Villadom Times Weekly Newspaper Online

February 10, 2010 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 5 Midland Park Borough ofﬁcials seek local supplier for gasoline The Borough of Midland Park is seeking bids from local suppliers for the purchase of gasoline and diesel fuel in an effort to control costs. “We want to see if local vendors would be interested in supplying the fuel to help increase the volume usage at potential savings to the supplier, and the borough could save travel time for daytime re-fueling,” commented Council President Bud O’Hagan, who served on the committee seeking alternatives. Borough vehicles have been fueling up in Ridgewood under an inter-local services agreement with the village for nearly 15 years, since the borough removed its own underground gasoline and diesel tanks. “At that time we decided it was more economical not to put in tanks of our own and utilize the inter-local option,” explained Borough Administrator Michelle Dugan. Councilman Nicholas Papapietro, who heads the finance committee, said that Ridgewood now charges an “administrative fee/service charge” that represents approximately 20 percent of the monthly invoice. “As fuel costs go up the service charge increases proportionately (of course when fuel goes down the charge will also decrease), yet they are not providing additional services. There is no cap on this fee. By the time you factor in the service charge and fuel charge, we are basically paying retail. While there should be some type of charge from Ridgewood to cover the overhead for allowing the borough to use their pumps, the current charge is excessive,” Papapietro said. O’Hagan said that when the arrangement began, the premium was a nickel a gallon. “That’s fair. When the premium approaches $0.40 a gallon, it is unfair,” O’Hagan said. “Shared services between communities are supposed to help contain costs and not to become a major profit center for the host community. I don’t begrudge Ridgewood for asking for a service fee, which should be nominal. Pennies add up quickly when you factor in three emergency services and the D.P.W.,” he added. Papapietro said that Ridgewood was approached about adjusting the service charge but would not negotiate. “We feel the service charge is excessive. Thus the need for going out for bid and seek other potential fuel providers. The intent is to have additional options when purchasing fuel allowing us to reduce our fuel costs,” he said. Dugan said that whether any savings would be realized won’t be known until the bids are in, but she said that using local stations would be a location convenience. At present all borough-owned vehicles - police cars, fire trucks, ambulances and DPW vehicles - fill up at the Ridgewood depot on Chestnut Street. The Friends of the Midland Park Memorial Library will be accepting entries to the Third Annual Lego Contest, March 1 through 3 at the library. Winners will be announced on Friday, March 5 at 3:30 p.m. in the Englishman Room. The contest is open to Midland Park residents; entrants are separated by grade level. The established divisions are Annual Lego Contest announced pre-K and first grade, second and third grades, and fourth through sixth grades. Each creation will be judged based on creativity, use of color, design, and construction. A gift card will be awarded to the winning design in each division. For more information, and complete contest rules, stop by the Midland Park Memorial Library on Franklin Avenue. �� Boilers Repaired or Replaced in One Day • Oil Tank Abatement • Chimney Liners • Water Heaters • Sewers & Drains • Cast Iron Gas Fired Boilers �� Spacious 1BR Call for details �� NOW RENTING �� REDUCING PROGRAM FEES* Expires 2/27/10 *Minimum purchase 8 weeks reducing 20% OFF Senior Discounts • N.J. 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