K-9 handler Ferrugia promoted to sergeant

BY SHERRY CONOHAN
Staff Writer

K-9 handler Ferrugia
promoted to sergeant
BY SHERRY CONOHAN
Staff Writer

EATONTOWN — It’s Sgt. Thomas Ferrugia now.

The promotion of Ferrugia, the borough’s K-9 officer, from patrolman to sergeant was approved by the Borough Council at its July 14 meeting.

Mayor Gerald J. Tarantolo immediately presented Ferrugia with his new sergeant’s badge as the council looked on. Councilman Charles E. DaVis gave him a second badge to carry in his wallet.

"I’m very pleased that tonight we’re going to recognize his abilities by promoting him to sergeant," the mayor said before the council’s vote.

Ferrugia joined the Police Department in July 1982 as a dispatcher and in 1984 became a police officer. He had earlier served as a special officer in Shrewsbury Township.

Ferrugia fills a spot that was vacated with the retirement of Sgt. Dale Bennett. There are eight sergeants on the borough’s police force and a total of 37 sworn officers. The department is looking to hire someone to fill Ferrugia’s former position of patrolman sometime this fall.

As with all such promotions, Ferrugia’s post as sergeant is probationary for a year.

He wasn’t accompanied by his K-9 partner, Xena, at the council meeting.

In other action, the council renewed its agreement with the state Motor Vehicle Commission office to provide police services at its agency on Route 36. The new contract calls for Eatontown police officers to perform security duties at the agency for a two-year period, with an option to renew for an additional three years, for an annual fee of $110,000.

The council also awarded a contract to Stavola Contracting Co. Inc., of Red Bank, the lowest of five bidders, for the resurfacing of Parker Road. Stavola’s bid was $171,456.95.

The other bids received were $174,313.13 from Earle Asphalt, of Farmingdale; $199,870 from Lucas Brothers, of Morganville; $236,300 from Fiore Paving, of Oceanport; and $243,055 from E&L Paving, of Long Branch.

The council rejected the bid of $60,000 the borough received for a borough-owned property at 34 Victor Place that the council is trying to sell.

The $60,000 bid, submitted by Fred Corcione, of Muncey Drive, in West Long Branch, was the highest bid received. But the council rejected it because it was below the assessed value of the property. The council authorized the re-advertising for bids and placed a $65,000 minimum for the bids.

The ordinance noted that the property is being sold with an existing house on it in "as is" condition with the understanding that should the house be razed by any purchaser in the future, a use variance would be necessary to rebuild since the property is undersized.

The closing on the property must take place before Aug. 26, according to the ordinance. Failure to close by Aug. 26 without the consent of the borough would entitle the borough to rescind the bid approval and terminate the sale.

With improvements to Wampum Memorial Park Phase II moving along, the council authorized a payment of $117,457.90 to the contractor, Highway Safety Systems Inc., of Hammonton, for work performed thus far on the partially completed job. Borough Engineer Edward G. Broberg OK’d the payment.

The council passed a resolution to make application for a $150,000 advance planning grant from the U.S. Office of Economic Adjustment to retain experienced professional consultants to assist in the development of an economic diversification strategy plan for the region. The goal of the plan is to reduce the community’s reliance on defense expenditures in the event of a closure of Fort Monmouth in the next Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) round.

The plan to be developed would include a concept level reuse strategy for Fort Monmouth if it should be targeted by the BRAC commission. The resolution said the plan would assist in evaluating the facilities at Fort Monmouth and developing a detailed marketing and financial plan for the base’s properties.

The application relies on support from Shrewsbury, Tinton Falls and Oceanport, all of which would be impacted by a Fort Monmouth closure.