Freehold's Vision For The Future Outlined At Council Reorganization

FREEHOLD, NJ — The Borough Council reorganization meeting was an opportunity to outline past accomplishments and look ahead to more of the same, as Mayor Kevin A. Kane explained, following his swearing in upon re-election to office.

Kane and fellow Democrats, Councilman Michael J. DiBenedetto and newly elected Councilman Jeffrey J. Friedman, were also sworn into office in a meeting that saw family and friends applaud the officials - both new to the council and those already serving.

The invocation for the event was delivered by the Rev. Ronald Sparks of Bethel AME Church, asking for spiritual guidance for both officials and residents to make them "good stewards of time, money and freedom."

That led into the swearing in of Kane by his father, former Mayor Roger Kane. "I can't tell you how honored I felt to be asked to do this," the elder Kane said.

Later in the meeting, Kane thanked his dad for the "incredible experience" of having his father swear him in.

And another former, long-serving mayor, Michael Wilson, swore in DiBenedetto, entering his 10th term in office. The council terms are three years.

Friedman was welcomed to the council by the mayor. He was sworn in by Barbara McMorrow, a former Freehold Borough Councilwoman, former Freehold Township Mayor and former Monmouth County Freeholder (now titled county commissioner).

She advised Friedman to always "study the facts and listen to the people" - and then do what he felt was right. "It may not always be popular to do what's right, but it's always an honorable decision," she said.

A resolution of the Mayor and Council also honored Councilman George Schnurr, who chose to not seek re-election. He was elected to five terms of office and was council president twice, Kane said. He also served on the Planning Board for many years, he said.

Councilwoman Sharon Shutzer was chosen Council President for 2024 at the meeting.

The mayor also presented Democratic 11th District Assembly members Margie Donlon and Luanne Peterpaul, who were newly elected in November with incumbent Democratic state Sen. Vin Gopal. They and many other local and county officials were present.

Kane thanked them all, hoping not to miss anyone, and warmly thanked borough employees and police and other first responders.

There were also various borough professional appointments, as well as appointments of volunteers to local boards and committees, and the naming of council representatives to borough departments and boards.

With the new council seated, Kane reviewed past initiatives of the Borough Council that he said are bearing fruit for a town that has a limited tax base.

Saving money for taxpayers is a necessity, he said, and the council chose to do that not by cutting services, but by finding creative, re-occurring revenue streams.

Kane said the borough is using "smart redevelopment," recreational cannabis tax revenue, dedicated parking revenue and is pursuing grant opportunities "to provide real property tax relief."

He cited how property tax revenue will grow as the Hometown Redevelopment Area is completed. He said properties that now generate about $56,000 in tax revenue will bring in more than $1.1 million when the project is complete, while maintaining the character of Freehold’s historic downtown, he said. The borough entered into a conditional redeveloper's agreement for the project at its last meeting, Kane said, with Capodagli Property Co., Linden.

The parking management system introduced in September is projected to generate $500,000 annually. He said 75 percent of those using the paid parking areas come from other towns - but the town is 100 percent responsible for maintenance of the borough parking areas. And, he added, 60 percent of parking in the borough remains free of charge.

The borough’s first cannabis retailer NJ Leaf that opened in June 2023, has already generated over $150,000 in new tax revenue in six months, Kane noted - another area that is expected to generate over $1 million a year in new local sales tax revenue.

Also, he said the borough hired a grants consultant in January 2020, and in four years has received $4 million in grant funding for infrastructure and other needs. Grants have made possible the popular Half Mile of Horses Art Walk, for example, among other programs.

A $2 million renovation of the 1904, Andrew Carnegie-founded Freehold Library is also nearing completion, Kane said, aided by a 2020 grant of $889,000 from the New Jersey Library Construction Bond Act.

On top of all this, Freehold has been named a "Healthy Town" for its many wellness efforts, he said. And he named the many volunteers and borough employees who helped make many of these initiatives be put into action.

There is much on the horizon, too, Kane said.

Kane said Freehold will be a founding city in an upcoming national initiative to celebrate the values of hometowns in the country - values "that bring us together," Kane said.

In the borough, the My Hometown Bruce Springsteen Story Center is part of the redevelopment plan and "is best told in his hometown," Kane said, referring to the iconic songwriter's "My Hometown."

"Freehold is America's hometown," Kane said.