By Michael Benavides
Staff Writer
PLUMSTED – The Township Committee has awarded a contract for the repaving of a parking lot at the municipal recreation facility on Brindletown Road and a public parking lot on Main Street.
During their Dec. 7 meeting, members of the governing body said they would use a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) that has been received from Ocean County to pay for the work.
The committee awarded a $37,390 contract to Coast Asphalt Paving, Freehold, which submitted the lowest responsible proposal, according to the resolution that was passed by the committee.
Plumsted Township Municipal Utilities Authority Executive Director Peter Ylvisaker said bids for the work were also submitted by D&H Paving, New Egypt, approximate bid, $37,500; Always Paving, New Egypt, approximate bid, $65,000; and Marlin Construction Services, Jackson, approximate bid, $103,000.
Mayor Jack Trotta said, “The main parking lot at our recreation fields on Brindletown Road and the public parking lot at 17 Main St. are both in need of improvements. It has been many years since they have been paved.
“We can apply for a grant from Ocean County every other year. We were awarded this grant earlier this year for the purpose of completing phase one improvements to both of these lots.
“The work needs to be done at prevailing wages, so we are only able to improve about half of the parking lot at the recreation fields and a small portion of the lot at 17 Main St.,” Trotta said. “We are hoping that in two years when we can apply for the grant again, that we will be able to complete these projects.”
In other action, the committee members adopted a salary ordinance for municipal employees and members of the governing body.
According to ordinance, the mayor will have a maximum salary of $1; a member of the Township Committee will have a maximum salary of $1; the chief financial officer will have a minimum salary of $1,000 and a maximum salary of $44,000; the tax collector will have a minimum salary of $15,000 and a maximum salary of $32,240; the tax assessor will have a minimum salary of $15,000 and a maximum salary of $48,880.
Also, the municipal clerk/registrar will have a minimum salary of $15,000 and a maximum salary of $49,920; the general maintenance working supervisor will have a minimum salary of $40,000 and a maximum salary of $47,500; a technical assistant to the construction office/office manager will have a minimum salary of $10,500 and a maximum salary of $33,488; and the downtown economic development executive director will have a minimum salary of $9,000 and a maximum salary of $40,000.
Finally, Trotta expressed his gratitude to members of the community who came to aid of the Canto family, whose home on East Millstream Road was destroyed in an early morning fire on Nov. 28.
“Luckily, all of the family members got out unharmed,” he said. “Things can be replaced, people cannot. It is always touching when you see your community coming together to help people in need.”
In the aftermath of the fire, neighbors and friends of the Canto family asked for donations of clothing, toys for the family’s three children and other items that were consumed in the fire. The organizers of two such efforts reported that there was an immediate and overwhelming outpouring of support from people who wanted to help the Canto family, according to a previous article in the Tri-Town News.