Freehold Council discusses dealing with illegal immigration
By Kim Predham • FREEHOLD BUREAU • January 7, 2008

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FREEHOLD — At a borough organization meeting that touched on topics such as illegal immigration and the anticipated reopening of downtown's American Hotel, a new council president was chosen and four members of the governing body were sworn into office.

Councilman Michael DiBenedetto was picked to head the council this year, replacing Kevin Kane.

Mayor Michael Wilson also was sworn in, as were three councilmen — Kane, Jaye Sims and George Schnurr.

Wilson was re-elected in November for a four-year term. He has been borough mayor since 1985.

Wilson's fellow Democrats, Councilmen Sims and Kane, also were re-elected. They will serve three-year terms. And Schnurr, who filled Robert Crawford's unexpired term, will serve until the end of this year.

"This coming year has every opportunity to be just as busy (as 2007)," Wilson said.

Illegal immigration promises to remain an issue in the borough this year, if comments from some members of the governing body are any indication.

"We are all painfully aware of how Freehold Borough has been victimized by the nationwide illegal immigration problem," Wilson said.The borough should explore the possibility of implementing Section 287(g) of the federal Immigration and Nationality Act — which empowers trained nonfederal police agencies to enforce immigration law — countywide, Wilson said.

"Our problem right now is simple," Kane agreed. "There's too many people living in our town right now. Period."

On a more positive note, both Kane and Wilson also touted the reopening of the American Hotel. A historic building in downtown Freehold, new owner Steve Goldberg said Sunday that he likely will reopen the hotel this summer.

In his address, Wilson also highlighted achievements in 2007, like the installation of brick sidewalks on West Main Street and the resurfacing of Monmouth Avenue and Ann Street.

In the future, brick sidewalks will be installed on Court Street, and the borough will resurface Center, Conover and Ward streets this summer, Wilson said.

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