Annual reorganization meetings are occasions for municipal and county governments to swear in the victors of the November election. In addition to the ceremonial aspect of the meetings, governing bodies announce professional service contracts and board appointments for the year to come. The reconstituted Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders approved the region’s 2012 representatives and service contracts during its reorganization meeting at Biotechnology High School on Thursday, Jan. 5. The freeholder board appointed the following law firms to offer legal services to the county: Law …

Middletown resident John Curley will lead the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders. Curley was elected freeholder director by the board during its reorganization meeting on Thursday, Jan. 5 at Biotechnology High School in Freehold Township. Freeholder Thomas Arnone, of Neptune, will serve as deputy director in 2012. “The era of pragmatism starts today,” Curley said. “You don’t spend more than you take in. I will not entertain any tax increases. I will not remain silent in accepting the status quo. I will not allow government to expand.” During the reorganization, Monmouth County Clerk …

Four municipal politicians are vying for an open Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders seat. Holmdel Deputy Mayor Serena DiMaso, Atlantic Highlands Councilman Peter T. Doyle, Manalapan Township Committeeman Ryan Green and Howell Mayor Robert F. Walsh, are competing for the position according to the Monmouth County Affiliated Republican Club website. A vacancy has been created by the impending departure of county Freeholder Director Robert D. Clifton, who has been elected to the state Assembly with one year left in his term. Special elections to replace a Freeholder candidate “don’t …

The freeholders approved $37.5 million in employee insurance and prescription drug contracts Thursday. The five agreements passed unanimously during the board’s regular meeting at the Hall of Records building in Freehold included a $34.4-million contract with Medco Health Solutions for prescription drug coverage. “The five benefit-related contracts have a total spend over the next three years of $37.5 million. However, the good news is those contracts include a savings of $18.2 million over the next three years,” said Benefits Coordinator William McGuane. The Medco agreement extends an …

County officials say they are aware of the Tinton Falls seagull problem and are working to resolve the issue. Members of the Tinton Falls Borough Council and residents attended the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders meeting at the Hall of Records building in Freehold Thursday night to voice their concern over the sudden and massive influx of seagulls in the southern section of the municipality. “We have been the recipient of seagulls that have been disturbed at the landfill,” Councilman Gary Baldwin said. “Recently, the area of Fox Chase has been overrun with seagulls that were …

Former Marlboro mayoral candidate Craig S. Marshall has been nominated for a three-year term on the Brookdale Community College Trustee Search Committee. The nomination was announced during the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders’ workshop meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 22 in the Hall of Records building in Freehold. Freeholder Deputy Director John P. Curley said a vote is expected at the governing body’s Dec. 8 meeting. Curley said Marshall had approached him about opportunities to become active within the county. “He has quite a varied background. I think he would be an excellent choice …

Monmouth County is exploring whether or not the Bradley Cove section of Asbury Park’s North End Beach can be preserved. The Board of Recreation Commissioners agreed to fund an appraisal of the property during its regular meeting on Monday, Oct. 24 following a call to action from the Jersey Shore Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation. The county Board of Chosen Freeholders approved a resolution supporting the commissioners’ move during its regular meeting at the Hall of Records on Thursday, Oct. 27. Jersey Shore Chapter Chair Joe Woerner said he was pleased with the county’s decision to take the…

Monmouth County’s emergency service response system debuted in a closet in the Hall of Records in 1936. Over 75 years later, the county’s 9-1-1 operations will be housed in a 45,000-square-foot facility in Freehold Township. The Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders and Sheriff Shaun Golden broke ground Thursday on a $16 million 9-1-1 Communications Center at 2500 Kozloski Road. “We looked at a number of locations, including Fort Monmouth, and we determined that the building that will be behind us was the best way to proceed. This building will help ensure the public safety of the …

