Town, DEP will address work at park BY DAVE BENJAMIN Staff Writer JACKSON - The township Department of Public Works has halted a road construction project in Johnson Park after the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) issued Jackson a notice of violation. "DEP investigator Michelle Kropilak was on site on July 19 and told them to stop the work they were doing," DEP spokeswoman Elaine Makatura told the Tri-Town News. "I understand they were trying to improve a trail behind the park to allow for people to get out of the park." She said the town was directed to stop work on the project because there were wetlands in the area, specifically a stream, and because there could also be threatened and endangered species in the area. "So it is environmentally sensitive," she said. "We got involved as soon as we were made aware that it occurred. We are following through with an investigation to see what they did, when they did it and how it was done. The township knows there is an investigation and the mayor is working with the DEP." Still to be determined is how anything that was moved may have to be restored. Makatura said she had no time frame as to when the investigation will be completed and noted that an inspector would revisit the site. Makatura said it was her understanding that Jackson officials wanted to improve the trail to permit better access to the park. Permits were not obtained and the DEP is investigating to see if permits are required, she said. Business Administrator Phil Del Turco said the situation stems from the July 4 celebration when about 10,000 visitors attended a fireworks display at Johnson Park. A traffic problem arose when everyone tried to leave the park at the end of the fireworks show. Police officers made sure pedestrians were out of the way before they allowed vehicles to proceed, he said. "We had a follow-up meeting a few days later and we critiqued everything that happened," Del Turco said. "We obviously wanted to improve the flow. There are concerts and other events coming up here, but the big one is Jackson Day." Public Safety Director Matthew Kunz said he was concerned about emergency access to the park. "At the park there is a service road for JCP&L to get to the high tension lines," Kunz said. "The DPW was going to add soil to the road but when they started to cut the grass they found a stream. The genuine intent was to allow for the emergency access." Del Turco said work was stopped after the DEP issued a notice of violation. He said officials are waiting to hear back from the DEP. One person who reacted to the news of the violation was former mayor Michael Kafton, who issued a press release and said, "Had they not been caught red handed" the work would not have stopped. "They lied when they said in a recent newspaper article that concern for another access road was a result of a large July 4 crowd in Johnson Park. In fact, plans for another access road were begun by the prior administration in July 2005." Kafton said Mayor Mark Seda and Township Council President Anne Updegrave were members of the 2005 administration and knew the area in question contained wetlands and would require a lengthy process to obtain permits from the DEP. "The former township engineering firm who did the study turned over their file to the current engineering firm who knew, without question, that the road was being built on wetlands," Kafton said, adding that Jackson could be liable for penalties. Seda fired back at Kafton's broadside and accused the former elected official of taking something that was well intended for residents and turning it into a political issue. "It's unfortunate," Seda said. "I understand he is running a campaign. He's running for council, but for an individual who truly wants to serve the residents of Jackson it's unfortunate that politics continues to play a role vs. looking at the reality of creating a safer park for all the residents." The next election for Township Council will be in May 2008. No one has formally announced a candidacy for a seat on the governing body. The next election for mayor will be in May 2010.