Middlesex County Democratic Freeholders

Freeholder Barrett was sworn into office in January 2009. She was selected to fill the seat of former Freeholder Director David B. Crabiel, who passed away in December 2008. Barrett is the chairperson of the Engineering and Planning Committee.

A 1959 graduate of New Brunswick High School, Barrett recently retired after 41 years of service to Middlesex County. She has an active and distinguished career dedicated to the labor movement, particulalry to the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. She has served since 1987 as the President of AFSCME Local 3440, which represents public employees serving Middlesex County. Barrett serves as President of AFSCME Council 73, which represents more than 10,000 government employees throughout Central New Jersey. She also serves as Executive Secretary of the Middlesex County Central Labor Council of the AFL-CIO.

In recognition of her dedication to labor, Barrett has received the Middlesex County AFL-CIO Labor Council's 1990 "Woman of the Year" Award and 2001 "Hubert H. Humphrey Friend of Labor" Award.

Barrett has also been an active participant in civic affairs. She continues to serve as a Board Member on the Greater Raritan Workforce Investment Board and as a Commissioner on the Middlesex County Joint Health Insurance Fund.

Barrett was a South Brunswick Councilwoman for 10 years and served as Deputy Mayor. As a public official, she has been an effective advocate for improved provision of services to senior citizens. She has also worked to expand and improve the public library and recreation facilities throughout South Brunswick.

County receives funds for Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing program

Middlesex County has received stimulus funds of $800,475 directly from HUD (Housing and Urban Development) and also an additional $623,375 from the state of New Jersey for the Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing program. The combined $1,423,850 will go towards assigning income eligible households that are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. The most common form of assistance will be in rental arrears and partial rental assistance. Other assistance include security deposits and utility arrears and/or deposits.

It is being run as a pilot of the Single Point Entry System, which is a goal of the county’s 10-year plan to end homelessness. To date, over 170 households have been assessed for this program and in addition to financial assistance they are also being provided with case management services to ensure that they are also aware of other mainstream resources that they might qualify for, such as food stamps, child care subsidies and job training.

The HPRP program is working with the Superior Court of New Jersey, Middlesex County Landlord Tenant Court to identify and connect with households with an eviction summons who may qualify for the program and who are at a high risk of homelessness and in need of prevention services. If there is anyone that is interested in applying, they should contact Infoline at (888) 908-4636.

Old Bridge, county, state joining to preserve 58 acres

Plans are moving forward for the purchase and preservation of 58 acres of land on Cottrell Road and Route 516.

The Township Council voted to enter into an agreement with the county, state and NY/NJ Baykeeper to purchase two parcels - the 36-acre Cottrell Farm and the adjacent 22-acre Whitney
Estates - for $10.6 million, said Mayor Jim Phillips.

"It's a beautiful piece of property," Phillips said. "It's Old Bridge's history and heritage. We are going to
be preserving a piece of Old Bridge history forever."

The township will provide $2.44 million from its open-space trust fund. The state Green Acres fund
has authorized $1.6 million for the purchase, Phillips said.

The Middlesex County freeholders are expected to vote Thursday to allot $6.36 million for the purchase, some of which it is hoping to recoup
from the state, the mayor said.

The NY/NJ Baykeeper has pledged an additional $200,000.

"Independently none of us would have been able to put this deal together, but all of us chipping in alittle bit makes deals like this possible," the mayor said.

The Cottrell Farm, with its sprawling apple orchard, is a township landmark.

The property was sold to Jerry Cernero of Jerald Development Corp., based in Wall Township. Cernero had planned to build about 130 apartments, 90 town houses, and 120,725 square feet of retail and office space on the land.

Phillips said he opposed that plan because "it was taking the town in the wrong direction. The development was too large and too dense for that
area of town."

The township Planning Board ultimately denied the application, deciding the plan was too intense for the area and that a three-story parking garage,
which would have to be built on the property, was not allowed in a town-center zone.

Cernero then applied to the farmland preservation program to have the state purchase the property for $25 million, but his request was denied, Phillips
said.

The township has been interested in purchasing the property for several years, but "for a reasonable
price," the mayor said.

"I'd much rather look at the farmhouse, the barn, the carriage house and apple trees rather than pizza parlors, nail salons and apartment houses," Phillips
said.

Before closing on the property, Cernero will be required to do an environmental cleanup at the site,
Phillips said.

"Some of buildings have asbestos, which is common to the area," the mayor said. "One of buildings has
mold that has to be cleaned up."

He said that arsenic, which was used by farmers for insect control, also was found on a small piece of
land.

Phillips said he hopes the closing will take place before the end of the year.

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