Brick Council members are redirecting $2.6 million from an unused account to make improvements to playgrounds at Windward Beach, Angela Hibbard Park, Colorado Park and Cedar Bridge Manor Park, but the improvements are coming a bit too late, according to some.
Councilman Joseph Sangiovanni took aim at the resolution that redirected the funds at the regular meeting Tuesday, noting that the improvements could have been funded - and the parks remained open through the summer - if the capital fund budget had already been approved.
In a statement to Patch, Mayor Stephen C. Acropolis agreed, noting "perhaps these redirected funds cold be invested into roadway or other important infrastructure priorities."
However, Councilman John Ducey noted it has "been the policy of this council, that the operating budget is passed before we pass the capital budget, so we are sticking consistently with our policy of getting through operating budget, which took exceptionally long this year."
Business Administrator Scott M. Pezzarus noted that the parks improvements have been running a little over a million dollars a piece.
Included in the resolution is the completion of the three parks, including about $500,000 for play equipment at Windward Park, parking at Colorado Park, $1 million for Angela Hibbard Park, and the design plan for Cedar Bridge Manor Park, which Ducey noted, is "unfortunately slowly going into the river."
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