Ducey: Brick Made Progress In 2014, Let's Do More In 2015

(Mayor John Ducey swears in Paul Mummolo as Brick Township Council president for 2015 at the council meeting Tuesday night. Credit: Karen Wall)

Brick Township has improved greatly over the last year, shedding some negativity and improving how its residents are served. But there is still work to be done, Mayor John Ducey said Tuesday night.

At the 2015 reorganization meeting of the Township Council, Ducey spoke about his first year as mayor, rattling off a list of things that had changed in town since his term began.

“The challenge was to get things to work better here in Brick,” Ducey said, “and we have done that.”

Last year, Ducey laid out his 100-day plan for the town, with a list of issues he and his transition team wanted to see addressed, and most of the 72 items on the list have been accomplished, he said.

“We got rid of the red light cameras,” he said, a move Brick made well ahead of the rest of the state. Overtime was reduced by more than $700,000. Another $580,000 was saved by the elimination of a department and, he said, the elimination of patronage positions, without the loss of essential services.

This year, Ducey said, he hopes to see the town continue to improve its communication with residents, through the use of social media. The focus on family events, such as Summerfest and Bricktoberfest, will continue with the goal of improving them.

Crime prevention remains a priority, Ducey said, noting the township’s hiring of 12 special police officers and use of them for tasks such as court security and booking of those arrested has freed officers to spend more time on the streets while cutting overtime.

The town continues to look for ways to help those residents whose lives were turned upside down by Hurricane Sandy, trying to find ways to protect homes and keep insurance costs down, he said.

And the town will be looking to get out of the business of running Trader’s Cove Marina, he said.

“We have to continue to work together,” Ducey said. “Let us know how we can continue to better serve you.”

“Over the last 12 months I’ve seen so many instances of people coming together for this town,” he said. “I am proud to call Brick Township home.”

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