Barnegat to Bond for $2.1 Million to Fund New Equipment

The Barnegat Township Committee voted Monday night to introduce more than $2 million in bonds to fund the purchase of new vehicles, equipment and road improvements, despite concerns from some residents that the purchases should have been built into recent annual budgets.

Appropriations to cover the expenses total $2,225,000, including $111,250 in down payments on $2.1 million in bonds.

Planned purchases include a new $900,000 ladder truck, firefighting equipment and police cars, as well as a road widening project and new computer equipment. Officials said that while the bonds will add to Barnegat’s total debt, they’re necessary.

“I feel bonding for this is overdue in ensuring the safety of first responders and residents,” Mayor Jeff Melchiondo said.

Township Administrator David Breeden pointed out that apart from a $500,000 bond to fund the Safe Routes to School program in 2010, Barnegat hasn’t taken on any new debt since 2006. Coupled with $3.5 million in debt reduction in recent years, that means the township has “a solid capital debt ratio." 

To drive home the point, he offered up comparative data. Among 23 other New Jersey towns with populations similar to Barnegat’s, the average municipal debt is almost $20 million, he said. Barengat’s is under $12 million.

“If you take a look at surrounding communities, Barnegat has by far the least amount of debt,” he said.

Breeden also emphasized the importance of the purchases, particularly when it came to safety and rescue equipment. He said old and outdated firefighting equipment can no longer be certified.

“It represents two hazards: an operational hazard, and a significant and considerable insurance exposure or liability,” he said. “The township committee has an ethical, moral and legal obligation to provide the tools and resources to the volunteers, so that they can safely provide services to the community.”

More than 35 sets of firefighters’ turnout gear needs replacing, he said. Rescue equipment, like the jaws of life used to pry apart wrecked cars, are no longer functioning properly. A number of public safety and public works vehicles have racked up well over 100,000 miles and need replacement or refurbishment, he said.

Other improvements are key allowing the township to operate smoothly, Breeden said, including $50,000 worth of updates to outdated computer systems. 

Several residents spoke out in support of purchasing new firefighting equipment, but some were critical of township’s plan to fund millions worth of improvements at once. 

“I don’t think we’re that far behind,” said Frank Pecci. “It’s difficult for me to comprehend that we wait till one year and spend $2 million to update our fleet.” Such purchases should be planned for gradually, “not all in one year,” he said. 

Jake Taylor agreed. “You’re throwing in stuff that should come out of the township’s yearly budget,” he said. Officials shouldn’t be “borrowing money to run the daily operations of the township. That’s what you’re doing.” 

But officials said that wasn’t the case. Both lawyers and the state Department of Community Affairs must sign off on the bond, said Breeden, and they wouldn’t give it their stamp of approval if it were funding daily operations. 

“To buy a police vehicle or a public works vehicle – that’s not an everyday expense,” Melchiondo added. “When you go to the car dealership to buy a new car, does everybody here pay cash for it on the spot? I’d guess that the majority of you do not.”

But Township Committeeman Leonard Morano expressed his own concerns over the cost of equipment. While he ultimately voted in favor of introducing the ordinance, he said he'd like to see the township work ahead of time to seek out grants to cover at least some of the cost of the new ladder truck.

"Lanoka Harbor got a grant for their fire truck," he said. "So did Stafford. We always pursue after we've had the reading."

The township will hold a second reading of the bond ordinance and a public hearing at its next regular meeting, which will be at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 19.

Here’s a complete list of items and projects. The amounts listed are the total cost amounts for each item, including down payments:

• $900,000 for a new ladder truck

• $300,000 for firefighting protective gear and safety equipment, including air packs, turnout gear, communication equipment and rescue operation tools

• $400,000 for borough wide road improvement program, including reconstruction and construction of township roads and drainage systems

• $300,000 for four-wheel-drive police vehicles and related equipment

• $200,000 for public works vehicles, including pick up trucks, stake body trucks, mini dump trucks and snow and ice control equipment

• $75,000 for improvements to the municipal fleet, including rehabilitation and refurbishment of existing vehicles

• $50,000 for new information technology equipment to support township infrastructure, including computer servers