Residents say bikers out of control BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer UPPER FREEHOLD — The state police need to step up in terms of issuing tickets to bicyclists who take up too much space on township roads, Committeeman William Miscoski said at the March 4 Township Committee meeting. "People riding [on] our roads need to follow the rules," Miscoski said. "I came over the hill on Holmes Mills Road and saw them [bicyclists] five abreast. It seems like these people don’t care. I’ve never seen them get a ticket." Resident Roger Bullock said some bicyclists have become abusive. "This week I was going up Emley’s Hill Road, and they were going five wide," he said. "Two of them confronted me on Meirs Road and got abusive. I think more sign ordinances should go up. This is becoming a serious problem. When bicyclists come in large groups and ride five wide, they’re going to get themselves killed. I think they should consider it a privilege that the township lets them ride, and they should obey the rules." Bullock, who is caretaker of Olde Yellow Meeting House Cemetery in Cream Ridge, said he was also experiencing a problem with kids riding all-terrain vehicles (ATVs). In other business, resident Barbara Isaac gave a report to the Township Committee on a recent state hearing involving the installation of video lottery terminals (VLTs) at racetracks. "The horse industry has been very important in this state for many years," she said. "Monmouth County has the Horse Park and two racetracks [Monmouth Park and Freehold Raceway]. [Tracks] are losing money left and right." Although the horse industry supports VLTs, "we’re going to fight a big group called the casinos," Isaac told the committee. "Please tell Assemblyman [Ronald] Dancer that we are going to have a great big loss if we lose this industry." Committeeman Stephen Alexander, who is also a member of the township Economic Development Committee, "can’t think of anything better than to foster the growth of the horse industry." Alexander said he had contacts with the New Mexico racing industry, which faced pressure from the Indian reservation casino and would research the matter. "The bigger the purses, the bigger the industry," he said, "and that will ultimately benefit Upper Freehold." Joe Mauer, a Stone Tavern Estates resident, said he was concerned about rising taxes in the township, especially with the proposed new school building. Mauer called for a tariff or surcharge on developments. "We have developers coming in, and with a big bang they put up a development and walk out with a sizable profit," he said. "We should look at other options to control growth. Enough is enough with taxation without representation. I would like to see the Township Committee with creative thoughts and ideas to deal with this. You should revisit 6-[acre] or 10-acre zoning if there are no other options and you can’t be creative." Mayor John Mele told Mauer that the township could not assess a developer for continuing operating costs such as teachers, computers and books. "The school is in a tough situation," Mele said. "There are a lot of elementary-school children, and [there’s] a need to educate them. How that’s paid for is another issue — for a [governing] body bigger than ours." Zoning is not the only answer, Township Committeeman William Miscoski told Mauer. "We’ve been trying to get a developer’s impact fee," he said. "In the past, the developer’s impact fee was considered ‘buying your development.’ Now there’s a turn, with how many kids we’re adding to the school — you need to pay for it. We’ve been buying land, trying to save ground all the time." Miscoski, who owns the Cream Ridge Golf Club, said a tax of $130 per $100,000 will kill businesses. Mauer, who is a regular at township meetings, complimented the committee on its new format, in which the public portion is held prior to the privilege of the committee. "It’s good to hear your feedback," he said. In yet other business, a public hearing will be held at the Township Committee meeting March 18 on an ordinance to create and establish an environmental advisory committee.