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New Director Of County Training Center Takes Over
Having worked side-by-side with the first director of the Ocean County Training Center, Waretown, for more than two years, Harold Morris is now ready to take the reins of one of Ocean County's premier facilities.
"Today, I am pleased to announce the appointment of Hal Morris as director of the Ocean County Training Center, replacing long-time director Kenneth 'Jerry' Holman," said Freeholder Director John P. Kelly, who serves as county director of law and public safety.
The center provides emergency services training and education for firefighters and emergency medical technicians (EMT's) throughout the county.
"Hal has learned from the best," said Kelly, "and I know he will do a fine job in carrying out the mission of the center."
Morris, 53, of Beachwood, has worked closely with the agencies involved in training Ocean County volunteer firefighters and emergency medical technicians.
"This long-standing relationship will go a long way in mak- ing this a seamless transition," Kelly said. "Hal has also been directly involved in the ongoing work to more than double the size of this facility. His input and now his direct supervision will result in the project being carried out smoothly."
Kelly noted that Holman, who retired from the post last month, helped to create a friendly work atmosphere at the center, making it conducive for the training of volunteers and also for school students and county workers.
"Under Jerry's leadership, and working in cooperation with volunteer fire companies, first aid squads, the Ocean County Fire Marshal's Office and MONOC, 502 new volunteer firefighters completed their initial training at the center while an additional 6,075 have attended classes there for additional education and training," Kelly said.
The center also graduated a total of 629 new volunteer EMT's and provided additional training to 1,785 EMTs.
"Jerry played a big part in making certain Ocean County provided this outstanding training with the best tools at the best facility," Kelly said. "He also worked diligently to accommodate new programs like the vo-tech's law and public safety program, and training for Ocean County agencies and departments, making the training center a centerpiece for training in Ocean County."
When volunteer firefighters and EMTs complete their work at the training center and graduate, it's a proud day for everyone in Ocean County, including the instructors at the training center and the county board of freeholders, said Kelly.
Kelly noted that Morris' lengthy service to the public as mayor of Beachwood, a commissioner on the Ocean County Exploited and Missing Children's' Commission, a member of the Ocean County Mayors' Association, the New Jersey Conference of Mayors and the New Jersey League of Municipality's Resolution Review Board will all be an asset to his new position.
"Hal has worked with many public agencies and organizations, whether elected, volunteer, fire, first aid and law enforcement," Kelly said. "He was twice recognized for his public service by the Ocean County Chiefs of Police Association. These partnerships and this experience will be a benefit to the day to day operations of the training center."
The facility is scheduled to undergo a major expansion beginning early next year.
"The success of our current programs at the training center coupled with the continuing growth at our police academy in Lakewood has now resulted in the need to expand the training center," Kelly said.
The county is planning a 21,100-squarefoot addition to the training center located off Route 9, Waretown.
The addition includes a pool designed specifically for training exercises including underwater rescue and recovery, 3,600 square-feet of new classroom space, a 4,600-square-foot auditorium and about 6,000-square-feet for support services.
"With this addition ,we will be able to accomplish many things, including providing additional space for police training and the training of our volunteers, a needed training pool to allow for better scheduling and upgrades to a facility that has been embraced by the community and many outside agencies," said Kelly.
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