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Freeholders Say Goodbye To Prosecutor; Stand Against Parkway Sale
By Bill McLaughlin
OCEAN COUNTY - The Ocean County Board of Chosen Freeholders saluted outgoing county prosecutor Thomas F. Kelaher with a plaque presentation in a freeholders' boardroom ceremony. Kelly praised Kelaher for starting a computer crimes task force to catch child predators and also innovative ways to keep seniors safe from fraud.
Noting that Kelaher had been recognized by the late Pope John Paul II, who invested him in the Order of St. Gregory and also as a Knight of the Holy Sepulcher, Kelly joked, "Some day, you may be the only
lawyer in heaven."
Freeholder Joseph H. Vicari said Kelaher "is probably the most popular guy in Ocean County."
For his part, Kelaher said he didn't like the word "retirement" used in his case because he plans to remain active after his July 1 mandatory separation from the county service he loved.
"I couldn't wait to get there every day, to find out what was going on," he said. "I'm leaving with no regrets."
In other business, the freeholders also agreed to work together on a detailed resolution in opposition to a proposed state sale of New Jersey's three main toll roads: the Garden State Parkway, New Jersey Turnpike and Atlantic City Expressway.
"It's what I call the 'tyranny of the present' and it's not honest," said Freeholder John C. Bartlett Jr.
Bartlett said selling assets to relieve financial burdens today, robs future generations of controls that government would normally have in the field of transportation and commerce.
Lacey told the board, "Any public-private partnership I look at suspiciously."
Vicari said county residents were shortchanged for many years in getting needed improvements on the parkway, the only road of the three to directly service Ocean County.
"The only time we saw major changes was when Joe Buckelew was in charge of the authority," Vicari said.
County administrator Alan Avery said proposals for sale of the roadways have included vague mention of "periodic toll increases."
County engineer Ronald Lotrecchio said proposed parkway interchange projects at exits 83, 88 and 91 are pending and a possible sale might quash the deals.
"Four to five years from now, I would like to be assured they will be funded. We need more clarification of those details," he said.
Finally, the freeholders said DEP and Barnegat Bay Estuary Program grant money will pay for storm drain upgrades to prevent water pollution.
The area of Washington Street and Brookside Drive in Toms River will be the first area targeted in the $153,000 funding. An underground chamber will be built to filter floating materials such as plastic bottles from entering nearby Long Swamp Creek which empties into Barnegat Bay.
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