Latest news with #TownshipCommittee
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Republican incumbents in Branchburg hold off primary challengers
BRANCHBURG – Incumbents Tom Young and Dave Owens easily won one of the first contested Republican primaries for Township Committee in recent years. Young, serving as mayor this year, topped the GOP ballot in his campaign for a 10th term on the Township Committee. Young received 997 votes while Owens, in the race for his third term, garnered 970 votes. Trailing was Steve Price with 760 votes and Tara Murphy with 664 votes. Price and Murphy challenged the incumbents with one of the most aggressive GOP primary campaigns in the township this century. More: Branchburg residents to vote on $70 million school referendum in September In recent years, GOP primary candidates, mostly incumbents, have faced no opposition unlike some of the bitter inter-party squabbles in recent years. The Township Committee has been all-Republican for four decades. Whoever wins the GOP primary becomes a heavy favorite in the November election. Nathan Rudy, the only Democrat on the primary ballot, received 1,085 votes, more than any Republican candidate. Email: mdeak@ This article originally appeared on Republican incumbents in Branchburg NJ hold off primary challengers
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Morris or Morristown, township vs. borough: How North Jersey towns navigate name confusion
As the mayor of Morris Township — not neighboring Morristown or Morris Plains — Donna Guariglia is no stranger to sorting out cases of mistaken identity among the three municipalities. Sometimes the confusion comes from outsiders, such as when new businesses incorrectly advertise being in one town instead of another. But even some residents are unsure exactly where they live, a fact Guariglia found out while campaigning for the Township Committee. "They'll say, 'No, I'm in Morristown.' And then you say, 'Well what street are you on?'" the mayor told in a recent interview. "They name the street, and you're like, 'No, actually you're a [Morris] Township resident.' They don't even realize." The three "Morris" municipalities — all in (where else?) Morris County — are a prime example of the prevalence of North Jersey towns with the same or similar names. These include five names in Morris that apply to two towns, and more than a dozen in Bergen County that contain either or both of the words "wood" and "ridge." This phenomenon is at least partially due to boroughitis, the creation of many small boroughs throughout Bergen County in the late 1800s. During that time, disputes between newly transplanted urbanites and long-established settlers over taxes and available services led to the splitting of towns into smaller boroughs by referendum. Other areas of North Jersey had similar experiences that caused new municipalities to form. Mendham Borough, for instance, was originally part of Mendham Township, dating back to the latter's founding before the Revolutionary War. The borough officially separated from the rest of Mendham in 1906 after residents wanted to establish a water utility, its website says. The township, on the other hand, opposed any addition to its infrastructure that would affect taxes. In Sussex County, Andover Township and Andover Borough share many services, including a school district. But the township has its own police department and fire department, while criminal matters in the borough are covered by the New Jersey State Police. Because of all the similarities, dispatchers are trained to ask whether a caller is in the township or the borough, said Eric Danielson, the chief of Andover Township police and the volunteer fire department. Technological advances allow employees to see where on the map a call is coming from — a helpful safeguard in instances where the caller is unaware or incorrect about where they are. "You do run into those logistical technicalities every now and then," Danielson said. "We make sure we try to spell out everything in real time." Morris County has perhaps the most convoluted group of municipal names anywhere in the state. In addition to the "Morris" trio, Chatham, Chester, Mendham and Rockaway are all names of both a township and a borough. There is also Boonton Township, not to be confused with the town of Boonton. Sarah Neibart, the mayor of Mendham Township, said many of the mix-ups stem from similar addresses between her township and the borough it surrounds. Most notably, there is an East and West Main Street in both municipalities, a fact that frequently causes headaches for mail carriers and other delivery services. Neibart recalled one instance in which a township resident was receiving mortgage payments for a borough restaurant with the identical address. Another time, a roofing crew nearly began work at one home before the owner directed them to the address in the other municipality. The issues led a group