Town may move to complete
road work at Holland Ridge
By linda denicola
Staff Writer
FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP — A decision regarding uncompleted work at Holland Ridge, a development of single-family homes on Route 537, has been moved to July 8, the next scheduled meeting of the Township Committee.
If the committee members find the developer in default of work he was supposed to perform, they will take the money from a bond he posted and pay for the work to be completed. A default hearing was held last month.
According to Mayor Raymond Kershaw, developer Lester Fromkin of Fromkin Construction has not completed improvements that were bonded for several years ago.
Committeeman David Salkin explained that when a developer gets the go-ahead to start building, he has to post performance guarantees and maintenance bonds.
"It’s a way to make sure that he can’t just split and leave the town with roads in disrepair. When everything is perfect, he gets the money back from the bonding company," Salkin said.
Fromkin said he couldn’t meet the May 15 deadline because of the weather. He said it had been the worst winter in years and it rained 22 days in May. He said crews have been on site working on the street.
Township Engineer Joseph Mavuro said the work could have been completed this spring.
Kershaw agreed, saying, "The work you are doing now on Route 537 could have been done three years ago."
Fromkin said he doesn’t have the kind of clout that the township has in getting contractors to do the work, especially since the contractors are backed up on their jobs because of the bad weather.
Kershaw asked the builder when the first house at Holland Ridge was occupied.
Fromkin said it was five or six years ago.
Mavuro said the last house closed in January 2002.
Fromkin said, "We’ve been taking care of the road over the years and plowed the snow."
Mavuro said Fromkin is accountable for snow removal because the roads still belong to him, because he hasn’t finished them and turned them over to the township. The engineer said the roads are in worse condition now because the developer did not do what he was supposed to do.
Committeeman Anthony Ammiano said the problem has been going on for too long. He said his development is newer, but it is up and running.
Salkin added, "It’s interesting that the work started today, the day of the default hearing."
Fromkin asked for 30 more days to complete the work.
"I agree it should have been done a lot sooner, but you can see what progress is made," he said.
Residents also have an issue with a swale, a landscaping technique that directs water off the site.
Resident Craig Poole said the swale is on his property. He said water is backing up into the street. He said there has been garbage, rats and snakes in the swale.
Fromkin said he was not made aware of this issue until a couple of weeks ago and said the matter is in the state’s hands.
Salkin recommended that representatives of the health department look at the swale and suggested that the committee give Fromkin two more weeks, and not the 30 days he requested.
The committee passed a positive resolution of default to be voted on at the July 8 meeting.
Fromkin was not happy with the decision.
"All I did was ask for 30 days. You know I can’t get it done in two weeks, especially if it rains," he said.
Salkin said, "I feel for Mr. Fromkin. He’s a small-business man, but it’s been a long, long time. He’s met several times with the township, but deadlines have come and gone. Our job is to protect the residents. The people in that development want their streets paved."