Mahwah January 30, 2013 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • Page 5 Council seeks to mitigate firing range noise by Frank J. McMahon A recent notice about the use of the police gun firing range at the Law & Public Safety Institute/Police Fire and EMS Academies on Campgaw Road in the evenings has prompted residents of the Fardale section of Mahwah to urge their township council representative to voice their concern about the noise they will have to endure. Councilman Steven Sbarra told the council at a recent public meeting that several of his neighbors had voiced a concern to him about a letter they received from Peter Hodge, the director of the institute, indicating that the firing range would be used during 38 evenings starting in April and extending through the end of November. Sbarra said the residents are already negatively impacted by the noise of the daytime shooting that goes on at the range, and now they will have any outdoor activities on their properties impacted by the nighttime use. He asked if the council could do something to address these concerns. In his letter, Hodge emphasized that the nighttime use is a mandated requirement of the New Jersey Department of Law & Public Safety, Division of Criminal Justice and Police Training Commission in order to provide the highest level of training for public safety personnel. However, he assured the residents that the institute wants to be a good neighbor to “help maintain the quiet beauty and tranquility that is Fardale.” Hodge also advised that police officers must qualify twice a year in the use of their service weapons, and more times for the use of special weapons. Shooting during certain evenings is scheduled annually at the firing range, he said, and the Fardale residents are notified about it every year. Hodge added that every effort would be made to com- plete firing by 9 p.m. on the evenings scheduled and he has instructed the range master to work to complete training sessions early when possible. In addition, he stated that the range would continue to be closed on Saturdays and Sundays, except for those very rare instances when there is no other alternative. He said he would make certain there would be no nighttime shooting on the weekends. “We currently do not anticipate any shooting on the weekends,” Hodge stated in his letter, “but will make certain that you will be notified as soon as we become aware of those rare and unanticipated days.” (continued on page 17)