Freehold News

Like many other politicians these days, the two challengers seeking seats on the Township Committee are running on an environ-mentally friendly platform.

America's founding fathers would have been proud. A group of roughly 300-modern day patriots showed early this 4th of July morning to observe - and in some cases participate in - the reading of the Declaration ...

FREEHOLD — The Borough Council has provided a nearly 3 percent salary increase for itself in the 2008 municipal budget, a point criticized during the public hearing on the spending plan Wednesday night.

"I'm not apologetic about that. I earned that," Councilwoman Sharon Shutzer said after two residents, Robert Taylor of Kiawah Avenue and Ted Miller of Henry Street, raised the issue.

The budget adopted by the council Wednesday totals nearly $14 million, up about $800,000. The measure allows for a $1,452 increase in the allocation for the mayor and council's salaries.

The appropriation for the mayor and council's salaries totaled $50,048 in 2007; for 2008, that number is $51,500, according to budget documents.

"I question the need (for an increase) this year," Miller, a council candidate, said after the meeting. "You're not doing this (serving on the council) because you want to get paid. You're doing this for civic pride, civic duty."

Shutzer also spoke after the meeting: "I personally feel that this is a job. And I work hard at this job."

Shutzer receives about $7,000 annually as a council member, she said. The mayor and council members will receive the same raise that other borough workers will receive, she said.

"I don't think that it (the raise) is too much," Shutzer said.

Taylor and Miller were the only two members of the public who spoke on the budget. When they finished, the council voted 5-0 to adopt the budget. Councilman Michael DiBenedetto was absent.

The budget will be supported by a tax levy of $7.75 million, up about $600,000. The municipal purposes tax rate will increase by 5.9 cents per $100 of assessed property value. That means the owner of a home assessed at the town average, $259,000, will pay about $153 more in municipal taxes annually.

Increases in the budget can be blamed on several factors, Borough Administrator Joseph B. Bellina has said, including increases in employee pension contributions, employee health insurance costs and police salaries.

The appropriation for police pensions is up approximately $243,000, and gasoline expenses have also risen, according to budget documents.

Also, borough officials anticipate about $181,000 less in state aid, Bellina has said.

FREEHOLD — Some much-needed help is coming to the borough.

After months of preparation, more than 300 members of the Georgia-based Baptist group World Changers are expected to arrive in Monmouth County this weekend. On July 7, they will fan out to rehabilitate homes and properties in Freehold, Freehold Township, Neptune and Asbury Park.

Here, their work will include rehabilitation at the Freehold Housing Authority's family apartment development on Throckmorton Street, said the housing authority's office manager, Sharon Whetzler.

Volunteers will repair and paint fences for 34 units, work that is badly needed, Whetzler said.

"Everybody has a slat missing," she said.

If volunteers have time, they also will paint hallways in the senior development, also on Throckmorton Street.

"I am thrilled that they're coming," Whetzler said.

Volunteers also will be dispatched to Rug Mill Towers to paint, and if all permits are granted, two or three homes in the borough and one in the township also will be tended to, said George Russ, senior pastor at Colts Neck Community Church and local coordinator for the World Changers' visit.

In Neptune, volunteers will work on several painting projects and on construction projects such as repairing roofs and porches, Russ said.

At least eight teams will work in Freehold. About 23 or 24 teams will work in Neptune, Russ said.

While they are working, Russ said children from his church — all too young to join World Changers — will be engaged in their own projects, including weeding at the church and raking leaves at residents' homes.

"We can't wait to get this to start," Russ said.

The teams are a mix of students and adult supervisors, with 10 people per team, Russ said, and the volunteers will be lodged at Neptune High School.

Each night, a prayer service will be held around 7 or 7:30 p.m., Russ said. The public is invited, especially on July 11, when the homeowners being helped will be asked to attend.

"(I feel) a little overwhelmed," Russ said. But, he is excited for the volunteers' arrival.

"It's pretty awesome," he said.

FREEHOLD: Young singers take heart: The age limit for "Freehold Idol" has been dropped to 16 years old.

Eligible contestants for the weekly vocal competition will now include any state resident between the ages of 16 and 27. The contest is to be held from 7 to 9 p.m. every Wednesday through Aug. 13. The finale will be on Aug. 15.

The first-prize winner will receive $500 and recording time at the Monmouth Academy of Musical Arts in the Morganville section of Marlboro.

To enroll, call (732) 462-3584

The man detectives said left the scene of a fatal car crash at Route 79 and Tappan Road on Sunday morning surrendered at police headquarters.

If you still need your fix of fireworks after Independence Day passes, do not worry - they are scheduled at the Freedom Fest Fair.

New Jersey's latest attempt to keep contractors from profiting by making political donations passed its first legal test on Monday.

A unanimous state appellate court upheld the constitutionality of a 2005 law aimed at curbing the practice, known as pay to play.

The three judges said state government has a legitimate and worthy interest in preventing corruption or the appearance of corruption, and noted that all high-level casino executives are also barred from making political donations to state candidates.

