Board, council examine idea of shared services
BY DAVE BENJAMIN
Staff Writer

JACKSON - Two members of the Township Council met recently with school officials to examine the possibility of sharing some services.

In a meeting held Oct. 6, Council-woman Emily Ingram and Councilman Scott R. Martin, council liaisons to the Jackson Board of Education, discussed possible joint use of facilities and land. They also discussed ways to share services and to keep communications open among the two municipal bodies.

In a climate where property taxes are a key issue in New Jersey, the sharing of services between a local school district and a town's governing body has been mentioned as one way to reduce costs to taxpayers.

Representing the school district at the meeting were Superintendent of Schools Thomas Gialanella, board President Linda Lackay, board Vice President Martin Spielman and board member Michael Hanlon.

"I appreciate the board taking the time to meet with us," Martin said. "I know if we continue working together in this fashion, the residents of Jackson will be the real winners."

Ingram said the meeting was positive and useful.

"You can feel the enthusiasm in the room," Ingram said. "Everyone had the same goal, to work together for a better Jackson. I'm very optimistic."

Ingram said the initial meeting indicated that the council members and the school district representatives were all on the same page. She said the representatives plan to meet quarterly.

"It's going to be an ongoing process," said the councilwoman. "It's not going to be something we do once and then we're done with it."

Lackay said she was very pleased to have a chance to sit down with the council members and have a proactive, positive discussion about how to cooperate.

"It was a friendly meeting and the spirit of openness and collaboration were very evident," Lackay said. "I think we all have the very best for Jackson in our hearts and we are certainly looking forward to working with our township leaders in a number of areas."

Ingram said as the council and the board move into the future, the goal will be to figure out what they can do for each other.

"Our goal will be to run the town more efficiently and to have cost-saving ideas" put into place, said Ingram. "The goal is what works best for Jackson."

She said she wants the township and the school district to work together in a more positive direction.