By Matthew Sockol
Staff Writer
FREEHOLD – Municipal officials are considering the possibility of adding a crosswalk on East Main Street.
On Sept. 6, members of the Borough Council passed a resolution requesting approval from the state for the placement of a new crosswalk on East Main Street.
East Main Street is Route 79, a state highway.
Officials said if a new crosswalk is approved, it will be placed on East Main Street between South and Sheriff streets. State law requires motorists to yield to pedestrians in a crosswalk.
According to a 2011 report prepared by engineering firm Michael Baker Jr. Inc., crosswalks for pedestrians are justified and recommended on East Main Street because of the distance between the South Street-East Main Street and Center Street-East Main Street intersections, both of which have traffic signals that allow pedestrians to cross safetly, and heavy pedestrian activity.
The report proposes several possible locations for new crosswalks on East Main Street.
One option proposes one new crosswalk that would connect the Market Yard parking lot pedestrian alley that is next to the Freehold Public Library with the other side of East Main Street in the vicinity of Stefano’s pizzeria and a mini-market.
A second option proposes two new crosswalks: one crosswalk connecting the area near a Two River Community Bank branch with the other side of East Main Street in the vicinity of the American Hotel, and a second crosswalk connecting the area near Sheriff Street with the other side of East Main Street in the vicinity of Cafe 360.
Based on pedestrian counts, the potential crosswalk linking the bank and the American Hotel is projected to be more heavily used, according to the report.
In other business on Sept. 6, the council passed a resolution awarding a $660,668 contract to Ranco Construction for the purchase and installation of emergency generators.
According to the resolution, council members determined that the emergency generators at the borough’s water plant and firehouse warrant replacement and that a new generator needs to be installed at the Birch Drive pump station. Bids were accepted and Ranco Construction was determined to be the lowest responsible bidder.
And, the council passed resolutions honoring Bishop Gerald Cobbs and the Rev. Andre McGuire on receiving the Eagle Excellence Award.
According to the resolutions, Cobbs began his pastorate of the Freehold Church of God in 1978 after serving as the pastor of the Glassboro Church of God and performing mission work in New Brunswick. He has served as the Freehold District Overseer in the New Jersey Church of God State Council, a member of the Monmouth County Correctional Chaplain Service, and president of the Church of God Northeast Regional Fellowship. In recognition of his ministry to the military, Cobbs received an honorary Naval Chaplain degree.
McGuire has served as pastor of the New Beginnings Agape Christian Center since 1994, is responsible for the opening of the Paul M. McGuire Family Health Clinic and has been a member of the Hispanic Affairs Committee, the Freehold Borough Human Relations Committee and the Zoning Board of Adjustment. He has served as the chaplain for the New Jersey State Prison since 2009, according to the resolutions.
Council President Jaye Sims and council members Sharon Shutzer, Michael DiBenedetto, Kevin Kane and Ron Griffiths voted in favor of the resolutions. Councilman George Schnurr was absent.
