Lakehurst Renews Construction Code Agreement with Berkeley

Berkeley Township will continue to provide construction code services in , after the Borough Council voted Thursday night to approve a four year continuation of their agreement. 

The interlocal agreement with Berkeley, which has an all code qualified construction inspection department, is a continuation of a contract that was first put into place in 2008. Lakehurst administrators decided to keep the same plan — retroactive to June 1 — because it has "been working fine," said Mayor Harry Robbins. 

"There haven't been any issues," he said. "Going with someone else now would be a whole new sitdown and negotiation."

Authorized under the state Interlocal Services Act, Berkeley provides the officials for construction, building, plumbing, fire protection and electrical inspection services, according to the resolution. 

"They come right out. The residents never really have to wait," Robbins said. 

All present members of the Borough Council voted in favor of renewing the agreement, which was on a consent agenda. Councilmembers Gary Lowe and Steve Oglesby were absent. 

Lakehurst maintains a code office in the borough and incurs the administrative costs. Fees are paid to Berkeley, which then returns 10 percent to Lakehurst on a quarterly basis as reimbursement for the borough maintaining a construction code office, the agreement states.

"It's truly no money out of the borough's pocket," Robbins said. 

Berkeley was able to offer the services to Lakehurst, as well as other towns, because of a slowdown at the construction office, said borough Clerk Bernadette Dugan. 

Berkeley code officials are available during normal business hours and Lakehurst is not their employer, meaning that the borough "shall not be responsible for compensation, insurance, performance of work or the like," the agreement states.