Bayshore officials talk shared services
Handlin proposes Web site that could match up towns
BY DAN NEWMAN
Staff Writer

"We've reached a tipping point in our state. We need to change the status quo and spend less money. Things need to be reorganized, and it won't be very easy. It's been this way for 200 years, but it does need to change." - state Sen. Joseph Kyrillos

With so many towns looking to save money on services and supplies, Bayshore area leaders met Thursday night for a roundtable discussion about sharing services, as well as trying to broker deals for their towns.

The discussion, held at the Middletown Public Library, was hosted by Assemblywoman Amy Handlin (R-Monmouth/

Middlesex), who was satisfied with the turnout of nearly 20 local elected officials.

"We got a very good response and we had high hopes tonight, and they were met," Handlin said. "I think we really hit the ground running with this initiative and we had a great turnout."

Among those in attendance was Middletown Mayor Thomas Hall, who spoke about how much his town was involved in shared services throughout the county.

"At the height of it, we had about 35 interlocal agreements," said Hall, whose town operates with an annual budget of nearly $60 million. "Because our town is very large, we tend to offer our services to other municipalities."

Among the agreements the township has, according to Hall: Township Planner Anthony Mercantante does work with Rumson's affordable housing services at a rate of $2,500 per year and $1,000 per application; for $10,000, Holmdel receives animal control services; and the township splits the cost of fuel, sand and salt with the Board of Education.

Hall also said that while residents may not know much about the shared services programs in place in their towns, they are vital.

While some towns are satisfied with the deals that they have in place, others are still smarting over past deals that turned sour.

In 1995, Paul Smith, of Union Beach's Public Works and Buildings & Grounds Department, said he did some work in the Borough of Keyport for an undisclosed fee. Eleven years later, Smith is still waiting for the money, and he's not happy about it.

"As long as people don't renege on their deals, shared services is definitely a good idea," Smith said. "In my case, back in '95, it was not a good outcome."

State Sen. Joseph Kyrillos said that now is a crucial period for all towns in our area to be concerned with the future because of rising costs, specifically property taxes.

"We've reached a tipping point in our state," Kyrillos said. "We need to change the status quo and spend less money. Things need to be reorganized and it won't be very easy. It's been this way for 200 years, but it does need to change."

Part of the concern that many throughout the state have is the future of school districts. Locally, many district budgets failed at the polls this year. Middletown Committeewoman Rosemarie Peters suggested that if districts can work together, plenty of money can be saved.

"Joint purchasing is something that would definitely help," Peters said. "There needs to be more of a structure in place in order for this to happen, though. We're on the right track, but we need to have more of a system."

As with every other elected official present last Thursday, Hazlet Deputy Mayor Scott Aagre desired to see towns work things out among themselves.

"We have agreements with the police department, Board of Education and sewer authority and shared health services with Aberdeen, so we're definitely doing our part to try and save money," Aagre said.

Aagre also mentioned that with his town's new municipal building under construction, he and his fellow committee members have started looking at ways to save money once it opens its doors.

"We want to try and find somebody, who, like us, is looking for large document imaging equipment," Aagre explained. "Maybe there is another town out there that is looking for the same thing and thus, we can both save a few bucks if we work together."

Handlin also spoke about creating a Web site that would try to make link up towns that need similar services, likening it almost to a matchmaking service for municipalities.

"Towns need to indicate what they need and by having a Web site designed for that purpose, it may make it easier for towns to find other towns that are looking for similar things," Handlin said.

Matawan Councilwoman Donna Gould liked the idea of the Web site.

"To me, it's a no-brainer. I would like to see a Web site, and then we can see what other towns need just like us. Or maybe there's another neighboring town that can help us," Gould said. "To merely take down a tree could cost nearly $3,000. I'd rather contact another town and have them do it for much less. We need compatibility, like eHarmony.com. We need to take baby steps with this process, but it can definitely work."