What's Making News in the Town Next Door?

In Freehold

Council Hears Charter School Presentation 

Overcrowded Borough classrooms have made their way into the board room. A presentation at last night’s from the Beta Charter School was given to the Council and community members to further explain how a charter school could benefit overpopulated Borough schools. Richard Ginn, a founder of Beta Charter, and Borough resident, gave a presentation to the Council and community on the benefits a charter school could give the Borough. The presentation came with mixed reviews and over 21 comments online.

In Marlboro

Town Council Presented with Informal Budget Projections

The Marlboro was presented with informal budget projections last night, as . While municipal spending is shown to hold steady at just under $35 million, a rate similar to that of the 2007 township budget, non-tax revenue is down by $7.5 million. “Our spending is going down, but we have a revenue problem," Mayor Jon Hornik said. The mayor said grants and state aid are not as readily available as in the past. This year, Gov. Chris Christie announced municipal aid would not increase, leaving Marlboro's state funding at last year's number of $2,268,949. The proposed township budget is $32.81 million, down from last year's $34.19 million.

In Manalapan

No Car Dealerships in Manalapan, Planning Board Decides in Tight Vote

On Thursday night at the , the Planning Board, in a close 5-4 vote, decided not to amend the Master Plan to allow car dealerships in the township. The Planning Board approved the amendment to the proposed Master Plan with the modification that no change be made to the OP-3 or OP-10 zones, sections on the Rt. 9 corridor which Township Planner Richard Cramer deemed suitable for automobile sales agencies in the proposed amendment to the township’s Master Plan. Therefore, Ray Catena's proposed Audi dealership will not be constructed on the corner of Taylors Mills Road and Rt. 9 North, and no other car dealerships will be allowed to be constructed within Manalapan Township. Additionally, this means that a proposed 105,000 square foot retail space will not be constructed at the corner of Symmes Drive and Rt. 9 South.

In Holmdel

Buyer Signs Purchase Agreement for Alcatel-Lucent Property in Holmdel [VIDEO]

Alcatel-Lucent says it has signed a purchase agreement with Elsie Sterling Oversight LLC for a mixed-use plan at its huge property on Crawfords Corner Road in Holmdel -- welcome news for a township hurting for revenue. Mayor Patrick Impreveduto broke the news to more than 200 residents who had turned out to a public meeting on Thursday at the Senior/Community Center. Because of that news, and newly-identified savings, the township called off an unpopular plan to sell parts of 100-acre Cross Farm near the Colts Neck border to raise revenue to close a $2.5 million budget gap. The mayor also cancelled a spring referendum to raise taxes above the two percent cap, but did say it may have to sell empty lots off Plum Lane, near Hazlet, to raise cash.