The council meeting was marked by impassioned commentary from various stakeholders, including Sergeant John Rodriguez of the Superior Officers Association of PBA 168, who argued for the necessity of a public safety director to address communication issues, personnel vacancies, and the lack of a formal growth plan within the police department. Rodriguez suggested that the position could be filled from within the existing talent pool of the agency, promoting internal career development and training.

Chief Matthew D. Kunz of the Jackson Township Police Department countered Rodriguez’s points by detailing the department’s efforts to hire and train suitable candidates, discussing the growth of the department, and outlining budgetary submissions made to address expansion needs. He emphasized ongoing recruitment efforts and the necessity for additional officers to accommodate the growing township.

The debate was further intensified by the remarks of Chief Matthew C. Smith, who viewed the creation of the public safety director position with skepticism. Smith highlighted the adverse effects of the proposal on the department’s personnel, noting the emergence of interpersonal and political disputes and describing the situation as a “systemic unhealthy distraction.” He stressed the importance of the well-being of the police officers and stated his preference for allocating funds towards hiring more officers rather than creating the new director position.

Furthermore, the council heard from retired Captain John Seedler, who questioned whether the council had sought input from retired command staff regarding the issues the department faced. Seedler offered his perspective and emphasized the importance of consulting a range of viewpoints.

Council President Jennifer Kuhn defended the decision to consult with current department staff and expressed her belief that there was no need to reach out to retired officers to gauge the current state of the department.

The topic of the public safety director overshadowed other issues discussed at the meeting, including the Jackson Township School District’s financial struggles. Councilman Nino Borrelli highlighted the district’s situation, with it needing to borrow over $10 million from the state to cover a budget deficit and the subsequent appointment of a state monitor to oversee the district’s financial decisions. Borrelli proposed a resolution endorsing Assembly Bill A 3589, which would shift the financial burden of paying the salaries of state monitors from local taxpayers to the state of New Jersey.

The council also addressed economic development within the township. The reactivation of the Jackson Township Economic Development Committee after a five-year hiatus was announced, with a focus on supporting local businesses through grant aid and PPP loans. Additionally, plans for a Veterans Appreciation Day in June and the Jackson Memorial band’s performance for Jackson Day in September were confirmed.

Councilman Mordechai Burnstein praised the town clerk for the timely publication of meeting agendas and updated the council on various initiatives, including road improvements and the work of the open space committee, to make housing more affordable.

Councilman Stephen Chisholm Jr. raised concerns about the World Health Organization’s push for a pandemic treaty and the decision to raise utility bills. He corrected the notion that the Economic Development Committee had been inactive, asserting that meetings had occurred over the past five years, and called for the allocated $2 million to schools to be used for improving math education.

The council also passed several ordinances, including ordinance 02-24, adding an alternate member to the Jackson Township Municipal Utility Authority, and ordinance 03-24, amending the salary range for township officials and employees for 2024. Other adopted ordinances addressed construction container regulations, parking regulations, rezoning, and landlord registration regulations.

Residents and council members scrutinized financial matters, such as the fee increase in the landlord registration ordinance and the budget impact of the proposed public safety director position. The council’s decision-making processes were also questioned, particularly regarding appointments and spending decisions. Jackson resident Elanor Hanam expressed skepticism about the proposed public safety director position and urged the council to reassess their spending and appointment decisions.