Marlboro plans projects to upgrade infrastructure

BY JACK MURTHA
Staff Writer

MARLBORO — A smorgasbord of upgrades are billed to take place in Marlboro as part of the municipality’s 2013 capital improvement program.

The Township Council on March 14 introduced three ordinances that could issue nearly $3.7 million in bonds or notes to pay for a series of projects.

The governing body will consider the ordinances for adoption following public hearings to be held at 7 p.m. April 4 in Town Hall.

According to official documents, the funds would be used to improve general municipal projects, the Marlboro Water Utility Division, and the Marlboro Recreation and Swim Utility.

One ordinance would permit Marlboro to borrow more than $2.9 million to fund general capital upgrades. While the total cost of the 13 proposed expenses would hit nearly $3.1 million, another $154,000 has been set aside in previous budgets to pay for anticipated down payments.

Those funds would be used to purchase computing equipment; reconstruct Vanderburg Road; improve the Rockwell Circle Dam; improve sidewalks and bicycle lanes along Wyncrest Road, as well as sidewalks along Route 79; provide for capital drainage projects; purchase vehicles and equipment to be used by emergency medical services and police; purchase traffic control and enforcement equipment; pay for equipment and upgrades to provide for an emergency shelter; purchase vehicles and equipment for public works; upgrade municipal buildings; improve soccer fields; and replace pagers.

Although the bonds or notes provided for each of those projects would have a different lifespan, the average period of usefulness for the bonds would reach about 11 years, according to township documents.

Should Marlboro receive grant money to pay for any of those improvements, the cash would either directly pay for the enhancements or be used to pay off debt accrued from the projects.

The council introduced another ordinance to issue $71,085 in municipal notes or bonds to provide for improvements to the recreation and swim utility.

According to the ordinance, that money would cover a number of infrastructure improvements to Marlboro’s swim club. The life of those notes or bonds would span 15 years.

A final ordinance would allow the issuance of $682,550 in water utility notes or bonds.

Those upgrades would cover the rehabilitation of the water treatment plant lagoon, well redevelopment, capital repairs, electrical components, and the installation of a generator at the Harbor Road facility. The life of those notes or bonds would also span 15 years.

In a letter to Mayor Jonathan Hornik, Business Administrator Jonathan Capp said now is a good time for such improvements due to Marlboro’s Aa2 bond rating from Moody’s Investors Service and a low level of existing debt.