Freehold Township OKs sewers for 226 homes

FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP — The Township Committee has approved an ordinance providing an appropriation of $3.95 million for improvements to the township’s sanitary sewage system.

Taking action on the matter at an April 18 meeting, officials said $1.3 million will come from a special assessment and $2.6 million will come from the issuance of bonds.

Douglas A. Sanders, assistant township administrator, explained that the special assessment "will be paid over a 10-year period by the property owners who are involved in the assessment areas."

Thomas Antus, township administrator, said the project will provide sewer service for 226 homes on the eastern side of the township.

Resident John Nesci, Midland Avenue, wanted to know what the projected timeline is for the project.

Mayor David Segal said that 20 days after the ordinance is published the specs should be ready and the project will go out to bid and then the work will be done.

A second ordinance would provide an appropriation of $3.72 million ($3.5 million of that total in bonds) for the purchase of vehicles, including, but not limited to, a tractor, sweeper, dump truck, leaf machine, two utility trucks, equipment for voice, data and computer communications, road and sidewalk improvements and municipal reconstruction of Halls Mill and Robertsville roads and stream erosion stabilization and development of park land, irrigation, lighting, roof replacement, an arboretum at Durand Park and other projects in the vicinity of Jackson Mills Road.

Additionally, a $1.17 million bond ordinance was approved for improvements to the water system and construction or replacement of sewer lines by the township.

During the public comment portion of the meeting, Barry Fulmer, Ramon Boul-evard, expressed his appreciation to the committee members for their handling of development issues at Route 79 and East Freehold Road.

"We started off with 1,100 housing units 18 years ago and if somebody had told me we were going to wind up with 165 units, 130 acres with 40 percent open space, we would have called Marlboro Psychiatric Hospital and asked somebody to come down and take that person away because they needed some help," Fulmer said. "But I am certainly very appreciative and I think the committee has kept the faith with residents."

Two resolutions were approved by the committee authorizing interlocal service agreements — one with the Bernards Township Health Department for Lyme Disease Control and Prevention and one with the Monmouth County Mosquito Extermination Commission for Lyme Disease Control and Prevention.

Discussion items on the agenda included cameras for police vehicles, an ordinance review regarding the storage of boats at homes and limiting parking on a section of Elton-Adelphia Road.

Police Chief William Alexander said the idea of cameras for police vehicles has been explored and one problem is the cost for maintenance of the equipment.

"It is so new in New Jersey that no one knows what the costs are. This is a relatively new concept," Alexander said. "The state police said this is an administrative nightmare because each tape is considered to be evidence."

Where to store the tapes is also a problem, the chief said. A computer system with bar codes to keep track of the information would have to be set up. The chief said the courts have different opinions on how long the tapes have to be kept and guidelines would have to be established

Also, committee members discussed the fact that boats can be parked on the sides of homes beyond the setback limits or in the rear of the house and an ordinance should be made for on-street parking of trailers.

And, officials noted that from the easternmost driveway of the Errickson School, Elton-Adelphia Road, there is a 4-foot wide shoulder where people are parking. Discussion determined this is hazardous and committee members decided a request to the county should be made regarding parking there.