MANCHESTER – A strong recommendation was made for the governing body to review the status of the township’s infrastructure as well as its cyber security that controls some of it.
Councilman James Vaccaro noted during his report during a recent council meeting that, “earlier in February I enjoyed watching the Super Bowl but beyond the game, the water supply around Tampa Florida, was poisoned chemically.”
“I would like council to explore what safeguards are in place within the township to protect us against cyber-attacks in our infrastructure, water and sewer, communications and internet systems to protect our vital services of police, fire, EMS, and other services,” Councilman Vaccaro added.
Vaccaro noted that Leisure Village West had recently experienced a severe water main break as well as other locations in Manchester due to the cold weather and the possible age of the water mains.
“I would like council also to explore and ensure an evaluation of our infrastructure is in place and an action plan is prepared and in place for our infrastructure systems at best for water and sewer,” Vaccaro added.
Vaccaro also reminded council members about his idea concerning a 10-year energy master plan that would encompass sources of renewable energy of wind, geothermal and more extensive use of solar applications.
“General Motors and other automotive companies have stated that in 2035 at the latest, they are converting most of their automotive fleets to electric thus we must begin to plan for the high-speed electric battery charging stations,” Vaccaro said.
The councilman said that such a move would position Manchester toward “a possible revenue source that could be used from what is generated from the charging stations. We need to plan now for the future.”
In other business the council approved the payment of bills that totaled $488,900.82 and payment of the utility bill for the eastern service area fund in the amount of $716,024.11 and the western service area for $6,259.44.
An ordinance to be voted on during that Council Meeting concerned repealing and replacing sections of the township’s code book entitled uniform construction code and fire prevention.
Wallis said, “with this one we are raising a few of the fees that haven’t been raised in quite a while to bring them in line to what they should be at the cost of actually doing it.” Again, no public comment came forward and the governing body voted to unanimously pass the ordinance.
An Ocean County Transportation Assistance grant which comes through the township’s social services program will be applied for. Bonds will be released for the funding for a project on 2114 Route 70 at Hudson City Plaza which needed to meet American Disability Act compliance issues.
Also approved was a service agreement with Prevention Specialists for drug and alcohol testing. “These are pretty straight forward resolutions,” Wallis noted on the short list of consent agenda items which were unanimously approved.