The ruling was a setback for a highway builder, Earle Asphalt Co., which argued the law violated its right to free speech and free association, and that the $300 limit inhibited effective advocacy. Its lawyer said the company had not yet determined whether to appeal.

Police said they are looking for a man who fled the scene of a fatal car crash at Route 79 and Tappan Road, early Sunday morning.

FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP — The Monmouth County Medical Examiner's Office will have to wait for toxicology results to determine what killed an Ocean Township man found dead in a retention pond off Kozloski Road Saturday night, authorities said.

The lifeless body of Ramiro Torrez, 21, was found in the pond near the Poet's Corner Townhouses by a passerby, Monmouth County First Assistant Prosecutor Peter E. Warshaw said.

There were no signs of trauma to the body, Warshaw said.

"The death does not appear to be a natural one," he said. "The investigation into the cause and manner of death is continuing. The medical examiner wants to review toxicology results before making a determination."

FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP — Police said they are looking for a man who fled the scene of a fatal car crash at Route 79 and Tappan Road early Sunday morning.

Angel Franyutti, 29, of Perth Amboy was killed in the 4 a.m. collison, when the 1991 Honda Civic he was a passenger in struck a utility pole, Monmouth County First Assistant Prosecutor Peter E. Warshaw said. Franyutti was pronounced dead at the scene, Warshaw said.

The driver of the car is believed to have fled the crash scene on foot, Warshaw said.

"Right now this is an active investigation," Warshaw said. "We're looking for the person who ran from the crash as well as any witnesses to what happened."

Anyone with information is asked to call Freehold Township Detective George A. Burdge III at (732) 462-7908 or Monmouth County Prosecutor's Detective Eric Kerecman at (800) 533-7443.

Law enforcement authorities are investigating the death of an unidentified Hispanic male in his early 20s who was found dead in a retention pond at the Poets Corner development off Kozloski Road, said First Assistant Monmouth County Prosecutor Peter E. Warshaw Jr.

A man who was walking near the retention pond about 6:30 p.m. Saturday saw what he believed to be a person in the water, and he called the authorities, Warshaw said. Police and the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office responded to the scene and found the individual dead in the water, Warshaw said.

The body has not been identified, and authorities continue to investigate, Warshaw said. An autopsy will likely be performed today, Warshaw said.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Investigator Ryan Muller of the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office at (800) 533-7443 or the Freehold Township Police Detective George Burdge (732) 462-7908

Police are investigating the death of man whose body was found this evening in a retention pond of a development in Freehold Township, according to the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office.

Two local business owners have filed a lawsuit against the borough's downtown economic development organization in an attempt to invalidate actions taken at the organization's annual meeting last month.

Town criers with a patriotic bent are being sought for Independence Day.

They are needed for a public reading of the Declaration of Independence, to be held for the fifth consecutive year on the front steps of Borough Hall at 51 W. Main St.

The Township Committee plans to introduce a $40 million budget tonight that calls for the elimination of eight positions.

A 42-year-old Freehold Township man was indicted on charges he killed a motorcyclist while flee ing from police, authorities said yesterday.

A Freehold Township man is being held in the Middlesex County Adult Correction Center on attempted murder and weapons charges after State Police said he tried to kill two of his co-workers at the Garden State ...

Freehold is your place, local business owners say. But if you're looking for a great place to shop, chances are Freehold won't be at the top of the list.

Officials at the Freehold Center Partnership, an organization devoted to the economic development of the borough's downtown, are betting they can change that perception.

At its annual meeting last month, the partnership decided to allocate $40,000 for business development, according to chief operating manager Jayne Carr. The partnership also plans to hire a part-time specialist in economic development.

These decisions are part of a shift for the partner-ship, which had previously focused on marketing Freehold, Carr said. In the past, people had been afraid to come to Freehold, Carr said. But after years of advertising and the implementation of scores of popular events like Kruise Night, Carr believes officials have successfully convinced nonresidents that Freehold is a place they can visit without fear.

"We've certainly gotten past the "I'm afraid to come here' (factor)," Carr said.

With that goal behind them, partnership officials say they are ready to focus on developing Freehold into a destination town for more than just events and meals.

In recent years, Freehold has done a good job attracting professional offices and restaurants, said Don Smartt, a consultant who works with the partnership and similar organizations to revitalize downtowns.

"That's great. But it (Freehold) has got to be more than that," Smartt said.

A main focus for Freehold should be bringing in specialty stores that would not be found at the mall, Smartt and local business representatives conclude.

"The mall is a great place. But we want people to come downtown and support Freehold," said William Haluska, chairman of the partnership's business development committee.

Those businesses could be anything from a little coffee shop to a clothing boutique, partnership representatives said.

As an example, Smartt cited a crepe shop with a European flavor.

"That's a niche. He (the owner) couldn't ever have gone into the mall," Smartt said. Freehold also needs to find ways to keep visitors in town after eating at the town's restaurants, and should aim to fill vacancies on floors above local businesses, some partnership representatives suggested.