Council Approves $11 Million Capital Upgrades

The South Brunswick Township Council voted at last week's meeting to approve two bond ordinances totaling approximately $11 million in capital improvement purchases.

After listening to requests from three of the township's department heads earlier this month, the council voted unanimously to approve a spending plan that will provide water and sewer utility upgrades and various general capital improvements. Requests from recreation, water and sewer, public works and police department were discussed before the council moved the plan forward.

"We need these upgrades and we need these improvements made," said Mayor Frank Gambatese. "We need the public to understand that these purchases are absolutely necessary."

The purchases include replacing three utility 4x4 pickup trucks with plows that had broken down for the Department of Public Works. DPW also will receive funding for two dump truck body replacements, a guiderail replacement, a sweeper, chipper and field sprayer.

Also in the ordinance are various water-sewer utility capital projects, which include forcemain repairs, inflow and infiltration repairs, water system upgrades, water treatment upgrades, sewer and water line replacements and utility billing software.

The ordinances also provide replacements for the South Brunswick Police Department's Remington shotguns.

In addition, the township will purchase a 36-passenger handicap bus and handicap accessible minivan as part of the spending plan.

The ordinances will return for a second reading and public hearing next month.

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