By MELISSA BEVERIDGE
Bradley Beach has approved a shared services agreement with Asbury Park which will include beachfront maintenance, sanitary sewer line maintenance and wastewater treatment station repairs.
Over the summer Bradley Beach cleaned Asbury Park’s beaches and in return, Asbury Park will offer a licensed electrician to the borough, sanitary sewer line maintenance, storm line maintenance services, and waste water treatment planned pump station repair service.
“This is a good deal for the borough,” said Councilman Sal Galassetti, who noted that there is “no money transfer at all.”
Galassetti said that when the borough performed maintenance on the sewer lines it cost the borough over $10,000 for only four blocks. This agreement will allow Bradley Beach to use Asbury Park’s equipment at no fee.
Galassetti also said that he is continuing to work on the shared recyclables program from Neptune to Belmar. Right now, Bradley Beach has no place to put recycles. However, he said the town saved $130,000 this past year because of the amount of recyclables versus the tipping fees for garbage to be sent to the landfill.
“I commend all people in town on the hard effort that they’re doing by putting more recyclables in the recycle bin and less in the garbage, where that kills us,” Galassetti said.
This year, the borough’s numbers look to be even higher than last year.
During Mayor and Council reports, Mayor Gary Engelstad announced that due to the efforts of Borough Administrator, Joyce Wilkins, the borough has received a surplus bus for the Ladies Auxiliary.
“The Ladies Auxiliary has been hurting for a long time,” Engelstad said. “They provide a valuable service.”
The Ladies Auxiliary will be offering free donuts and cider during Bradley Beach’s annual Fire Department Halloween parade on Oct. 30 at 5 p.m.
The mayor also reminded residents about Make a Difference Day on Sat., Nov. 1, Residents can donate to the Bradley Food Pantry using the tote bags available in businesses including the Bradley Beach Library, Jersey Shore Fitness Shop, Vic’s Restaurant, Fin’s, Connolly Agency, D’Arcy’s Tavern, Giammanos, Stewarts Hardware, Del Ponte’s Bakery, and Bradley Car Care. Volunteers are also asked to participate on Saturday at the Food Pantry to help install new shelving in the basement that was generously donated by Shop Rite.
During public comment, Secretary of Tourism, Rae Tuttela, said Vincent and Angela Del Ponte of Del Ponte’s bakery generously donated 63 holiday banners for Main Street. As a thank you, the council will be honoring Del Ponte during the next meeting.
