MANASQUAN — A host of residents took to Borough Hall for the council’s Dec. 16 meeting to protest the installation of a permanent black chain-link fence slated to secure Manasquan’s water tank treatment facility, which lies along Robert’s Swamp Brook and features a green space and walking path that connects Iroquois Road and South Street.
The council discussed the plan for a permanent fence at its Dec. 16 meeting, when some residents voiced their opinions about the council’s ultimate decision to enclose the facility. As the water tank rehabilitation project wraps up, the final step is securing the facility with a fence.
At the council’s meeting on Oct. 7, at the beginning of the borough’s water tank overhaul project, residents voiced their displeasure with the installation of a temporary fence that blocked off a green space deeply coveted by residents neighboring the facility. At Monday’s meeting, the council presented a new fence layout in an effort to answer the earlier complaints from residents.
“The fence line that was originally around the entire walking path has been moved back to the edge of the critical facilities infrastructure there,” Mayor Mike Mangan said.
At Monday’s meeting, the council provided a diagram of the new fence line, which returned “80 to 85%” of the green space that was initially inside on the original design, according to Mayor Mangan.
Councilman Brian Holly, liaison to the Public Works Committee, has led a borough-wide initiative intended on improving security throughout Manasquan, and the work has already begun. Earlier this year, the council adopted an ordinance appropriating $300,000 for the installation of security cameras surveilling the borough’s beachfront.
“Since I’ve taken office three years ago, I believe that our town has laxed on a lot of security issues… With that in mind, there’s a larger scale plan here beyond just the water plant,” Holly said.
Holly said a line of shrubs also will be planted along the fence line by the Department of Public Works in an effort to make the area more aesthetically pleasing, while providing a second layer of security. He said security cameras may also be installed, as well as the addition of a regulating security ordinance.
The initial permanent fence layout, released by the borough several weeks ago, blocked off the whole of the green space to the dismay of many neighboring residents, including Eric Kuper, who has resided next to the plot for more than 30 years.
“Quite frankly, it’s almost like looking at a penitentiary or a prison set-up. If that were the only option, we’d get it, but it’s not the only option… We’re asking you to do a balance act, if you would. Secure the property because we want you to do it, but at the same time please keep in mind the aesthetics. Please keep in mind the uniqueness of this property,” Kuper said.
Kuper, along with several other residents, called on the council to consider alternative options for securing the facility including bollards to block vehicular traffic, larger boulders and an after-hours presence at the facility from either the Manasquan Police Department or members of the community.
Throughout the discussion, both residents and members of the council cited recommendations from three agencies; the Monmouth County Joint Insurance Fund, New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness and the New Jersey State Police. According to Councilman Holly, while the agencies didn’t mandate a fence, all three “advised” securing the facility that houses the residential drinking water supply.
While the installation of the fence is imminent, several residents pleaded with the council in regard to the type of fence that will secure the facility.
While long-time resident Leah Yasenchak first commended the council for the adjustments made in the fence layout, she said, “We all agree that it’s really important that we have a safe water facility. We don’t necessarily agree that a fence is the best way to do that… If you do need to put a fence in, please consider an ornamental fence, one you would be comfortable having in your own yard. It will provide a much more attractive appearance.”
Ahead of the discussion Mayor Mangan told the audience, “This was a rehabilitation of the water tank project, the fence is a part of that project… The project has been completed and other than this fence issue, we took on one of the largest public works undertakings basically in water tank history.”
Following the discussion, the council voted to go through with the fence, but made several amendments to the layout that was presented at Monday’s meeting. Councilman Brian Holly suggested moving the fence back from the street on Iroquois Road, in addition to the installation of lighting near the green space and walking path.
According to Borough Administrator Thomas Flarity, a 6-foot black chain-link fence will be installed on the agreed upon layout in January.
This is an excerpt of the print article. For more on this story, read The Coast Star—on newsstands Thursday or online in our e-Edition.
Check out our other Manasquan stories, updated daily. And remember to pick up a copy of The Coast Star—on newsstands Thursday or online in our e-Edition.
Subscribe today! If you're not already an annual subscriber to The Coast Star, get your subscription today! For just $38 per year, you will receive local mail delivery weekly, with pages and pages of local news and online access to our e-edition on Starnewsgroup.com.
 6x10 4c.jpg)
