Township Seeks to Bond More than $1.2 Million for 2012 Capital Projects

The Township Committee did a first reading of an ordinance that would authorize the funding for various capital projects as set in the 2012 Municipal Budget, amounting to $1,218,000 in bonds or notes.

The ordinance would appropriate $1,765,000 toward the capital projects and authorize the issuance of $1,218,000 in bonds or notes, Township Administrator Veronica Laureigh said.

Each of the projects that the committee agreed to during the 2012 budget process is covered by the ordinance, she said.

The following capital projects are accounted for in the ordinance:

• 2011 DOT approved grant for Laurel Boulevard — $425,000, $200,000 of which will come from a grant.
• 2012 DOT grant for Lakeside Drive — $446,000, $250,000 of which will come from a grant.
• Community Development Block Grant for Williams to Vaughn — $234,000, $32,000 of which will come from a grant
• HVAC upgrades to Municipal Building — $73,000
• Equipment for the Department of Public Works and EMS (a dump truck, mason truck and truck lift for Public Works and a stretcher for Lanoka Harbor EMS) — $290,000
• Three 4-wheel drive non-passenger SUVs for the Police Department — $81400
• Fire truck for the Forked River Fire Company $170,000, plus $295,000 coming from a grant
• Feasibility study for a new generating station — $50,000

“These are rough estimates,” Laureigh said.

In the near future, the township will go out to bid for several of the aforementioned projects, she said. At that time, the committee will determine how to reward the projects, whether to piecemeal them or pursue the entire project.

“We will only borrow the money of what we need at that time,” she said. “It may very well be less.”

Committeewoman Helen DelaCruz did not approve of the three 4-wheel SUVs for the police department but still voted yes.

Laureigh explained that if DelaCruz voted no on just the SUVs, she would have had to craft two separate ordinances for the future. It would have also put the township back, awarding projects in October rather than September.

Prices of vehicles would also change, as the township would have to go with 2013 models rather than 2012, she said.

“For the first reading, I’ll vote yes,” DelaCruz said.

A second reading of the ordinance will be done on Thursday, Aug. 9.