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Brick Township Recreation Director charged with theft and uttering a forged instrument
BRICK TOWNSHIP — The township’s director of recreation was arrested this week and charged with stealing money paid for permits to use recreational facilities, including municipal ballfields. Daniel Santaniello, 46, of Brick Township, was charged on July 17 with theft and uttering a forged instrument relative to his position as Brick Township’s director of recreation, according to a joint announcement issued by Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D.
Tension boils as residents get estimated taxes
BRADLEY BEACH — As residents of Bradley Beach begin to receive their estimated tax bills, tensions boiled over to the July 10 borough council meeting, when the budget introduction yet again failed to pass. According to Mayor Larry Fox, since the council has yet to successfully pass a budget residents received estimated tax bills.
School tax levy won’t rise as much as first planned
LAKE COMO — The Lake Como Board of Education (BOE), at its July 16 special meeting, voted to revise its 2024-2025 school budget to include newly approved state aid adjustments to raise the tax levy an additional 5.67% and a grant. The adjustment is made possible through a recent senate bill that relates to S2 losses, or the state’s school-aid funding formula, to assist schools that have lost such aid over recent years, according to Business Administrator Michael Bardsley.
Borough receives bid for former Wells Fargo bank building
SPRING LAKE — The Borough of Spring received a bid last week for the former Wells Fargo bank building, located at the corner of Third and Morris avenues, that is to be converted into a restaurant/affordable housing use. “We got one response to that bid. We are pretty excited about that response…Our professionals are looking at it for its responsiveness and the responsible bidder so statutorily, financially, things that we have to do our due diligence on,” said Mayor Jennifer Naughton.
BOE reintroduces budget after state bill restores aid
BRADLEY BEACH — The Bradley Beach Board of Education [BOE] re-introduced the tentative budget on July 11 of $9,181,316, which would result in an annual increase of about $131 per average household. Increased revenue from added state aid and the tax levy will enable the district to replace old Chromebooks and hire an additional specialized teacher and aide for the autism program.
Council approves $4 million in bonding
SPRING LAKE HEIGHTS — The Spring Lake Heights borough council approved two bond ordinances this past Monday night, July 15, allocating $4 million to various improvements. Ordinance 2024-09 is for roadwork projects and first response communications. Council President William Graetz told the council on June 17 that the police and other first responders’ radio equipment is outdated, and improved connection is needed between the borough’s responders and those of neighboring communities.
BOE revises 2024-2025 school budget
BELMAR — The Belmar Board of Education (BOE) unanimously voted to adopt a revised 2024-2025 school budget that allows for an additionally increased tax levy of 1%, to 4.31%, at its July 16 meeting. Business Administrator Michael Bardsley explained to the board that the adjustment in the budget is made possible through a newly signed state Senate bill that allows for school districts that experienced a reduction in state school aid for the upcoming school year compared to the 2020-2021 school year to implement a one-time additional adjustment to its tax levy.
Police Department presents K-9 unit
BRADLEY BEACH — The July 10 borough council meeting got off to a “pawfect” start, thanks to Officers Anthony Badalamenti and Andrew Redmond, who led a presentation that discussed the police department’s K-9 unit. The presentation covered the history, training, duties and highlighted the three dogs that currently serve alongside human officers; Liga, Robby and Rico.
Summer meal program launched at school
BELMAR — Belmar Elementary School (BES) has announced the launch of a new summer food program to ensure local children have access to nutritious meals while school is out of session. According to BES Superintendent Jimmy Alvarez, the program is supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. “Mike Bardsley, our business administrator, along with Bill Chalmers and the Culinary Classic team, were integral in making this possible,” he said.
Santa trades his sleigh for a paddleboard at new event
SPRING LAKE — The Spring Lake Business Improvement District (BID) hosted its first-ever Christmas in July Santa Paddle on Spring Lake last Saturday at 10 a.m., an event the group hopes will become a permanent addition to the annual fall time Witches Paddle fundraiser. Paddlers came out adorned in their best holiday-themed outfits and decorated boards in support of Asbury Park and Belmar’s Blue Dot: Social & Community Wellness, a local organization.
