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County Plans On Buying Fourth Pump-Boat; New Engineer Named
By Bill McLaughlin
The Ocean County Board of Chosen Freeholders recently announced plans to buy a fourth pump-out boat to service the Silver Bay area. The county will apply for an $85,000 grant from the state DEP and Clean Vessel Act program.
Pump-out boats are specially equipped to clean out toilets and holding tanks of pleasure crafts in the area as a free service to boaters.
Last summer, three existing boats were very busy, according to the board.
The Circle of Life pump-out was the first of its kind in New Jersey and is owned by Seaside Park. Since 1998, it has served central Barnegat Bay from a site off Island Beach State Park. The boat handled 26,000 gallons of waste pumped from 1,462 vessels.
The Waste Watcher has served the Little Egg Harbor area and Tuckerton Creek since 2001. Last year, it pumped 17,320 gallons from 640 boats.
Finally, the Bay Saver out of Brick, served 1,683 boats by removing 34,230 gallons of waste. The boat handles traffic in the Metedeconk River and northern areas of Barnegat Bay.
The boats are in use from Memorial Day to mid-October from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., from Friday through Monday, and can be communicated with via VHF Channel Radio 9.
Freeholder Joseph Vicari said the fourth boat would be docked at a county dock either in downtown Toms River or Cattus Island.
"I'm out there a lot and know they're very busy," said Freeholder James Lacey. "You always hear them being hailed by boatmen."
Scarantino To Serve As County Engineer
At the end of the freeholders' pre-board meeting last Wednesday, Director John Kelly took the unusual step of publicly telling non-board members what was on the
Kelly said he would recommend the appointment of Frank Scarantino to be the new county engineer starting January 1, 2008. Scarantino, the current director of engineering, will replace Joseph Lotrecchio, who retires at the end of this year.
"We look forward to working with you as county engineer," Kelly said.
Scarantino, a Toms River resident, hails from Hillsborough. His nomination was to be formally approved at the board's November 20 public meeting.
In addition, the freeholders will hear public comment on a $1,258,000 contract with Earle Asphalt for the proposed Lakehurst Road project. The project will be done in stages to reduce the impact on Community Medical Center, area residents, medical offices and local businesses.
The contract was substantially below engineering estimates, Scarantino said.
Work won't begin on the project before next March. It will take about six weeks to put in new drainage and curbing, and an additional three more weeks for repaving.
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