News

By Tim O’Meilia

    Manalapan streets would have new street and traffic signs, the Town Hall new air conditioners and upgraded computer software, the police a new patrol car and town employees a 3 percent raise under a preliminary budget being considered by town commissioners.
    But sidewalks wouldn’t be repaired next year, and a $25,000 emergency generator for Town Hall would be put off another year.
    Bottom line, the budget would be $80,000 more than this year’s $3.3 million.
    Although commissioners haven’t yet seen how much revenue the town can expect in the budget year beginning Oct. 1, they met in a budget workshop on expenses June 24, the first of several monthly workshops this summer. The next is at 10 a.m. on July 22.
    Town Manager Linda Stumpf said the salary increase matches the amount that Ocean Ridge, Highland Beach and Jupiter Island will be considering. Workers got a 3.5 percent raise this year.
    Police will receive a 2 percent boost and another 3 percent in October 2014 under a union contract approved in January. They also got 7 percent retroactive to 2011 and 3 percent this year.
    The commission dealt largely with capital expenses, focusing mainly on how to manage the fleet of police cars. Police now have four patrol cars plus cars for the lieutenant and chief. The town manager also has an assigned car.
    Commissioner John Murphy suggested a five-patrol-car rotation to reduce wear by giving the manager’s car to the chief or lieutenant. The manager is entitled to a car or a $400 monthly allowance.
    Police Chief Carmen Mattox proposed that the lieutenant drive whichever of the five cars isn’t on the road. Commissioners instructed Stumpf to calculate which method is cheaper. The commission wants to maintain a schedule of replacing a patrol car every year.
    The commission did not consider Commissioner Howard Roder’s suggestion to cut the police budget by $200,000. Roder said that erroneous crime statistics prompted the commission to add a lieutenant, a clerical worker and part-time beach patrol officers.
    “All that money was based on fear of crime stats that were not there,” he said. Roder has argued that town officials labeled routine traffic stops as criminal offenses to inflame residents’ concerns.
Stumpf said the lieutenant position was already in the budget and that the clerical position was not filled.
    “I think we responded to the needs of the residents on A1A with respect to the beach,” said Mayor David Cheifetz. “I think those beach patrols’ whole purpose is to make our residents feel safe.”
    The $7,500 allotted for new street signs may be an attempt to keep up with the Joneses — or the Lantanas. “Lantana’s signs are much nicer than ours,” said Commissioner Tom Thornton. “Ours are faded, falling down and ugly.”