May 15, 2013 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 3 Franklin Lakes Borough seeks funds for public safety complex by Frank J. McMahon The Borough of Franklin Lakes has established a public safety trust fund for the purpose of financing the construction of a new public safety complex and other essential capital projects related to public safety. “To maintain fiscally prudent objectives, including the long term reduction of debt, while still providing essential capital infrastructure for public safety, it is necessary for the borough to implement a fundraising campaign,” Mayor Frank Bivona said. According to Bivona, the borough is looking for lump sum or installment funding commitments to meet the borough’s public safety funding needs. He announced that the trust fund is now open and accepting commitments and donations. Bivona said the borough council anticipates supplementing donated funds with borough capital funds, as needed, to make these projects viable. The initial goal is to raise $3 million from individual and corporate donations in the first four years. After the initial four-year fundraising period, continued fundraising will assist with additional capital projects and/or the repayment of debt for completed public safety projects. The public safety trust fund will be restricted to funding capital items directly related to public safety, Bivona said. He explained that the four primary areas of public safety in the borough -- police, fire, ambulance, and emergency management -- require updated facilities and equipment in order to provide the appropriate level of service for borough residents. “One of the borough’s most urgent needs is for the construction of a new public safety complex,” Bivona said, adding that the complex would be designed to expand the borough’s firehouses in order to meet department needs, establish a new office of emergency management headquarters to meet the needs of residents during emergencies, and to create a new police headquarters to enhance the borough’s ability to serve and protect residents. Bivona pointed out that the bays at both borough firehouses need to be expanded to meet legal and practical requirements for clearance and egress. The current bays are too short, causing significant safety and responsiveness issues, he said. Bivona added that the emergency management facilities must be expanded to meet the borough’s emergency management and temporary shelter needs. The public safety complex would incorporate a command center for emergency management volunteers during crises in the borough, and would house communications equipment and emergency supplies. During emergencies, the complex would provide residents with essential needs such as electricity, water, restrooms, and even vaccines during an epidemic crisis. The borough’s current police headquarters was constructed in 1967, Bivona advised, when the police force consisted of nine sworn officers. That facility must now meet the needs of a 22-officer force. “The police headquarters does not have sufficient space,” Bivona explained. “It is in disrepair and does not meet important code requirements. The building has exhausted its useful life and needs replacement and colocating the police headquarters with other public safety buildings would enable the borough to meet all of resident safety needs in one public safety complex.” Bivona said the public safety trust fund could also be (continued on page 17)