Page 6 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • October 12, 2011 Franklin Lakes Clothing bin requests remain unpopular in borough by Frank J. McMahon The requests by the VFW Post 5702 and the local DARE program to place clothing bins within the borough has received a cool reception from the Franklin Lakes Council. The VFW has requested that an American Recycling Technologies-owned clothing bin be placed next to the post’s building on Franklin Avenue and Detective Jeffrey Jost, who heads the borough’s juvenile bureau and is the borough’s DARE officer, has also requested permission to place a clothing bin in the borough that would be identified as a DARE clothing bin. The requests have been made in order to generate revenue for the VFW and the DARE program, but the council expressed concern that they would be unsightly and may end up looking like dumpsters. Councilman William Smith voiced the opinion that the clothing bins are unsightly and he did not think they should be allowed generally unless they are for a charity and even then only on a case by case basis. “They will not add to the attractiveness of an area no matter where you put them,” Smith said. The VFW clothing bin would produce revenue of $1,500 per bin per year, according to Franklin Lakes Borough Administrator Gregory Hart. Councilwoman Paulette Ramsey advised that the DARE program would receive $1,000 per year in revenue, while the borough would get the financial benefit of additional recycling tonnage. Ramsey said she would be in favor of placing a clothing bin at the DPW building, where it would be monitored, but she suggested that Borough Attorney Richard Lustgarten review the proposed contract before agreeing to place one on borough property. Councilman Frank Pedone also wants to know how often the clothing would be picked up from the bins and how the Franklin Lakes Scribe Library board to meet The Franklin Lakes Library Board of Trustees will meet on Monday, Oct. 17 at 7:30 p.m. The meeting will be held in the local history room of the Franklin Lakes Public Library, 470 DeKorte Drive. For more information, call the library at (201) 891-2224. Flu and pneumonia vaccines available The Valley Hospital Department of Community Health and the Franklin Lakes Board of Health will offer flu and pneumonia vaccines to Franklin Lakes residents who are age 65 and older. Vaccines will be given from 10 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, Nov. 2 at the Franklin Lakes Recreation Center, 1 Vichiconti Way. Registration is required; call (201) 291-6090. Flu and pneumonia vaccines are covered by traditional Medicare Part B. Recipients must present their card at the time of service. Those with an HMO may choose to go to their primary care provider or choose to pay $27 for a flu vaccination. Pneumonia vaccines will be available for those who have never had a previous pneumonia vaccination. The cost is $35. Flu shots are encouraged for those who are age 65 and over and those with chronic illnesses. Film series features ‘Catskill Honeymoon’ “Catskill Honeymoon,” the classic 1949 film musical (continued on page 12) areas in which they are located would be kept clean. Mayor Frank Bivona emphasized that if the clothing bins were to be permitted they should be on borough property and not visible, but he pointed out that if one were located at the VFW site it would be visible. At the end of the discussion, the council decided to turn down the VFW request because of the visibility of the clothing bin on that site, but to further investigate the possibility of placing one near the recycling area at the DPW building, which is next to Memorial Field and behind police headquarters, after a review of the contract by the borough attorney. In 2006, the American Red Cross Bergen/Hudson Chapter recommended the clothing bins to the borough council, explaining that during disasters residents often feel the need to do something to help and clothing bins can raise thousands of dollars to support Red Cross efforts to respond to disasters in Bergen County all year. The request from the Red Cross to place clothing bins in a central location in the borough was turned down by the borough council. The council acknowledged at that time that the Red Cross is an excellent non-profit organization, but the governing body did not favor locating the bins within the borough and they pointed out that the borough has always had a policy against accepting them. That decision was reached after Councilman Michael Friscia advised the council that he looked at the clothing bin in Ridgewood and there were so many bags around it he did not like what he saw. The council also felt at that time that placing one on municipal property could expose the council to additional requests from other non-profit organizations.