Category: Independent News

  • Council OKs water and sewer rate hike

    Twenty-five percent increase expected this month BY VINCE ECHAVARIAStaff Writer BY VINCE ECHAVARIA Staff Writer Keyport residents will see a 25 percent municipal water and sewer rate hike this month. The Borough Council approved the hike at the Dec. 30 public hearing on the measure. With Councilman Gerard Green absent from the meeting, the council voted 5-0…

  • Changes seen at Hazlet reorganization meeting

    BY ELAINE VAN DEVELDEStaff Writer BY ELAINE VAN DEVELDE Staff Writer HAZLET — The Jan. 3 reorganization of the governing body brought in a new slate of professional appointments. While the swearing in of two Republican township committeemen shifted the majority of the committee from Democratic to Republican, other major changes also ensued. The governing…

  • Master plan challenge headed for trial

    Judge rejects towncenter developer BY ELAINE VAN DEVELDEStaff Writer Judge rejects town center developer’s motion to forgo trial BY ELAINE VAN DEVELDE Staff Writer MIDDLETOWN — The town center developer can challenge the township’s master plan, but it will have to go to trial to do so. That’s what state Superior Court Judge Lawrence Lawson…

  • McGreevey praises transit village status

    BY JOSH DAVIDSONStaff Writer BY JOSH DAVIDSON Staff Writer MATAWAN — New Jersey Gov. James E. McGreevey expressed his support of the borough’s participation in the state’s transit village program. McGreevey sent each Borough Council member a letter explaining why Matawan was designated a transit village and how the program relates to his goals, on…

  • Matawan council looks to continue projects

    BY JOSH DAVIDSONStaff Writer BY JOSH DAVIDSON Staff Writer Mayor Robert Clifton MATAWAN — The Borough Council swore in its three newly-elected members and announced this year’s appointments. Three incumbent council members, Mayor Robert Clifton, Michael Cannon and Donna Gould were sworn in at the Jan. 1 reorganization meeting by Assemblyman Michael Arnone (R-12). Cannon…

  • Coughlin returns to council as mayor

    BY ELAINE VAN DEVELDEStaff Writer Coughlin returns to council as mayor BY ELAINE VAN DEVELDE Staff Writer Paul Coughlin HAZLET — This year’s reorganization ceremony brought two familiar faces to the helm of the governing body. Paul Coughlin, who won a seat back on the Township Committee in November after a one-year respite, returned the…

  • Aberdeen council reorganizes for 2004

    BY JOSH DAVIDSONStaff Writer BY JOSH DAVIDSON Staff Writer Owen Drapkin ABERDEEN — The Township Council reappointed Deputy Mayor Owen Drapkin to the post in its first action of the New Year. These actions took place at Aberdeen’s Jan. 1 reorganization meeting. The council voted unanimously at its Jan. 1 reorganization meeting to keep Drapkin,…

  • Council swears in Bergen and Wedick

    BY VINCE ECHAVARIAStaff Writer BY VINCE ECHAVARIA Staff Writer Robert J. Bergen KEYPORT— The Borough Council kicked off the new year by swearing in two veteran members at its annual reorganization meeting Jan. 1. Councilmen Robert J. Bergen and Joseph E. Wedick, the only two Democrats on the council, were sworn in to familiar positions…

  • Fink keeps mayor’s seat

    BY VINCE ECHAVARIAStaff Writer BY VINCE ECHAVARIA Staff Writer Mayor Larry Fink HOLMDEL — For the second consecutive year, Democrats are in control of the Township Committee by a 3-2 margin. Democratic Committeeman Larry Fink, who won a re-election bid in November, was appointed township mayor for the second year in a row at the…