JACKSON JACKSON – In order to promote safety in John F. Johnson Jr. Memorial Park on Jackson Day, Sept. 6, Township Council members have discussed an idea put forth by Jackson’s recreation director.
Jackson Day is the community’s annual celebration that features entertainment, vendors, rides, games and other activities.
Speaking at the July 8 meeting of the governing body, council President Mike Kafton said, “A Jackson Day resolution has been requested by the recreation department head, Steven Eisenstein. The resolution will be created for one day only, Jackson Day.”
According to Kafton, on that day only, all bicycles, mopeds, skateboards and scooters will not be allowed in Johnson Park during the community celebration.
Councilwoman Bobbie Rivere said that “in speaking with the recreation director, he said he would like to see this enforced on every Jackson Day in the future.”
Kafton said his only concern was for people who might come to Jackson Day on a bicycle or in the case of children, on a scooter. He said people should be permitted to enter the park and place their bicycle or scooter in a specific location, and then proceed to the Jackson Day celebration.
Township Attorney George Gilmore suggested designating an area where the personal vehicles could be parked.
Kafton said as long as those personal vehicles are kept off the fields where the actual Jackson Day events are taking place, the idea could work.
Councilman Mike Reina suggested adding pets to the resolution that would ban bicycles, mopeds, etc. and was told an ordinance is already in place on that issue.
It was pointed out there were dogs on the park grounds during the July 4 celebration and that the rules were not being enforced.
Councilman Scott Martin said he thought that as long as a dog was kept on a leash it would be all right for a pet to come to Jackson Day.
Reina said some people have a fear of dogs and said there are some owners who act irresponsibly and do not clean up after their dog. That was the reason why dogs were not allowed in the first place, he said, noting there is now an off-leash dog area available at the park.
Gilmore said the existing ordinance that prohibits pets in the park just needs to be enforced.
Final action on this topic may be taken at the council’s July 22 meeting.
In other business, Kafton, Martin, Reina and Rivere voted to change the council’s meeting time schedule. Councilwoman Ann Updegrave was not present at the July 8 meeting.
Rivere said that previously, “people would show up at 6:30 p.m. and the council went into executive session and the public was left to twiddle their thumbs. It is also my hope that we can discuss issues openly as they come up.”
Rivere said she would like to have a more open government so people will know exactly where their local officials stand on an issue.
Martin, who served on the council last year, said that when the council’s public caucus sessions were held, minor matters were generally discussed and no action was taken during that portion of the meeting.
Kafton said, “My concern was that the public would get here at 6:30 p.m. and sit there until 7:30 p.m. when the actual meeting was held, and then, like the last meeting, they could possibly sit here until 1 a.m.”
He said it is redundant to have a caucus meeting and then a discussion period on the agenda.
It was eventually agreed that all future council meetings will begin at 6:30 p.m. for the council members only. The meeting will be announced at that time and then the council members will immediately go into closed session. The public portion of the meeting will begin promptly at 7:30 p.m.