EATONTOWN – The Eatontown Borough Council is appropriating $9.25 million for improvements to municipal property and the acquisition of capital equipment.
On July 14, council members adopted a bond ordinance providing the appropriation. The ordinance authorizes the issuance of $8.46 million in bonds and notes to finance a portion of the costs.
Council President Kevin Gonzalez and council members Joseph Olsavsky, Mark Regan, Maria Escalante and Danielle Jones voted “yes” on a motion to adopt the bond ordinance.
Councilwoman Jasmine Story voted “no” on the motion.
According to the ordinance, a $340,000 grant the borough expects to receive from the New Jersey Department of Transportation (DOT) will help finance the appropriation. In addition to the bonds, the remaining costs will be covered by a down payment of $445,322.
An estimated $6.95 million will be dedicated toward improvements to borough property at the former Fort Monmouth, which has been undergoing redevelopment.
According to the ordinance, an estimated $766,600 will fund the acquisition of municipal vehicles and equipment, including two hooklift trucks with dump body, plow and spreader, switch diffusion coupler for loaders and brush/leaf claw-rockland for the Road Division; a mason dump truck for the Park/Tree Division; a service truck with air compressor, automotive updates, forklift attachment and forklift for the auto shop; a vehicle for the Inspections of Buildings Division; and two vehicles for the Eatontown Police Department.
The 2021 road program will use an estimated $650,500, with the $340,000 DOT grant and an estimated $294,975 in bonds and notes helping to cover the costs. Work will include miscellaneous sidewalk, paving and road repairs; Americans with Disabilities Act ramp upgrades; improvements to Industrial Way West and Pinebrook Road; and road analysis and sewer repair.
Various improvements to public buildings, grounds and signs will cost an estimated $441,846, according to the ordinance. The improvements include a rubber resurfacing of the playground area at the Eatontown Community Center/Preschool; a key fob system for the Borough Hall main floor; the replacement of the Borough Hall boiler; the installation of a camera/intercom system at 68 Broad St.; the acquisition of computer equipment; and the replacement of carpeting in the main area of the Eatontown Public Library.
The appropriation will also cover the repair of the museum building at 75 Broad St.; duct cleaning throughout Borough Hall; the modernization of the sewer system at 68 Broad St.; Husky Brook Park rubber and resurfacing under a proposed outdoor fitness area; the acquisition of new playground equipment for Husky Brook Park; the installation of a solar outdoor lighting fixture and a 6-foot link chain fence at Nicodemus Recreation Center; and the installation of a sound system, speakers and a permanent flat screen and the acquisition of an outdoor deck table, chairs and umbrella for the Senior Center; improvements to the recycle plant at Lewis Street; and tank work at the Eatontown Fire Department firehouse and the Department of Public Works garage at Pinebrook, according to the ordinance.
An estimated $441,500 appropriation will be used to acquire machinery and equipment, including a borough-wide phone system; a command center for Office of Emergency Management vehicles; traffic barriers; ballistic vest with rifle plates; gym equipment and repair; office computers and equipment; and mobile video recorders.
A $419,425 appropriation will be used for items to include laser fiche document storage and licensing server; a shared borough storage building and portable radar trailer for the police department; and turnout gear, hose replacement, pagers and hydraulic ram for the Fire/Water Department.