Allendale February 2, 2011 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • Page 7 Council plans to appoint full-time police chief by John Koster Allendale Mayor Vince Barra said the borough council plans to appoint one of the three police sergeants who have expressed an interest in becoming a full-time chief of police. The decision will be made around May 1, pending a more comprehensive look at possible regionalization, he said. The formal appointment will follow a three-part screening process by council members and outside professionals. The screening will include an oral examination on police technology by chiefs from outside Bergen County, a written statement regarding each prospective chief’s vision for Allendale, and an in-depth interview of each candidate by the council members. The three veteran sergeants in the running -- Al McCarthy, Todd Griffith, and George Scherb -- will each have a chance to serve as interim acting chief before the final appointment is made. McCarthy has already served as acting chief, and Scherb is now in charge of the day-to-day operations. Mayor Barra explained in some detail that Allendale’s governing body had decided to politely reject the advice of Jersey Professional Management, a consulting firm, to institute an “officer in charge” with the technical rank of lieutenant. JPM, which had studied the matter for a $7,000 fee, said there were six options including a regular chief, a chief shared with other towns, a civilian public safety director, a public safety director shared with other towns, an “officer in charge,” and a police chief and public safety director. Police officers had opposed hiring a civilian public safety director because the department might need another badge and gun in emergency situations. “If it’s not going to impact on dollars, I prefer home rule,” Mayor Barra said last week. He noted that the savings the borough might realize by appointing a civilian head of the police department would not be very significant. Mayor Barra also noted that all three officers had agreed that, if Allendale were to eventually change to a shared-chief relationship with Saddle River or Upper Saddle River, the Allendale chief would be willing to relinquish his title and drop back to the next lowest rank available without rancor. Allendale will continue to investigate cost-cutting measures, including a shared police command structure and shared dispatch services. The schedule agreed upon at last week’s council meeting calls for an oral examination of the three local chief candidates by three members of the State Police Chiefs Association around March 1, with Allendale paying an associated $1,625 fee. The amount was approved by unanimous resolution at last week’s meeting. The written vision statements must be submitted by the end of March, and the interviews with the council will take place in April. Councilman Jim Strauch said he had initially been opposed to the appointment of a regular chief, but that the arguments of other council members had won him over. The appointment concept was approved by unanimous vote. Professor David M. Carr of Union Theological Seminary will discuss the origins of the book of Genesis at Highlands Presbyterian Church on Wednesday, Feb. 9 at 7:30 p.m. Dr. Carr’s works include “Reading the Fractures of Genesis: Historical and Literary Approaches.” His research interests include the formation and shape of the Bible, sexuality and gender in the Bible, the intersection of historical-critical and literary approaches to the Bible, and the Old Testament scholar to discuss Genesis emergence of Scripture in the Jewish and Christian traditions. Highlands Presbyterian Church is located at 270 Franklin Turnpike in Allendale. The church welcomes new members and offers weekly worship at 10 a.m., with Sunday school provided for school-age children and nursery care for younger children. For additional information, contact Rev. David A. Baer at pastor@highlandschurch. net or at (201) 327-4466, extension 350. Does Your Child Want to Be a Designer? We can teach her the fundamentals of sewing to unleash her creativity. She can model the garments she’s made at our Annual Fashion Show in June. June Needlecraft School Classes for Children 4-18 Enrollment is ongoing 216 Godwin Ave, Midland Park • 201-444-2976 Teaching Children and Adults Sewing and Designing Skills for Over 30 Years... Check our Website: www.needlecraftschool.org 10-7-09----NeedlecraftDesigner(color)3x2(10-7-09) 3col x 2” Ester for PROOF... from Janine Winter specials available now for a limited time only. Call Robin at 973-636-7000