to come before the Mendham Township Committee last year and request that East and West Main Street be renamed. The committee sent out a survey to those in the area and, though not taking any official action, established the Main Street Working Group to help find solutions to problems arising from the duplicate addresses. Many of North Jersey's other similarly named towns deal with confusion over mailing addresses as well. For example, all Morris Township homes feature Morristown's name and ZIP code (07960) in their address, so anyone unfamiliar with the area may not know that the township is its own entity. Andover Borough has its own post office, which also serves certain parts of Green and Hopatcong, Danielson said. The township, despite being much larger, does not have a post office, so residents have a Newton or Lafayette mailing address. Neibart believes the street address conundrum has become magnified in recent years with the rise of delivery companies like Amazon and Uber Eats. These services exist for customers' convenience, yet for residents who share addresses, they can be largely inconvenient. "As time goes on, this issue might become larger," Neibart said. "Unfortunately, it may get worse over time even as technology gets better." For Ridgewood Village Manager Keith Kazmark, mix-ups between his municipality and others in Bergen County — like Wood-Ridge, Ridgefield or Ridgefield Park — are relatively rare. Since he started on the job in July 2023, he can recall just one time when a document from the county was initially sent to his desk but was meant for another town. Kazmark attributes this lack of confusion, at least in part, to Ridgewood's status as a "destination" in Bergen. The village's large population and its downtown area make it an attractive spot for visitors as well as newcomers looking to move in. "I do think that Ridgewood sort of has a distinction with people because they've been here for something, whatever that something happens to be," Kazmark said. "I think it does stand separate in some respects from an identifying standpoint than maybe some of the smaller municipalities." But Kazmark does have some experience with name controversies. He was on the municipal council in Woodland Park when the Passaic County borough voted by referendum to change its name from West Paterson in 2008. After the change, Kazmark said, members of the public spoke out at numerous council meetings in an attempt to change the name back. Some of the critics pointed to the Burlington County township of Woodland and contended that the similar name would cause unnecessary confusion. Though efforts to reinstate the name were unsuccessful, the residents' strong feelings highlighted how passionate many New Jerseyans are about their hometowns. "We're a unique place," Kazmark said. "We're dense, we have a lot of different municipalities, a lot of different school districts. But the identity piece of it is very meaningful to people who grew up here and have a connection to the towns." Largely due to the benefits of shared services, none of the officials in the townships of Morris, Mendham or Andover knows of any legitimate local interest in renaming the municipalities. Instead, they are content to continue the strong relationships with their counterparts while trying to mitigate potential mix-ups as well as possible. Neibart noted that many Mendham residents have gotten to know their "doppelganger," the homeowner at the same address in the other municipality, through frequent delivery mishaps. Danielson said residents in the two Andovers have learned to live with "a lot of oddities" between their similar names and the confusion over post offices and addresses. The Morris municipalities also get along, albeit with some gentle teasing, Guariglia said. Because Morristown Mayor Tim Dougherty refers to his town as the area's "crown jewel," township Business Administrator Tim Quinn will counter that he lives in the "warm fuzzy blanket" surrounding the county seat. "We all get along, and yet we all take pride in our own town for what we do," Guariglia said. "But we're very supportive of each other, and anything we can work together on, we will." This article originally appeared on NJ town names can be confusing. How similar-sounding spots manage
USA Today
20-03-2025
- USA Today
New Jersey mayor faces DUI charge while driving with her toddler
