FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP – Officials in Freehold Township have extended a shared services agreement to temporarily provide neighboring Manalapan with the availability of the municipality’s health officer through the end of the month.
On Oct. 1, the Township Committee passed a resolution extending the shared services agreement that temporarily provides Manalapan with the services of Margaret Jahn, who is Freehold Township’s health officer.
According to the resolution, Jahn will serve as the temporary acting health officer of Manalapan on a month-to-month basis. Manalapan will be charged $3,500 per month for the service.
The resolution states that the initial agreement between Freehold Township and Manalapan was effective through Sept. 30. After Manalapan officials requested a continuance of the agreement through Oct. 31, Freehold Township officials concurred that the shared services would be beneficial to taxpayers in both municipalities.
Manalapan’s previous health officer, David Richardson, retired in April. A permanent successor to Richardson has not been named.
In other business, committee members authorized Freehold Township to participate in intra-county mutual aid and assistance agreements with participating units in Monmouth County.
According to a resolution, the mutual aid and assistance agreements with participants include, but are not limited to, law enforcement, public works, emergency medical services, emergency management, human services, hazardous materials response units, technical or special operations teams, Community Emergency Response Team members, Medical Reserve Corps members or other volunteers.
Finally, committee members passed a resolution supporting the Freehold Township Police Department’s request to the New Jersey Department of Transportation (DOT) for access openings on Route 33, a state highway, for use by emergency vehicles.
As noted in the resolution, Route 33 passes through Freehold Township and guide rails separate eastbound and westbound vehicular traffic. The resolution states that when motor vehicle accidents occur or when emergent situations arise, emergency vehicles must travel farther to reach their destination because of the absence of access openings in the guide rails along Route 33.
“The fact that there is no break in the guide rail along Route 33 and that the closest break east of Freehold Township is in Howell and to the west of Freehold Township is in Manalapan, without question, delays emergency response time in emergency situations,” the resolution states.
According to the resolution, the Township Committee deemed the matter to be crucial because it directly affects the health, safety and welfare of residents, visitors, pedestrians and drivers.
Committee members are supporting the police department’s request to the DOT and are urging the agency to authorize the requested access openings.