MANALAPAN – The Township Committee has adopted a bond ordinance that will provide funding for capital improvements and the acquisition of capital equipment.
Committee members adopted the ordinance during a meeting on May 8. Mayor Susan Cohen, Deputy Mayor Jack McNaboe, Committeeman Kevin Uniglicht, Committeewoman Mary Ann Musich and Committeeman Barry Jacobson voted “yes” on a motion to adopt the ordinance.
The ordinance will appropriate $1,730,870 and authorize the issuance of $1,644,326 in bonds and notes to finance a portion of the costs. Officials will make an $86,544 down payment in conjunction with the issuance of the bonds and notes, according to the ordinance.
The improvements that were authorized consist of the acquisition of a street sweeper ($265,500); the acquisition and installation of new air handlers for the municipal building’s heating, ventilation and air conditioning system ($151,500); and road improvements, including, but not limited to Monmouth Heights Phase VII – paving, curbing and concrete; improvements to Craig Road; improvements to Gordons Corner Road – engineering construction phase; and catch basin replacement ($1,313,870).
During a public hearing on the ordinance, resident Sydel Shaw asked municipal officials to consider repaving Hawkins Road, which is off Union Hill Road. She said conditions on the street are hazardous.
Cohen said she had been contacted by another resident and was planning to visit the location to assess the road conditions.
McNaboe said that in the past few years, municipal officials have been concentrating on repaving roads that are at least 50 years old.
He said Hawkins Road and streets in residential communities off Hawkins Road are not 50 years old, but he told Shaw that since the township has almost completed improvements on the oldest roads, attention would now be given to newer roads that are in in need of improvement.
