TINTON FALLS – The Borough Council has adopted a bond ordinance that will fund municipal improvements in Tinton Falls.
The ordinance was introduced by council members on Sept. 3.
During a meeting on Sept. 17, council President Gary Baldwin, Councilman John Manginelli, Councilwoman Nancyanne Fama and Councilman Brock Siebert voted “yes” on a motion to adopt the ordinance. Councilman Christopher Pak was absent.
No one from the public commented on the ordinance when given the opportunity to do so.
The bond ordinance provides funding for the borough’s 2019 road improvement program by appropriating $2.7 million.
The total appropriation includes the issuance of $2.225 million in bonds or notes, a $325,000 grant that is expected to be received from the New Jersey Department of Transportation and a $150,000 down payment to be made by Tinton Falls as required by the Local Bond Law, according to the ordinance.
The bond ordinance will fund road improvements on various streets, including, but not limited to, Hope Road, Alden Lane, Wayside Terrace, Edison Avenue, Wyckham Road, Danbury Road, Plum Street, Squankum Road, Holly Drive, Sylvan Drive and Hartford Drive; as well as drainage improvements on Pinebrook Road and sidewalk improvements on Wayside Road.
According to the ordinance, the average period of usefulness of the planned improvements is 20 years.
In other business on Sept. 17, council members authorized the submission of an application to the Monmouth County Open Space Grant Program for funding of up to $250,000 to be used to develop recreational facilities at Traditions Park.
Traditions Park is between Wardell and Shafto roads, near the Foxchase residential development.
A concept plan for Traditions Park that Borough Engineer Thomas Neff presented to the council on Sept. 3 showed two full-size tennis courts, two pickleball courts, a basketball court, a tot lot playground and a parking area.
Neff said the concept plan was not a final design and would be subject to additional discussion and revisions if Tinton Falls receives the county grant and moves forward with the development of Traditions Park.
He explained that the proposed facilities would cover about 2 acres of the 45-acre tract. Much of the remainder of the parcel is wetlands and is not likely to be developed, Neff said.
Construction costs, including significant grading of the site, for the facilities that were discussed would run about $500,000, according to the engineer.
Neff said Tinton Falls would have to match any grant that is received from the county. He said the matching funds would be appropriated from the borough’s open space trust fund, which is supported by an annual open space tax that is collected from property owners in the municipality.