By PETE WALTON
Bradley Beach is buying a garbage truck from Avon.
After deciding not to renew its trash removal contact with a private hauler late last year, Bradley Beach reached an agreement with Avon to use one of that borough’s trucks.
At this week’s meeting of the Bradley Beach Borough Council, Mayor Gary Engelstad said the truck lease costs $6,500 a month.
The council voted 4-0 to buy the 1994 truck for $20,000.
“It’s a no-brainer,” the mayor said.
Chief Financial Officer Gail Krzyzczuk said that even with the need to hire four new part-time employees in the public works department, Bradley Beach will have saved $110,000 by the end of the year over the cost of continuing the arrangement with its former vendor.
Avon had been leasing the truck to its neighbor to the north on a month-to-month basis. When Avon officials advised Bradley Beach that the truck was available for purchase, Biagio Cofone, superintendent of public works in Bradley Beach, recommended that the council buy it.
Councilman Randy Bonnell praised the public works department for its efforts in 2017, during which it took over a number of tasks which had been outsourced in the past. He cited the addition of trash pickup duties, construction of a new recycling center, improvements in several parks, the beginning of renovations at the beach guard station, and restoration of the boardwalk fountain as some of the department’s achievements.
Bonnell reported that the fountain was turned on again this week and invited residents to go and see it if they have not already done so. The councilman said installation of pavers at the fountain will take place in the spring.
Gerald Freda of Leon S. Avakian Inc., the borough engineer, said that approximately 500 feet of boardwalk railing has been replaced so far. Much of the railing was destroyed or damaged by storms. Freda said work on the rest of the railing will be limited during the winter months to only those days when applications of epoxy can harden properly.
Borough Administrator Kelly Barrett said that the Bradley Food Pantry has experienced an increase in the number of families asking for supplies. She said that donations could be brought to the pantry at 605 Fourth Ave. during its operating hours Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to noon and Thursdays from 6 to 7 p.m. Barrett said she planned to post a list of items which are particularly needed on the borough’s web site, bradleybeachnj.gov.
