By John Spinelli
MIDDLETOWN – The Middletown Township Committee addressed a range of topics at its May 15 meeting, from acquiring new open space to budget approval to potential tobacco and smoke regulations.
The committee introduced an ordinance to purchase or use eminent domain to obtain vacant land on West Nutswamp Road, near Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and the Garden State Parkway. A developer had been interested in building 500 units on the four lots, currently owned by multiple entities. In addition to environmental concerns, such as slopes and wetlands, a development of this size could create new issues in the surrounding neighborhood.
There will be a public hearing on this ordinance June 5.
The committee approved the 2023 Municipal Operating Budget with no opposition at the meeting. The township estimates a tax revenue for 2023 of $261,763,666.71, slightly more than the 2022 revenue of $254,245,953.91.
Of the total tax revenue, $60.82 million is estimated to come from the municipal purpose tax; $4.58 from the township library tax; $4.52 million from the municipal open space tax; $161.13 million from the school tax; and another approximately $30.6 million from county taxes.
Amy Citrano, the township’s director of planning, introduced a discussion item about proposing smoke shop regulations in Middletown. There has been an increase of new smoke shops within the township and concerns are being raised over the lack of regulations, including locations near schools and churches and if the establishments are in compliance with certain required health warnings.
The closest municipality with smoke shop ordinances is Sayreville.
Township administrator Tony Mercantante noted during the discussion that smoke shop equipment has made its way into convenience stores and delis. Mercantante also stated Middletown smoke shops already sell cannabis paraphernalia and CBD.
Mayor Tony Perry said another concern he had about smoke shops was if “Trenton could hypothetically sign legislation to override the municipal decisions prohibiting dispensaries from towns if action isn’t done now.” Middletown voted to prohibit cannabis sales within its borders.
The township committee, in general, agreed that more should be done to restrict and regulate the sale of smoking products and potential new shops.
This was a discussion item and no formal action was introduced by the committee.
In Other News:
The committee also approved the development of a playground for children with special needs and disabilities at McMahon Park. The project is being constructed in partnership with the Educational Services Commission of New Jersey (ESCNJ) Cooperative Pricing System.
The mayor congratulated Officer Omar Akel of the Middletown Police Department for receiving the “Top Cop” award in Washington D.C. May 12 from the National Association of Police Organizations. Akel was involved in a standoff in Long Branch during which he helped save a 2-week-old baby.
The article originally appeared in the May 18 – 24, 2023 print edition of The Two River Times.
