Firm awarded contract for rec playing fields
BY KATHY BARATTA Staff Writer

MANALAPAN - The Township Committee has awarded a $3.8 million contract for the construction of playing fields at the Manalapan Recreation Center, Route 522, to Precise Construction.

According to Deputy Mayor Michelle Roth, the Freehold company is expected to begin work this fall on the Phase One expansion of the recreation center. The work is expected to be completed in the spring.

The first phase of the expansion will include the construction of three baseball fields (one full-size field, two smaller fields), one basketball court, a tot lot, two soccer fields (one artificial turf, one natural turf), rest rooms, parking lots and a fitness trail.

In other business at the committee's Aug. 22 meeting, Township Attorney Caroline Casagrande reported on ordinance review work that is under way.

Casagrande said she is working to develop changes to several ordinances and expects to have amendments to those laws ready for introduction in the near future.

One law being examined is a firearms ordinance, which has not seen an "adjustment" since 1988, according to the attorney. One item Casagrande said she would consider amending in Manalapan's firearm ordinance is to extend the restrictions throughout more of the municipality.

The peddling ordinance that governs door-to-door solicitations is also expected to be the subject of discussion.

Casagrande said she is preparing an extension of the parameters of the license application to include fingerprinting of all applicants along with more extensive background checks.

The attorney said she also intends to include in the peddling ordinance amendment a provision that will make the municipal clerk the final arbiter when it comes to granting or denying a peddler's license. The Township Committee will constitute a court of appeal for an individual who wants to challenge a permit denial, she said.

Also, said Casagrande, officials at the Western Monmouth Utilities Authority (WMUA) have contacted the township to request an ordinance amendment regarding grease traps in restaurants.

The WMUA, which has offices and a treatment plant on Pension Road, Manalapan, provides sewer service to Manalapan and several other municipalities.

Casagrande said that according to the WMUA representatives, there is a problem arising due to grease getting into storm drains. She said although she had been planning to address issues aimed at remediating the grease trap situation, WMUA officials have asked her to wait until they can provide additional information.

Finally, it was announced that the township is moving ahead in acquiring the property easements it needs in order to construct a sidewalk on Church Lane from Tennent Road to Manalapan High School. The sidewalk will be constructed on one side of the road.

A contract in the amount of $4,500 was awarded to C.J. Guiney and Associates, Shrewsbury, for appraisals of properties that will require easements in order for the sidewalk to be constructed.