County human services department restructured Monmouth County Freeholder Robert D. Clifton has announced a restructuring at the Monmouth County Department of Human Services that consolidates a number of divisions and eliminates one senior management position. The change comes as a result of a months-long budget review process by the Board of Freeholders looking for ways to pare the 2007 budget. The $472 million budget proposal, which incorporates this restructuring, was introduced Jan. 25, according to a press release from the county. "In preparing the budget, the freeholders looked for ways to combine government functions as a cost-saving measure," said Clifton, who oversees the functions of the Human Services department. "This change combines five divisions into two without impacting essential services and it will result in an approximate savings of $100,000 a year." On Feb. 1, the Office on Aging, the Office on Disabilities and the Office of Veterans Interment and Affairs were combined into the new Division of Aging, Disabilities and Veterans Interment. The division is headed by John Wanat, who previously oversaw the Office on Aging. In addition, the Division of Mental Health and the Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services has been combined into the new Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services. The division is headed by Charles Brown III, who previously oversaw the Division of Mental Health. Additionally, the two boards and professional advisory committees that serve the Division of Mental Health and the Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services, respectively, will not be affected by the restructuring, said Lynn F. Miller, director of the Department of Human Services. "The Mental Health Board and the Board of Alcohol and Drug Abuse, as well as their respective professional advisory committees, are key components to the success the county has experienced in providing these important services," Miller said. "They will continue to operate as before." The Board of Freeholders is examining the functions of every county department and seeking areas where a savings can be achieved, Clifton said. "We continue to examine ways to consolidate government services without impacting the level of service. At a time when the county is exploring ways for municipalities to save money, such as the providing cooperative purchasing arrangements for certain products and services, we at the county level are looking for ways to achieve savings as well. Property values have risen so fast that living here is quickly becoming unaffordable. We must be better stewards of the taxpayer dollar."