The proposed redesign for the park, located on West Park Avenue and 37 acres in size, included expanded parking, a “tot lot” playground for younger children, rain gardens, a picnic area and lighting for the parking lots but not for the fields. To many present in the audience, the proposal was unacceptable.

“It’s no football field without lights,” said Liberty Drive resident Robert Caizza, the first of many to address council requesting lighting for the field.

“I am quite proud about Scott’s election. Maybe he saw something I might have done during my years in politics that inspired him. It’s a good way to serve your community and I am very proud he is doing it,” the mayor said.

Scott was elected to the Tinton Falls council in May and will serve a four-year term while the elder Larkin has been serving since 1991.

The Academy, which is in its eighth year, challenges the kids mightily but rewards them handsomely.

“Everything she did was great. Every day she came home tired, sore and cranky, but every morning she wanted to go back,” said Lisa Mayer, whose daughter Lauren, 13, was a participant.

Under the current structure, the measure would reduce the tax levy by about $225,000 annually.

The decision to place the question on the ballot, supported by three of the five council members, stemmed from a recent discussion among the members about the amount being collected. The Open Space Tax was originally created in 1998 by voter referendum to collect at a rate of 1.5 cents and seven years later, also by referendum, it was raised to three cents.

Initially introducing a budget with a zero tax increase, Tinton Falls had to reverse course due to slagging revenues and amend their budget to reflect an increase of 2.66 cents per $100 of assessed value, or about $92 on the average tax bill. The amended budget was approved by the Borough Council in a 3-2 vote on Tuesday night.

The amended budget, which went through two rounds of spending cuts, is actually more than $200,000 less than the originally introduced budget that called for a zero tax increase, and council is looking at ways to get more money back into residents’ pockets.

The budget passed on a 3-2 vote. Council members Gary Baldwin, Nancyanne Fama and Scott Larkin voted for the budget while members Duane Morrill and Andy Meyer voted it down.

The average municipal tax bill will be about $92 more than last year, said Stephen Pfeffer, the borough’s Director of Finance. Though he explained that because of a decrease in the school tax portion, the average tax bill will remain about the same.

The church holds the yard sale while the fire company serves the barbecue.

Church member Carl Bowles said he is proud of the tradition between the two groups.

“The fire company helps the church out very well, that’s one of the things they are committed to.”

Mayor faces opposition on appointments

Michael Skudera, the first term councilman who upended former Mayor Peter Maclearie in May’s nonpartisan election, was sworn into his new four-year post as the borough’s top executive by Monmouth County Freeholder Lillian Burry.

Skudera, who ran on a platform of “Tinton Falls – Taxpayers First” for council four years ago, told the crowded council chambers that he was going to continue to work for the benefit of the Tinton Falls taxpayer.

To read the rest of the story get the July 9 edition of The Coaster on your newsstand now.

To read the rest of this story get the April 9 edition of The Coaster on your newsstand now.