Franklin Lakes February 1, 2012 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 3 Borough council sets up public safety trust fund by Frank J. McMahon The Franklin Lakes Council has established a public safety trust fund in order to collect private donations to be put toward the cost of public safety items or projects in the borough. In a letter to the council, Mayor Frank Bivona advised that he wants to start to plan fundraising for public safety capital items with the objective of instituting a regular process of soliciting funds in support of the purchase or construction of large capital items that support public safety in Franklin Lakes. “Given the desire to maintain property tax levels within the two percent tax levy cap and to lower outstanding borough debt levels, large capital items must be funded with the support of fundraising efforts or delayed until such time when the borough can adequately fund those expenditures,” Bivona told the council. “Combine this with an urgent need for large capital items and it is clear that we must begin a multiyear program to fundraise toward our goals.” Bivona explained that the council’s subcommittee on buildings and grounds has come up with a sizable list of projects in priority order and is in the process of hiring an architect to assist in estimating costs and planning projects. “Once that is complete, we should have a priority list with associated capital needs,” Bivona explained. “That document can then be turned into a marketing brochure to assist with the fundraising process.” Bivona recommended the buildings and grounds priority list be formalized and approved by the council; then an architect should be hired to provide ideas and estimates. He recommended the establishment of a public safety trust fund that would be under the control of the council, but could only be used for public safety capital purchases. He also recommended the formation of a PSTF advisory group made up of residents who have a keen interest in public safety and/or who are large potential donors. The advisory group would help guide fundraising activities and the use of the funds. Then, he said, a public relations campaign and communication strategy should be created for raising funds, planning events, and discussing an annual appropriation to this fund during the 2012 budget process without bonding. Finally, Bivona recom- mended that a timeline be established for projects and the funding goals. Some of the high priority projects at the municipal building include the overhaul of the heating and air conditioning, the installation of insulation above the council chambers, and flood remediation work. At police headquarters, the high priority projects include the construction of a new or renovated building, an emergency exit from the basement of the existing building, and remediation in that basement. At the department of public works building, the high priority projects include (continued on page 23)