Page 6 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • February 16, 2011 Waldwick The Waldwick DPW superintendent will be getting a new four-wheel drive vehicle this year, but it won’t be a hybrid. The decision to get a conventional gasoline vehicle instead will save $7,000, an amount which the borough council reduced from its proposed capital budget for 2011. “Getting a hybrid is the environmentally-responsible thing to do; we just don’t have the money,” said Borough Administrator Gary Kratz. He said there are many unknowns about the operation of the hybrid vehicles. Councilman Frank Palladino questioned the warranties and the life expectancy of the hybrid’s batteries, which are expensive. Kratz agreed the batteries are an important issue to be considered. “Our current vehicle (an Explorer) is 16 years old. We can’t say how long the batteries would last on a hybrid because we don’t have a track record,” Kratz said. Palladino also questioned whether a gas savings would accrue which would counteract the batteries’ cost. Kratz said he did not fully trust the fuel consumption figures released by the EPA. “You only have proof when you have the vehicle and can see for yourself,” he said. The governing body made this and a number of other reductions to its 2011 capital budget before finalizing the document and introducing the enabling bonding ordinances last week. The council introduced a capital budget for 2011 of $864,750 to fund needed improvements, equipment and vehicles. The related bond ordinances include the $100,000 the town plans to contribute to the Waldwick Library for its building project. Also included are $200,000 for road resurfacing projects, $86,000 for Moore Avenue drainage work, $100,000 for sump pump drainage work, and $70,000 for sandblasting and painting of the borough pool and other upgrades. Other capital projects included are drainage improvements at Borough Park, to be completed with a County Open Space grant, and White’s Pond rehabilitation, to be done with municipal Open Space funds. Capital appropriations for the Waldwick Volunteer Fire Council trims capital budget before finalizing document Department totaling $72,450 will cover the cost of turnout gear and other safety equipment and electronic upgrades. The Waldwick Police Department will be getting an e-ticket system, which will connect the department’s six patrol cars electronically with the central system, replacing hand-written summonses, at a cost of $26,500. The department will also receive a rapid deployment license plate reader system at a cost of $10,000. Kratz said there are no grant funds at this time for this equipment. The new budget also includes $5,000 for an engineering study of Lindbergh Parkway to try to remedy flooding problems in that area. On Kratz’s recommendation, and after discussion at budget sessions, the council decided to forego a new emergency generator for Waldwick Fire Company #2 at a cost of $65,000. The council also decided to take out $50,000 originally included for the reconstruction of West Saddle River Road. That amount would have been the borough’s share if grant funds were secured for the project. “Getting any grants for West Saddle River Road next year from the Transportation Trust Fund is a long shot,” Kratz said. “If it comes to pass, we’ll have to adopt a supplemental capital budget.” The council last week also introduced the water department’s capital budget. The $115,000 expenditure includes $80,000 in infrastructure improvements and $35,000 for a new van to replace an existing vehicle. A public hearing on the two bond ordinances associated with the capital budget, Ordinances 2-11 and 3-11, will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 22 at 7:30 p.m. Wonderful world The Earth Dome, a gigantic inflatable earth balloon standing 19-feet high and 22-feet in diameter, came to The Village School in Waldwick, recently. It is made of 24 huge panels, silkscreened with photographs shot from satellites of the surface of the world. It has been used extensively across the United States to educate students about geography as well as environmental issues. The children were able to take a tour around the world and even got to go inside and see what the world looks like from the inside out. The Village School located in Waldwick, New Jersey is a private, not-for-profit Montessori School educating children in programs toddler through middle school. 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 Home Improvement Enrollment is ongoing 216 Godwin Ave, Midland Park • 201-444-2976 Teaching Children and Adults Sewing and Designing Skills for Over 30 Years... Decorating The Villadom TIMES is giving you the opportunity to present your quality services and merchandise in its special Home Improvement & Decorating section. In The Villadom TIMES, you’ll get the exposure you need in 56,000 homes right in your market area. And, as always, your Villadom TIMES advertising message is conveniently delivered each week by US mail to every residence in the 12 Bergen County towns listed below. Check our Website: www.needlecraftschool.org & Publication: WEDNESDAY 10-7-09----NeedlecraftDesigner(color)3x2(10-7-09) 3col x 2” Ester for PROOF... from Janine ������������� ������������������� YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD NEWSPAPER ��������������������������������������� �������������������� ����������������������������� ������������ Call or email The Villadom TIMES today to place your advertisement. 201-652-0744 ������������������ WEDNESDAY Deadline: February 23 February 16 ZONE 1 - Wyckoff, Midland Park, Franklin Lakes ZONE 2 - Ridgewood, Glen Rock ZONE 3 - Ho-Ho-Kus, Allendale, Waldwick, Saddle River, Upper Saddle River, ZONE 4 - Ramsey, Mahwah