Madison, Chatham will Share Construction Services

The Madison Borough Council passed Resolution 183-2010 on Monday, which authorizes the sharing of construction services with Chatham.

Under the agreement, Madison will provide part-time construction code, plumbing sub-code and electrical sub-code services to Chatham on a fee basis. Chatham will pay $60,000 annually through the life of the agreement, which expires December 31, 2014. The annual fee will be pro-rated for 2010.

Main Street Executive Director Jim Burnet said that the money from Chatham would partially pay for the salaries and health benefits of personnel, thus lowering these costs for Madison.

Madison Borough Administrator Raymond M. Codey said "We work well with our neighboring community and we look forward to a long and fruitful relationship to providing a service at a reduced cost."

Chatham finalized the agreement at a meeting of its own council, also on Monday. Chatham Councilman John Holman called the agreement a "multi-year process" and said that he hopes the neighboring boroughs will expand the agreement in the future to cover equipment.

Burnet did not say how much Madison expected to save through the agreement, but Holman stated that Chatham expects to save nearly $90,000 per year.

Codey did not immediately respond to requests for further comment..