Page 4 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • January 13, 2010 Franklin Lakes Franklin Lakes Mayor Maura DeNicola recently recounted some of the highlights of 2009 and described some of the challenges facing the borough in 2010. “In the past year, we relied more consistently and effectively on our website and e-mail ‘blasts’ for information,” DeNicola said. “Quick, current, and cost-effective, electronic media are vital to providing timely communication and information to our residents, including updates from our board of health on important topics such as the H1Nl virus.” She pointed out that the distribution list for the e-mail notifications has grown, but she emphasized that her goal is to have every household in Franklin Lakes subscribe to the e-mail notification service in order to make the service as effective as possible. DeNicola also advised that, through the cooperative formed by the mayors of Franklin Lakes, Wyckoff and Oakland, known as “WOLF Pack,” the borough received significant cost savings by jointly purchasing recreation equipment and uniforms for the second time, and by creating a joint garbage disposal bid that will result in a seven percent reduction in the borough’s disposal costs beginning in 2011 when the borough’s current contract expires. Mayor reviews top issues for 2009 and New Year She also pointed out that, in 2009, the borough was successful in achieving a number of new grants, including $200,000 in a Local Aid grant to pave the second half of Old Mill Road in 2010. “The 2009 budget brought huge challenges, including a decrease of hundreds of thousands of dollars in interest income, construction revenue, and state aid,” DeNicola explained. “At the same time, we faced increases in health benefits, pension payments, and operating costs, and the council’s 2009 budget ultimately reflected $2.5 million in reductions, including the use of a pension money deferral and 16 days of temporary layoffs for borough employees, excluding the police department.” In 2010, DeNicola recommended exploring the increased use of technology for the payment of fees, licenses, and other fines, record-keeping and retrieving, and workflow management, which could help save hundreds of dollars and man-hours, and she noted that much with the technology is already in place. She recommended that the council continue to explore regionalization and shared services opportunities through the WOLF Pack, the Northwest Bergen Mayors and Administrators Association, and Bergen County, and she referred to what she called the borough’s greatest resource: its residents, whom she said already bear a tremendous responsibility for the health and safety of the borough’s citizens. She pointed out that the Franklin Lakes Ambulance Corps experienced an unprecedented 18 percent increase in calls and responses in 2009 while the fire department experienced a 10 percent increase. F.J. McMAHON GWB engineer visits students Andrea Giorgi-Bocker, resident engineer at the George Washington Bridge, visited the Franklin Lakes third graders as part of the Curiosity Corner enrichment unit on engineering. Front row: Third graders Luke Loprete, Justin Yazdi, Helen Jennings and Jenna Cortorillo. 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