Sevastakis, Maruca, Kubiel Want DMUA To Sign On With Township’s JCP&L Power Failure Lawsuit, And Reconsider Expired JAMM Realty Sewer Approvals

“Negligence And Greed Of The Power Company Is An Issue”, Republican Council Candidates Say

Dover Township: Republican candidates whose constituencies are involved in beach and bayshore areas have addressed power blackout and overdevelopment issues which, they say, are critical to the township’s future, and have asked the Dover Municipal Utilities Authority to consider both issues at the July 23rd meeting.

At-large Council candidate John Sevastakis, and Ward Council candidates Maria Maruca (W1) and Brian Kubiel (W2) noted “the DMUA suffered losses in the JCP&L power failures in barrier island and bayshore sections during the recent power failures”

“Negligence And Greed Of The Power Company”

They noted the township filed a lawsuit in superior court to recover damages and support the claims of hundreds of township residents “who were damaged by the negligence and greed of the power company”.

The township is also filing an action with the State Board Of Public Utilities to force JCP&L to make necessary capital expenditures and needed maintenance to prevent reoccurrences of the power failures in the future.

“We think the township is doing the right thing and we urge the DMUA to join in at least one of these actions to recover damages in overtime losses and other problems that occur when the power goes out”, Sevastakis, Maruca and Kubiel said.

The three candidates also endorsed the DMUA’s participation in the pending $20 million open space program, and drew attention to the approval in December of 2001 of the sanitary sewer plan for JAMM Realty’s application to construct 320 affordable housing apartments near Ocean County College on Hooper Avenue.

JAMM Sewer Permit Expired More Than Six Months Ago

The GOP candidates noted “the JAMM approval was good for twelve months, so it expired more than six months ago.” The candidates suggested the DMUA reconsider the JAMM permit approval.

Both Dover Township and Ocean County are involved in litigation concerning the controversial JAMM project, part of the township’s affordable housing quotas.  The litigation is concerned with JAMM’s alleged failure to meet time deadlines imposed by the local and county planning boards.

“We are sure the DMUA will take note that the same failure to comply with approval provisions has existed for seven months on the sewer permits, with no application from the developer for re-approval”, they said.

“JAMM Property Should Have Been Publicly Acquired Years Ago”

“We believe the JAMM property should have been publicly acquired years ago”, the three candidates said.

“We see JAMM’s failure to meet simple approval requirements as an opportunity to work towards eventual cost effective public acquisition of this environmentally sensitive property”, they noted.

“Development of the JAMM Realty property with 320 high density apartments would only aggravate the overcrowding, traffic density and escalating cost problems that are becoming more troublesome with each new year”, the GOP candidates said.

Russo: “Consequences Of Not Acting Decisively Are Self Evident”

They echoed recent comments by Mayor John F. Russo Jr., who said: “The consequences of not acting decisively are self evident. If we do not act soon, we will have more overdevelopment, more traffic jams and more residents convinced we have not done a good job of planning for the future.”

“We’re sure the DMUA will act on these vital issues in the public interest”, Sevastakis, Maruca and Kubiel said.

As an at-large council candidate, Sevastakis would serve all of the residents of the township.

Maruca’s constituency is in Ward 1, which includes Ortley Beach and other barrier island and bayshore communities. The county college and the JAMM property are in Ward 2, where Kubiel is the GOP candidate.     (7/22/03)

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