Category: Independent News

  • Deciding the fate of a double-digit tax hike

    By josh davidsonStaff Writer Deciding the fate of a double-digit tax hike By josh davidson Staff Writer MATAWAN — While the Board of Education election is uncontested, voters from Matawan and Aberdeen will determine whether there will be a school tax hike of over 20 cents April 15. Matawan and Aberdeen school officials are hoping…

  • Six candidates seek 3 seats on Board of Ed

    By elaine van develdeStaff Writer Six candidates seek 3 seats on Board of Ed By elaine van develde Staff Writer HAZLET — The stakes in the April 15 Board of Education election polls are a $38 million budget and three seats on the board. The public will hit the polls throughout the township to decide…

  • Habitat for Humanity to build duplex in Middletown

    By elaine van develdeStaff Writer By elaine van develde Staff Writer MIDDLETOWN — Home sweet affordable home is a phrase two area families will soon be saying as the township makes strides to meet its affordable housing quota. It’s all because Habitat for Humanity International has come to the township. The group "is a nonprofit,…

  • Crowd comes out in support of condominiums in Keyport

    By maura dowginStaff Writer By maura dowgin Staff Writer KEYPORT— A standing-room-only crowd came out in support of a new Borough Council ordinance allowing a condominium complex to be built near the downtown area. The March 27 meeting was held by the borough’s Unified Planning Board to get public input on the council’s ordinance. Residents…

  • Voters to go to polls on $14.3 million school tab

    Voters to go to polls on $14.3 million school tab KEYPORT— Voters will face a $14.3 million school budget when they go to the polls next week. The budget carries a $7.2 million tax levy for voters to decide on April 15, which would increase the tax rate by 15.9 cents. A budget approval would…

  • Library still not compliant

    By maura dowginStaff Writer By maura dowgin Staff Writer KEYPORT — Although the borough has plans for its library to be wheelchair accessible, no money has been budgeted for the project. "Our library building is approaching its 90th year," said Claude Salomon, president of the library’s board of trustees. The Broad Street building must be…

  • Residents face 7.8-cent tax hike

    By josh davidsonStaff Writer By josh davidson Staff Writer MATAWAN — The borough’s $7.7 million tentative budget is expected to increase the municipal tax rate by 7.8 cents. "It’s as fair as we can possibly be without cutting services," Councilwoman Sharon Roselli said. The budget was introduced at the April 1 Borough Council meeting. The…

  • Redevelopment and zon­ing not the same

    By elaine van develdeStaff Writer By elaine van develde Staff Writer MIDDLETOWN — It’s one step beyond zoning and involves a public process for change. That’s how township Planning Director Anthony Mercantante explained redevelopment. Redevelopment is not zoning but rather a planning procedure to put in place a specific development plan for certain areas or…

  • Town square or center, little progress made

    By elaine van develdeStaff Writer Town square or center, little progress made By elaine van develde Staff Writer MIDDLETOWN — More than two years, many hearings and a few lawsuits after the concept was unveiled, no one is yet certain what a town center or square really is and whether or not it will be…