The Township of Brick and the Brick Township Public Schools celebrated the opening of the new playground and park at Midstreams Elementary School on Friday, November 19.  The park was created through a partnership between the Township and the Schools and is the third community park to be renovated in the past two years.

“This is a great moment for the Township, our schools, and the Midstreams community,” said
Mayor Stephen Acropolis.  “The new playground and park at Midstreams School will provide students of the school and the families of Brick Township with a safe, modern place to play, relax and enjoy together for years to come.”

“The school community is very grateful for this shared service partnership which made the Midstreams Elementary School playground renovation possible”, said Superintendent of Schools, Walter Hrycenko. “We invite all residents to enjoy the new playground with their family after school hours.”

The Township of Brick awarded a contract to Down to Earth Landscaping of Jackson Township for the improvement of Midstreams Elementary School’s park and playground in the amount of $926,038.00.

The Midstreams Elementary School improvement project included improvements to landscaping including lighting and fencing, a basketball court, fitness stations, outdoor classrooms, decorative pavers, and an irrigation system.  The playground is equipped with security cameras to better protect the investment.  The playground is ADA compliant and has a rubber bond play surface.

The Township used tree planning grant money through the New Jersey Forestry No Net Loss program to offset the landscaping costs of the project.  The Midstreams PTO has raised funds through their “Leave a Legacy” program in which they sold personalized brick pavers to be placed in the playground.

The groundbreaking for the playground was held in June along with the groundbreaking for a new playground and community park at Emma Havens Young School.  That project is expected to be completed in the near future.

“This beautiful new playground is a great example of what happens when everyone joins together to reach a common goal,” said Board of Education President Kim Terebush. “This playground is not only made possible because of the shared service agreement between the Board of Education and Township, but also because of the parents and students who continuously fundraise and donate to improve our schools.  We sincerely thank everyone for all of their efforts.”

“The new park at Midstreams School and the nearly finished one at Emma Havens Young Elementary School are great examples of how important it is for a municipal government and a town’s schools to work together to improve a community,” said Council President Anthony Matthews.  “The Council is going to continue look to work with our schools and other agencies to make Brick Township a better place.”

These are the latest parks to be slated for improvements as part of Mayor Acropolis’ and the Township Council’s efforts to create safer and cleaner neighborhood parks.  Last year, they unveiled the improvements to Arrowhead Park and Frede Park. 

Mayor Stephen Acropolis and the Brick Township Council are proud to announce that the New Jersey Society of Municipal Engineers has named the Brick Township Municipal Building Solar Panel System the Municipal Construction Project of the Year.  The award will be presented during the Society’s luncheon during the annual New Jersey State League of Municipalities Conference in Atlantic City on Wednesday, November 17, 2010.

“We are honored to win this award and be recognized for doing what is best for our taxpayers,” said Mayor Stephen Acropolis. “Using renewable energy to cut energy costs and produce invaluable revenue makes sense and we are going to work to continue to use it in the future. I thank our engineers from Birdsall Services Group for their outstanding work on this project and for their guidance.”

Earlier this year, the installation of a 125kW roof-mounted solar photovoltaic system and a 12kW ground-mounted solar photovoltaic system at Brick Township Municipal Complex was completed.  The system will produce about 158,511 kWh annually.  The project cost $765,000, approximately $235,000 under what was budgeted.  It was funded through the 2009 Capital Budget.  Birdsall Services Group was the engineer on the project and oversees the management of the Township’s Solar Renewable Energy Credit (SREC) program.

In May, the Township awarded a contract to Knollwood Energy for the purchase of SRECs from the Township.  In June, they presented a check in the amount of $22,274 for the first SRECs sold by Brick Township.  The Township anticipated annual revenue of about $77,000 a year from the sale of SRECs and has been exceeding the estimates since the summer.

The solar photovoltaic project was born out of the township’s comprehensive Sustainable Energy Master Plan that was developed by Birdsall Services Group with input from the Mayors Advisory Committee on Renewable Energy (MACRE).  Future projects that are part of the plan include the installation of a wind turbine at the Drum Point Sports Complex that could generate 30,000 kilowatts of electricity and the construction of a 24-acre, 7.5 megawatt solar field at the site of the French’s Landfill.

Brick, NJ – The Brick Township Department of Parks and Recreation is proud to announce the following upcoming Brick Youth Club Events:

• Movie Night featuring Alice in Wonderland starring Johnny Depp.  Friday, October 22 at 7pm.
• Halloween DJ Dance Party.  Friday, October 29 at 7pm.  Wear your costume!
• Movie Night featuring The Sorcerer’s Apprentice.  Friday, November 5 at 7pm.
• DJ Dance Party.  Friday, November 12 at 7pm
• Movie Night featuring Toy Story 3.  Friday, December 10 at 7pm.

All Brick Youth Club movies and dances are held at the Civic Plaza, 270 Chambers Bridge Road.

