A the March 12th township meeting, the Jackson Township Council raised serious concerns about inefficiencies, questionable resource use, and potential waste within the township’s Code Enforcement Department, following a detailed review of operational data. The effort has been compared to President Donald J. Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), except it is being called by one resident at a recent township meeting, “DOJE”, Department of Jackson Efficiency.

Council President Jennifer Kuhn outlined the findings during a recent council meeting, calling for changes in the way the department conducts business and for a review of resources and staffing.

As part of an ongoing effort to improve township efficiency, the council issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for a process management review firm, with Councilman Mordechai Burnstein expressing hope that a contract will be awarded soon.

The review comes as council members, alongside township administration, have spent weeks scouring documents, call logs, and operational records of the Code Enforcement Department.

“We fully support strong and fair enforcement of our ordinances,” Kuhn said during the meeting. “However, after reviewing recent data, we have serious concerns regarding the operations of the Code Enforcement Department—particularly with staffing levels, resource allocations, and operational efficiencies.”

Among the most alarming discoveries were discrepancies in officer activity. One code enforcement officer logged over 1,500 miles since January 1, 2025, yet issued only two violations. Another racked up more than 2,000 miles while issuing just three violations.

“These numbers demand an immediate explanation,” Kuhn stated, highlighting excessive fuel consumption and vehicle wear as a waste of taxpayer dollars.

Adding to the council’s concerns was the removal of GPS tracking devices on code enforcement vehicles, a feature previously installed but later removed. These devices are not installed to track an employee, but to create a record for the township. That record could often be required in court to prove that an official was where they said they were at the time of an engagement with a resident, investigating a claim, or issuing a citation.

“We need to know who authorized this decision and why,” Kuhn emphasized. “Without GPS tracking, it’s difficult to ensure accountability in daily operations.”

The council is calling for the trackers to be reinstated immediately.

Further questions arose about how officers are spending their workdays.

Kuhn suggested that some may be “simply driving around town all day” without a structured response system—an inefficient use of resources.

She proposed a more effective approach: stationing officers in the office to be dispatched to complaints as they arise.

“Given the volume of complaints we receive as a council, a properly managed team of three or four officers should be able to respond and investigate appropriately,” she said.

Reports of officers engaging in non-essential activities during work hours have also surfaced.

“In other towns in New Jersey, code enforcement responds to community complaints,” Burnstein added. “In Jackson, they operate as a quasi-police force, always on patrol. We’re being told they are looking for code violations, but records show they’re mostly driving around, issuing only a very small number of complaints. This is not an efficient use of our resources. Code enforcement has always been a response effort. Residents call in with complaints, or to provide tips and our code enforcement officers are supposed to investigate. We need to get the department back on track, keeping our community safe, and make sure nobody is violating our ordinances.”

Kuhn later detailed a report about one officer was allegedly spotted washing his personal vehicle at home while on duty.

“Should this be part of their duties?” Kuhn asked. “Perhaps the Department of Public Works should handle vehicle maintenance. We need clarity on who authorized this and what protocols are in place.”

The council’s review has sparked broader discussions about staffing and resource allocation across all township departments.

“Over the past couple of weeks, we’ve had the opportunity to dig into this, and it’s an ongoing process,” Kuhn noted. The RFP bidding process, set to close this week, is expected to bring in an external firm to further evaluate operations and recommend improvements.

Councilman Burnstein echoed Kuhn’s sentiments, stressing the importance of ensuring the township is “properly staffed and able to respond to whatever issues arise.”

The council plans to share additional findings in the coming weeks as the review continues.