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| Report on KEYPORT Borough Reorganization Meeting 1-1-08 Keyport Neighbors Re: Report on Borough Reorganization Meeting 1/1/08 Keyport Neighbors
Re: Report on Borough Reorganization Meeting 1/1/08
At the 1/1/08 Keyport Borough Council (KBC) reorganization meeting, Mayor Bergen announced his appointments to the Keyport Unified Planning Board (KUPB). Re-appointed to the KUPB were John Kovacs, Mark Sessa, and Richard Hassmiller. The Borough Council re-appointed Jennifer Henning and Robert Ludwig to the Environmental Commission. The Borough Council appointed Gretchen Fitzpatrick to the Harbor Commission. One more appointment to the Harbor Commission and to the Environmental Commission still needs to be made by the KBC.
Re: Report on One-Way Traffic Study for Main Street & Broad Street
According to a report published in the Asbury Park Press (APP), Borough officials will be meeting with Monmouth County officials to consider conducting a study of the feasibility of converting Broad and Main streets into one-way roads in the center of town. The proposed study would examine the issues with limiting traffic between Front Street and Maple Place to move north on Broad Street and south on Main Street. Main Street, which is currently maintained by Keyport, would become a County road as part of the proposal.
According to the APP report, this one-way traffic pattern is being considered out of concern for safety on Broad Street. During the day, Broad Street often resembles an obstacle course, as vehicles swerve around double-parked cars with just enough time to get out of the way of an oncoming vehicle. The APP report indicates that the Borough has ruled out eliminating parking on one side of either street.
The Borough Council gave the study proposal its blessing during the 12/4/07 KBC meeting. The Monmouth County Board of Freeholders also needs to approve the Borough proposed study that would be conducted by Monmouth County engineers. The Borough hopes to have the County start the study in 2008. To receive a copy of the complete APP article with comments on the proposed study by the Mayor and Borough Administrator just reply to this e-mail with a request for the article. Some of the side-effects of becoming a County road (like First Street and Board Street) are 1.) classification as a main traffic artery, 2.) increased heavy truck traffic, 3.) Monmouth County specification/control of speed limits, traffic lights, signage, right-of-ways, and 4.) the need for Monmouth County Planning Board approvals of site plans, etc. Once the study results are complete the KBC will be faced with a tough choice between improved access to the core downtown, eliminating parking on one side of Board Street, or converting part of Main Street into a County road with one-way traffic on Broad Street and Main Street. Re: More on Merla Money Laundering and Liquor Business Partner On 12/23/07 the front-page of The Bergen Record provided new details on the identity of JoJo Merla's money laundering partner. In this article, Ex-Mayor John Merla is identified as the source of the new material. Reportedly, John Merla identified Leroy Robinson as the second party involved in the money laundering. Leroy Robinson was a former partner in the Merla's family operated Keyport Uptown Bar & Grill (KUB&G). Leroy Robinson was also listed along with JoJo Merla as the contract purchasers of a Brother's United in Christ Church lot, the site for the new KUB&G deck built by JoJo Merla. Leroy Robinson gained The Bergen Record spotlight because of his role as the supplier of fill for the huge EnCap project, a troubled landfill and redevelopment project with $300 million dollars in NJ public financing. The Bergen Record article can be obtained through a Goggle search for How EnCap pair played a winning hand. This is must reading to appreciate the "old-boy network" in New Jersey politics. Regards Michael Lane | ||||||||
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