Resident would like to see two Freehold Twp. positions preserved

Iread with deep dismay a recent article detailing Freehold Township's planned cuts of nine employees as part of its response to the drastic cut in state aid to our town, as well as a reduction in town revenues. Clearly no taxpayer, especially in New Jersey, wants to see an increase in property taxes, particularly during such difficult economic times.

Although I appreciate that the process of reducing the town's budget has been an arduous one, I think that eliminating the public assistance director, as well as three out of the four people in the Community Counseling Service, is eliminating a major safety net for those in need in our town.

Freehold Township prides itself on being "Western Monmouth's Family Town," a designation that will no longer be accurate if such cuts in services are implemented.

I commend township officials for maintaining a local welfare office long past the time when the majority of towns in Monmouth County have transferred the general assistance program to county social services. But just as Freehold Township cannot be "all things to all people," neither can county social services meet the increasing social service needs of the citizens of this county.

There are people in desperate need, including our neighbors in Freehold Township. The need is drastically increasing. Just ask anyone who answers the phone at any government social services office, food pantry, church, and private nonprofit.

Look at the list of properties noted for tax sale. Foreclosures are increasing, as are eviction notices. For many around us the choice is "Do I pay the rent-mortgage or buy food? Do I fill my prescription or my gas tank?"

And with such an increase in economic pressures that many of our neighbors are facing, young and old, singles and families, working and unemployed, comes frustration, depression, anger, substance abuse, child abuse and neglect, domestic violence. This is clearly not the time to almost totally eliminate social services and counseling in our town.

Now is not the time to eliminate a dedicated, resourceful, skilled social worker who has well served people of all ages and all economic circumstances in our town for over 18 years. Rose Ann Polo has not only served the "welfare eligible population." She has provided services such as the food pantry, holiday baskets for families and shut-ins, backpacks for children and fitness programs for our senior population to help them optimize their health.

Likewise, Dennis Makarowski, director of the Community Counseling Service, and his team have provided a valuable service to our residents for many years.

Although I do recognize that some things need to change, I urge the Township Committee to maintain the positions of both Mrs. Polo and Mr. Makarowski. I suggest that combining their services with some reframing of function would best meet the needs of our residents.
Judith Blair
Freehold Township