Brick Youth Club Movies are open to all ages; under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.  Admission is free and free popcorn and beverages will be available.  Seating is limited and will be filled on a first come first served basis.  Registration is recommended.  Call 732-262-1074 to register.

DJ Dance Parties are open to Brick Township students in the 6^th, 7^th and 8^th grades.  Pre-registration by the Thursday prior to the dance is required.  No one will be admitted without pre-registration.  Call 732-262-1074 to register.  Student must be picked up inside the Civic Plaza by a parent / authorized adult by 9:30 pm.

The Brick Youth Club is a component of Brick MAC. Formed in 2002, the BYC provides Brick Township residents between the ages of 12 and 18 additional opportunities to participate in enjoyable and beneficial activities in a drug and alcohol free environment.

The Brick Township Department of Parks & Recreation and the Brick Youth Club are hosting a special Dinner and a Movie for senior citizens on Friday, November 19, 2010.  The event is free to attend and is open to Brick Township residents aged 60 and over.

A spaghetti and meatball dinner will be served to people in attendance by members of the Brick Youth Club.  The dinner will include salad, dinner rolls, beverages and desserts.  After the dinner, the 1954 classic There’s No Business Like Show Business starring Ethel Merman, Donald O’Connor and Marilyn Monroe will be shown.

“Our Senior Dinner and a Movie Nights are always well-attended and enjoyed by all,” said Mayor Stephen C. Acropolis.  “It is always great to have events where different generations can spend time together.”

Seating is limited for this event.  Anyone wishing to attend should call 732-262-1076.  The maximum reservation is 8 guests.

Mayor Acropolis has a word of thanks for Oscar’s Pizzeria and Leisure Park for their support of the event.  “Oscar’s and Leisure Park are graciously donating the food for this evening,” said Mayor Acropolis.  “We are fortunate to have a great business community that is very supportive of our programs and events.  Without them and businesses like Oscar’s and Leisure Park, we wouldn’t be able to hold events such as this.”

People who attend the event are asked to bring a donation of canned dog and cat food.  The food will be given to the Jersey Shore Animal Center and to the Township’s Trap Neuter Release Program.

The Brick Township Department of Parks & Recreation is offering Kick Boxing Classes for residents age 18 and over.  Kick Boxing provides a cardiovascular workout consisting of jabs, hooks, uppercuts and kicks.  The program is designed to get you on your way to a leaner body and a healthier state of mind.  No equipment is used and gloves are not required.

The fee is $50 per person, per 6-class session.  Classes are held on Wednesday evenings from 7pm – 8pm at the Civic Plaza, Chambers Bridge Road.

Sessions are as follows:

Session 4: October 20, October 27, November 10, November 17, November 24, December 1

Session 5: January 5, January 12, January 19, January 26, February 2, February 9

Session 6: February 16, February 23, March 2, March 9, March 16, March 23

Students can sign up for more than one session.  For more information please call 732-262-1075.

The Township Council adopted an ordinance authorizing the township to secure bonds to pay for the cap and closure of the former French’s Landfill on Sally Ike Road.  The closure was mandated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

“This is an historic day for our community and it has been a long-time coming,” said Mayor Stephen Acropolis.  “These bonds will allow us to finally close the biggest open sore in our community.  We made a promise that we would close this landfill and today we are keeping that promise.”

The Township expects the closure of the landfill to cost in the vicinity of $12 million.  The Council authorized up to $15 million in bonds. The closure will include the clearing of vegetation, the installation of membrane over portions of the site and the use of fill materials.  It will be done in accordance with an EPA-approved closure plan.

“We are confident that we will complete the closure well under $15 million, but want to be prepared if there are any unforeseen circumstances,” said Mayor Acropolis.  “Again, the EPA told us that we must close the landfill.  If we don’t, they will close it and will make our taxpayers reimburse them for up to three times the cost.”

The Township is going to apply to the Local Finance Board for a waiver of the 5% down payment that is required when municipalities seek bonds.  That 5% must be raised in the municipality’s operating budget. 

The Township is also going to seek funding from the New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust for the project.  NJEIT funding is typically 75% with no interest and the remaining 25% at ¼ of market interest.

“We have been aggressive and very successful in seeking and securing grants to help pay for a number of projects we are working on,” said Council President Anthony Matthews.  “We will continue to do so as it is the right thing for our taxpayers.”

French’s Landfill is a 42-acre site that is situated between the Garden State Parkway and Sally Ike Road.  It was operated for over 30 years.  The Township of Brick bought the site in December 1973.  It last accepted waste in April 1979.  In 1983, the landfill was placed on the Superfund National Priorities List.  For more than 25 years, the site has been the subject of extensive testing and monitoring.

The Township is now working on a plan to construct a solar panel field at the site that would be capable of producing anywhere from $2.5 million to $4.5 million a year in revenue for the taxpayers.

“We are looking at the best use for the site and which use would provide the best return for our taxpayers,” said Mayor Acropolis.  “The solar panel field is an exciting plan and will provide millions of dollars of much needed revenue.  Plus, it would have the benefit of turning a brownfield into a greenfield, which is being encouraged throughout the state and our nation.”

