Spring Lake Heights Tables Tweaked $1.3M Bond Ordinance

The borough council's four GOP members are still hoping to buy two new garbage trucks and snow removal vehicles for public works.

Despite opposition from the council's two minority Democrats, the four GOP members would also like to see the police department get a license plate reader and solar-powered speed control road signs.

However, because a $1.3 million bond ordinance sports a significant amount of taxpayer money to spend on such big-ticket items, New Jersey law requires governing bodies voting on those measures to come up with a two-thirds majority vote for passage.

In the case of Spring Lake Heights, the bond ordinance on the agenda would need four affirmative votes to pass.

With GOP Councilwoman Sara King absent for Monday night's council meeting, Councilwoman Patty Cindea motioned to table the bond ordinance, which also calls for the borough to borrow $1,244,500 over 13 years for the capital purchases, until the Sept. 26 session.

King was tending to a family matter and could not be there even though she wanted to be, Cindea explained.

"This is an important vote. We'd like everyone to be here," Cindea said.

Democratic Councilman John P. Brennan, Jr. questioned Cindea's motives for delaying a decision until King could be present.

"It seems like you want to table it because you need a fourth affirmative vote," Brennan said. "That's not fair to the public."

Tabling the bond ordinance is merely a professional courtesy out of respect to King, Cindea replied.

In prior meetings, Brennan has stated that the desired public works equipment — estimated to cost about $620,790 — should be purchased out of the borough's surplus rather than by bonding for 13 years. His Democratic colleague, Councilman Tom Vorbach has objected to the cost given that the requested equipment has an average life expectancy of 15 years.

"This is a very expensive ordinance that will result in a tax increase," Vorbach said. "This is a very misguided ordinance, but I think we should vote on it now."

Instead, Cindea's motion to table passed by a 3-2 vote along party lines.

The tabled ordinance amounts to $120,000 less than the original $1.43 million measure that was rejected by the council by a 3-2 party line vote on Aug. 15. With GOP Councilman Gavino Maccanico absent that night, the ordinance failed because it was not approved by two-thirds of the governing body.

The reworked bond ordinance calls for borrowing $114,000 less than the $1.35 million requested in the first measure. However, Lake Avenue resident Larry Fenton still criticized the council plan to sign 13-year-loans for public works and police vehicles and equipment with life expectancies averaging from five to 15 years.

"I bet none of you have ever taken out a 13-year car loan," Fenton said during the public hearing on the ordinance. "You're going to be paying for replacements while you're still paying off the first ones."

The latest version of the capital purchases bond ordinance omits a $120,000 line item for improvements to Ocean Road Park. The council has chosen to apply to the Monmouth County Open Space Program for funding to remodel tennis courts and other facilities there.

Specifically, borough public works director Art Herner has asked for replacement sanitation trucks and a mega hauler for trash removal as well as a backhoe and front end loader for snow removal.

Borough Police Chief David Petriken has requested an automated license plate reader for his patrols, stationary solar speed signs, and for two utility trucks. The total estimated cost for the police department request is $202,010 for equipment having an average usefulness of five years.

Another line item calls for spending an estimated $360,000 to repair various borough streets and improve drainage along those thoroughfares. Those repairs expected to last for about 20 years.

Finally, the bond ordinances requests $127,200 for technology upgrades, furniture, equipment, and reconstruction of offices inside borough hall. Those items have an average life expectancy of five years.