Curley begins service on freeholders board

Minutes after being sworn in as the newest Monmouth County freeholder, Middletown resident John P. Curley pledged to work to maintain the county’s quality of life and to keep Monmouth County among the best places to live in America.

“Families are leaving the state in droves and we must take responsibility where we can,” Curley said at the 2010 organization meeting of the Monmouth County Board of Freeholders held Jan. 7 in Freehold Township. “We must all make our decisions with our hearts and souls and allow the people to judge us.”

Immediately after Curley recited the oath of office, the board selected Freeholder Lillian G. Burry to serve as director and Freeholder Robert D. Clifton to serve as deputy director for 2010.

“It is our responsibility to find ways to continue to do the business of government and do it to our own high standard and without placing too great a burden on the taxpayers we serve,” Burry said. “How we will do this is the question of the day.”

Monmouth County will continue to work with state, county and local governments to share resources and reduce costs while enhancing levels of service or possibly outsourcing some, Burry said. She also pledged to streamline operations and look for new, sustainable revenue sources.

“That does not mean we will do nothing but cut,” Burry said. “This will be a time to buy more open space, preserve additional farmland and make other sound investments that will strengthen our core county resources and aid our municipalities.”

Clifton zeroed in on the county budget and said crafting a spending plan this year will not be any easier than it was last year.

“The first order of business is the county budget,” Clifton said. “Even though the county did better than expected last year, revenues are still down and money is still very tight. I would like to thank the entire workforce of Monmouth County that has worked tirelessly for all of the residents of Monmouth County during a very difficult and trying time.”

Freeholder John D’Amico acknowledged the national recession and commended the Board of Freeholders for being able to “keep a lid on expenses, preserve the county’s AAA bond rating, benefit from stimulus funding, address major infrastructure needs, take important steps to conserve energy, promote economic development and employment, expand shared services with municipalities and school districts, improve our environment and plan strategically for the future.”

In touting last year’s adoption of the first county-wide strategic plan in New Jersey, D’Amico resolved that the county would use the plan as a blueprint to achieve further efficiencies in the operation of county government, to work with state and regional partners to improve mass transit service and reduce traffic congestion and to make the county more transparent.

“The county will also continue to move forward with worker retraining and the creation of green jobs,” D’Amico said.

He credited the restructuring of the county’s economic and workforce development efforts as a way to assist workers who will choose not to move to Maryland when Fort Monmouth, Eatontown, closes.

Freeholder Amy A. Mallet, liaison to the county’s Human Services Department, explained that the department’s operation is counter-cyclical to the economy.

“That is, as the economy takes a downturn, this department experiences an increase in the need for its services. Many fine individuals and groups are working in the community to serve our most vulnerable residents, yet there is more work to do,” she said. “I know this firsthand because I traveled on our SCAT bus with clients, delivered meals to homebound residents and helped at numerous food pantries. Right now, we rely on a portion of the casino revenue to support the senior and special transportation system. When that revenue is down, so is our ability to provide this very necessary service. We need fresh new ideas in establishing smart and equitable priorities during these difficult times.”

During the business portion of the meeting, the freeholders set meeting dates, adopted a temporary budget and appointed members to various county boards and commissions. Hank A. Stryker III was named county fire marshal, replacing Timothy J. Smith who retired in December.

State Superior Court Assignment Judge Lawrence M. Lawson issued the oath of office to Curley after Monmouth County Clerk M. Claire French publicly certified the election. Curley replaced Barbara J. Mc- Morrow, of Freehold Township, who served on the board since 2007 and did not seek reelection.

Curley presented McMorrow with a bouquet of yellow roses in appreciation for her time and service to the board and the residents of Monmouth County. All of the freeholders included good wishes for Mc- Morrow as part of their remarks. McMorrow bid farewell to her board colleagues and county employees earlier in the day at county’s annual Sine die meeting.

The board has a 3-2 majority of Republicans (Burry, Clifton and Curley) to Democrats (D’Amico and Mallet).