Around Brick: Coronavirus Update, School Board Members Sworn

BRICK, NJ — The first week of the New Year kicked off with the Brick Township council and school board holding their reorganization meetings for 2021.

With public gathering limits still in place due to the coronavirus pandemic, virtual meetings continue to be held.

Ocean County remains in the orange "high risk" category due to the rates of transmission of the coronavirus. As of Sunday, Ocean County had 36,076 cases, up 2,525 from 33,551 on Jan. 3. The growth in the number of new cases has slowed slightly, however.

Brick has 446 new cases in that time, with 4,688, up from 4,242 on Jan. 3, according to the Ocean County Health Department.

There have been more than 528,000 cases of the coronavirus in New Jersey since March, including 5,032 new ones reported Sunday, according to the state Department of Health COVID-19 website. As of Saturday, 3,589 people were hospitalized due to the coronavirus, with 625 in intensive care and 431 patients on ventilators, according to the state COVID-19 website. The number of COVID-19 patients in ICUs and those on ventilators has decreased over the last week.

Deaths in Ocean County have risen from 1,057 as of Nov. 29 to 1,377, and Brick has seen an increase from 154 to 198.

Brick Township Council

Councilwoman Lisa Crate was chosen to serve as council president for the second straight year, and Arthur Halloran was chosen to repeat as council vice president.

Residents of the Normandy Beach section pleaded with the township to address flooding issues and problems with motorists driving through flooded streets at speeds that were sending water onto their properties and causing damage.

Mayor John Ducey said the township has installed some flapper valves on bulkheads and has additional ones on order to try to address the flooding while Brick and Toms River prepare to raise portions of some streets in the neighborhood.

Residents said the flooding has been acute in recent weeks and trucks driving through the area are making the problem much worse.

The council's next meeting is Jan. 19.

Board of Education

Missy Parker and Michael Blandina were sworn in to three-year terms on the school board. Stephanie Wohlrab was re-elected as board president.

The board's next meeting is Jan. 21.

Around Brick

The Planning Board is scheduled to hold its reorganization meeting Wednesday at 7 p.m. The meeting also is scheduled to include a hearing on a proposal to build two buildings, one with two three-bedroom apartments above six commercial spaces, and one office/storage building at 427 Old Silverton Road.

Also:

An investigation is continuing after two people were arrested in connection to an incident where shots were fired in the Sawmill area of the township. 2 Arrested In Shots Fired Incident In Brick: Police

Brick Township senior citizens are reminded to apply for property tax rebates under the state's "senior freeze" program. The application deadline has been extended to Feb. 1. Brick Seniors Urged To Apply For NJ Property Tax Rebates

Brick pet licenses are due for renewal by Jan. 31. Brick Issues Pet Licensing Reminder For 2021

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