For Immediate Release – March 19, 2024
MIDDLETOWN, NJ – At the Monday, March 18th Township Committee Meeting, Mayor Tony Perry announced that the final hurdles to complete the Middletown Veterans Housing Project have been addressed and set into motion. The property is located on Leonardville Road in Belford and will be transformed into 100 percent affordable housing units deemed solely for the honorable men and women who have served our country.
At the meeting, the Township Committee passed Resolution No. 24-119 awarding the contract for soil excavation and site restoration, which is expected to take two to three months. The Township Committee also introduced a $9.2 million bond ordinance for construction. The bond ordinance is expected to be passed at the April 8th Township Committee Meeting, and the construction bid is expected to be awarded at the May 6th meeting. Construction is expected to begin at the end of May.
Last year, Mayor Perry secured $1 million in funding which was approved in the Fiscal Year 2024 state budget. The Township will be partnering with the Middletown Housing Authority on this project, which currently manages hundreds of affordable housing units in town.
“After a few delays and efforts to find additional funding, the Township Committee and I are thrilled that this important project benefiting those who have served our great nation is finally coming to fruition,” said Mayor Perry. “The Township is a firm supporter of investing in affordable housing projects that make sense, and we will always step up to create affordable housing for those in need of assistance, especially our veterans who have sacrificed so much for our country.”
Robert W. Siemer Honored as 2023 Veteran of the Year
The Township Committee also presented the 2023 Dennis J. Beauregard Veteran of the Year to Robert W. Seimer at the meeting. Mr. Seimer, a Vietnam veteran, has been an active member of the Middletown Veterans Affairs Committee (VAC) for the past six years. He spearheaded the Township’s “Thank a Veteran” program where he works with local businesses to provide discounts to veterans to help honor them all year long. Mr. Seimer serves on several VAC committees, works with our youth to ensure Middletown’s war memorials are maintained, visits local schools to educate them about the Vietnam War, and teaches scout troops about the history and proper handling of the U.S. flag.
Middletown is proud to support its veterans with initiatives such as designating parking spaces for veterans on Middletown properties and paying tribute to its fallen heroes who were killed in action through our town-wide Fallen Veterans Commemorative Street Sign Program. More than 50 signs have been added across town to pay tribute to Middletown veterans who were killed in action from the Revolutionary War to present.
For more information about the Veterans Affairs Committee, Fallen Veterans Commemorative Street Sign Program, Honorary Veterans Parking Program, and other memorial/monument heritage sites located in Middletown, visit www.middletownnj.org/veterans.
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