Barbara Carpenter and John Longo Jr. look forward to the beginning of their second terms on council.
By: Melissa Hayes
JAMESBURG Councilwoman Barbara Carpenter and Councilman John Longo Jr. were elected to second, three-year terms, and both will take their oaths of office 7 p.m. Wednesday when the Jamesburg Borough Council reorganizes for 2005.
Ms. Carpenter was the high vote-getter in November with 995 and Mr. Longo took a close second with 981. They defeated Republican challengers Adam Bushman and Darren Larsen who received 863 and 732 votes respectively. Ms. Carpenter has a lot of goals for the new year and her top priorities revolve around transportation.
"One of the goals that I have personally is trying to get a commuter bus service through town," she said.
Ms. Carpenter said there hasn’t been a commuter bus through Jamesburg for many years and she has been working with Suburban Transit to provide the service to New York.
She also said there has been an increase in truck traffic through the town and feels drivers are getting lost in Jamesburg once they exit the N.J. Turnpike.
"It seems like a lot of the trucks are trying to get to Costco," she said.
Ms. Carpenter said she would like to have signs installed that direct delivery trucks to the numerous warehouses in the area.
As a resident of Half Acre Road she said she would like to see the speed limit lowered on some of the county roads in the borough.
"I know that’s not an easy task," she said.
In order to have a speed limit changed, the county must conduct a traffic survey and there is a possibility that the speed limit could be raised. Currently the county roads vary between 40 mph and 35 mph, Ms. Carpenter said she would like to see them lowered to at least 35 mph.
Mr. Longo was out of the area and was only available briefly but shared one of his goals for next year.
"My goal is to continue the redevelopment of our downtown area," he said.

