FREEHOLD – The Borough Council has awarded a contract for trash and recycling collection that will be in effect in Freehold Borough from 2020 through 2022.
On Dec. 16, council members awarded a $2.4 million contract to DeLisa Demolition Inc., Tinton Falls, to establish a three-year agreement for the collection of trash and recyclable items from residences and from buildings owned by the borough.
DeLisa Demolition was awarded the contract as the lowest responsible and responsive bidder, according to the resolution.
The resolution states that the current state of the international recycling market has had a profound impact on the ability of haulers to command a financial return for recyclable materials, thus shifting the cost burden onto municipalities for the removal of those materials from the waste stream.
In other business, council members authorized Freehold Borough’s Amicus Curiae (impartial adviser) participation and funding assistance in an appeal of the New Jersey Tax Court case Verizon New Jersey Inc. v. Hopewell Borough. As part of Freehold Borough’s participation, officials will contribute $2,000 in legal fees.
According to a resolution, the tax court ruled in favor of Hopewell Borough and affirmed a 10-year old decision of the Mercer County Tax Board regarding Verizon’s obligation to pay business personal property tax to Hopewell Borough in 2008. An appeal and cross-appeal were subsequently filed by Verizon and Hopewell Borough.
The resolution states that Verizon is challenging the constitutionality of a state statute that requires the payment of personal property taxes by Verizon and certain other telephone service providers. The outcome of the appeal will affect Freehold Borough’s collection of personal property tax under the state statute.
Participating in the appeal as an impartial adviser is the New Jersey State League of Municipalities, represented by attorney Joel Shain.
The League of Municipalities has requested that Freehold Borough and other affected municipalities participate and share in the cost of the appeal by also joining as impartial advisers and contributing $2,000 each toward the counsel’s fees.
Officials in Freehold Borough determined that joining the appeal is in the public interest and will pay Shain’s firm $2,000.
