FREEHOLD – A contract has been awarded by the Borough Council for assistance in managing Freehold Borough’s shade trees.
During a meeting on Nov. 18, council members awarded a $57,900 contract to Falkinburg Tree Service, Brielle, for tree trimming and removal.
Falkinburg Tree Service was awarded the contract as the lowest bidder. A second bid was received from Rich Tree Service Inc. in the amount of $69,400, according to a resolution.
According to the resolution, officials authorized a contract for tree removal and tree trimming services based on a review of the recent tree inventory and from complaints.
The resolution states that Freehold Borough has one of the more significant inventories of shade trees in Monmouth County and has maintained its Tree City USA designation from the Arbor Day Foundation for more than 20 years.
The resolution also states that borough officials have continued to aggressively manage the community’s shade tree inventory in an attempt to reduce storm-inflicted damage.
In other business, council members authorized a professional services agreement with Abbington Engineering. According to a resolution, the project requiring the firm’s services will be improvements to Bannard Street. The contract with the engineering firm is for an amount not to exceed $79,800. The services will include surveying, mapping, design, preparation of plans and specifications, and construction administration and inspection.
And, council members authorized a developer’s agreement with Green House at Freehold as part of a process to allow the limited liability corporation’s property on Monument Street to become an office building.
Finally, the council passed a resolution honoring the First Baptist Church of Freehold, 81 W. Main St., on its 185th anniversary.
As stated in the resolution, the church was formed on Nov. 28, 1834, when 92 members were dismissed from the Upper Freehold Baptist Church. The First Baptist Church of Freehold is the third Baptist church in the Freehold area.
“The First Baptist Church is an historic, landmark church whose purpose and mission has remained the same throughout its 185 years, to share God’s love through Jesus Christ,” according to the resolution.