$500K to be spent on Route 36 upgrade Residents may qualify for cash to fix up private property BY KAREN E. BOWES Staff Writer Businesses located near the intersection of Routes 35 and 36 in Keyport may be part of a redevelopment plan. KEYPORT - Attention, Keyport: Seek and ye shall find half a million dollars. Meant to improve the overall look of Route 36, a $500,000 grant from the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) will be doled out in increments over the next five years. Unlike most grants, many residents may be able to get their hands on some of that cash themselves. On Aug. 16, members of a new ad-hoc committee met for the first time to discuss the grant. According to Carla Cefalo, the borough's new Neighborhood Preservation Program (NPP) coordinator, residents who live near Route 36 can apply for assistance to fix up their homes. Residential funding, which will be provided based on need and income, can be used to replace a roof, siding, porch or deck, she said on Thursday. "We explained how the entrance into the community affects all of the residents," Cefalo said Thursday from her new office at borough hall. "The entrance area along the highway areas is crucial to making people warm and welcome." Cefalo was hired several months ago as part of the state NPP program. Part of the grant includes that half of her approximate $50,000 yearly salary is provided by the state. While here, Cefalo is also offering her assistance to the Keyport Business Alliance (KBA). As president of the Atlantic Highlands Business Alliance, Cefalo is well acquainted with the topic of business improvement districts. The new employee led a slideshow at the meeting, outlining the grant program's missions and strategies. Priority No. 1 is coming up with a plan to submit to the state. The new committee has 90 days to submit the document. Members of the committee were appointed by Mayor Robert Bergen, Cefalo reported, and will meet regularly at the IHOP at the intersection of Routes 35/36 to come up with strategies. Cefalo said the committee is meeting at the IHOP because one of the members owns it. These meetings will not be open to the public, she said. After the committee submits their plan to the state, a second public meeting will take place at borough hall. At least one member of the Borough Council said he was annoyed with the way the Aug. 16 meeting was advertised. Councilman Joseph Sheridan was not told about the gathering until approximately half an hour before it began. "An e-mail would have been nice," Sheridan said. "I mean, don't even call me." Sheridan added, "It would have been a better start had more people known about it." The mayor chose the following individuals to serve on the committee: Mayor Robert Bergen, Councilwoman Christian Bolte, Al Wigodner of After Care Medical Equipment, Brian Hoffman of the Law Offices of Hoffman & Hoffman, Cliff Moore of IHOP, Thomas Petruzziello of Pine Belt Nissan, Pat Piney of the Valley National Bank, Denise Nellis, resident, Deanna Reyes, resident, John Roberts, resident and Susan Sefcik, resident.