PENNINGTON COUNCIL UPDATE
By John Tredrea, Staff Writer
Pennington Borough Council agreed Monday night that council will decide next month whether to accept a $24,000 state grant to study the feasibility of merging the borough Police Department with the Hopewell Township Police Department.
The borough applied for the grant about a year ago. Borough Administrator Eugene Dunworth told council Monday night that state officials recently told him that if the borough does not accept the grant by the end of this year, most or all of the application for the funding would have to be refiled if the borough decides it wants to pursue the grant.
After Mr. Dunworth’s report, council members decided they would take the month-long opportunity to think about the issue before making a final decision in December on whether to accept the grant and undertake the study. Pennington has six full-time police officers and a civilian police director, William Meytrott.
Mayor Tony Persichilli reiterated his statement, first made when the council decided to apply for the grant, that borough residents should make the final decision on whether to merge Pennington’s police with the township. Residents would make that decision in a referendum, the mayor said.
PENNNINGTON has hired a police officer to replace Sgt. Robert DeLorenzo, who retired in September.
The new officer is Daryl L. Burroughs Jr., a 33-year old Somerset resident.
Mr. Burroughs’ hire is contingent on his passing psychological and physical examinations. He can begin work shortly after passing them, officials said.
Mr. Burroughs has three years experience as a police officer, officials noted. He currently is employed as a part-time officer with the Point Pleasant Beach police department. He also works part-time as a security guard at the Monmouth Medical Center, in Long Branch. Prior to holding those two positions, he was a police officer in Long Branch.
IN OTHER BUSINESS, Councilman Joseph Lawver said the borough will need to provide more water storage capacity within a few years. The capacity should probably come in the form of a second water tower, Mr. Lawver said, since underground storage is considerably more expensive and complex.
Council also commended borough resident Tom Adelman for his work organizing the Green Market, held on the grounds of The Pennington School Oct. 18. About 2,000 people attended the event, Director Meytrott said. Exhibitions and games involving environmentally friendly practices and products were featured at the Green Market. Mr. Adelman said he is working on a similar event for Hopewell Borough, slated for next April.

