Pooled inspection services program proves successful
By alison granito
Staff Writer

MATAWAN — The Borough Council has approved the addition of three subcode officials to the code enforcement office.

Under the resolution, two plumbing subcode officials and one fire and building subcode official were approved.

According to Borough Administrator Joseph Leo, the first few months in which Matawan has provided code enforcement services for other Bayshore towns have been a success.

Last spring, the borough decided to pool its resources with other Bayshore communities in the area of code enforcement, allowing the participating municipalities to have inspection services available on a full-time basis, instead of part-time services many towns had used.

Currently the borough is providing services to three other Bayshore communities, Keyport, Highlands and Union Beach.

"So far everyone has been satisfied, and it has been working really well so far. We haven’t had much criticism," said Leo.

"Through this arrangement, I think we have been able to provide everyone, not just our residents, with better inspection services while stabilizing costs," he added.

Borough officials had said that by joining together with other Bayshore communities, they could not only increase access to inspection services, which had been limited in the area, but also provide services that the borough could not afford to undertake on its own.

As to whether other communities would be added to the interlocal services agreement, Leo said that the borough plans to evaluate that option as the process goes along.

In May, the partnership with the borough saved neighboring Keyport from a state takeover of its inspection process after Middletown terminated an interlocal agreement, which provided inspection services to Keyport, and plans for an in-house official there stalled.