New Jersey mayor faces DUI charge while driving with her toddler Show Caption Hide Caption DUI vs. DWI: Understanding the key differences Learn about the important differences between DUI and DWI charges. Understand these offenses and how charges can impact your insurance rates. According to court records, Gina LaPlaca was arrested March 17 for allegedly driving while intoxicated with a 2-year-old child in the rear driver-side seat of her vehicle. LaPlaca serves as mayor of Lumberton, and just last week quit her job as business administrator of Neptune Township, citing a "changing political environment." Her husband said she was admitted to a rehab facility the day after the arrest. LUMBERTON -- A New Jersey major is facing multiple charges in municipal court, including driving under the influence and child endangerment following an arrest on Monday. According to court records, mayor of Lumberton Gina LaPlaca was arrested around 5:30 p.m. on March 17 for allegedly driving while intoxicated with a 2-year-old child in the rear driver-side seat of her vehicle. LaPlaca was charged with endangering/abuse/neglect of a child which is a second-degree crime that carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. She was also charged with cruelty and neglect, a fourth-degree crime that carries a maximum penalty of 18 months in prison. LaPlaca was also cited for operating a vehicle under the influence, reckless driving, careless driving likely to endanger, traffic on marked lanes, driving with an expired license and an open container of alcohol. According to police, a witness video showed a vehicle failing to maintain its lane in multiple instances and almost colliding with a utility pole. After law enforcement made contact with LaPlaca, she admitted to drinking and stated she had picked up her toddler from daycare, police said. A search of her vehicle found an open container of alcohol, according to the statement in the affidavit. Husband says mayor admitted to rehab facility: 'She is finally getting the help she needs' LaPlaca's husband Jason Carty, a political activist and firefighter, told the Asbury Park Press, part of the USA TODAY Network, that she was admitted to a rehab facility the following day. "The first step on her road to recovery. This is not a political issue. This is not a Republican or Democrat (issue), it is a human being issue. People suffer from addiction and many people don't get help. She is finally getting the help she needs," Carty said. He added, "unfortunately you have to hit rock bottom before you get better. This is obviously rock bottom." Mayor had just quit job working for township LaPlaca was arrested a week after she quit her job as business administrator in Neptune Township. LaPlaca informed Neptune officials of her resignation prior to the March 10 meeting of the Township Committee, and in her statement to the Asbury Park Press cited the "changing political environment" as the reason. The resignation came days after a 14-second video of LaPlaca being escorted out of a March 5 Mount Holly Fire Commissioners meeting was uploaded to a Neptune group on Facebook. The clip shows LaPlaca in a heated back-and-forth with someone in the public while police escort her out of the room. In an email to the Neptune Township Committee, Nicole Saucier, chairwoman of the Mount Holly Fire District No. 1 Board Of Commissioners, backed up LaPlaca, saying it was the audience members who had been heckling her and slandering her husband. Saucier said LaPlaca was not asked to leave, and police escorted her out for her own safety. Who is Gina LaPlaca? LaPlaca was elected to the Township Committee in Lumberton in Burlington County in 2020 and then re-elected in 2023. In 2023, LaPlaca was arrested at her home in late October after a domestic incident resulted in LaPlaca being accused of assaulting her husband. The charges filed against her would later be dismissed and she was granted an expungement, removing that October arrest from her record. Carty said that he took responsibility for the incident and that his wife did nothing wrong. LaPlaca handled day-to-day operations in Neptune since January 2022. As the business administrator she was involved in all aspects of town management, from the municipal budget, personnel and labor negotiations, municipal services, and managing projects that fall in line with the town's goals. She did not elaborate on what changes had happened. LaPlaca is a Democrat, as are all five members of the Neptune Township Committee. Most notably since 2023, LaPlaca played a pivotal role in ending the homeless encampment off Route 66. The tent city in the woods behind the ShopRite existed for over a decade and the camp's population reached over 30 before the township began the process of rehousing the homeless. "I ask that everyone keep her in their thoughts as she moves forward on her road to recovery. Please ignore the exaggerated political hyperbole and keep in mind her passion for helping others. This should not erase all the things she has accomplished for our community," Carty said. He said LaPlaca is a "loving and caring" mother. "Our oldest is a teenager and can see the unkind things being said online. I ask simply that you respect our privacy, be better humans and please show some compassion, thank you," Carty said. Charles Daye is the metro reporter for Asbury Park and Neptune, with a focus on diversity, equity and inclusion. @CharlesDayeAPP Contact him: CDaye@ This story was updated to add a video.
