MATAWAN–Mayor Joseph Altomonte announced a renegotiated deal with Monmouth County officials regarding the Lake Lefferts Dam project.
The project is a major public works initiative that has stalled since 2011, according to a prepared statement from Altomonte. Improvements to be made in the new deal include dam upgrades, bridge improvements and the raising and reconfiguration of Aberdeen Road.
“I want to thank Monmouth County Freeholder Director Tom Arnone for his advocacy and efforts in getting this done. We worked together in a bipartisan manner to deliver for the residents of Matawan. It took many hours and countless meetings, but this showed true bipartisanship,” Altomonte said in the statement.
After rising waters from Superstorm Irene caused a partial break in the Lake Lefferts Dam in 2011, the borough was forced to close a portion of Ravine Drive indefinitely. Because the dam posed a safety risk, then-Mayor Paul Buccellatto negotiated a deal with Monmouth County for a joint $10 million reconstruction project, with a cost to the borough of more than $3.9 million, according to officials.
During his run for mayor in 2015, Altomonte said he would negotiate a more favorable deal for Matawan, and after three years of negotiations, he said he is delivering on this promise, according to the statement.
“When I ran for mayor, I said I would get Matawan taxpayers a better deal on the Lake Lefferts Dam project, and I have,” Altomonte stated.
The new dam agreement negotiated by Altomonte will bring borough’s estimated costs down to $2.1 million, saving the borough more than $1.8 million compared to the initial deal from 2011.
Additionally, Monmouth County agreed to cover the estimated $2 million cost to raise Aberdeen Road above flood levels. Since Aberdeen Road is owned by Matawan, the cost for these repairs would otherwise have been paid by Matawan taxpayers, according to officials.
“Because of this deal, Aberdeen Road will be raised above flood levels for the first time in 100 years,” Altomonte explained.
Matawan Council President Brett Cannon said in a the statement, “Matawan is paying about $2 million for the dam and the county is paying about $2 million to fix Aberdeen Road, so we are effectively getting the dam for free.”
Altomonte also worked directly with the governor’s office in securing an additional $500,000 grant for the project.
“We expanded the reconstruction, solved a 100-year-old flooding issue, and lowered taxpayer costs significantly,” Altomonte said. “That’s a win-win-win.”
For more information about the Lake Lefferts Dam project, visit www.matawanborough.com/matawan/_top or call 732-566-3898.
Contact Vashti Harris at vharris@newspapermediagroup.com.
