By Michael Benavides
Staff Writer
JACKSON – The definition of a kennel and a small breeder in the municipal code will be updated following the adoption of an ordinance by the Township Council.
At their Nov. 29 meeting, council members voted 5-0 to adopt a revised ordinance which will reflect the proper number of cats and dogs a breeder may breed and sell.
No residents spoke about the changes in the definitions during a public hearing that preceded the ordinance’s adoption.
According to the previous definition, a kennel was defined as “any establishment wherein or whereon the business of boarding or selling cats or dogs or breeding cats or dogs for sale is carried on, where more than 10 cats or dogs are handled each calendar year, except a pet shop.”
According to the new definition, a kennel will be “any establishment wherein or whereon the business of boarding or selling cats or dogs for sale is carried on, where more than five dogs or cats over the age of 7 months are harbored or kept.”
Councilman Barry Calogero previously said, “This was a correction to the recently revised kennel ordinance that incorrectly defined a kennel as having 10 or more dogs and cats; (this) ordinance reduces that to the correct number – five dogs or cats. This ordinance was proposed at the request of our animal control/code enforcement department.”
The new ordinance has changed the definition of a small breeder.
According to the previous definition, a small breeder was “any person or persons who engages in the business of breeding cats or dogs for sale, where no more than 10 cats or dogs are handled during the breeding process each calendar year, except a pet shop.”
According to the new definition, a small breeder is “any person or persons who engages in the business of breeding cats of dogs for sale, where no more than five cats or five dogs are handled during the breeding process of each calendar year, except a pet shop.”
The ordinance adds a definition for an establishment which states that an establishment is “a place of business or residence with furnishings and staff, public or private institution.”
In other business at the Nov. 29 meeting, the council introduced an ordinance amending the salaries and compensation of certain offices and employees in Jackson for 2017.
The ordinance does not state what a specific individual who currently holds a particular position is paid; it reflects the salary range for a position. A public hearing on the ordinance will be held on Dec. 13.
According to ordinance, the police chief will have a minimum salary of $95,500 and a maximum salary of $195,000; a police captain will have a minimum salary of $169,178 and a maximum salary of $172,199; a police lieutenant will have a minimum salary of $151,051 and a maximum salary of $153,749; a police sergeant will have a minimum salary of $134,868 and a maximum salary of $137,276; and a police officer will have a minimum salary of $50,097 and a maximum salary of $120,418.
Among municipal officials and employees, the mayor will have minimum salary of $8,500 and a maximum salary of $54,000; Township Council members will have a minimum salary of $8,000 and a maximum salary of $10,000; the township clerk will have a minimum salary of $54,500 and a maximum salary of $104,000.
Also, the business administrator will have a minimum salary of $95,500 and a maximum salary of $160,000; the chief financial officer will have a minimum salary of $60,000 and a maximum salary of $110,000; a municipal court judge will have a minimum salary of $54,500 and a maximum salary of $90,000.
And, the municipal engineer will have a minimum salary of $85,000 and a maximum salary of $125,000; the public works supervisor will have a minimum salary of $60,000 and a maximum salary of $85,000; and the zoning officer will have a minimum salary of $60,000 and a maximum salary of $85,000, according to the ordinance.
