Lakewood MUA Members to Get $10k Raise After Increasing Water Rates on Customers by 15%

Last Week Jan, 3rd the Lakewood township committee voted to increase compensation of the MUA members (who include some committee members themselves), from $5,000 annually to $15,000 annually starting Feb 1, 2022. The very next day on Jan 4th, the MUA board voted to increase water rates on Lakewood residents by 15% over the next 3 years with an initial increase of 7.5% starting this month. The MUA Board members are Mayor Ray Coles, Committeeman Meir Lichtenstein, Mrs. Yocheved Miller wife of committeeman Menashe Miller ,State senator Bob Singer, Anne Fish, Craig Theibault, and Sam Flancbaum. Some of the board members do not live in Lakewood, or in the area serviced by the MUA. They are appointed, not elected. Yated Ne'eman Lakewood section reported  Ray Coles avoided having to vote for the water increase as he was not in attendance on the zoom meeting. Committeeman Lichtenstein sought to abstain but but voted for it after the chairman said his vote was mandated.

The ordnance to increase the compensation was was voted by the township unanimously  on first reading without an option for public comment. The second reading will take place this Thursday Jan 13 at 5:30 pm at the township meeting which is still held remotely via zoom. The public will be able to comment via email up until 11:30 am on the day of the meeting tomorrow  at premeetingcomments@lakewoodnj.gov or during the meeting via comments@lakewoodnj.gov. Please include your name and address for the record.

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 Status: All 5 members of the Committee voted to introduce this ordinance on the first reading at the January 3rd reorganization meeting. The second reading where public comment is allowed is scheduled for this Thursday, January 13 and begins at 5:30 pm. Unlike the planning/zoning boards, the Committee’s public meetings are not live and are only conducted remotely. However, the public is invited to participate prior to the meeting by emailing premeetingcomments@lakewoodnj.gov . The public can also participate during the meeting via comments@lakewoodnj.gov . The public is also welcome to participate using Cisco’s Web-Ex by either phone (audio only) or computer (audio/visual). The Meeting ID# The Meeting ID#/Password is 2634-360-9695 .  If choosing to call in, the phone number is (408) 418-9388. All participants will be muted upon entry to the meeting but may participate by using the *3 key if participating by phone to raise your hand or by clicking the appropriate “Web-Ex” video button to be recognized via computer. This meeting is viewable and will be recorded on Townhall Streams at townhallstreams.com