May, 1, 2013 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 3 Wyckoff Township to bond $625,000 for new fire pumper by John Koster The Wyckoff Township Committee took the first step toward buying a new fire pumper with a vote to bond $625,000 for the purchase price with all equipment. The original motion called for a bond of $589,000, but after some deliberation, the committee members decided they had to move quickly and still place limits on the amount of bonded money that could be spent to avoid additional increments down the road. The new pumper, once built and delivered, could be the sixth pumper in Wyckoff’s three-company all-volunteer fire department. Discussion over whether to retire the oldest pumper now in use, which dates from 1982, or to keep it ready on demand will continue. The recent sale of a rescue truck as usable equipment for $45,000 was noted. Wyckoff sends two pumpers to each fire call, but the issue of whether to keep the oldest pumper in service could not be resolved without further information from the department. “I’m still gray on a few things,” Township Committeeman Kevin Rooney said last week. “I think we’ve got the best fire department around, but I need to get my head around this.” Rooney was concerned that any delay in bonding could potentially add another $18,000 to the bid price being negotiated with Spartan, the fire engine manufacturer, after Seagrave, the other manufacturer, dropped out of the bidding. Spartan had noted that if the deadline for the contract went past May 31, the price could increase. Through discussion with Township Committeeman Douglas Christie, an active firefighter who recused himself from vote, Rooney, Mayor Rudy Boonstra, and Committeemen Haakon Jepsen and Brian Scanlan, the committee reached a consensus that the best thing to do was get the bond authorized by an introduction last week and a final approval before the May 31 deadline, but to also establish a maximum amount so the price could not be renegotiated to Wyckoff’s detriment. “I don’t like the idea of sitting around a few extra months and then having $18,000 in extra expenses,” Jepsen said, voicing the opinion that led to the vote to bond. Then Jepsen raised another question: “How many pumpers do we need? Is it just insurance or are there other factors?” Wyckoff Township Administrator Robert Shannon, who is also a volunteer firefighter, seconded by Township Attorney Rob Landel said Wyckoff’s insurance rating is very good, and is not contingent upon adding another (continued on page 12) The Wyckoff Police Department has filed charges against several motorists. Failure to stop for a red light led to the arrest of a 66year-old Rutherford man, who was charged with running the red light and with narcotics offenses. On April 2, Sergeant Brian Zivkovich stopped the vehicle which had run the red light at Cedar Hill Avenue and Wyckoff Avenue at 12:04 a.m. and detected the odor of burnt marijuana. A subsequent investigation revealed that the man was in possession of a small amount of marijuana and narcotics paraphernalia. He was charged and released on his own recognizance and faces an appearance in municipal Police catch motorists with drugs court. On April 9, at 2:20 a.m., Patrolman Michael DeMaio stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation. The vehicle was unregistered and the license plates on the car were fictitious. A 25-year-old Midland Park driver was arrested, and then found to be in possession of crack cocaine and a narcotics pipe. He was released on his own recognizance and faces an appearance in municipal court. At 12:37 a.m. on April 11, Patrolman DeMaio stopped a vehicle for speeding on Goffle Road and arrested a 25year-old Hawthorne woman for DWI following a breath test. She was also charged with speeding.