BOARD OF CHOSEN FREEHOLDERS

Atlantic County officials will meet with representatives from each of the county's 23 municipalities to discuss potential areas in which shared services could be implemented to save taxpayers money and reduce duplication of services. The meeting will take place on Wednesday, May 23 at the Anthony "Tony" Canale Training Center, 5033 English Creek Avenue, Egg Harbor Township at 6 PM. 



"For several years we have initiated interlocal or shared services agreements for snow removal, street sweeping, road improve-ments and purchasing agreements, among others. We are now looking to expand upon those ideas for even greater efficiency and cost effectiveness," stated County Executive Dennis Levinson. "Sharing services requires communities to relinquish some control in favor of saving money and reducing the burden of local property taxes."



The county obtained a $123,400 grant from the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs in 2006 to help initiate or increase shared services programs. Shortly thereafter it hired former Egg Harbor City Mayor James McGeary and former freeholder and State Assemblyman Tom Foley to administer the grant. The two lead by example in sharing a $40,000 annual salary. 



Further examples of existing shared services include the implementation of a countywide emergency communications system, a regional animal shelter, construction of a regional emergency services training center, police training pistol range and procurement of an emergency mobile command vehicle. 



"This is the first of what we hope will be several meetings to identify services and select committees to move these concepts forward," said Tom Foley. "We are excited about the challenge and welcome new ideas and suggestions."



The meeting will also feature Rick Dovey, President of the Atlantic County Utilities Authority, and John Lamey, Executive Director of the Atlantic County Improvement Authority who will share their agency's experiences.