Franklin Lakes December 18, 2013 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 3 Traffic circle changes delayed by Frank J. McMahon The Franklin Lakes Council agreed with Mayor Frank Bivona that the changes to the traffic circle at the intersec- tion of High Mountain and Franklin Lake roads should be delayed. A resident made the suggestion at Bivona’s “Meet the Mayor” meeting in late October, and Bivona felt it was a reasonable and good suggestion. He made the recommen- dation at the council’s November work session, saying he agrees that more information should be obtained about the traffic impact on that circle as a result of the proposed development of the High Mountain Golf Club. Inasmuch as the golf course development is still in its ordinance stage and no site plan has yet been submitted to the planning board, Bivona agreed that the delay could involve up to six months or more until the planning board approves a site plan for the golf course development. “It’s a tough decision to change that circle anyway,” Bivona said. “It’s a disaster as it is and I’m sure the changes we’re suggesting over the long term would help it, but in the short term it would be an equal disaster.” Bivona said some people think the golf course devel- opment will create a traffic disaster but “we have no hard numbers and bottom line we really don’t know,” Bivona said. He added, however, that “if there is an incredible increase in traffic then maybe we will have to look at some- thing else.” He confirmed he means a traffic light. Bivona said he travels through the circle several times a day and he knows that at certain times it is a free-for-all. He said, “So the best answer right now is to delay it and to see what traffic it brings and then take another step down the road.” The council is expected to approve the comprehensive ordinance concerning the golf course development at the Dec. 17 council meeting, and then Toll Brothers, Inc. will prepare its site plans for the planning board to review. Currently, motorists travel around the circle in a coun- ter-clockwise pattern. There are stop signs on both parts of the circle that meet High Mountain Road. Motorists on Franklin Lake Road can proceed unimpeded through the circle. The changes that were planned for the circle would elim- inate the stop signs on High Mountain Road and require traffic from all four entrances to the circle to yield to traffic (continued on page 24) Police in-car video systems approved The Franklin Lakes Council has approved the pur- chase of in-car video systems for seven police vehicles from an authorized vendor under the state’s coopera- tive purchasing program. Watch Guard of Allen, Texas has been awarded the New Jersey contract for in-car video systems, and both Franklin Lakes Police Chief Joseph Seltenrich and Borough Administrator Gregory Hart recom- mend the utilization of this contract on the grounds that it represents the best price available. The total cost would be $53,308. The borough’s chief financial officer has certified the availability of funds for the purchase and Selten- rich emphasized that the funding for this purchase has already been gifted to the borough. In a September letter to Hart, Seltenrich recom- mended the purchase, pointing out that the patrol (continued on page 31)