Allendale March 14, 2012 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • Page 11 Council introduces budgets for town, water department by John Koster Last week, the Allendale Borough Council introduced the $750,000 capital budget for the borough and a separate $160,000 capital budget for the semi-autonomous Allendale Water Department. Both spending plans will be considered for adoption on March 22. “We’ve reduced $1 million each year, ever since I’ve been mayor, that’s six years, no more deficit spending and we’re okay,” Mayor Vince Barra said. The single largest item in the $750,000 capital budget is the $380,000 for road resurfacing, which Mayor Barra said would allow Allendale to repave 10 more streets this year for a total of 60 since his he became mayor. He said that, based on past performance and present policy, Allendale should have repaved all 144 local streets in a term of 15 years, as he and the council had hoped and anticipated. “We’re really on track with that, and that’s good,” Mayor Barra said. Other items included a new roof and repair of the cupola on the municipal building, and replacement of the borough flagpole and a much-needed roof repair for the Allendale Department of Public Works building. “We need to get that taken care of because the poor mechanics literally get showered every time it rains,” Mayor Barra said. He added dryly that plans to install a sort of bunk house at the DPW building had not materialized due to financial constraints, but said that Mother Nature had cooperated with a very mild winter in 2011-12. The fact that Allendale had not purchased any new trucks also helped keep capital spending at a comfortable level. Two new storages bins on the rear of the DPW property constituted the remaining bulk of spending on public works improvements. Waldwick Pool (continued from page 3) over the Waldwick pool fee. Her suggestion was overridden by the other council members. “It’s a great deal for the people of Midland Park. The two towns have a lot in common already, so it’s good for both towns,” said Midland Park Board of Recreation Chairman Dave Lancaster. He said a number of Waldwick children attended Midland Park’s summer program last year after Waldwick discontinued its program as a cost-savings measure. “We had the room, so we invited them in,” Lancaster explained. Lancaster said that the sharing arrangement between the two towns was a “natural progression,” given that Midland Park High School students play in Waldwick’s football and wrestling programs, and that the junior wrestling programs of both towns are merged into one. “They’re a good fit,” Lancaster said. In anticipation of the additional pool users, the Waldwick Council will further discuss the fee structure, perhaps capping the family fee at $450, or dropping the fee for children to $100. Last year the fee was $150 per resident, regardless of age. Meantime, the Midland Park Recreation board is discussing extending the summer program to 4 p.m. five days a week due to resident demand. Last year camp participants could stay until 3 p.m. one day a week. Lancaster said a decision would likely be made at the board’s April meeting. “This will be the first success of the shared services committee,” said former Mayor Frank McKenna in commending the council for its decision. The committee was formed last year to investigate ways the council can form beneficial alliances with neighboring municipalities. The capital budget, once formally adopted, will be implemented with an initial $36,000 cash down payment and the remainder of the money, $718,000, will be bonded. The single largest item of the Allendale Water Department budget will be for upgrades at the Fairhaven water tank. The $160,000 water budget is substantially defrayed by facilities charges and only the $43,000 remainder will be bonded. Allendale pumps most of its own water from artesian wells, but contracts with United Water of Hackensack in case of a need for augmentation. At the conclusion of a rather quiet meeting, Allendale Borough Administration Officer Gwen McCarthy thanked Mayor Barra for coordinating meetings and fostering communication between the mayors’ organization and the administrators’ organization, which she said led to improved cooperation and potential savings for all towns involved.