$6.25M In Improvements For Roads, Parks, Police, Fire, EMS Approved In Bernards Township

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — Roughly $6.2 million in improvements are coming to Bernards Township.

The Township committee unanimously approved the ordinance to appropriate $6,250,380 from the Capital Improvement Fund for a wide range of projects tied to the township's 2026 plan.

The ordinance covers engineering work, facility repairs, public works projects, technology upgrades, parks improvements, police equipment and emergency service purchases.

The measure "appropriates funds for capital items included in the 2026 Capital Plan and contained in the adopted 2026 Capital Budget," according to Township CFO Sean McCarthy.

The largest single allocation is $2,825,000 for engineering improvement projects, including roadway management and reconstruction, sidewalk and drainage improvements, and pedestrian bridges and paths.

Another $635,000 is designated for Department of Public Works projects and equipment, while $455,000 is set aside for motor vehicle fleet replacements, including DPW equipment vehicles, trucks, and passenger vehicles.

Township facilities are also included in the spending plan.

The ordinance appropriates $440,000 for repairs and improvements to the Engineering Services Building, Health Department, Police Headquarters, various Parks and Recreation facilities, and the Municipal Building.

It also sets aside $254,000 for parks and recreation facility improvements, $85,000 for Pleasant Valley Pool facility improvements and $105,000 for grounds maintenance equipment.

Public safety and emergency response account for a significant share of the ordinance.

The measure includes $158,430 for police equipment, including patrol car equipment, radar units, license plate reader cameras and body-worn cameras.

It also appropriates $70,000 for systems improvements, including hardware and software upgrades and police mobile data terminals.

For emergency services, the ordinance allocates $71,950 for the Basking Ridge First Aid Squad, $252,000 for the Basking Ridge Fire Company, $299,000 for the Liberty Corner Fire Company and $600,000 for Office of Emergency Management equipment, including Fire, EMS and OEM radio upgrades and radio system maintenance.

The ordinance says any grant money received for the listed purposes will be applied to the cost of the improvements and reduce the amount authorized from the Capital Improvement Fund.

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