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Mayor Seda Meets With Residents For One-On-One Discussion
Citizens Discuss Speed Limits, Gypsy Moths, Vandalism
By Lauren Puglisi
On Wednesday, Jackson residents were given the opportunity to meet with Mayor Mark Seda at the Jackson Library to discuss whatever issues, questions or concerns they had in mind.
For those who are not able to attend Jackson's council meetings, the monthly "Meet the Mayor" sessions at the library have allowed for people to interact with Seda on a personal level in a different atmosphere.
"Tonight is a time for residents to come and talk with me about the way they feel about certain township issues," Seda said. "Sometimes, organizations propose ideas to me and if those people wish to gather further information, I always do my best to get them what they need."
The group in the library's conference room Wednesday night was small enough to allow for conversation with the mayor to be on a one-on-one basis.
Doug Poray, of Bennetts Mills Road, brought about the first order of business. Poray voiced his concerns regarding spraying for gypsy moths on his own property.
"After hearing the news that the state will only be spraying one application of Bt this spring, I researched hiring an outside contractor," Poray said, "and the prices are astronomical. For my 3.8-acre property, the cost was anywhere between $800 and $1,500."
Seda agreed that the pricing was out of most residents' budget and said the council was in the midst of getting a group price for residents to spray their private lands.
"If the township gets specific contractors to give Jackson a group rate, the costs per-home are expected to drop in price," Seda said.
Bill Bittner, of Toms River Road, then commended the mayor for his willingness to resolve his ongoing problem with a deteriorating building across the street from his home.
"There has been vandalism on this property for a long time. I have been told for 15 years that this building would be cleaned up and I am still fighting the owner," Bittner said.
The last person to address the mayor was Jessica Coppotelli, a new resident to Reed Road in Jackson.
"My concerns are with the 35 mph speed limit on our road. I have two young children and people are always speeding past our house," Coppotelli said. "Would there be anyway to drop the speed limit to 25?"
Seda answered Coppotelli by saying that the process of dropping speed limits could take over a year's time. As a way to take action on the issue, Seda advised Mrs. Coppotelli that he would arrange new signs to be put up in the area as well as a increased traffic police enforcement.
"By putting a speeding crackdown on this street, it means that any person going one mile above the limit will be ticketed," Seda said. "We have to make an example so people take notice and slow down when driving on this road."
Meet the Mayor sessions at the library are held on the third Wednesday of every month. The program is free of charge and open to the public. For a set list of meeting dates, visit Jackson Library's Web site at http://www.oceancounty.lib.nj.us/Branches/ JA/ja.htm.
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