Monmouth County residents will be eligible for prescription drug discounts through a new wellness program, officials announced Thursday during a press conference at the Office of Aging in Freehold Borough. The county has partnered with Financial Marketing Concepts, of Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., to make the company’s Coast2Coast Rx card available in Monmouth. The free card provides discounts on brand name and generic drugs when presented at a participating pharmacy. “The program we’re introducing today will help people who don’t have prescription coverage or whose insurance does not cover all …

The Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders authorized eminent domain action against Smithburg Medical Arts, LLC during its regular meeting at the Hall of Records on Thursday, Sept. 8. The county needs to acquire easements on the Freehold Township property as part of the intersection improvement project at Route 537 and Gravel Hill Road. “This action is necessary because Smithburg is in foreclosure and therefore cannot negotiate a contract with the county,” Monmouth County Counsel Andrea I. Bazer said. The county will acquire the easement on the property for $27,500. The intersection …

The Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders appointed members to county boards during Thursday’s regular meeting in Freehold. On the Mental Health Board, Helene Kalkay, of Holmdel, and Sally Pari, of Morganville, were reappointed to three-year terms; David Stout, of Wall, was reappointed to a one-year term; and Ian Nussbaum, of Little Silver, was appointed to a two-year term. On the Board of Health, June Counterman, of Roosevelt, and Judy Thorpe, of Freehold, were reappointed to three-year terms. Freeholder Amy Mallet, who has advocated term limits for county boards, voted against …

The Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders approved guarantees on capital lease equipment revenue bonds for 15 local government entities during its regular meeting Thursday, July 28 at Rumson Borough Hall. The local governing bodies participating in the Monmouth County Improvement Authority’s (MCIA) pooled capital equipment lease program include: Asbury Park, Atlantic Highlands, Bradley Beach, Freehold Borough, Freehold Borough Board of Education, Holmdel, Holmdel Board of Education, Howell, Manalapan, Marlboro, Neptune, Red Bank, Shore Regional Board of Education, Shrewsbury, and West …

During the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders’ regular meeting Thursday, the governing body recognized communities that completed Municipal Open Space Grants projects in the past year. The 15 towns were awarded matching grants up to $250,000 for open space preservation and development projects. Municipalities that received 2010 Municipal Open Space Grants were: Allentown, Atlantic Highlands, Colts Neck, Fair Haven, Highlands, Long Branch, Manalapan, Millstone, Neptune, Oceanport, Rumson, Sea Girt, Tinton Falls, Union Beach and Upper Freehold. Manalapan was recognized by the board for…

The Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders approved a resolution Thursday calling for a fourth access road to the Freehold Raceway Mall. The fourth roadway would allow visitors to enter or exit the mall from Route 33 West between the Wemrock Road and Route 537 interchanges. Freehold Township owns the parcel of land bordering the mall, Wemrock Road, Route 33 Business and Route 33, where the new road would be built. Roadways entering and exiting the mall currently exist off of Route 9, Route 537 and Route 33 Business. The Freehold Township Committee approved a resolution Tuesday, June 14 …

Money doesn't grow on trees and that's why Gov. Chris Christie has capped New Jersey property taxes, cut public sector jobs and rejected the so-called “millionaire’s tax,” the governor told a packed crowd at Princeton University on Friday. Christie, the state’s 55th governor who was inaugurated in January 2010, outlined his plan for fiscal discipline. “When we approached the budget in 2011, we made a decision that because the people in New Jersey are the highest-taxed citizens in America, that taxes are high enough and we are not going to put up with any further tax increases," Christie told …

The Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders honored the Manalapan Braves Junior Midget Novice Cheerleading Squad during the governing body’s regular meeting on Thursday evening, declaring March 10 “Manalapan Braves Junior Midget Novice Cheerleading Squad Day.” The cheerleaders took first place in the Pop Warner National Cheer Championship at Disney World in Orlando, FL on Dec. 8. Notes From the Freeholders Meeting The freeholders appointed Deputy Board Clerk Marion Masnick, of Howell, to a three-year term as clerk of the board. Masnick received a bouquet of roses from coworkers when her …