UPPER FREEHOLD - After a twoweek delay, the Township Committee unanimously approved an ordinance to extend AquaWater Co.'s franchise to serve the new middle school on Breza Road.

The Township Committee had been set to vote on the ordinance at its Feb. 7 meeting, but postponed thematter at the request ofUpper Freehold Regional Board of Education Vice President Bill Borkowski.

Borkowski questioned whether the ordinancewould prohibit the school district from opting to tie the new school intoAllentown's water lines if doing sowould bemore cost effective. The committee agreed to postpone the vote in order to hear from professionals on the issue.

Mayor Steve Alexander said that Borkowski did not act on behalf of the board when he made his request to have the vote postponed.He said that he spoke to Board of Education President Joseph Stampe, who asked earlier that morning for the committee to pass the ordinance.

"They are under incredible pressure to open that school on time,"Alexander said.

Alexander said that Allentown did not send the Township Committee information about its water company during the two weeks that the vote was postponed.

Borkowski did not return calls or e-mails for comment.

Stampe said that amajority of the board had endorsed the plan for the extension at a Feb. 20 meeting. He said the board had asked the Township Committee to approve the ordinance.

Stampe said Borkowski raised issues at the Feb. 7 Township Committeemeeting because he had concerns with the wording of the ordinance.

"At themeeting,Mr. Borkowski asked if thewording of the ordinancewould preclude the board from seeking water from Allentown's water plant," Stampe said. "Initially, as I understand it, even the Township Committee's attorney could not answer the question."

Stampe said Borkowski was "obviously speaking with the best intentions of the district and taxpayer in mind." He said the board is committed to doing everything possible to keeping the new middle school project on time and within budget.

"We appreciate the support we have received from both municipalities," he said. "We thank the Township Committee for their approval of this ordinance."

Upper Freehold Regional SchoolDistrict Superintendent of Schools Dick Fitzpatrick said the process of obtaining permits for the new school has been cumbersome.

According to Fitzpatrick, the project's civil engineers, Lippincott & Jacobs Consulting Engineers, of Riverside, were not aware of any alternatives to Aqua Water Co.'s franchise until recently.

"We need to have access to water and will consider an alternative if it becomes available, but currently we need to have a guaranteed provider in place in order to continue to obtain the full range of permits necessary to begin construction," he said.

Resident Keith Becker said AquaWater Co. is a for-profit company, which just significantly raised its rates inMercer County. He saidAllentown'swater company is a nonprofit that could supply water to the new school at a lower cost.