BY SHERRY CONOHAN
Staff Writer
WEST LONG BRANCH — Several police promotions have been put in place for action by the Borough Council.
Lt. Arthur Cosentino will be promoted to captain, succeeding Capt. Michael Hanaway, who has retired. Sgt. Lawrence Mihlon will be promoted to lieutenant, succeeding Cosentino. Cpl. Ed Doherty, who has been working as a detective, will be promoted to sergeant, succeeding Mihlon.
Councilman William J. Boglioli announced the planned promotions at the Oct. 6 council meeting and said the council would approve them at its next meeting on Oct. 20.
The borough will have one captain, one lieutenant and four sergeants.
Police Chief John Demaree said he planned to make Patrolman William Lynch a detective, succeeding Doherty. That will keep the number of detectives at two. The other is Patrolman James Gomez.
Speaking outside the meeting, Demaree said Cosentino would continue to oversee traffic safety and serve as communications officer, overseeing the acquisition of equipment, and handle the billing for outside jobs for which police officers are hired. He also is one of the two officers handling internal affairs, along with Sgt. Paul Habermann. Mihlon would oversee records and training.
Boglioli also reported that construction had begun on the widening of the Route 71 and Wall Street intersection. He said work on the $2.5 million federally funded project had been moving “at a pretty good pace.”
The council unanimously approved an ordinance to pay the difference between military pay and municipal salary to borough employees who are in the National Guard or military reserves and get called up to active duty.
Under the ordinance the borough employee will be paid the difference between his or her military base pay and his or her salary from the borough, minus any clothing allowances. The employee or municipal officer called up to active duty also would receive continued health and other applicable benefits, including accrual of sick leave, for the duration of active duty. The employee, however, will be required to exhaust vacation and personal days.
The proposal was inspired by the call-up to active duty of Patrolman Brian Ellis with the Army Reserve. Chief Demaree said Ellis is in Iraq.
The council introduced an ordinance increasing fees for applications to the Planning Board or Zoning Board of Adjustment. A public hearing on it is scheduled for Oct. 20.
In other action, the council awarded a contract totaling $34,230 for construction of a salt shed for the Public Works Department. The council accepted the only quote it received for the foundation, in the amount of $17,395 from Joseph Guzzi & Sons, of West Long Branch, and accepted the higher of two quotes for the canopy on top, $16,835 from Cover-All Buildings of New Jersey, Brielle.
Borough Clerk Lori Cole reported Monmouth County approved a $121,061 federal Community Development Block Grant for a municipal playground at the new borough hall.
Councilman William R. Deisinger appealed to voters to approve a question on the Nov. 2 ballot establishing a Length of Service Award Program (LOSAP) for the borough’s volunteer firefighters and first aid squad members.

