7/12 Sea Bright Gets State Grant for Public Safety Use

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By John Burton
SEA BRIGHT — A more than $1 million state grant will be used by Sea Bright to maintain essential public safety services, according to the state’s Department of Community Affairs.
The Department of Community Affairs (DCA) has awarded the severely Sandy-damaged beach community $1,075,000 from the Essential Services Grant program, intended to help storm-ravaged communities provide public safety services. DCA Commissioner Richard E. Constable III, who toured Sea Bright yesterday, said in a press statement the money is intended to help storm-impacted communities avoid police furloughs, continue to support volunteer fire departments and other services – such as in Sea Bright’s case, helping pay for this summer season’s lifeguards at the public beach. Many of these communities have seen a drop in municipal revenue because of last October’s storm.
The borough will use a portion of this money to pay for the services of the Two Rivers Water Reclamation Authority, which processes the town’s sewer system waste.
“If not for this award, services that people often take for granted likely would have been significantly cut back or eliminated entirely,” Constable said in his statement.
So far 11 communities and local government entities in the state have received grants from this program, totaling approximately $44.5 million. In Monmouth County Sea Bright, Asbury Park and Keansburg have gotten grants.