FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP – The Township Committee in Freehold Township has renewed a shared services agreement that involves eight police departments in western Monmouth County and the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office.
Freehold Township will continue to serve as the lead agency and provider in the agreement.
During a meeting on May 25, the committee members authorized the renewal of the agreement for the Western Monmouth Active Shooter Training Group.
The participants are the Allentown, Colts Neck, Englishtown, Freehold Borough, Freehold Township, Howell, Manalapan and Marlboro police departments, and the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office.
A resolution passed by the governing body states that the agreement is beneficial to the municipalities involved by allowing interagency standardization of active shooter response protocols and by facilitating a rapid response and coordination in the event that officers from multiple agencies may be the first responders in neighboring communities for these types of incidents.
This will be the fourth year the training group will be in effect in the eight municipalities. The initial agreement was authorized in 2018 with Freehold Township serving as the lead agency and provider.
In other business, the committee members authorized the execution of a shared services agreement with Englishtown for information technology services. Through the agreement, Freehold Township will provide information technology services to Englishtown.
Committee members also authorized an agreement with the CentraState Fitness and Wellness Center. Through the agreement, CentraState will conduct a wellness initiative for Freehold Township employees by allowing the employees to use its facilities, services and programs.
As stated in a resolution, township officials consider an employee fitness and wellness
strategy critical in reducing exposure to health insurance claims.
The resolution states that Freehold Township employees are in agreement with the cost of a reduced price membership and recognize the agreement is a voluntary program with an appropriate payroll deduction.
The agreement is in the amount of $35,998, according to the resolution.