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Yahoo
Ex-Neptune administrator, Lumberton mayor faces DUI charge while driving with her toddler
LUMBERTON -- Mayor Gina LaPlaca, who just last week quit her job as business administrator in Neptune Township, is facing multiple charges in municipal court, including driving under the influence and child endangerment following an arrest on Monday. According to court records, LaPlaca was arrested around 5:30 p.m. on March 17 for allegedly driving while intoxicated with a 2-year-old child in the rear driver-side seat of her vehicle. LaPlaca was charged with endangering/abuse/neglect of a child which is a second-degree crime that carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. She was also charged with cruelty and neglect, a fourth-degree crime that carries a maximum penalty of 18 months in prison. LaPlaca was also cited for operating a vehicle under the influence, reckless driving, careless driving likely to endanger, traffic on marked lanes, driving with an expired license and an open container of alcohol. According to police, a witness video showed a vehicle failing to maintain its lane in multiple instances and almost colliding with a utility pole. After law enforcement made contact with LaPlaca, she admitted to drinking and stated she had picked up her toddler from daycare, police said. A search of her vehicle found an open container of alcohol, according to the statement in the affidavit. LaPlaca's husband Jason Carty, a political activist and firefighter, told the Asbury Park Press that she was admitted to a rehab facility the following day. "The first step on her road to recovery. This is not a political issue. This is not a Republican or Democrat (issue), it is a human being issue. People suffer from addiction and many people don't get help. She is finally getting the help she needs," Carty said. He added, "unfortunately you have to hit rock bottom before you get better. This is obviously rock bottom." This arrest came a week after LaPlaca informed Neptune officials of her resignation prior to the March 10 meeting of the Township Committee, and in her statement to the Asbury Park Press cited the "changing political environment" as the reason. Neptune news: Headliner, Sunsets could be replaced with new housing, stores, fishing pier The resignation came days after a 14-second video of LaPlaca being escorted out of a March 5 Mount Holly Fire Commissioners meeting was uploaded to a Neptune group on Facebook. The clip shows LaPlaca in a heated back-and-forth with someone in the public while police escort her out of the room. In an email to the Neptune Township Committee, Nicole Saucier, chairwoman of the Mount Holly Fire District No. 1 Board Of Commissioners, backed up LaPlaca, saying it was the audience members who had been heckling her and slandering her husband. Saucier said LaPlaca was not asked to leave, and police escorted her out for her own safety. LaPlaca was elected to the Township Committee in Lumberton in Burlington County in 2020 and then re-elected in 2023. In 2023, LaPlaca was arrested at her home in late October after a domestic incident resulted in LaPlaca being accused of assaulting her husband. The charges filed against her would later be dismissed and she was granted an expungement, removing that October arrest from her record. Carty said that he took responsibility for the incident and that his wife did nothing wrong. LaPlaca handled day-to-day operations in Neptune since January 2022. As the business administrator she was involved in all aspects of town management, from the municipal budget, personnel and labor negotiations, municipal services, and managing projects that fall in line with the town's goals. She did not elaborate on what changes had happened. LaPlaca is a Democrat, as are all five members of the Neptune Township Committee. Most notably since 2023, LaPlaca played a pivotal role in ending the homeless encampment off Route 66. The tent city in the woods behind the ShopRite existed for over a decade and the camp's population reached over 30 before the township began the process of rehousing the homeless. "I ask that everyone keep her in their thoughts as she moves forward on her road to recovery. Please ignore the exaggerated political hyperbole and keep in mind her passion for helping others. This should not erase all the things she has accomplished for our community," Carty said. He said LaPlaca is a "loving and caring" mother. "Our oldest is a teenager and can see the unkind things being said online. I ask simply that you respect our privacy, be better humans and please show some compassion, thank you," Carty said. Charles Daye is the metro reporter for Asbury Park and Neptune, with a focus on diversity, equity and inclusion. @CharlesDayeAPP Contact him: CDaye@ This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Lumberton mayor, ex-Neptune business administrator, faces DUI charge
