By WILLIAM CLARK
Neptune Township Business Administrator Gina LaPlaca provided the community updates on several areas of concern during the most recent Township Committee meeting.
LaPlaca said progress has been made providing assistance to those in the homeless encampment behind the ShopRite. Supermarket. There are currently 20 people still within the encampment but LaPlaca said that after meeting with the Monmouth County Continuum of Care and the police department many are close to finalizing shelter and are waiting for final steps.
“A good majority have expressed desire to leave the camp and get assistance,” LaPlaca said.
There are several holdouts, however. But LaPlaca said the objective is to provide assistance to those who are interested and willing to move forward.
LaPlaca also said that the Neighborhood Watch effort in the Cardinal Road area has been reportedly effective at deterring crime.
In other business LaPlaca said the township and the redevelopment committee still have not received any formal proceedings regarding redevelopment at the Shark River waterfront, specifically the former Neptune Motor Lodge.
“The redevelopment committee, which I am a part of, looks forward to evaluating their formal submission,” she said.
One point of progress that still has not seen resolution is the owner of the motel moving forward on the site’s construction permits. LaPlaca said the time horizon for the permits is six months.
Officials from the township have also been over to inspect the site to ensure that this past weekend’s storm did not produce more damage to the derelict building. LaPlaca said the gusty winds and rain produced no evidence that the building is any more of a danger to local residents.
Finally, LaPlaca said that residents in the area should look out for representatives of the state treasury department who are seeking to provide outreach to those that may be eligible for the state’s Anchor Tax Relief Program. LaPlaca said the state identified Neptune as a community which has seen lower rates of applications although many more are eligible. This may be due to lack of information. To provide as much education on the topic as possible, properly identified canvassers will be knocking on doors in the afternoon starting Tues., Sept. 26.
“A lot of money is available, a lot of folks in town are eligible for it,” she said.
