A bond ordinance appropriating $4.95 million for a road restoration program and capital improvements has been placed on hold after it failed to garner the four votes it needed for passage from members of the Hazlet Township Committee.
“We will try to reintroduce (the bond ordinance) in some other format,” Committeeman Michael Glackin said in the wake of the governing body’s Oct. 2 vote.
The ordinance was up for adoption during the committee’s meeting that evening. On a motion to adopt the ordinance, Mayor Scott Aagre, Deputy Mayor Sue Kiley and Glackin voted “yes.” Committeeman James DiNardo voted “no.” Committeewoman Barbara Ronchetti was absent. A bond ordinance requires four affirmative votes for adoption.
The ordinance would have appropriated $2.175 million for Hazlet Police Department renovations, $475,000 for the acquisition of equipment, $100,000 for the removal of underground materials and $2.195 million for road improvements.
DiNardo, who said he supports the improvement of municipal roads, said he voted “no” on the motion to adopt the ordinance because he did not agree with other significant expenses outlined in the document.
DiNardo said he does not believe $2.175 million in renovations to police headquarters is necessary at this time. He also said he does not believe the acquisition of sport utility vehicles is necessary at this time.
“If we put (road improvements) solely on for bonding, I wouldn’t have a problem with that,” he said.
DiNardo said previous litigation with the firm that estimated the costs associated with the proposed road improvements also led to his decision to vote “no.” He said he is willing to work with Dennis Pino, the municipal administrator, and the other members of the governing body to agree on a bond ordinance with a lower price point.
During the meeting, municipal officials agreed certain roads in Hazlet are problematic and need to be addressed.
Officials said the road repair program is the municipality’s effort to improve more than 110 roads in Hazlet. Improvements to Copperfield Court, Franciscan Way, Fulton Place, Garrison Drive, Hogarth Street, Poole Avenue and Randolph Place were included in the ordinance that was not adopted on Oct. 2.
“We intend to take a neighborhood by neighborhood approach with continued detailed analysis and restoration work being performed in various phases; subject to seasonal variations, secured funding, grant requirements and successful project awards to the lowest responsible bidder,” the muncipal website states.
Glackin said various roads have potholes and an insecure underbase. He said a complete restoration of the deteriorated roads needs to be addressed and acted on in the near future.
“Everyone complains about the roads. We need to get this moving,” he said.
Glackin said renovations to police headquarters are necessary. He said the building does not have lockers for women and he said the holding cells are not in compliance with state regulations.
“We threw (the police department improvements) in the bond because it was easier. I guess (DiNardo) didn’t like that,” Glackin said. “He’s got a problem with the police (component) … We have some serious needs over here.”