MANASQUAN — The Manasquan mayor and council met on Monday night and honored department of public works employee Frank Servidio. Servidio, who attended the meeting, was credited with helping to plant 600 trees in town as part of his role as liaison to the shade tree commission.
Mayor Mike Mangan read a proclamation honoring the 13-year borough employee: “At the age of 82, Frank remains one of the hardest-working members of the public works department, setting an inspiring example through his work ethic and dedication to Manasquan.”
Servidio has served in various capacities including parks maintenance, garbage collection and recycling attendant. The proclamation noted his “vital role in borough recovery and operations” in response to Superstorm Sandy and various snow storms.
“Frank’s unwavering commitment and care have created a legacy of natural beauty that will be enjoyed by Manasquan residents for generations to come,” the proclamation read.
For the last 12 years, Servidio served as the department of public works liaison to the borough’s shade tree commission.
Shade Tree Commission Chairman Brian Mallin took the opportunity to credit Servidio for his service to the town and said, “Over the past 12 years, we have planted north of 600 trees and I would say the survival rate on those 600 trees is north of 90% and that is 100% because of Frank. Without Frank, it would be a whole other world. There will be generations of people enjoying shade in Manasquan because of you.”
Members of the borough council, public works department and shade tree commission gathered in front of the dais and posed alongside the honoree with the official proclamation that recognized and honored Servidio for his exemplary service to Manasquan.
SULLIVAN’S SITE TESTING
The council unanimously passed the consent agenda at Monday’s meeting, which featured a resolution authorizing Mayor Mangan to execute a client authorization scope of work to VHB Environmental, the company tasked with continuing testing the soil and ground water at 86 Main Street, the former site of Sullivan’s Service Center.
The resolution allows VHB Environmental to “continue the necessary testing following the completion of the demolition of the previously existing structure on the site.”
On June 28, 2024 the Borough of Manasquan purchased the property for $649,000, with plans to work with Monmouth County Department of Engineering and Traffic Safety to include the parcel in a new traffic pattern at the problematic intersection where it is located.
According to the resolution, the scope of work will allow the company to conduct further geophysical soil and groundwater testing on the site.
Mangan said the environmental remediation company is paid to monitor the property in accordance with New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) regulations. Due to the property’s location on Main Street, the NJDEP reimburses the borough for the required maintenance of the property ahead of the construction of the traffic project.
BOROUGH HALL IMPROVEMENTS
At Monday’s meeting, the council adopted a bond ordinance that appropriated an additional $550,000 for improvements to Manasquan’s Borough Hall. The supplemental appropriation adds the additional funds to a bond ordinance that was adopted for Borough Hall improvements on Sept. 3, 2024.
At the ordinance’s introduction on April 7, Mangan described the improvements slated to refine the borough’s building that houses its police department, borough offices and council chambers. The ordinance originally introduced last year appropriated $500,000 for the renovations, bringing the total bond ordinance appropriation to $1,050,000.
“The project has to be amended mainly because of the elevator; we have a compliance issue that we have to resolve but it’s very expensive,” Mangan said.
The scope of the renovation project, which now totals over $1 million, includes elevator upgrades and siding improvements on the exterior of the building.
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