ALLENTOWN – The Borough Council has adopted a bond ordinance that will provide funding for water improvements in Allentown.
The ordinance was introduced on Nov. 28 and adopted by the council on Dec. 12 with support from council President Wil Borkowski, Councilman Rob Schmitt, Councilman Thomas Fritts and Councilwoman Angela Anthony.
Councilman Robert Strovinsky and Councilwoman Johnna Stinemire were absent.
The ordinance appropriates $2.96 million and authorizes the issuance of $2.935 million in bonds or notes to finance the planned upgrades.
In response to a question from resident Peter Russo about the difference in the two amounts listed in the bond ordinance, municipal officials said Allentown will make a $25,000 down payment on the improvements.
The down payment is the difference between the total cost of the project and the amount to be financed through the issuance of bonds.
Mayor Greg Westfall said work will include the replacement of water meters, the installation of curb stop shut-off valves, upgrades to Allentown’s elevated water tank and improvements at the water treatment plant.
In other business on Dec. 12, the council authorized shared services agreements with other municipalities that will provide Allentown with the following:
• A shared services agreement with Freehold Township for the Everbridge Emergency Notification System for 2018
• A shared services agreement with Robbinsville for automotive repairs and other services for 2018
• A shared services agreement with Robbinsville for coverage in the Allentown Department of Public Works for 2018. Robbinsville will provide a temporary DPW employee in Allentown on an as needed basis.
• A shared services agreement with Plumsted for a chief financial officer for 2018
• A shared services agreement with Upper Freehold Township for municipal court for 2018 to 2020. From 2015 to 2017, Allentown has had a shared services agreement with Plumsted Township, Ocean County, for its municipal court.
Westfall said that as Allentown’s agreement with Plumsted was expiring this year, officials in Upper Freehold Township expressed interest in sharing their municipal court with Allentown.
The mayor said Allentown does not have secure facilities at its municipal building that allow court sessions to be held in the borough.
Fritts said the switch from Plumsted to a shared service with Upper Freehold Township will result in financial savings for Allentown over the lifetime of the agreement, partially because both towns are in Monmouth County.
“Long term, we think this (agreement for municipal court with Upper Freehold Township) is a really good deal for us,” he said. “I am really excited we had the opportunity to work through this. It was done strictly from a financial point of view and for no other reasons.”