| PLUMSTED |
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TOWNSHIP |
Pride in Plumsted, the State's
Center
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Town Talk By Mayor Ron
Dancer
October 1, 2007
Deputy Mayor Ken Francis
Remembered |
A Nation has its Founding Fathers and a Township has its
Town Fathers, but the late Deputy Mayor and Township Committeeman Kenneth H.
Francis was more than a Town Father, he personified the heart and soul of
Plumsted Township. Deputy Mayor Francis went home to be with the Lord on
Saturday, September 29th, following his battle with cancer.
Deputy Mayor Francis served our Community for 16 years on
the Township Committee and was a voice and vote to keep Plumsted rural and
affordable. Having served with Kenny on the Township Committee, as well as, the
Planning Board, I can attest to his legacy as a man with a vision and
conviction to save open space and farmland. Kenny was the driving force and
vocal proponent to retain our rural character. In the early 1990's, I fondly
remember Ken taking me to a hunting cabin (for a Saturday morning breakfast)
located off Hopkins Road and Ivins Drive in a beautiful wooded area of our
Township laced with blooming Mountain Laurel. Ken was emphatic that we needed
to preserve woodlands, in addition to farmlands, and that was the birth of
Plumsted's Woodlands Preservation Program. Today, as a testament to Ken's
vision, Plumsted has preserved well over 3,000 farm and woodland acres from
being developed forever.
Not only is Plumsted indebted to Ken for his land
conservation efforts, but for his fiscally conservative financial planning to
keep Township Government debt free. It was Ken, who would first and often,
admonish the Committee to remain debt free and live within our means with on a
"pay-as-you-go" basis. To this day, the Township Committee does not have any
bonded indebtedness. Ken was the chairman of the Building Committee for the
Township's first newly constructed Municipal Complex on Evergreen Road and
under Ken's direction; we didn't build until we saved to keep us debt free.
An even greater priority for Ken, other than the saving of
our land, was the saving of lives. Ken was the Township Committee's
representative to both the First Aid Squad and Fire Company. Ken was at the
forefront to establish Plumsted's first full-time day coverage for First Aid
Emergency Responders. Ken worked together with our First Aid Squad to have
private insurance companies, Medicare or Medicaid pay for the ambulance
services, rather than patients or taxpayers being responsible for billings.
Ken worked together with our Fire Company and Fire
District to establish the Township's first Firehouse Building Trust Fund to
receive the financial contributions of Developers that needed to address Fire
Protection measures prior to Planning Board approvals.
Ken was a "people person." One cannot forget his passion
for the youth of our Community, serving as an assistant scout master for the
Cub Scouts and operating the New Egypt Recreation Oasis to provide family
oriented activities, including the paddle boats and canoes at Oakford Lake
Park.
Words cannot express, nor can eulogies or obituaries
convey, the total positive impact of Ken's contributions to our Community and
enhanced quality of life. We won't fill his shoes, but we can follow his
footprints. Kenny began preparing a path for Plumsted's future 16 years ago and
today, we enjoy his visionary leadership as a lasting legacy.
The late Deputy Mayor Ken Francis provided our Community
with Godly leadership for more than 16 years that was exemplified by his
unblemished, impeccable public service record of the highest standards for
honesty, integrity and moral character. As it is written in the Holy Scriptures
(Matthew 25:21), the Lord has greeted Deputy Mayor Francis with the words,
"Well done thy good and faithful servant."
The Township Committee recently established the Plumsted
Senior Outreach Search (SOS) program and will host its next public outreach
service at Jensen's Clubhouse on Wednesday, October 3rd from 10 to 12 noon. For
more information call 758-4004. The Township Committee has advertised a
position with our Neighborhood Preservation Program is available and resumes
may be sent to the Township Clerk.
In preparation of establishing a local 4-H Club youth
development program in Plumsted, we are seeking adult volunteers to assist
leading the 4-H Club and its' activities. With the resources of the County 4-H
Program, orientation is provided and no previous experience is necessary. 4-H
volunteers are supported by a professional staff, including a County 4-H Agent,
who is a faculty member of Rutgers University. Anyone interested in being
appointed to Plumsted's 4-H Club's Youth Development Program as a founding and
organizing member, please contact the Mayor at 609-758-2241 x 102 or email:
r.s.dancer@att.net .
The next regularly scheduled public meetings with the new
administration of Township Committee members Mike McCue, Eric Sorchik, Ada
Roberts, and Deputy Mayor Ken Francis is October 3rdand November
7that 8:00 P.M Public comments and participation are encouraged
at all Township Committee meetings. . Browse the Township website:
www.plumsted.org and
www.mainstreetne.org for more
information and current events.
Meet The Mayor 2007
Schedule |
As a result of the new Township Committee meeting
schedule, the dates for the monthly one-on-one personal meeting sessions with
Mayor Ron Dancer at the Library every month have also been revised. In 2007,
meet personally with the Mayor at the Library on the second (2nd) Wednesday
of each month (October 10th) from 7 to 9 p.m. to discuss Local
concerns or State issues. Residents may call the Library (758-7888) in advance
to schedule a specific time.
Can't get to the meetings or the hours scheduled at the
library. To discuss your concerns and issues personally with the mayor,
click for more information.
Contact the Mayor at State
Legislative Office |
Residents may also contact our State Legislative office at
732-901-0702 to meet or speak with Senator Bob Singer or Assemblyman Joe
Malone. Concerning Federal issues, contact Congressman Chris Smith at
732-350-2300 and for County issues contact Freeholder Director John P. Kelly at
800-722-0291.
For more information on our Township, residents are
also encouraged to visit website:
www.mainstreetsusa.com
and
the official web site of Ocean County Government:
www.oceancountygov.com.
The
New Egypt Press, our official weekly newspaper, is now on line at:
www.newegyptpress.com.
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