School, town officials
to discuss shared services
OLD BRIDGE — Township and school officials are expected to meet this evening in an effort to foster cooperation and explore shared services.
All Township Council and Board of Education members are invited to the meeting, which will be held at the municipal complex at 5:30 p.m., according to a press release issued by the office of Mayor Jim Phillips. The meeting is open to the public.
The gathering will allow department heads and officials from the municipal and school governing bodies to become further acquainted, explore possibilities with shared services, and discuss ways of saving money.
"Getting to know each other is the first step in working together," Phillips said in the press statement. "I believe that a strong government is a government that works as a team, and this is a step in the right direction. This is just an informal gathering, but the meeting will allow both organizations to lay a foundation of cooperation as they work toward the common goal of saving our citizens money."
Council President Bill Baker commended Phillips for taking steps to bring the two governing bodies together, saying that in the past they often "met in adversarial situations" when school budgets were defeated.
Board of Education President Gail Kubicke said the board was pleased to accept the mayor’s invitation to meet and that she is hopeful the two groups can "find avenues where we can share services."
"We welcome the opportunity to develop a camaraderie that would allow us to explore and support creative ideas that could benefit both the taxpayers and the children of Old Bridge," she said.