Chaos to Stability in Jusy 10 Months

From July 1, 2006, until Jackson Mayor Michael Reina took office, this town suffered from instability and recrimination. In his few months in office, Mayor Reina has restored open government, volunteerism and effective leadership. More importantly, during these poor economic times he has balanced our budget with just a small increase. He did this while keeping our payment to the state pension fund up to date instead of delaying it and incurring an 8.5 percent surcharge. These are just a few reasons that Mayor Reina deserves to be elected to the short six-month term on Election Day, Nov. 3. His three challengers have nothing of significance to offer. Angelo Stallone seems to have a memory lapse in his campaign statements when he neglects to mention he voted for former Mayor Mark Seda’s 32 percent tax increase in 2006 and voted against gypsy moth spraying the same year. John Gaskill has a plan for the municipal government to take over garbage collection. The end result will be a 10 percent-plus increase in our taxes. Do we really need more government control affecting our daily lives? Why is Michael Kafton running? First, it appears he has a compulsion to run. His ill-advised run in 2006 resulted in a split vote that gave us the Seda administration. Second, a win will allow him to appoint the town professionals for 2010. With “pay to play” he can then expect campaign donations for the May 2010 election for mayor

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Chaos to Stability in Jusy 10 Months

Mayor Shows Support For Youth Sports

On July 2 at the Jackson 4th of July celebration held at Johnson Park, Mayor Mike Reina held an early ceremony acknowledging the accomplishments of three teams from Jackson Pop Warner. Last year, our Peewee and Jr. Midget cheerleading teams went to Florida and brought home two national championships for their respective divisions while our Jr. Peewee football team went undefeated and won the eastern region championship. It was an amazing accomplishment to have three teams in the same season take home championships for the first time ever in our league. I would like to personally thank Mayor Mike Reina for his continued effort to support the sports organizations and children of Jackson. Each participant received a proclamation from the mayor’s office, while also having signs posted around the town telling everyone of their accomplishments. I am sure that Mayor Reina has a busy schedule around town, but it’s a great feeling to know that he always takes the time to make our children a priority. I can say that he has helped to bring all the sports organizations together so that we can all continue to work together and make it a better place for all the children. Thank you again, Mayor Mike Reina, for once again putting politics aside to acknowledge our children for their truly amazing feats last year and for showing true compassion for the children of Jackson. On behalf of myself, the Pop Warner Board of Directors, coaches, parents and participants, we would like to again thank you, Mayor Reina, for all your outstanding efforts and for continually taking the time to listen to all our needs. Mark Bruscella, JPWFL President

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Mayor Shows Support For Youth Sports

Kafton & Co. Did Their Research (or did they)

The original, complete letter can be viewed at the Jackson Times website .   A perfect example of how issues become politicised in Jackson is this letter from writer Catherine Genovese expressing concern over the I-195 billboard ordinance.  She begins: The mayor presented an ordinance with no back­ground information for first reading on August 25. One has to ask how she would know there was no background information?  The council voted to carry the matter over to give the council time to do their own research and have questions answered before voting. Perhaps the democratic majority needs to put more effort into being prepared for meetings.  How many times have we heard them carry issues over because they “just received” the information?  This ordinance was not the surprise the writer, or those she praises, would have you believe it to be.  During the April 28, 2009 township meeting,  Mayor Reina presented his State of the Municipality address which in part said the township is in negotiations with private landowners who have property along Interstate 195 for permission to place billboard advertising along Interstate 195 in Jackson.   He has also mentioned it at least twice previously, during his comments at township meetings going back to 2008. Not only did the council research but they (led by Council President Mike Kafton) gave an informa­tive presentation on what the ordinance could mean to the residents of Jack­son. In truth the presentation was biased, sensationalized and overplayed.  The information provided was contrary to that provided by the township attorney, statements of both the planning and zoning boards,and state regulations showing that there were no more than three billboards that could be placed along that road.  Joining the one that already exists at the Jackson Outlets, there would never have been more than four. In his usual style, CP Kafton twisted and convoluted the facts, sullying the truth by claiming that 33 billboards could have been placed.  In the end what he did was rob the taxpayers of this town of more than $250,000 in revenue intended to reduce the tax burden of each and every property owner in Jackson.  This was not a one shot deal.  That revenue was to be paid to the township each and every year.

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Kafton & Co. Did Their Research (or did they)

Experience & Dedication

Mayor Reina and Ken Bressi are the most experienced and dedicated individuals we have running for a seat in Jackson’s govern­ment. Both have given many hours (without compensation) as chairman on the planning board and other areas of civic service. Reina and Bressi are good family men who have tried to give something back to their town. They are also fiscal conservatives, which is exactly what we need today. I hope you agree and vote for the Leader­ship, Experience, Results Team of Mike Reina for mayor and Ken Bressi for coun­cil. Carol Scull, Jackson

