By Matthew Sockol
Staff Writer
MILLSTONE – A bond ordinance that will provide funds to be used for acquiring public works vehicles and equipment has been introduced by the Township Committee.
On April 17, the committee introduced a bond ordinance that, if adopted, will provide an appropriation of $340,000 for the acquisition of Department of Public Works vehicles and equipment. The down payment for the improvements is $17,000, with $323,000 to be financed through the issuance of bonds.
According to the ordinance, the vehicles and equipment include, but are not limited to a single axle snow removal truck, pickup trucks, driver feedback radar signs and a batwing motor attachment for a midrange tractor.
A public hearing on the ordinance is scheduled for May 17. The committee may adopt the ordinance that evening.
In other business, the committee passed a resolution approving an agreement with Monmouth County for a project on Baird Road.
According to the resolution, township officials are proposing to construct drainage improvements and to widen Baird Road, while county officials are proposing to reconstruct and install a standalone prefabricated pedestrian/trail bridge on Monmouth County Bridge MS-70, which is on Baird Road.
Township and county officials have reached an agreement to combine the two projects into one project, according to the resolution.
“That bridge is very narrow,” Deputy Mayor Fiore Masci said. “There is no walkway for anybody to try and walk past there. Trying to walk past there with cars (alongside) becomes an even greater safety issue.”
Finally, appointments were made to agencies in the township:
• To the Planning Board, Mayor Michael Kuczinski appointed Stacie Curtis to fill the unexpired term of Ed Kocur. The term will expire on Dec. 31. Al Ferro was appointed to fill the remainder of Curtis’ previous term. That term will expire on Dec. 31, 2018.
• To the Parks and Recreation Commission, Kuczinski appointed Ryan Russell to fill the unexpired term of Billy Hanson. That term will expire on Dec. 31, 2018. Jack Aprile was appointed to fill the remainder of Russell’s term. That term will expire on Dec. 31, 2021. Jennifer Casale was appointed to fill the remainder of Aprile’s term, which will expire on Dec. 31.
• To the Open Space and Farmland Preservation Council, the committee passed a resolution appointing Mark Blackwell to a term that will expire on Dec. 31, 2018.