Barnegat, Waretown Authorize Another Shared Service

Officials in Barnegat Township and Waretown met jointly last night and agreed to authorize another shared service agreement - this time for construction officer - Louis Fischer.

David Breeden, who serves as administrator for both towns, said Waretown's inspector - Ed Lavare - was let go at 4 p.m. yesterday. Lavare could not be reached immediately for comment last night.

Breeden said officials in both towns opted to hold the meeting before the end of the year, because if Lavare was allowed to begin the year, there would have been lead time obligations, like vacation days, that Waretown would have had to pay out.

In addition, according to Mayor Al Cirulli, "we've been working on this, and I wanted to see it through." Cirulli's term as mayor and on the committee ends on Jan. 1, when it is expected Len Morano will take over as mayor, following the election in November. The committee will have a reorganization meeting at 1 p.m. New Year's Day.

Officials in both towns said that the agreement would mean about a $30,000 savings for both towns. Under the terms of the agreement, Waretown would pay Barnegat for the hours that Fischer conducts business for Ocean Township.

There was only one abstantian on the vote, which was made by Morano. He said he abstained because he felt the vote could have been taken after Barnegat's new committee members - Elaine Taylor and Susan Conway - are sworn in.

Both Taylor and Conway were at the meeting, and during the public comment portion, Taylor commented: "Susan and I are coming into office next week, and we saw no paperwork regarding this resolution. I feel that you are binding me to an agreement that was made without me seeing any documentation. I have nothing against shared services, or Mr. Fischer, but I don't like the fact that i couldn't' get a copy of the agreement to see exactly what it is saying."

Cirulli responded: "Both townships at any time can cancel agreements after you look at this, but I think once you see it you will see that both townships are benefitting from it."

Barnegat and Waretown last year agreed to share a tax collector, a zoning officer and a recreation director, in addition to sharing Breeden's services. The township has also arranged shared service agreements for trash collection and maintaining municipal vehicles.