Franklin Lakes October 5, 2011 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 3 Public safety director plans to retire next spring by Frank J. McMahon Franklin Lakes Director of Public Safety Irving Conklin will retire from that position when his current contract expires on Feb. 1, 2012. He said he thinks the position of police chief should be reinstated in the borough when he leaves. Conklin, who will turn 65 in February, has been on the borough’s police force for 38 years, rising from the rank of patrolman in 1974 to chief of the department from 2000 to 2010. He became public safety director in February 2010. He emphasized that he has been happy with the borough, which he said has supported him and always treated him well. He added that he has been well compensated in the safety director’s position. “I’ve always been treated fairly by the town. I like the town and I like the men here, but the time has come for me to retire from police service. It’s that simple,” Conklin said. He explained that when he retired as police chief in 2010 he did so out of concern about the potential changes in the pension plan that were being proposed by the state and he wanted to secure his pension and health benefits. In addition, Conklin said he bought a home in South Jersey and his wife is anxious to move there permanently. Conklin has made a recommendation to the borough council to reinstate the police chief’s position and to appoint Captain Joseph R. Seltenrich as the borough’s next police chief. “I’ve known Joe for over 30 years,” Conklin said of Seltenrich. “He is established and will do a fine job. I’m sure of it.” He explained his reason for recommending that the chief’s position be reinstated, saying that he was the borough’s police chief for 10 years when he retired from that position and then, after being out of the borough’s employment for six months as required by law, he returned to do the same job as a civilian. He said that felt awkward. Since learning of Conklin’s plans to retire, the borough council has been considering a restructuring of the police department. Part of that restructuring included the promotion of Patrolman William Cook to the rank of sergeant and the hiring of another patrol officer, which is expected to be announced in the near future. Conklin retired from the police chief’s post in July 2010. When he agreed to retire, part of that agreement included a one-year appointment as the borough’s part time director of public safety effective Feb. 1, 2011. Conklin’s agreement was initiated and negotiated at that time by Councilman William Smith. The former police chief agreed to accept the part-time position as director of public safety at a salary of $53,000 after the six-month period of retirement necessary for him to work in that position without any impact on his retirement benefits. Smith said at the time that Conklin’s return as director of public safety after retirement would save the borough over $100,000 in salary and still provide the department with a high level of proven leadership. Seltenrich was appointed acting police chief in the borough until Conklin began to serve in his new position as part time director of public safety.