Ho-Ho-Kus November 9, 2011 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • Page 7 Borough to change 911 call center by Jennifer Crusco Beginning Jan. 1, 2012, the Borough of Paramus will be the official public safety answering point for the Borough of Ho-Ho-Kus. Ho-Ho-Kus officials recently approved a resolution to change the 911 answering center from Mahwah to Paramus after 11 years. According to that resolution, Mahwah recently notified Ho-Ho-Kus that, if the borough wished to continue using Mahwah as the borough’s PSAP after Dec. 31, the borough would be required to share the cost of a new police dispatch console. The cost of the console is estimated at $50,000. In addition, the resolution states that the annual per capita charge for PSAP service in Mahwah is due to increase from 65 cents to 85 cents. The boroughs of Allendale, Saddle River, and Upper Saddle River had also been using Mahwah as a PSAP, and reportedly received the same message regarding the console and the increase in per capita costs. “(I)nvestigation of the other PSAPs in the area has shown that the Borough of Paramus provides this service at the per capita rate of 50 cents with a small additional charge for use of the Language Line (for translations), and that each of the emergency services of Ho-Ho-Kus (police, office of emergency management, fire, ambulance) agrees that Paramus provides an excellent PSAP service,” the resolution states. Ho-Ho-Kus Borough Administrator Don Cirulli, who previously served as a councilman and an administrator in Paramus, helped initiate the PSAP center in that borough. He recently stated that he knows the people working there are efficient, and commented that the service will cost Ho-Ho-Kus less than is now being charged by Mahwah. He indicated that the cost of the Language Line would be approximately $80 per year. Cirulli explained that, when a 911 call is made, the PSAP notifies the local emergency services in the appropriate town within seconds. Last week, Cirulli, Ho-Ho-Kus Police Chief John Wanamaker, and Councilman John Mongelli toured the Paramus facility with Paramus Police Chief Christopher Brock and Paramus Communications Coordinator Sean Benson. Cirulli reported that the Ho-Ho-Kus officials involved are comfortable with the impending PSAP change. The borough’s decision to work with Paramus effectively extends the municipalities’ working relationship. Both boroughs have been sharing the services of Chief Financial Officer Joseph Citro, who recently retired from his official post in Paramus. Citro is still working part-time in Ho-Ho-Kus. In addition, Paramus recently received authorization to service fire trucks from HoHo-Kus. Paramus’ mechanical maintenance department makes repairs on Ho-Ho-Kus fire trucks at a cost of $65 per hour. Ho-Ho-Kus previously brought its fire trucks to a location in Pennsylvania and paid $100 per hour for the repairs. The new agreement allows Ho-HoKus to save on the hourly fee and travel costs. Gracious gift Maggie Liljegren, president of the Ho-Ho-Kus Contemporary Club presents Sue Maddison, vice president of the Ho-HoKus Seniors, with a check at the Contemporary Club’s Fall Luncheon. The Contemporary Club raises funds for the Seniors Association and other local beneficiaries throughout the year.