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Experience & Dedication

Mike Reina on important township issues

Completed Township Revaluation After more than 20 years of delays, Mayor Reina successfully completed the township’s state-mandated revaluation process.  The process was arduous for township workers and administrators who followed the lead of the mayor.  It was also unsettling for some residents that were dazed upon learning the market value of their homes.  Mayor Reina addressed their concerns by holding several town-hall style meetings where he had representatives of the revaluation company, Tax Assessor and Business Administrator on hand to address concerns.  At the completion of the revaluation process he organized volunteers to hold a seminar on the appeals process and how to file a tax appeal on your property. Transfer station at Johnson Park Mike understands the adverse conditions placed on the Westlake community by the existing leaf and brush transfer station.  The location of the transfer station also poses a risk to children playing in Johnson Park and Mike has a proactive and beneficial plan that will relocate the transfer station to a new and green composting facility that will benefit residents.   The transfer station is scheduled to be shut down in the fall of  2009, freeing the senior community from the sights, smells and sounds created by it. Military Planes Mike understands the concerns of residents posed by increased air traffic from the nearby Joint military base and the impacts this traffic has on local quality of life issues.   As Mayor, Mike has invited residents of the community on a tour of the base to allow them to speak directly to the government officials in charge of the base to hear the residents’ concerns over the increased air traffic caused by the base.   Resident appreciation Mayor Reina as continued the Jackson tradition of recognizing achievements by local residents by awarding proclamations for good deeds, community service and accomplishments by both volunteer groups and youth sports organizations. Jackson Senior Center Mayor Reina has plans to expand the Jackson Senior and improve the services offered by the senior center.

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Mike Reina on important township issues

Mayor Reina visits Holman School kindergartners

Jackson, NJ – Today was “Dogs for Dads” for Kindergartners of Mrs. Davenport’s class at the Lucy N. Holman Elementary School.    A day for kids to say thanks to dad in advance of Father’s Day, but it was also a special day for the kids and their fathers as they were treated with a special mystery guest, Jackson Township Mayor Mike Reina.   

Mayor Reina was presented with a tie made by parents and children which included stars, an American Flag, the words Mr. Mayor and of course a tree with a gypsy moth caterpiller on it, which the mayor graciously wore as he read Dr. Seuss’ The Sneetches, a story about how one scrupulous business owner tries to take advantage of unsuspecting sneetches on the beaches by selling them status symbols they didn’t need.    In the end the Sneetches realized that it didn’t matter if they had something that made them different because regardless of their differences, they can all be friends in the end.

Today’s visit was the brainchild of six year old kindergarten student Erin Stilton who thought it would be a ‘cool’ idea to ask her dad if Mayor Reina would be her special mystery guest instead of himself.   “Of course when she wanted Mr. Reina instead of me, it was a blow, but I thought it would be a wonderful experience for the kids.  Besides, who wants to hear about an old IT guy talk about the differences between megabytes and gigabytes.  I agree the mayor is a bit more interesting” said Erin’s dad Phil “I’ve been told all along that parents should get involved in education in our town and it’s an opportunity these kids might never have had otherwise.   So much has been cut from our town’s education in the past 7 years and these kids stand to miss out on opportunities that were available just a few years ago.  It’s nice to have a mayor who so freely gives back to the community and it’s an experience the children will take with them and remember as the day the mayor came to class and read to them”.

The mayor, who is used to tough crowds down at town hall handled the children just fine and mingled with the group of  first year dads whose children have just finished their first full year in Jackson’s public school system.   After reading to the children the mayor was off to meet with county officials to continue brokering a deal for the Jackson Girls Recreation Softball League to find them a permanent new home over at the county owned Patriot’s Park to give the league much needed relief.

Is Jackson finally on the right track?

Last week, Mayor Reina addressed the town council in what he coined the “State of the Township Address” and informed the community of his plans for Jackson’s future.       The obvious problems lie in the ability of the township council to finally unite and work together for the common good of the community opposed to the partisan bickering and grudge matches that have scarred our town’s political history.

Some of the things the Mayor has proposed for our township include:

• Revitalizing township parks with the majority of the effort being done by donations and volunteers.
• Relocation of the compost facility while working on a new recycling center.
• Enhance the township’s recycling policies in an effort to be more green.
• Turn Jackson’s recycling facilities into a viable revenue generator for the township.
• Billboard advertising on Route 195 to promote local business and economic development in Jackson
• Reduce the amount the JMUA unfairly charges the school district for water and sewer, which burdens taxpayers in the community.
• Reconfiguring of dangerous roads in our town which have claimed the lives of many high school students over the years.
• Lobbying against the state attempts to allow future retirement communities to include affordable housing which will create a strain on our already underfunded school system.
• Affordable housing for veterans.
• Lobbying against COAH and the negative impacts it will have on our town.
• Introducing a plan of fiscal responsibility at all levels within the municipal government.

Mayor Reina considers us to be a in a new era in Jackson.  The only question is will Mike Reina be able to overcome the  petty squabbling that has so often been a roadblock in betterment of our community and can he be the mayor who finally convinces the town council that working with each other is the best plan moving forward for our town.  

Or will long time rivalries, sour grapes and bitterness try to railroad the mayor’s positive approach to moving forward?  After all this is an election year and there is lots of political jockeying to be done between now and November.     Politics in Jackson has been the downfall of our community and I applaud Mayor Reina for sticking his neck out on the line in order to remain positive and work for the best interest of the community and not the best interest of the local political clubs, which have only destroyed our town.

What is your opinion on the Mayor’s positive outlook for the future of Jackson?