|
Township Files Appeal To DEP's Johnson Park Fine
By Lauren Puglisi
This week, an announcement was made to the public regarding the state Department of Environmental Protection's
DEP) plans to fine Jackson Township $15,000 for unauthorized work on a secondary access road at John F. Johnson Memorial Park.
When the township's July efforts to convert a section of the park into an emergency road access were not successful, residents began questioning whether this entire incident could have been avoided.
This summer, a DEP inspector visited the park and found workers from the township Department of Public Works working on an access road at the rear of the site, cutting through wetlands. The inspector immediately issued a violation notice and ordered the town to halt any work to the environmentally sensitive area.
Without the proper DEP approvals to work on the site, the state ordered the town to stop all activity, remove the four truckloads worth of fill and stone, as well as cement piping installed to drain the deep puddles.
With the hopes of benefiting the taxpayers and the township, the Jackson Council authorized a resolution to appeal the fines to the state of New Jersey Office of Administrative Law.
Township attorney George Gilmore said, "There are a number of reasons to warrant this appeal; instead of paying a fine, that money could instead be used to do things that would better preserve the environment of Jackson Township."
Although an initiative has been taken by Jackson officials, the issue relating to the DEP's fine is far from being resolved.
Gilmore explained that once the appeal is filed, there will be a conference held to try to negotiate the issue through both parties.
During Tuesday's council meeting, inquires by the public were made requesting an internal investigation of the events that took place at Johnson Park, as well as documentation about the cost that would be incurred by pursuing an appeal.
As a result, Council President Ann Updegrave and Councilman Angelo Stallone made the decision to file the appeal but hold off on further movements regarding the resolution until more information is presented to the public.
Stallone said, "I do not want to make this fine become more payable than it needs to be. The plan to file the appeal will go forward as further action will be put on a hold."
Township officials plan to further discuss the details regarding steps towards concluding the appeal with the DEP at an upcoming council meeting in December.
| 