Mayor Stephen Acropolis and the Township Council will be presented with a check from Knollwood Energy, LLC at tonight’s Council Meeting for Solar Renewable Energy Credits that were produced by the solar panel system at the Brick Township Municipal Building.

“This is the first of many checks that we are going to get thanks to our solar power system,” said Mayor Acropolis.  “The revenue that is going to be generated over the next fifteen years is going to be invaluable and help us provide services to the people of Brick Township.”

Earlier this month, Knollwood Energy was awarded a 3 year contract to purchase the SRECs from the Township.  The $22,274 check is payment for 37 SRECs produced from the time the system went operational in earlier this year until May 31, 2010.  The Town expects to receive about $77,000 a year over the next three years from the sale of SRECs and produce another $30,000 in savings annually on electricity at the municipal building.

Last year, the Township installed a 125kw photovoltaic roof mounted solar system and a 12kw ground mounted photo photovoltaic solar system at the municipal complex.  The installation was completed earlier this year. The system will produce about 158,511 kWh annually.  The project cost $765,000, approximately $235,000 under what was budgeted.  It was funded through the 2009 Capital Budget.  The contractor was Barrier Electric of Bayonne, NJ.

The solar photovoltaic project was born out of the township’s comprehensive Sustainable Energy Master Plan (SEMP) that was developed by Birdsall Services Group with input from the MACRE.  Future projects that are part of the SEMP include the installation of a wind turbine at the Drum Point Sports Complex that could generate 30,000 kilowatts of electricity and the construction of a solar field at the site of the French’s Landfill.

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Mayor Stephen Acropolis and the Township Council plan on giving voters the opportunity to decide how services will be provided by the municipality in the future by placing referendum questions on this November’s ballot.  The questions will ask voters opinions on services ranging from police and public safety to solid waste collection.

“It was a challenge to put together a budget that fit within the state’s budgetary and tax levy caps while not cutting services this year,” said Mayor Acropolis.  “This is likely not going to be possible moving forward.  The caps are going to be more restrictive next year and costs to provide services are going to continue to rise.  We are going to ask the people how they want services delivered and how they want to pay for them.”

The Township Administration is going to work with the Township Council and legal counsel to develop non-binding referendum questions for this November’s ballot.  The questions will ask voters opinion on various Township services and funding levels for those services.  The questions are going to be a continuation of the administration and council’s efforts to transform the local government in Brick Township.

“We have been working to move Brick Township to a more user-based system of governance.  People who use services, programs and facilities should shoulder a larger burden of the cost of them than those who do not use them,” said Mayor Acropolis.  “These ballot questions will give the public their chance to weigh in and let us know if they want us to continue to change the way the township does business.”

“We are going through tough economic times.  It is happening in communities throughout the State,” said Council President Anthony Matthews.  “We are going to have to face this as an entire community and get through it together.  Having it placed on the ballot will let the people know what is going on and have their say.  We are going to involve the public in this just like we have been doing since 2004.”

The referendum questions are being placed on the ballot to give the Mayor and Council a clearer idea of what services that the voters deem essential and how they want those services to be funded through taxation or other means, such as user-based fees.  Voters will be asked their opinion on topics such as whether or not the Township should maintain municipal garbage collection or use a private service.

“We are going to give the people the chance to effect change in municipal government,” said Mayor Acropolis.  “They are going to have the opportunity to set the standard for reform in New Jersey.”

Mayor Acropolis says that State mandated tax levy and spending caps are necessitating this reform.  “Our leaders in Trenton, most notably Governor Christie, are working to bring change to New Jersey and make it more affordable.  We are working to follow his lead and make Brick Township more affordable through institutional changes.”  Mayor Acropolis cites staff reduction and health care contributions as initiatives that will have permanent impacts on municipal spending.

Municipal governments currently operate under a 4% tax levy cap.  The state legislature recently approved a 2.9% tax levy cap and Governor Christie is proposing a constitutionally mandated 2.5% tax levy cap with no exemptions.

“This Council has been cutting for years.  We have worked with the Mayor to reduce the size of our staff and rein in municipal spending while not affecting services.  It is becoming more likely that we are going to have to affect services in the future,” said Councilwoman Ruthanne Scaturro, Chairwoman of the Business and Finance Committee.  “We are going to ask the people what they are willing to pay for and what they are willing to give up as a community.  Since the people are going to be affected, we are going to let them have their say.”

In order to have the questions placed on this November’s ballot, the Township Council must pass a resolution at the August 10^th Council Meeting.  The questions must be submitted to the County Clerk no later than August 20.

The Township will seek the input of the Citizens Budget Advisory Committee while drafting the referendum questions.  “Our Citizens Budget Advisory Committee members have put in a great deal of time learning about our budget and the issues that are impacting it,” said Mayor Acropolis.  “They know what is going on and we are going to ask them to help us as we move forward with these questions and represent the community’s point of view.”