R.B. looks at ways to tighten belt

The Red Bank Borough Council's finance committee is recommending budget cuts, a hiring freeze and a spending freeze because of the current economic downturn.

Councilman Michael DuPont, chair of the finance committee, made the committee's recommendation at the Jan. 12 council meeting.

"The estimated revenue for the budget for 2009 is down, and what we're going to recommend is Red Bank have a hiring freeze, a spending freeze and a budget reduction of a minimum of 5 percent from each department," he said at the meeting.

In an interview last week, DuPont said the final numbers haven't come in yet, but he knows for sure that revenues are down.

"Seeing what the state is facing, Red Bank needs to tighten its belt," he said.

He said the committee is asking directors and managers to look at their budgets and cut at least 5 percent, and is also suggesting other sources of revenue for the borough.

The council adopted a $19.1 million budget in July 31, 2008, that included $350,000 of extraordinary aid from the state.

In September, the council approved a 3.5 percent salary increase for nonunion employees not subject to collective bargaining. The estimated cost to the borough for those raises was between $40,000 and $50,000.

"The other idea we recommended, and [that] had been done in south Jersey, is a central court for various municipalities, and that's a consolidation of the courts," he said.

DuPont said other local towns including Shrewsbury, Little Silver, Fair Haven and Rumson could benefit from sharing court services.

"Red Bank is the biggest court in the neighboring community, and it might behoove the local towns to have a regional court," he said.

DuPont said the next step is to wait for replies from each department.

"Then [the council] will look at their request and hold our public meetings [and] invite residents to attend," he said.

DuPont told the council that the committee hopes to have more information in the next couple of weeks.

Also in an effort to save money, the council passed two resolutions that will lower the costs associated with the Planning Board and Zoning Board attorneys.

In previous years, the attorneys were put on a $10,000-a-year retainer for their services.

"This retainer [now] will be based on a sum of $400 a meeting versus just a monthly retainer whether or not meetings take place," Red Bank Mayor Pasquale Menna said at the meeting.

He said the change would reduce the borough's costs.

Both resolutions, one for planning and one for zoning, were approved unanimously by the council.

To further address the impact of the economic downturn, the borough will host an economic summit at the Count Basie Theatre, Monmouth Street, on Jan. 27 at 7 p.m.

Speakers for the event include Jerold Zaro, chief of the Governor's Office of Economic Growth, former Mayor Edward McKenna, Monmouth County Freeholder Barbara McMorrow, Riverview Medical Center President Tim Hogan, Monmouth University President Paul Gaffney II, Senior Vice President and General Counsel for K. Hovnanian Peter Reinhart, and Elaine Sourlis, owner of The Galleria. Menna will moderate the discussion.

DuPont said a complete agenda for the event is being finalized.

The next Borough Council meeting is scheduled for Jan. 26 at 7:30 p.m. at Borough Hall, 90 Monmouth St.