By PETE WALTON
Neptune City officials expect to be fully reimbursed for recent expenses related to the coronavirus fight.
Borough Administrator Chris Cherbini said paperwork has been submitted under the second phase of the CARES act.
“We are expecting to be fully reimbursed for $43,605 that we spent on Covid-19 related expenses, including personal protective equipment, certain overtime costs and measures taken to reopen the municipal building since the beginning of the pandemic,” Cherbini told the Borough Council when it met earlier this week.
The administrator said that First Responder Park on West Sylvania Avenue “should be 95 percent completed over the next week.”
“We have received quotes on the type of memorials we are looking for and we will hopefully have them by spring,” Cherbini said.
Mayor Andrew Wardell said that water service has been activated at the park, allowing shrubs to be planted. Wardell said that benches have also been installed at the park.
The mayor said that new playground equipment will be delivered to Memorial Park in October. Construction of a new gazebo at the riverfront park has been pushed back until December, he said.
Wardell said a new sidewalk has been put in place for the playground.
“As the season comes to an end, I think we can say that our little park and beach had more visitors this year than any other year in the past,” the mayor said. “Thank you to the Department of Public Works for keeping it looking immaculate, and to our police for patrolling the area and keeping it safe for everyone.”
Wardell said the borough’s 9/11 memorial service was “wonderful” and he thanked those who took part in person and on Facebook Live.
The mayor said two more movies are scheduled to be shown at the park and that the recent presentation of “Little Giants” “was one of the best attended since we started.”
“We had our first kayak race this past Sunday and I look forward to seeing it grow each year,” Wardell said. “I would like to commend the Neptune City Board of Recreation for all the events that they offered to our residents and children during these difficult times. I am very proud of the job they have done.”
Cherbini said a recent online auction of surplus property yielded $7,550 for the borough. The next auction one is planned to run from Oct. 1 to 14 on the Municibid web site.
The borough will donate four 15-kilowatt generators it no longer needs to the Neptune Housing Authority.
The council approved a resolution to join Monmouth County in designating Neptune City as a “stigma-free community.”
