ALLENTOWN – During his annual address to residents, Allentown Mayor Thomas Fritts reviewed the accomplishments of the mayor, Borough Council members, municipal employees, municipal professionals and volunteers during 2020.
According to the mayor:
• Municipal officials kept the tax levy flat;
• Allentown received a $7,248 grant from the Monmouth County Historical Commission to replace the roof and trim on the municipal annex building. Fritts said volunteer Jan Meerwarth secured these funds;
• Fritts said Jan Meerwarth secured a second $800 grant from the Monmouth County Historical Commission for special projects aimed at highlighting the contributions of African-Americans in the community;
• Allentown received a $125,000 matching grant from Monmouth County for the Municipal Open Space Program for Phase I development of Ashby Park. E&LP Associates completed the grant application;
• E&LP Associates helped Allentown secure a second $125,000 matching grant from the same party for Phase II development of Ashby Park;
• Allentown received a $180,000 grant from the New Jersey Department of Transportation (DOT) Municipal Aid Program for repairs to Waldron, Quinn and Hamilton roads. Roberts Engineering Group completed the grant application;
• Allentown received a $375,000 grant from the DOT for improvements to borough sidewalks. Roberts Engineering Group completed the grant application;
• Allentown’s municipal website was redesigned by Municipal Clerk Laurie Roth. Fritts said borough officials continue to be transparent and now comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act;
• Municipal Clerk Laurie Roth completed the Municipal Self-Assessment Report for Allentown’s village status renewal application;
• Municipal Clerk Laurie Roth completed the bid specifications for construction engineer for Phase IIB of the streetscape project;
• Allentown received a $4,000 grant from the New Jersey Clean Communities Program;
• Allentown received an $835 grant for the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Award;
• Allentown received a $6,000 grant to help police officers keep drunk drivers off the borough’s roads;
• Municipal officials promoted Daniel Panckeri to the position of police chief of the Allentown Police Department;
• Police Chief Daniel Panckeri secured $30,000 worth of used communications equipment for free;
• Allentown became a Bee City USA affiliate and municipal officials launched a Bee City USA Facebook page;
• Municipal officials launched an Environmental Commission Facebook page;
• Municipal officials hired Patrolman Daniel D’Ascoli and Department of Public Works laborer Connor Roberts;
• Patrolman Daniel D’Ascoli apprehended a wanted sexual predator from Michigan;
• Municipal officials signed a police contract and continue to provide local police coverage;
• Municipal officials secured an emergency medical services contract with Capital Health Systems for Allentown and Upper Freehold Township;
• Borough officials adopted a community forestry management plan. The plan was completed by Shade Tree Commission;
• Borough officials are foreclosing upon 23 Hamilton St.;
• Allentown’s storm water management ordinance has been updated by Roberts Engineering Group and will be introduced at a council meeting;
• Borough officials performed Allentown’s first online tax sale with new tax collector Toni Jo Mullens;
• Municipal officials awarded the Pondview Drive improvement project contract. Construction will start this year;
• Allentown completed the water tower improvement project with Guimar General Contractor;
• Significant repairs and replacements to Allentown’s fire hydrants were completed by the Earle Asphalt Company;
• Municipal officials hired a new information technology firm and upgraded the borough’s servers;
• A construction contract was awarded to DCRC for Ashby Memorial Park;
• KTK Construction performed repairs to the Pearl Street parking lot;
• Borough officials adopted a purchasing manual that was written by Allentown’s chief financial officer.