Freeholders Raising Awareness

Freeholder Director Tom Arone

By Monmouth County Freeholder Director Thomas A. Arnone

While informing the residents of Monmouth County about the happenings and goings on within the county has always been the focus for my writings, I thought it best to change my focus for this submission. Why you might ask? The reason being is that although raising awareness as to the many gains and strides that continue to occur in and around Monmouth County is of significant importance and benefit to our residents, I feel sometimes we need to take a step back and look outside of ourselves. It is extremely important for each of us to take time and perhaps reflect if even for a moment on the vast array of wonderful causes out there originated for the sole purpose to help raise awareness as it pertains to the many important issues we are faced with today. Because the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders fully understands the significance of helping to get the word out, we have taken steps by doing our part in also trying to help raise awareness.

             A few of the observances made recently by The Board of Chosen Freeholders during the months of March, April and May were Autism Awareness, Alcohol Awareness, Military Awareness and Breast Cancer Awareness. The Board also recognized the tenacious energy set forth by The Red Cross and Monmouth County Fair Housing.  Each of these tremendous causes was recognized by The Board of Chosen Freeholders during one of their regularly scheduled meetings. Representatives from each of the various organizations were invited to attend a meeting to accept a Certificate of Recognition for all they do to help raise awareness for each of their causes. Additionally, they were recognized for the multitude of great things they have independently been able to accomplish thus far, as well as being congratulated for their efforts in continuing to educate the public on how much work is still needed in order to maintain progress and continue to accomplish great things.

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Grow Monmouth, Tourism, Shared Services

By Freeholder Director Thomas A. Arone

• ·         As a way of continuing to encourage businesses to come to Monmouth County, my team and I are conducting ongoing Grow Monmouth presentations around the County.  In the past two weeks, we have completed presentations in Aberdeen and Bradley Beach.  Additionally, we are continuing work on the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy.  This week we have had roundtable discussions on topics that were suggested by the public during prior meetings. We have begun sending welcome letters to all new businesses registered within the county.  In less than a month, we have sent just over 90 letters offering assistance through the Grow Monmouth Initiative.
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Monmouth County Police Academy Update: Becoming the best in New Jersey

By Monmouth County Freeholder Director Thomas A. Arnone

            Under the direction of the current liaison to The Monmouth County Police Academy, Freeholder Lillian Burry along with the help of the newly appointed Director of The Monmouth County Police Academy David Morris and me who currently serves on the Executive Board, The Monmouth County Police Academy is flourishing with numerous activities. Currently the following recruit classes are in session: Basic Course for Police Officers – 84^th Class has a class size of 68; Special Law Enforcement Officer Class II 39^th Class for part time officers. currently has a class size of 64; Park Rangers Recruit Class has 16 officers – 4 from Burlington County and 12 from Monmouth County. As of this writing there are 148 law enforcement recruits being trained at this Academy. These are unprecedented numbers and have required the assistance from various law enforcement entities to ensure quality training. Certainly this has been a logistical challenge, but it has created true partnerships and outstanding commitments by so many.

            Upcoming additional scheduled recruit training classes are Special Law Enforcement Officer Class, Corrections Officers Basic Recruit Class and School Resource Recruit Class. The latter is a one week course held to train officers who work within the various school systems.

            Along with the recruit training classes, the Academy hosts numerous in-service classes for the veteran law enforcement officers. The Academy also continuously updates new training and promotes this through the use of its website, www.monmuothcountypoliceacademy.com and FACEBOOK membership. The Academy is pleased to have representatives from International, Federal, State, County and local law enforcement agencies provide quality training to our constituent base.

            Additionally, The Academy also has private outside vendors who provide valuable public safety training. For example, Meridian Health trains their security personnel here during the summer months. The Joint Insurance Companies provide safety training to veteran police officers.

            The activity levels at the Academy have increased significantly. Compared to 2010 attendance and enrollment are up and revenues have more than doubled. The Board of Chosen Freeholders are committed to continuing to make improvements to the programs being offered at The Monmouth County Police Academy and to the building as well. The Board’s ultimate goal is to see that the Academy becomes the best in the state, and as it appears The Monmouth County Police Academy is well on its way.

