Politics & Government

Oceanport, West Long Branch Exploring More Shared Services

Further joint police services between boroughs in discussion; combining public works and building departments with other municipalities also in talking phase.

Oceanport is looking to expand on the number of services it shares with nearby communities, including the possibility of additional joint police services with West Long Branch.

As Long Branch Patch reported, .

The details of that proposal have not yet been publicly discussed, and Oceanport Mayor Michael Mahon stressed in a telephone conversation Wednesday that because contractual and personnel issues are involved, it is important for each municipality to keep the discussions confidential while they are in the talking phase.

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"These things take time and it's easy to make mistakes and jump to conclusions when only pieces of information are available," Mahon said in a message posted on the Oceanport Borough website.

"Taking a slow, methodical approach to shared services isn't exciting but so far the results are producing savings with equal or better services."

Find out what's happening in Long Branch-Eatontownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Oceanport Police Chief Harold Sutton said the matter was for the council and mayor to discuss and wouldn't venture to guess what impact further integration would have on his department.

In May, , creating a joint savings of $1.3 million over the initial 5-year term, according to Mahon.

West Long Branch Police Capt. Lawrence Mihlon has said dispatch services for both boroughs will be handled by the West Long Branch Police Department on Broadway.

Mahon said the town is also in the talking phase with other nearby communities about sharing public works and building departments.

"As concepts are developed and analyzed, the discussions are shared openly in public. Behind the scenes, our legal and financial professionals comb every detail to ensure we have the information needed to make the right decision," said Mahon.

Since state aid to the municipality was slashed in 2008, Mahon said the governing body has made investigating shared services a priority. Oceanport now shares lawn maintenance, snow removal, fleet fueling, municipal courts, street sweeping, police dispatch, and a joint public safety committee with other local towns.


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