Local sports teams have been so successful that squads receiving honors had to arrive in shifts at the Jan. 16 Township Committee meeting to avoid exceeding the number of people allowed in the meeting room
by Jane Meggitt, Special Writer
UPPER FREEHOLD — Local sports teams have been so successful that squads receiving honors had to arrive in shifts at the Jan. 16 Township Committee meeting to avoid exceeding the number of people allowed in the meeting room by fire department ordinance.
At 6 p.m., the Allentown High School Redbirds Field Hockey team — who were Patriot Division champions and state sectional champions — were honored, along with the AHS boys soccer team. They were not only Patriot Division and state sectional champions, but also State Group III champions.
After these teams received recognition certificates and left, they were followed at 7 p.m. by the Allentown Redbirds Pee Wee Football 2013 Central Jersey Pee Wee Division III and New Jersey State Pee Wee Division champions. Also honored were the Pee Wee Cheer national champions and the Junior Pee Wee state champions.
Committeeman Steve Alexander said this was always one of his favorite nights.
”Not everyone can call themselves a state champion, so hold your heads up high,” he said.
AHS athletic director Brian Irwin said that back when he started in 2000, the township had one soccer field, which he described as “a dirt hole.” He thanked the governing body for the development of township athletic fields since that time.
”It enables kids to play more and blossom,” Mr. Irwin said. “They have a great feeder program before they come to AHS.”
Committeeman Stan Moslowski Jr. said that all the time, effort and money the township spent on those fields has been worthwhile.
”There are so many kids here tonight. They’re spending time on a worthwhile cause and not doing other things that don’t help the community,” Committeeman Moslowski said. “I’m happy to see it’s paying off.”
In other business, the Township Committee unanimously approved a resolution authorizing a shared services agreement with Robbinsville for automotive repair services for township vehicles and equipment.
Under the agreement, the labor rate is $60 per man-hour and 10 percent over Robbinsville’s costs for all repair part and sublet parts. No charge will be made for parts, which are supplied by Upper Freehold Township.
The committee also unanimously approved a resolution appointing Christopher K. Koutsouris as the township’s public defender for 2014.

