The Arnone Report: Back to School, Road Improvements and a great man honored in Belmar

By Monmouth County Freeholder Director Tom Arnone

Freeholder Director Tom Arnone

I hope everyone had a happy and safe Labor Day Weekend! A new school year is officially upon us and that means it is time to be extra cautious when driving around our communities!

It’s always important – and especially now that children are back in school – that everyone obeys speed limits, stops for pedestrians and avoids distractions when driving. It’s also important that pedestrians and children walking to school use crosswalks or cross at intersections and wait for the walk signal before stepping into the road.

As the school year begins, I will be sending notices to school districts once again to let them know I am always happy to meet with students of all ages to discuss civics and the role of county government. Last year I had the opportunity to meet with students in several towns throughout the county including Red Bank, Belmar, Eatontown, Long Branch, Tinton Falls and Asbury Park. Read the rest of this entry »

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Arnone Report: Celebrating Independence, Fixed Roads and Improvement at the Dump

By Monmouth County Freeholder Director Tom Arnone

Freeholder Director Tom Arnone

I hope everyone had a safe and fun Fourth of July holiday! I’d like to thank all those who have served our great nation and protected our freedom. Your service and commitment is truly appreciated.

To celebrate the holiday, I participated in a few events that showcased how special small-town traditions truly are. I’d like to thank the Monmouth County Historical Association for hosting their Independence Day Celebration at the Allen House, where I had the honor of participating in the reading of the Declaration of Independence.

I was happy to spend part of the holiday walking in the annual Ocean Grove Fourth of July Parade. As always, I had a great time walking the route and seeing everyone dressed in their best patriotic clothing while holding American flags.

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Arnone Report: Kids eating healthy and other really good stuff

By Monmouth County Freeholder Director Tom Arnone

Freeholder Director Tom Arnone

It has been a busy couple of weeks full of exciting initiatives and events here in Monmouth County! As such, I’d like to share just a few updates with everyone.

First of all, I’m pleased to announce the end of another successful year of my Healthy Eating Initiative SUSHI, which aims to promote healthy eating and living among our youth. My goal in creating this program was to show students the importance of eating local and eating healthy through educational programs.  We have well exceeded our expectations!

This year we expanded the initiative by adding a third school to the program. Students from Colts Neck, Asbury Park and Neptune City participated in weekly after-school field trips to the Allaire Community Farm in Wall Township. During these trips, the students learned the process behind growing different types of fruits and vegetables and why it is important to incorporate them into our daily diets. The students also worked on creating their own gardens at their respective schools. Read the rest of this entry »

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Arnone Report: Freeholder Director honors fallen heroes and their families

By Monmouth County Freeholder Director Tom Arnone

Freeholder Director Tom Arnone marching in the Farmingdale Memorial Day Parade

In observance of this past Memorial Day, we should take the time to remember those who lost their lives while bravely serving our country. It is because of these heroic men and women that we can continue to enjoy the freedoms they so bravely fought to defend.

Let it also not be lost on us the sacrifices made by the families of these heroes, including Gold Star Mothers. Through their grief and heartbreak, these women have been pillars of strength in their communities, keeping alive the legacies of their loved ones. I would also like to thank those who have served and are currently serving our country.

I encourage all parents and guardians to talk to their children about the importance of honoring and remembering those who have fought for our country. It is important to teach our children to recognize and remember the sacrifices made by those who serve our country throughout the entire year, not just during certain occasions and holidays.

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Arnone Report: Taking Care of Kids In Need, Tourism and the Dump

Freeholder Director Tom Arnone

By Monmouth County Freeholder Director Tom Arnone

Happy May! After this rainy and cold spring, I am looking forward to the summer months ahead.

I know I always say that it has been a busy couple of weeks but it truly has been. I’d like to take some time to share with you what I have been up to and a few important dates to come.

Last week I, along with my fellow Freeholders, attended the 10^th anniversary celebration of the opening of the Monmouth County Child Advocacy Center. The center was established with the intention to create a single “one-stop” location for abused children and their families to receive the services they need. The building was designed to be a child-focused facility in order to reduce the trauma to the victims. In 2015, the center saw an expansion with the addition of a medical suite where exams can be conducted, as well as space for art therapy and mental health counseling. Read the rest of this entry »

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Arnone to hold public meeting about dump odors in Tinton Falls

photo courtesy of Monmouth County Citizens for Environmental Health and Safety facebook group

Freeholder Director Tom Arnone announced that a public meeting regarding the County government’s efforts to remediate the odors emitting from the Monmouth County Reclamation Center will be held on Monday, May 13, 7 p.m., at the Tinton Falls Municipal Building, 556 Tinton Avenue.

“At this meeting, I look forward to providing an in-person update on the progress that has been made as well as the current work being done at the landfill. I will be addressing specific questions and concerns that have been raised and discussing the next steps the County will be taking over the coming weeks,” Arnone said in an email to Tinton Falls residents.

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The Arnone Report: Made In Monmouth Returns This Weekend

By Freeholder Director Tom Arnone

Hello, everyone!

We have a lot of exciting events and programs in the coming weeks and months. However, I want to take the time this week to write about one of our biggest and most popular events returning this weekend – Made in Monmouth!

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Arnone Report: Monmouth County Spending $43.8 million less than in 2010

By Tom Arnone, Monmouth County Freeholder Director

Freeholder Director Tom Arnone

Happy Spring!

Last week the 2019 Monmouth County budget was approved during the March 18^th meeting of the Board of Chosen Freeholders. The adopted budget is $449.6 million, for comparison, in 2010 the County Budget peaked at $493.4 million, before its steady descent to $449.6 million in 2019, a decrease of $43.8 million.

In 2010 the County spent $173.6 million on salaries and wages, and in 2018 the county spent $166.8 million.  That amounts to a $6.8 million reduction in payroll spending while providing salary increases to our employees in each of those years, and maintaining services. This can be credited to an aggressive approach to vacancies and the provision of services including job consolidation, shared services, and outsourcing.

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Arnone Report: Freeholder Director’s update on efforts for odor mitigation and more

By Monmouth County Freeholder Director Tom Arnone

Freeholder Director Tom Arnone

The first topic this week I would like to provide an update is our efforts at the Monmouth County Reclamation Center. It continues to be our mission to eliminate the odors emitted at the site.

As you may know, the County purchased an odor neutralizer that continues to be applied directly to the most critical areas, as well as other areas as needed. We will continue these efforts until the odor is under control. This remains a top priority for us at the County and we look forward to continuing an open dialogue with those impacted by this situation.

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Arnone Report: County supporting business and education, keeping the roads safe and clean

By Tom Arnone, Monmouth County Freeholder Director

Freeholder Director Tom Arnone

I hope everyone is having a happy holiday season! It’s hard to believe the first day of winter is right around the corner when it feels like we just celebrated the end of summer!

As liaison to the department of public works and engineering, I want to ensure everyone that our employees have been preparing for any potential storms during the upcoming winter season. We have the best crews around who all have the same goal in mind – to keep our residents safe during any inclement weather. Our number one priority always has been and always will be safety.

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