EATONTOWN – Parents who are interested in attending an Eatontown Borough Council meeting but have young children to look after will soon be able to take advantage of a free childcare service at Borough Hall that will be available during meetings of the governing body.
During a meeting on June 26, Councilwoman Tanya Rivera said a childcare pilot program will take place in July and August. The program will provide parents who want to attend a municipal meeting with an alternative to bringing their children to the meeting or leaving them at home with a babysitter.
The service will be available during council meetings on July 10, July 24, Aug. 14 and Aug. 28 from 6:45-8:45 p.m. The July 10 council meeting will begin at 7 p.m. Members of the Eatontown recreation staff will serve as chaperones for the children.
“I asked our business administrator, Cherron Rountree, to look into providing childcare during meetings to help increase civic engagement,” Rivera said. “… We will be providing movies with water and a snack for kids whose parents want to attend council meetings.”
The movies that will be shown at the free childcare program are “Moana,” “Despicable Me,” “The Croods” and “How to Train Your Dragon 2.”