The council is seeking to replace the borough hall building with a completely new structure. Many would probably agree the police department needs more space, as well as more administrative offices. Lower-income housing is needed in town. The fire department could use a new truck (1969), the first aid squad needs a new ambulance (1987). Emergency communications systems require upgrades. These are all big ticket items. However, the list needs to be prioritized!

Isn’t public safety more important than installing a soccer field sprinkler system that’s built on swamp land?

After five years without a usable emergency siren system, a replacement effort has recently begun. Why five years? A neighboring town lost their system and replaced it within three months. That seems more reasonable.

To bring volunteers into the fire department, the Hook & Ladder started an explorer post. This post is insured through the Boy Scouts of America and is designed to train youth in firefighting in the hope that they will join the department.

The Borough Council does not support this program. In a letter to the first aid squad captain this month, the explorer program was essentially shut down. The council will not allow the explorers to respond to fires or first aid calls. Also, they’re not allowed to use fire or first aid equipment, either for training purposes or emergency response. Lack of insurance was cited as a reason.

Aberdeen, Ocean Town-ship, Howell, Marlboro, Freehold, Atlantic Highlands, Little Silver, Red Bank, Shrewsbury, Eatontown, West Long Branch, Long Branch, Fair Haven and Middletown all had or have these programs for fire or EMS.

How about replacing the fire truck, which was lost five years ago? How about replacing a front line 1969 fire truck or replacing a 1987 ambulance?

Why doesn’t the borough support all of this? It is probably because it’s common sense!

We will install sprinklers to water a swamp, but we can’t protect the public safety? We can’t encourage the youth to join the volunteer fire department or first aid squad because of insurance? Nor can we support the volunteers of the fire department or first aid squad?

There is much more going on than most residents realize.

I encourage you to come to the next council meeting and observe the inexperienced council members make important decisions for the borough. It is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 16 at 8 p.m.

Jonathan Ryan

Oceanport

Property tax is no longer a just tax

Every year many school districts have to work out a new contract with the teachers’ union. Many local taxpayers attend the board meetings so as to closely monitor progress with teacher contract negotiations. Their hope is that by doing so they might help rein in property tax increases.

They are trying to address high property taxes through controlling the terms of teacher contracts. This is misguided.

For the past 15 years, I have monitored teacher contract settlements; they invariably end up well above inflation as well as state-imposed budget increase limitations. The result is annual increases in the property tax.

Boards of education, in the face of tremendous pressure from threatened strikes and PTAs and others, usually cave in and settle for these wage increases, knowing they will automatically shortchange funding for other parts of the budget.

But books and roofs do not have a powerful union there to represent them, and so end up the losers. These contracts are usually for three or four years. As contracts, there is no chance to adjust them when other budget items are underfunded.

This routine inevitably causes a great outcry for property tax relief.

People then begin to blame the schools for the never-ending property tax increases and the consequent pressure on their personal budget. This is misplaced blame.

If property taxes were not used for funding schools, county and local governments, then spending issues would not be addressed in terms of either cutting funding or driving low-income homeowners out of the state.

De-link property taxes and then address these areas. Tie controlling education and other government spending to how much people complain about property taxes and we make a huge mistake.

The top tax rate in N.J. for those making over $500,000 is less than 9 percent. Yet, there are countless homeowners — especially retirees and the unemployed — who are paying double and triple that percent of their income to pay property taxes. These people have less disposable income, if any, than those at the top of the income tax scale.

Where is the fairness in that scheme? And property taxes go up every year. How often do income taxes go up?

We need to eliminate the property tax in New Jersey. It is from another era when one’s income was directly related to the property they owned. This is no longer the case.

This is a matter of fundamental fair play, justice and equity.

Clearly, we also need to address spending in all facets of government. But we ought not be driven to do that merely because property taxes are becoming too high. We need to do it because it is the responsible thing to do.

Let us stop confusing the issues. Government spending is out of control in every area. The property tax is no longer a just way to collect taxes. Separate them.

One problem will totally go away. The other can then be dealt with without distraction. It is the right thing to do.

John C. Hendrickson

Red Bank

Reader: Don’t sue Zoning Board on my dime

I just want to make sure everyone is aware our Zoning Board — which was appointed by Janet Tucci, then a council member, and the Republican Party — did a wonderful job over the tough decision it had to make over the Monmouth University case. But now that the board’s decision did not turn out the way Joe Hughes and a few neighbors wanted ... our new mayor has decided to sue her own Zoning Board and replace members she appointed.

Wrong decision — don’t use my tax dollars to sue yourselves or replace good, competent Zoning Board members who have many years of experience because you didn’t get your own way.

Joe Hughes has every right in the world to appeal the board’s decision, but why should the rest of the taxpayers pay the price only to have the borough attorney make more money?

Perhaps, in all good conscience, he should recuse himself in this matter.

James A. Apostolacus

West Long Branch