BRICK – The township’s 2017 budget contains approximately $8.5 million for capital expenditures. These would be used to fund bonds to pay for items with a five-, seven-, 10-, or 15-year life, separated for the item’s period of usefulness.
During the June 13 council meeting, Council President Art Halloran said that township department heads originally asked for $22 million for various items, but that number was pared down to $8.5 million after working with Mayor John G. Ducey to prioritize their needs.
Some items on the 5-year bond ordinance include various roadway improvements throughout the township – including the engineering, design work, permits, administration, labor, materials and more; and motorized and nonmotorized equipment for various departments.
As an example, items such as lawnmowers would be funded through a 5-year bond ordinance, Halloran said.
The township would pay $264,967 as a down payment for the 5-year items, and $5,034,401 would be appropriated through the issuance of bonds or notes.
Some items on the 7-year bond ordinance include the acquisition and installation of various items of data processing and technology equipment, and all costs associated with the improvements.
The township would pay $40,000 as a down payment for the total principal cost of $800,000.
The 10-year bond ordinance would fund items expected to last at least 10 years, and $249,850 has been earmarked for the acquisition and installation of various items of police equipment (non-data processing). The township would pay $12,493 as a down payment for this equipment.
And finally, items on the 15-year bond ordinance are for building and grounds improvements, improvements to existing parks and beaches, and it includes all the engineering, design work, surveying, construction planning, permits, work, materials, equipment, labor and more.
The 15-year bond ordinance includes roadway improvements, Halloran said. Mayor Ducey said that if all the township roads that haven’t been paved in 10 years were paid for all at once it would cost $63 million. There are 800 miles of roads on the list, and that does not include county and state roads in the township, he added.
There would be $2,150,782 appropriated for the 15-year bond ordinance, with $107,540 as a down payment.
In other news, David DeConde, a 6th grader from Lake Riviera Middle School, was the township, county and state winner for the NJ Division of Fire Safety/NJ Fire Prevention & Protection Association Poster Contest. There were over 1,000 entrees in Brick alone, officials said.
DeConde and his extended family attended the council meeting where the chief of the Brick Fire Safety Bureau, Kevin Batzel, Assistant Bureau Chief Richard J. Orlando and NJDCA Fire Safety SE Field Representative Britton Schulmeister presented him with a plaque and a $500 gift card.
He was also honored by the Ocean County Freeholders in an earlier, separate ceremony.
The June 13 council meeting was not recorded as the township is in the process of replacing its recording equipment, Halloran said.
The next council meeting will be on Tuesday, June 27 at 7 p.m. at which time there would be public comment on the four bond ordinances before they are adopted.
