Mayor Michael Di Croce discussed hopes for tax reductions, the manufacturing of marijuana, cell towers and more.
What can Shamong Township expect in 2019?
Mayor Michael Di Croce discussed hopes for tax reductions, the manufacturing of marijuana, cell towers and more.
“My goal is to see if we can reduce taxes two years in a row, [it’s] never been done,” Di Croce said.
Di Croce said his goal to reduce taxes goes hand-in-hand with the rural feel Shamong is known for. He said since residents pay taxes, but don’t get a lot in terms of sewage, being required to pay for trash pick up, having volunteer fire and ems and state police — he wants to provide them with legislative freedom in return.
“Some of the things you get in Shamong is that the government leaves you alone, your neighbors are supportive and friendly, when something happens in town people don’t immediately call the government, they go out and fix it themselves,” Di Croce said. “That really makes us special and I’m really proud of that.”
He wants Shamong to become more business-friendly while keeping the rural feel of the Pinelands, although he feels it can be a challenge to get more businesses to come to the area.
One major initiative he hopes to bring to Shamong is the manufacturing of marijuana. If recreational use is made legal, he said this opportunity could create more jobs while collecting funds to go toward his goal of lowering taxes.
“If I could make Shamong the pot capital of New Jersey, I think it would be fantastic,” Di Croce said.
He plans to manufacture marijuana in a safe way, where children would not be exposed to it, and at least 50 percent of the farm would be dedicated to the growth of local fruits and vegetables.
He has also been working to get a cell tower in town to improve service; however, he could not get approval to put it on township or school property. He said that was one of his “greatest disappointments” of 2018, but he will continue to work on ways to get the cell tower in town in 2019.
As far as roadways, he is looking into ways to improve Grassy Lake Road, a stretch of about a quarter of a mile. Although it is not a large area, there are underground drainage problems that make it difficult and costly to repair.
Di Croce said Oakshade Road will be repaired in the beginning of the year.
Shamong officials have met with Tabernacle officials and have applied for a state Department of Transportation grant in hopes the state will cover the funds necessary to repair the shared stretch of Carranza Road.
Going into 2019, Di Croce said one of the most valuable lessons he’s learned was that residents truly care about their town and they are appreciative of the help the township offers during tough times.
“The thing I’ve learned the most this year was to continue to be responsible and to be responsive to people in our town when an issue is raised,” Di Croce said. “Bitter people are not grateful and grateful people are not bitter.”
