After push back, jackson township to host meeting with online video, questions from the public

After Push Back, Jackson Township to Host Meeting with Online Video, Questions from the Public

Posted by
1 min read
March 23, 2020

JACKSON-After announcing that the Tuesday, March 24th township meeting in Jackson Township would be closed to the public, Jackson Township Mayor Michael Reina and Council President Barry Calogero have announced today the meeting will be accessible online to the public.

Reina earlier said the meeting would be held behind closed doors and council members would call in from their homes.   After being sharply criticized by residents on social media after a report by Shore News Network, the council has reversed their initial decision.

“While we navigate through this difficult time, you will continue to see changes made to standard operating procedures in order to comply with guidelines set forth by Governor Phil Murphy.” stated Mayor Reina, who historically has not attended township council meetings in person. “These guidelines are not put into effect as mere suggestions, they are to be taken seriously in order to stop the spread of COVID-19. If we all do our part, we can curb this threat- as a Community, State and Nation”.

“This will be through the use of Zoom technology, which can be downloaded today to your iPhone or Android device,” the township said. “You can also log in from your tablet or desktop. A link will be provided on the Township website at www.jacksontwpnj.net, prior to the start of the meeting which has been scheduled for 6pm (public portion).”

“Log in from the comfort of your home, view the meeting and provide comments via the ‘chat’ function. Your questions and concerns will still be heard and addressed through this remote means of communication. This is your government at work, ensuring stable municipal management, brought directly to you and your family,” Calogero said in a release prepared by clerical staff within the township.

At the meeting, the township will introduce the budget, which contains $77,000 in health benefits for two part-time elected officials and millions of dollars in funding for pay-to-play contract services for professional campaign donors.  Many of those donors and professionals are the same professionals hired by neighboring Lakewood Township, including legal counsel, engineers and others.

Jackson Township remains one of the few larger shore area municipalities that do not Livestream municipal council meetings.  Other meetings, including the Toms River Township and Ocean County meetings, will allow public attendance with restrictions.

 

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.

Facebook

Don't Miss

Exit mobile version