Friday, April 5, 2013
He chose not to run for reelection this year.
Former Galloway Township Mayor and soon-to-be former councilman Tom Bassford sees stability finally returning to the manager’s office, but he would like to see an increase in numbers for the police department. Bassford’s term as councilman expires at the end of this year, and he’s decided 12 years is enough time to be involved in government. “I’ve always been a believer in term limits,” Bassford said. “I don’t think anyone should be a career politician.” So Bassford didn’t register to run in the Galloway Township Republican League’s (GTRL) primary, to be held June 4. Instead, the GTRL’s four candidates are incumbent Mayor Don Purdy and challengers Frank Gargione, Robert Maldonado and Tim Meadows. “I knew I would not be here 20-25 years, …
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Set up to provide assistance in towns affected by Hurricane Sandy, the recovery centers are introducing new, reduced hours.
Disaster Recovery Centers opened in towns affected by Hurricane Sandy are subject to new, reduced hours of operation beginning Monday, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced Thursday. On Monday, April 8, all of New Jersey's remaining disaster recovery centers will operate from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. Saturday hours will remain 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Previously, the centers were open an additional hour on weekdays. Now, six months following Sandy, nine disaster recovery centers remain open throughout the state, located in towns in Monmouth, Ocean, Atlantic, Cape May, and Hudson Counties. There have been more than 85,000 visits to New Jersey centers since opening in early November, according to FEMA. Those …
The program has been extended several times following Hurricane Sandy.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Transitional Sheltering Assistance program has been extended to April 30, Gov. Chris Christie's Administration announced Thursday, for what is likely the last time following Hurricane Sandy. The purpose of the TSA program is to shelter residents who have lost their homes due to the late October storm. Those participating in the TSA program are being housed in hotels and motels throughout the state. As of Thursday, roughly 219 Sandy-displaced residents are housed through the TSA program. Over the course of the month FEMA, along with the State Departments of Community Affairs and Human Services will work at identifying and securing long-term housing solutions for those who remain in the …
A housing group has filed a lawsuit against the state claiming it was denied answer to its Open Public Records Act request for documents.
The Fair Share Housing Center has filed and Open Public Records Act complaint against the State, claiming the Christie Administration has not been upfront about its hiring of a consultant to oversee the spending of billions in Hurricane Sandy relief aid. According to the complaint, the state has not complied with a request to provide FSHC with documents relating to the contract and award of a consultant responsible for preparing a plan to spend more than $5 billion federal Community Development Block Grant - Disaster Recovery funds. The organization, which is dedicated to defending the housing rights of the state's poor, filed the complaint in Mercer County Superior Court Wednesday. The records request was first made with the State's …
A total of $50,250 was awarded to JIF members for their efforts.
The Atlantic County Municipal Joint Insurance Fund (JIF) awarded $1,500 to Galloway Township for its safety efforts in 2012, the JIF announced on Wednesday, April 3. The award was part of $50,250 awarded to the JIF's 42 members from Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland counties as part of its 24th annual Safety Kickoff Breakfast. Galloway and the other members received awards based on their completion of the safety program, which focuses on lowering the risks associated with municipal operations. This includes police, fire, public works and recreation facilities. Safety meetings, safety training and post-accident investigations all contribute to promoting safety. The full list of how much each member was awarded can be found below: Member …
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
The eight candidates previously announced all filed petitions by Monday's deadline.
Neither the Democratic or Republican parties in Galloway Township will hold contested primaries during the upcoming election cycle. As previously reported, Galloway Mayor Don Purdy will run for reelection with the endorsement of the Galloway Township Republican League. He will be joined by challengers Robert Maldonado, Frank Gargione and Tim Meadows. Republican incumbents Tom Bassford and Whitney Ullman will not run for reelection in 2013. Incumbent Councilman Jim McElwee will run for reelection with the endorsement of the Democratic Club, and will be joined by challengers Bill Montag, Michael Suleiman and Cliff Sudler. All eight candidates filed their petitions by the 4 p.m. deadline on Monday, April 1, and no additional candidates filed…
Monday, April 1, 2013
The township has received increasing complaints of unattended trash over the last year.
Members of Galloway Township Council have been fielding complaints about trash and debris being left outside certain properties throughout the township for at least a year, and their complaints may soon be satisfied. “We have vacant and unoccupied houses where debris is left outside,” Councilman Jim Gorman said during the council meeting on March 26. “I think we should give people a certain amount of time to get rid of it, and if they don’t, we’ll do it and charge them or the bank or whoever owns the house. It’s bringing down the values of people’s houses.” “It’s not fair to the residents who live on that street,” Mayor Don Purdy said. “There’s trash, debris and broken glass. … I would consider putting a lien on the properties so the money…
Saturday, March 30, 2013
Deadline extension applies for homeowner, renter and business registration with SBA
Residents impacted by Superstorm Sandy now have until May 1 to register for individual disaster assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), according to a prepared statement from the governor's office. The deadline extension also applies for homeowner, renter, and business registration with the Small Business Administration (SBA) for Disaster Loan Assistance. Businesses applying for SBA Economic Injury loans still have until July 31 to apply. The loans are for businesses that did not suffer any physical damage, but lost revenue in Sandy's aftermath. State and federal offiicials have urged all residents and businesses affected by the storm, whether it was through flooding, wind damage or loss of business revenue, …
Friday, March 29, 2013
During a Friday conference call discussing the National Flood Insurance Program, talk shifted to FEMA's flood maps and the potential for change in New Jersey.
The impetus behind releasing its advisory flood maps soon after Hurricane Sandy was simply to aid in the state's disaster recovery, a Federal Emergency Management Agency risk analyst said Friday, noting that they still remain subject to change prior to their official adoption into the National Flood Insurance Program. Discussion about the NFIP as well as the Advisory Base Flood Elevation maps was made during a FEMA conference call late Friday morning and seemed to conflict with Gov. Chris Christie's hurried effort to see the maps adopted as New Jersey's new standard. Doug Bellomo, director of FEMA's Risk Analysis Division, said the agency used the best available scientific data to develop the maps, and while he's confident that they're …
Thursday, March 28, 2013
The portion of the more than $60 billion aid package will be used to fund development block grants.
An action plan that outlines how New Jersey will spend $1.8 billion in Hurricane Sandy relief aid was submitted to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for review Thursday. The aid will be used for Community Development Block Grants, which are designed to help homeowners, renters, business owners and communities still rebuilding following the late October storm. According to a release, the Action Plan focuses primarily on the nine counties most affected by the storm, including Monmouth, Ocean, Cape May, and Atlantic Counties. The grant funding is expected to assist approximately 26,000 homeowners, more than 5,000 renters, and more than 10,000 businesses, as well as local municipalities. Among the expenditures are $600 …
Red
4:10 pm on Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Still a toadie. No need to kiss Bassford's behind any longer but I guess it's difficult to stop being a toadie. more ›