Politics & Government

Moving Toward the Preservation of Middletown Land

A note: Freeholders approve their share of easement purchase of 37.5 acres of Gimbel Farm

 Notes From the Freeholders' Meeting ...

  • The board authorized cost sharing agreements for development easement purchases in Middletown and Freehold Township. In Middletown, the development easement purchase was made for 37.5 acres of the 44-acre Gimbel Farm. The estimated total cost of the easement is $1,739,000, of which the state's share is $869,500, the county's share is $434,750, and the Monmouth Conservation Foundation's share is $434,750. The Freehold Township property is 16 acres owned by John and Caroline Olbis. The estimated total cost of the development easement is $928,000, of which the state's share is $556,800, the county's share is $222,720, and the municipality's share is $148,480. The freeholders appointed Deputy Board C
  • 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 appointment was discussed during the afternoon workshop meeting. Masnick is a former deputy mayor of Howell and has been employed by the county for 25 years. She became deputy clerk in 2008 and took on clerk duties in November 2010 following the retirement of former Clerk of the Board Jim Gray. Freehold Director Robert Clifton said the freeholders have not determined whether or not to appoint a new deputy clerk.
  • The governing body approved a resolution acquiring land in Howell for intersection improvements at Old Tavern Rd., Lakewood Farmingdale Rd. and Herbertsville Rd.. Eric Peabody will receive $2,900 from the county and Paul and Nora Peabody will receive $9,500 for a portion of their property.
  • The freeholders approved plans for improvements at the intersection of Monmouth Rd. and West Park Ave. and at the intersection of Monmouth Rd. and Deal Rd., both in Ocean Township. According to Monmouth County Engineer Joseph M. Ettore, the road work will take four months and $435,000 to complete. While no detours will be required, residents can expect delays associated with road closures. The resolution passed by the Board of Freeholders authorizes the county to advertise for bids for the construction work.
  • The freeholders passed a change order for construction work at Middle Road on the bridge over Flat Creek in Hazlet. PB Americas, Inc., of Lawrenceville, requested the $46,738 increase to reduce encroachments on the Hazlet Municipal Building property and reduce the cost of moving utility poles. Ettore said the engineering division found the request reasonable and recommended that the governing body approve the resolution. The change order brings the total revised amount of the project to $256,193.
  • The board awarded a contract for the reconstruction of the bridge on Maxim-Southard Road over Polly Pod Brook in Howell to Morganville-based Lucas Brothers, Inc. The bid by Lucas Brothers, Inc. came in at $1.58 million, which was 12 percent under the county engineering division’s estimate of $1.8 million for the work, Ettore said. According to Freeholder Deputy Director John Curley, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection held the county and Howell responsible for the planning and reconstruction of the bridge. The township applied to the New Jersey Department of Transportation and received $500,000 in aid to go toward their portion of the cost. “This is an example of the county and a municipality working together to make something happen,” Curley said.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here