson said he is glad to see the gear get updated.
Councilman Jeff Beenstock, meanwhile, made it clear the money is coming from last year’s budget and Medford is not borrowing a dime.
Pace agreed, saying it was a required move and the firefighters needed their clothing updated.
Alcohol Awareness Month
April was proclaimed to be Alcohol Awareness Month in Medford at the meeting.
As part of the proclamation, Pace noted approximately 15 million Americans are alcoholics.
Alcohol, he noted, is involved in 50 percent of various crimes within the juvenile justice systems.
