LAKEHURST – The upkeep of the borough’s biggest natural resource, availability of state grants for fire companies and the formation of a new organization were subjects discussed during a recent council meeting.
Councilwoman Patricia Hodges reported that the borough’s public works department installed compost at Horicon Lake “where the bulkheading was put in. It was very good compost from Ocean County and it was for free.”
Later in the meeting, resident Bruce Morrison asked about the sand around the lake and that “council had talked about sand and upgrading to heavier sand – has there been any movement on that direction at this point in time because with the warm weather coming you don’t want to be thinking about sand in July.”
“We just finished the bulkhead spot (at Horicon Lake) so they have been a bit busy there but I will ask whether they have looked into it or not,” Mayor Harry Robbins said.
Council President Steven Oglesby said there had been consideration of “mixing the heavier sand with the lighter sand which would be a lot cheaper. By doing a blend we will see if it works out. I don’t think there has been any actual movement has been done.”
Councilman Brian DiMeo said Parks and Recreation posted its calendar of activities recently “There is a new Lakehurst Community Coalition, the LCC that meets every other month all at the same day and time. Some months they will meet here at the Community Center and other months they meet at the OEM building. It is a bunch of different groups that come together.”
The Parks and Recreation Committee meeting would be held in conjunction with the LCC meeting at that time which allows for representation from other organizations such as the police department, first aid squad, fire department and other local organizations.
“We’re hoping that by actually merging in with that meeting it will help grow some attendance because typically our meetings consist of our small group,” DiMeo said.
Council President Oglesby referenced that “a couple months ago there was a discussion about the firehouse floor. Has anything been done to move that forward,” he asked McCarthy.
“No. I believe they are trying to address the (funding for flooring) through donations and installing it,” McCarthy answered.
Councilwoman Bernadette Dugan said she attended a recent meeting of the borough school board. On March 12 the bid was opened for contract work for the school’s kitchen/cafeteria area within the Lakehurst Elementary School. A mobile dental lab also visited the school and state testing will take place in May.
Morrison also noted during the public comment period that Governor Phil Murphy had recently approved funds for fire departments across the state “to upgrade some of their equipment and I know we have some old equipment.”
The fire chief noted that a lot of grant money was made available but that the borough’s fire department was behind in its paperwork “which is something I am catching up on. The grant closes in the next month so we wouldn’t be able to apply for it but we are hoping to apply for it next year.”
Mayor Robbins brought up that there is an investigation into hiring a grant writer “for these kinds of things as well and in the future when something becomes available and we can apply for it, we’ll be right on top of it.”
During the meeting a resolution was passed to approve a contract with Serpico Pyrotechnics LLC for a July 3 fireworks display. Jadon Hewitt was also approved for membership in the Lakehurst Fire Department and Amy Lowe was approved to serve as alternate deputy registrar.
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