Arnone Report: Kicking off 2018 with gratitude and vision

By Monmouth County Freeholder Director Tom Arnone

Monmouth County Freeholder Director Tom Arnone

Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season with family and friends. The holidays always seem to come and go too fast.

The Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders reorganization meeting was held last week and I am honored to say I was selected to serve as director of the Board. This will be my third term serving in this leadership position. Freeholder Lillian Burry will serve alongside me as deputy director.

I’d like to congratulate Freeholder Burry on her re-election to the Board and thank her for her work as Freeholder Director in 2017. I would also like to congratulate and welcome new Freeholder Patrick Impreveduto to the Board.

Additionally, I would also like to thank former Freeholders Gary Rich and Serena DiMaso for their contributions to the County during their tenure. I wish them both the best in their future endeavors and congratulate the newly sworn-in Assemblywoman DiMaso.

I look forward to continuing to oversee several departments including public works, engineering, economic development, public information and tourism. I would like to commend all of our employees who continuously work hard to maintain the high quality of life we have in Monmouth County.

I would also like to thank all of our employees who worked around the clock during last week’s snow storm. While the wind gusts made a difficult situation even harder, our crews were out there plowing roads throughout the day and night. As always, they will be ready to go should another snow event hit the area.

I’d like to provide a brief update on my healthy eating initiative. Students from the Colts Neck and Asbury Park school districts have been going on weekly trips to Allaire Community Farm in Wall Township, where they come together to learn more about healthy eating, the farming process and team work.

Just before the holidays, I attended two garden dedication ceremonies held in both school districts. Starting this spring, students in the program will be growing different items and will be responsible for tending to them in their gardens throughout the summer months and following year. Eventually, these students will pass on the skills they acquired to new students entering the healthy eating program.

I would like to thank everyone who attended both garden dedication ceremonies, including school staff, parents, members of the board of education and members of the governing body in each town. I’d also like to thank Colts Neck Superintendent MaryJane Garibay and Asbury Superintendent Dr. Lamont Repollet for their support of this program. This program would not be as successful as it is without everyone’s support and for that I am grateful.

Lastly, I would like to again express my sincere gratitude for being named as the Director of the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders. I look forward to continuing to make Monmouth County a great place to live in 2018.