Mt. Laurel has entered into a shared services agreement with Willingboro Township for public works projects.
Through the agreement, equipment and personnel will be shared between the two townships to provide overall better service to the community, said Township Manager Maureen Mitchell.
The agreement was authorized at the Monday, Oct. 15 council meeting.
“The township is looking at ways to bring capital projects in house rather than out sourcing to contractors and with limited staff this becomes problematic,” Mitchell said. “By combining our resources with another aggressive municipality that is attempting to do the same thing we are better able to leverage our employees and equipment to deliver a better service in a more efficient manner.”
Discussions began in March, she said, and the township already shares animal control services with Willingboro.
Several other shared services agreements exist in the township, including recycling services with Burlington County, salt and sand with the county, a recycling tonnage coordinator with Riverton Township and a multi-unit trash pick up through the MAACS program.
Township savings cannot yet be determined through this agreement, said Mitchell.
“The cost savings will not be able to quantify until we start capital projects, but historically there is a markup by contractors of 20 to 30 percent profit plus the provision of prevailing wages which will be saved when we perform the work at cost in house,” she said.
At the meeting, Councilwoman Lynn Solomon expressed her approval of the agreement.
“I think it’s going to save the township some money,” Solomon said.
According to the agreement, the term will expire in one year with the option of renewal from the governing body for up to a two-year time period.
Ideal projects for this agreement, said Mitchell, include the proposed improvements to Memorial Park and Spencer Park.
“It also allows some of our highly skilled Public Works department employees to utilize their talents more fully,” she said.
Chris Ridings, director of municipal services, will be Mt. Laurel’s contact person in public works, according to the agreement.
The agreement’s authorization came less than a week after Gov. Chris Christie’s town hall visit to Mt. Laurel on Thursday, Oct. 11.
During Christie’s visit, he urged towns to create more shared services agreements to lessen overall costs in the state.
Residents recognized
A proclamation of commendation was given to a local group at the meeting.
The Friends of the Mt. Laurel Library were recognized for their service to the community.
“Thank you so much for your dedication and your continued support,” said Deputy Mayor Linda Bobo.
President Janet Kelleher and members of the Executive Board, Sandra Carlton and Carol Pautz, were on hand to receive the proclamation.
The Friends raise funds, which help to better the Mt. Laurel Library.
Oct. 21 to Oct. 27 was declared to be “Friends of Libraries Week” in the township.
Next meeting
The next regularly scheduled town council meeting will be held on Monday, Nov. 5 at 7:30 p.m. in the municipal building, 100 Mt. Laurel Road, Mt. Laurel.
