Town Talk

Shared Service Advisor Appointed

The Township Committee authorized the appointment of Ernest Freestone as a full time Patrolman and also hired Anthony Turso as a part time Special Law Enforcement Officer. A portion of Patrolman Freestone's salary will be paid for with the Federal COPS Grant since Officer Freestone will replace Richard Lerche, who resigned. The Township Committee has applied for another Federal COPS Grant and is interviewing candidates for additional police officer hiring.

The Township Committee also complimented our Police Department for Drug Interdiction and Enforcement by presenting Senior Patrolman Robert Pintye and Patrolman Matt Petrecca with Certificates of Outstanding Police Service Awards.

The Township Committee authorized the purchase of our third (3rd) new police car within the last six months with the introduction of our temporary operating budget for the year 2001. The Township Committee will donate our two oldest police vehicles to the First Aid Squad and Fire Company.

The Township Committee is pleased to announce that Curtis Holman, our former Director of Public Safety, is returning to serve our Community as a newly appointed volunteer "Shared Services Advisor". As Director, Curtis was exploring the feasibility of a variety of shared services with neighboring Police Departments which would qualify Plumsted for more State Aid from the "Regional Efficiency Aid Program". In the year 2000, Plumsted led the County and was number eight Statewide by providing our taxpayers with an average $105 Shared Service property tax credit.

Dog licenses must be purchased by January 31^st. Anyone not renewing by mail, may purchase dog licenses from the Municipal Clerk's office at 2 Cedar Street. Dog licenses cannot be purchased without proof of rabies vaccination.

The first Wednesday of every month I will be at our Plumsted Branch of the Ocean County Library on Evergreen Road from 7 - 9 P.M. to meet residents and listen to their concerns. The next date is February 7^th .

Residents may communicate with me by e-mail at rondancer@ushwy1.com. I would like to know the concerns of our residents, their ideas and suggestions. If I cannot answer questions directly, I will have one of our department officials respond.

The next meeting of Township Committee members Ken Francis, Bonnie Quesnel, Mike Roberts and Deputy Mayor Joe Przywara is January 22^nd. Residents can preview our business agenda items, to the extent known, 48 hours prior to the meeting on our web site: www.plumsted.org.