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Arnone Addresses The Monmouth County Budget

By Monmouth County Freeholder Director Thomas A. Arnone

As I enter the third year of my first term as a Monmouth County Freeholder, I would like to share the following information regarding the county budget. The 2013 budget plan as presented today totals 481 million which is 6.35 million lower than last year’s adopted budget, and has a flat tax levy for the third year in a row.  This spending plan is $12,400,000.00 lower than the spending plan adopted in early 2010, which is where the budget peaked prior to the reduction in the budget over each of the last 3 years.

      The 6.35 million dollar reduction was accomplished by utilizing additional fund balance, anticipated greater levels of revenues that performed well in 2012, a reduction in total salaries based on reduced payroll expenditures, reduction of capital which will lower new debt authorization, reduction in health benefits due to new legislation, as well as, improved benefits management with the new provider, and a reduction in utility expense due to energy efficiency improvements.  All of these items closed the gap to balance the budget, as well as, offset some additional revenue losses that were not expected originally when the budget process started.  These include Medicaid cuts for the Care Centers, reductions in Division of Social Services revenue, reductions in Federal Inmates and a loss of trust fund revenue due to Super Storm Sandy. As the liaison and a strong supporter of shared services, I am extremely happy to report that Shared Services has been a huge success for Monmouth County. As promised we used revenue from Shared Services to offset tax increases. Shared Services generated revenue in excess of $3.6 million which also went a long way in balancing the budget.

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Freeholders Promoting Jersey Shore Tourism

By Monmouth County Freeholder Director Thomas A. Arone

It is now February and the question on Monmouth County residents’ minds is what is The Board of Chosen Freeholders doing to help restore the shore since undergoing the wrath of Super Storm Sandy. Let me begin by saying that the Board’s primary goal at this time is to get the word out to as many people as humanly possible that the Jersey Shore is thriving and up and running. How is this being accomplished? To mention just a few things, for starters our  Department of Tourism is pulling out all the stops in one enormous effort to ensure that we can expect to see not only the usual visitors that frequent the shore communities in Monmouth County  but engage and encourage new visitors to see what Monmouth County has to offer.

For instance last month a Tourism Representative attended the Philadelphia Inquirer Travel Show in Valley Forge PA.  There were over 200 vendors present at the show. Attendance at the show which was held Saturday-Sunday January 26^th and 27th was estimated to be well over 2,000 people. The Monmouth County presence was aimed at letting people know we are still the place you want to be. This past week our Department of Tourism was present for the Atlantic City Boat Show at the Atlantic City Convention Center.  Attendance at this 5-day show was estimated to be over 3,000 people. A concerted effort was made by our stellar tourism team to make sure that everyone present was made fully aware that Jersey Shore is flourishing and Open for Business.

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Freeholder Director Tom Arnone kicks off the year

By Monmouth County Freeholder Director Tom Arnone

Here we go. It’s 2013 and we are out of the starting gate! January 3^rd marked the beginning of a brand new year in Monmouth County with the annual re-organization meeting. To help kick things off, we were privileged to have had Mario Delano, a young man who is a senior at Ocean Township High School attend the meeting and who did a tremendous job singing the Star Spangled Banner. The meeting could not have gotten off to a better start! Thank you to Mario Delano for taking part in the 2013 Reorganization Meeting and for sharing his gift. The meeting was well attended by dignitaries from every level of government including the Lieutenant Governor, Kim Guadagno.  On a personal note, during the Re-org Meeting, it was announced that I have been given the honor to serve as Director of The Board of Chosen Freeholders for the year 2013. I welcome the challenge and very much look forward to the upcoming year. Having said that, I would like to thank fellow Freeholder John Curly for the fantastic job he did while serving as Freeholder Director for 2012 and congratulate him on being re-elected for his second term. I would also like to congratulate fellow Freeholder Serena Di Maso on her successful re-election and for also being selected to serve as the Deputy Director of this year’s Board. Lastly, congratulations to M. Claire French, our fabulous County Clerk, on her successful re-election. Together we can and will continue to make a difference for the betterment of Monmouth County and its residents.

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