Register to Vote in BOE Elections by Wednesday

The Brick municipal clerk's office will be open late Wednesday to allow residents to register to vote in the April 27 elections.

Residents have until Wednesday to register to be eligible to cast a ballot for school board candidates as well as the Board of Education's tax levy in support of the 2011-12 school budget. 

The clerk's office at the , 401 Chambers Bridge Road, will be open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday to accommodate anyone wishing to get on the voter rolls. Residents who opt to register by mail must have their application postmarked by Thursday, April 7, according to the clerk's office.

Three Board of Education seats will be April 27. The nine-candidate field includes incumbents Vicky Leone, the chair of the Human Resource Committee, and Robert Merola, who was appointed to the board in December to complete the unexpired term of former member Robert J. Collier, who resigned in October. Former member Sharon Kight filed to rejoin the board and is joined by newcomers John Barton of Lake Shore Drive; David Fischer of Denise Court; Konstantine Goulas of Aurora Drive; Lawrence K. Reid of Normandy Drive; Susan Suter of Tennessee Drive and Jack Zawacki of Dwight Place in seeking positions on the Board of Education.

Registered voters also will be asked to approve the school board's , which represents an average $58.55 tax hike for residents with property assessed at the township average of $330,000. Should voters reject the levy, the Township Council will be charged with reviewing the spending plan and can leave the levy intact or suggest a dollar figure by which the school board must adhere to. While the council can make suggestions for specific areas to trim spending, the Board of Education has authority over which line items it chooses to reduce to meet the council's spending figure.

Additionally, Brick residents registered to vote in the April 27 election may be able to decide on spending that will affect the Township Council's ability to retain some municipal services and positions. 

The governing body is expected to vote to approve a resolution at that would authorize a public vote on $8.6 million in spending that officials say is necessary . If tonight's vote is successful, residents will be asked a separate question at the polls April 27 that would allow the council to exceed the state-mandated 2 percent spending cap.

The council also is expected to vote to introduce the 2011 budget tonight, an $86 million spending plan that is within the state cap. Should the referendum make the ballot but be rejected by voters, the 2011 budget would necessitate the laying off of police officers and enough Public Works personnel to force the township to end trash and recycling pickup, Mayor Stephen C. Acropolis has said. Other departments would also suffer the loss of employees.

To register to vote, a person must be at least 18 years old by April 27; a U.S. citizen; and a resident of Ocean County at least 30 days prior to the election.

To register via mail, download the registration form at right and send to the Ocean County Commissioner of Registration, PO Box 2006, 129 Hooper Ave., Toms River NJ 08754, postmarked no later than Thursday.

If a registered voter applies for a vote-by-mail ballot, the application needs to arrive at the county clerk’s office by April 20. People who want to apply for a vote-by-mail ballot in person need to visit the county clerk’s office by 3 p.m. April 26. An application to vote by mail is attached at right.

Polls will be open from 2 to 9 p.m. April 27.