BRICK – The township has authorized an agreement with NJ Department of Environmental Protection Green Acres program to provide funding for the Township’s Planning Incentive Grant Program.
“This agreement will increase Green Acres funding for the township’s open space acquisition by $1.2 million,” said Mayor Lisa Crate during the January 23 Council Meeting.
While explaining the Planning Incentive Grant Program, township business administrator Joanne Bergin said that the township must notify Green Acres by completing a comprehensive application that names all of the parcels that may be acquired for open space.
The application also names township parcels that might be interesting for the county or state for open space acquisition.
The governing body also authorized a request to the Green Acres Program for an additional $1,565,000 that may be needed for future open space acquisitions as recommended by the Brick Open Space Savers Committee (BOSS), a citizens advisory committee tasked with identifying undeveloped parcels of land and acquiring them to be preserved as open space in town.
“So if something interesting comes up during the year from the BOSS Committee, or the county calls us about an interested seller, we already have notified Green Acres that this is a property that’s interesting to us and we may be acquiring,” Bergin said.
“They want to see you having an idea of what parcels would work for you for open space and kind of prioritizing that, so that’s what the Planning Incentive Grant Program does,” she said.
The BOSS Committee has identified potential parcels on Hooper Avenue, Adamston Road and Herbertsville Road, said Councilwoman Heather deJong.
Also, the council authorized an agreement with the Green Acres Program for $712,500 for the redevelopment of Mallard Point Park, which is the next park scheduled for upgrades in its long-term strategy for neighborhood parks, said Councilman Perry Albanese.
“The permitting process is underway, and we hope to go out for bids later this year,” he said.
In other news, the township is planning for the summer’s SummerFest Concert series and are requesting bids for some of the services.
Bids are being accepted for a mobile ice cream truck. Last year the successful bidder paid $3,500 to the township to provide this service, said Councilwoman Melissa Travers.
Summerfest food truck vendors are also being sought for the four concerts and the annual car show with an option for the Green Fair, Craft Fair, Yard Sale and Night Out Against Crime, said Council President Vincent Minichino. Last year the bid was awarded to seven vendors, who paid the township a total amount of $11,880.
The governing body is also seeking bids from appropriate ABC licensing to provide beer and wine concessions for the four concerts and Fallfest. Last year the township was paid $9,100 for the one-year contract, said Perry Albanese.
A $30,000 bid award for fireworks was awarded to Schaefer Fireworks of Strasburg Township, Pennsylvania, who will provide aerial fireworks at the Summerfest Concert Series and Fallfest.
Bid notices were sent out to 12 prospective bidders, four bid packages were picked up and one proposal was received.
The next council meeting will be on Tuesday, February 13 at 7 p.m.
