Year-end meeting brings action on variety of issues
By Jane Meggitt, Special Writer
UPPER FREEHOLD — The Township Committee weighed in on issues of both national and local concern at its last meeting of 2012, which included a special video tribute and moment of silence for the 26 victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre in Newton, Connecticut.
Mayor LoriSue Horsnall Mount lit candles at the Dec. 20 meeting and showed a brief video about the victims, who were killed six days before in one of the nation’s deadliest school shootings. Mrs. Mount urged the community to “think love and say prayers for Newtown.”
Deputy Mayor Steve Alexander, who said he was struck by how much one of the young shooting victims looked liked his own daughter, noted the tragedy in Newtown could have just as easily happened in Upper Freehold or Millstone.
Township Committeemen Bob Faber and Stanley Moslowski Jr. thanked Mrs. Mount for putting together the tribute to the shooting victims, with Mr. Moslowski noting that it had been “a tough thing to watch.”
Mr. Moslowski said he passed by an Upper Freehold Regional School District school recently and the sight of children on the playground had given him pause.
”I wonder if someday they can’t go out to play because we can’t protect them,” Mr. Moslowski said. “It’s very sad.”
The final Township Committee meeting of 2012 also included action on another national issue. The all-Republican governing body unanimously passed a resolution urging New Jersey’s congressional delegation to act on legislation that would block U.S. financial assistance to certain countries engaged in persistent human rights abuses.
The resolution states that certain nations are currently receiving foreign aid from the U.S. government contrary to the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, and “contrary to the values, ideals and beliefs of the citizens of the United States.”
The resolution states Upper Freehold Township urges state representatives in the House of Representatives and U.S. Senate to adopt legislation that blocks foreign aid in any form to Cuba, Libya, Iran, South Yemen, Venezuela, Somalia, Burma, Syria, Sudan, Mali, Egypt, North Korea, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Palestinian Authority, China and Saudi Arabia.
Closer to home, the Township Committee approved several resolutions related to municipal jobs. One of these reclassified Department of Public Works Manager Saverio “Sal” Fiorenzo from a probationary to permanent employee. Mr. Fiorenzo, who has worked for the town since 2006, has been DPW manager since April.
The town is also advertising for a position in its Construction Department due to the retirement of George Frey. The committee appointed Michael Benson as its acting plumbing subcode official on an “as needed” basis, at an hourly rate of $25.
The committee also voted to rehire Virginia McFarlane as a part-time municipal court employee at a salary of $10.85 per hour. According to the resolution, Ms. McFarlane was laid off in April 2009 because of the township’s severe budgetary constraints.
The Township Committee also unanimously adopted ordinances changing township personnel policies to replace vacation, sick and personal days with one all-inclusive category called “paid time off,” to streamline bookkeeping operations. In another unrelated action, the committee established a $50 fee for the tax collector to calculate for lienholders the amount due to redeem a lien.
By a 4-1 vote, the governing body also adopted an ordinance establishing design standards for small solar energy systems in the township, including new setback requirements for ground-mounted solar arrays. Mrs. Mount casting the lone dissenting vote.