BOE OKs Sirchio’s vacation/sick day reimbursement
WALL TOWNSHIP — Township education officials approved vacation and sick day reimbursement of nearly $100,000 stemming from a separation agreement for former Wall High School Principal Rose Sirchio. The reimbursement, part of the Tuesday, July 16 meeting’s human resources report in the consent agenda, was passed without comment. Some other payouts to staff members included in the report are for sums of $200, $1,770, $4,980 and $10,230.
Allaire Village closes til Aug. 7 due to finance distress
WALL TOWNSHIP — The same day of its monthly flea market that attracted hundreds of patrons, the Historic Village at Allaire announced it would be closing temporarily for about a month due to funding issues. “We are trying to be proactive instead of reactive,” Historic Village at Allaire Executive Director Hance Sitkus told The Coast Star.
E-bike crash moves council to preach traffic safety
MANASQUAN — Last week’s collision of an e-bike and a pickup truck, resulting in injuries, has prompted borough council members to emphasize the importance of bike safety throughout Manasquan and the surrounding shore communities. A woman operating an e-bike ran a red light traveling east and was struck by a pickup truck that had the right of way at the intersection of Lakewood Road and South Street at around 6 p.m.
Township officials propose open space fund
WALL TOWNSHIP — Committee members alongside Township Administrator Jeff Bertrand introduced an ordinance last Wednesday night that proposes a referendum allocating taxpayer money to an open space fund. Ordinance 10-2024 seeks to add a referendum question and interpretive statement to the Official Ballot for the next General Election to be held on Nov.
Rizzitello now faces additional charges with another student
Julie Rizzitello, 36, of Brick Township, is now facing additional charges of having a sexual relationship with another student beginning in 2017, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago announced on Wednesday. Rizzitello has been charged with one count of second-degree Sexual Assault and one count of third-degree Witness Tampering. As a result of the continued investigation, it has been revealed that the alleged criminal conduct by Rizzitello began in 2017 with another student, the Prosecutor’s Office release read.
Additional charges filed against Ex-Wall High School teacher
FREEHOLD — Former Wall High School teacher Julie Rizzitello will return to court next Tuesday to face charges related to a sexual relationship she is accused of having with her former student after she was brought up on two new charges when she appeared in court today. Rizzitello, 36, of Brick Township, who resigned from her teaching position before her arrest, was charged with two counts of sexual assault, witness tampering and three counts of criminal sexual contact when arrested at her home by Wall Township Police on July 3.
Four people charged with hindering apprehension and desecration of human remains
TOMS RIVER — A Manchester Township man wanted in the June 27 murder of a Seaside Heights woman later murdered the owner of a home in Toms River where he was hiding out, and then, with the help of three others including a Brick Township man, dismembered the Toms River victim and dumped the remains in Jackson Township, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D.
New Jersey American Water lifts mandatory outdoor water restriction
CAMDEN — New Jersey American Water has announced that the repairs to a 36-inch main within the company’s Jumping Brook Water Treatment Plant has been completed and the treatment plant is actively stabilizing. The company has lifted its mandatory restriction of water use as of Tuesday, July 16. “We appreciate our customers’ cooperation during the repair process,” said Lindsey Olson, Senior Director of Coastal Operations, New Jersey American Water.
Former Wall High School teacher arraignment hearing postponed
An arraignment hearing originally scheduled for Wednesday, July 10, then later pushed to Monday, July 15 in Superior Court in front of Judge Vincent N. Falcetano Jr., has once again been rescheduled. The hearing will now be held on Tuesday, July 16 at 11:00 am before Judge Marc C. Lemieux. Julie Rizzitello, 36, of Brick Township, has been held at the Monmouth County Correctional Institution in Freehold Township while awaiting this hearing since her arrest on July 3.
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