FREEHOLD – The Borough Council in Freehold Borough has approved the purchase of a utility truck to assist in water and sewer emergencies.
On Feb. 19, council members authorized the purchase of a Ford F450 utility truck from Winner Ford, Cherry Hill. The vehicle will be used by the Water and Sewer Department, according to a resolution. The contract is in the amount of $62,849.
According to the resolution, the utility truck can respond to all emergency water and sewer leaks and will include options such as four-wheel drive output and a snow plow.
In other business, the council authorized a shared services agreement relating to the Western Monmouth Active Shooter Training Group.
The training group is comprised of the police departments in Freehold Borough, Freehold Township, Manalapan, Howell, Colts Neck, Englishtown, Allentown and Marlboro, and the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Department. The lead agency in the agreement is Freehold Township.
According to a resolution, the training group is intended to allow the interagency standardization of active shooter response protocols and facilitate a rapid response and coordination in the event that officers from multiple agencies may be the first responders in neighboring communities for these incidents.
Freehold Borough will pay $660 as its share of the agreement. For the remaining agencies, the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Department will pay $2,640; Howell will pay $2,376; Marlboro will pay $1,738; Freehold Township will pay $1,540; Manalapan will pay $1,320; Colts Neck will pay $484; Englishtown will pay $264; and Allentown will pay $132, according to the resolution.
Council members also approved Freehold Borough’s participation with the state’s Safe and Secure Communities Program from March 13, 2019 to March 12, 2020.
According to a resolution, municipal officials are seeking to apply for $60,000 for a project under the 2019 Safe and Secure Communities Program. The total cost of the project is approximately $367,593 and the borough is providing a cash match of $307,593 to cover the remaining costs.
The program, according to the state, provides municipalities with funding to add law enforcement personnel necessary for police operations and crime-related strategies and allows for the funding of additional police officers or the funding of law enforcement support personnel, giving officers the opportunity to engage in direct law enforcement activities.
Finally, the council confirmed the appointments of Lori Annetta as a member of the Historic Preservation Commission to fill an unexpired term through 2019; Michael McCave as a member of the Planning Board to fill an unexpired term through Dec, 31, 2020; and Eric Correia and Daniel Graboski as members of the Freehold Fire Department, Monmouth Hose Company.