Mayor: Promote More Shared Services

If nearby local governments are looking to share in the costs of providing needed public services, Mayor Anthony Fiore would like to hear about it.

In the meantime, Fiore is pleased with several interlocal agreements that the township committee signed off on Monday night.

In the new year, Middletown will enter three separate agreements with Holmdel, Shrewsbury, and Atlantic Highlands for certain governmental services.

The costs of implementing animal control services in both Middletown and Holmdel will soon be shared by residents in both townships under one of the approved arrangements.

A second interlocal agreement calls for Middletown and the Borough of Shrewsbury residents to cover the bill for providing social services in each of those two municipalities.

Meanwhile, the tab for leaf disposal services in Middletown and the Borough of Atlantic Highlands will be picked up by residents in both towns.

The Township Committee, at last night's regular meeting, also agreed to renew its contract with the Monmouth County Regional Health Regional Health Commission for administering public health services within the township.

"I'm pleased that we signed off on several interlocal agreements tonight," Fiore said after the vote. "I'd like to see an increase in our shared services agreements. We should always be looking for additional shared services."

Across New Jersey, shared services have been promoted by state, county, and municipal governments as a cost-cutting measure. Proponents see interlocal agreements as a means of preventing duplication of services in neighboring government entities at a savings to the taxpayers.