August 6, 2014 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 11 Franklin Lakes Borough planning addition to police headquarters By Frank J. McMahon The Borough of Franklin Lakes is plan- ning to fund the construction of an addi- tion to the police headquarters building on DeKorte Drive and the replacement of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system, and other improvements to that building. Plans show a 1,517 square foot addi- tion on the west side of the building The ground floor of that addition will contain a separate secure room where prisoners will be brought in before interrogation and pro- cessing, two jail cells, and two bathrooms. Renovations will also be made to the exist- ing closet, soft interrogation room, work area, and storage room in the existing Police Department Report Franklin Lakes Police Officers Gerard Gansel and William Zangara made a motor vehicle stop on Franklin Avenue on July 18 that resulted in the arrest of a 35-year-old New City, New York man for outstanding warrants emanating out of the Paramus, Weehawken, and Alpine munici- pal courts. On July 20 at 1:40 p.m., as a result of a motor vehicle stop on Ewing Avenue, a 20 year-old Franklin Lakes man was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, posses- sion of CDS in a motor vehicle, improper passing, and failure to have the vehicle inspected. Detective Sergeant Jeffrey Jost and Officers Donald Wilson and Gregory Albert investigated. Stop & Shop Loss Prevention filed shoplifting complaints against a 30-year- old Ogdensburg man and a 28 year-old Sussex woman on July 21. The complaint alleges that both subjects are responsible for the theft of approximately $1,000 worth of razor blade refills and white strips on July 18. Detective Sergeant Jeffrey Jost investigated. Also on July 21, a Terrace Road resi- dent reported that unknown persons had fraudulently used his credit card account. A fraudulent credit card was opened using the victim’s personal identification. Offi- cer Jon Rynander investigated. On July 22, an Old Franklin Lake Road resident reported that unknown persons had stolen four tires and rims from his property. The total value of property is estimated at $800. Detective Sergeant Jef- frey Jost investigated. At 10:34 p.m. on July 28, the Franklin Lakes Police Department received a com- plaint of a large party on Ewing Avenue. Officers discovered an unsupervised party involving underage consumption of alcohol. Approximately 50 teenagers were present. The homeowner, a 44-year- old Franklin Lakes woman, was charged with maintaining a nuisance. A 17-year- old female Franklin Lakes resident was charged with underage possession of alco- hol. Sergeant Andrew Cacciatore, Officer Mark McCombs, Officer Donald Wilson, and Officer Gregory Albert investigated. On July 29 at 10:39 p.m., police inves- tigated a reported motor vehicle crash on McCoy Road. As the result of that investi- gation, a 65-year-old Oakland woman was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated, reckless driving, failure to maintain lane, and open alcohol container in a motor vehicle. The driver was traveling North on McCoy Road when her vehicle ran off of the roadway, damaging a mail- box and striking a stone wall before crash- ing into a utility pole. Sergeant Andrew Cacciatore, Officer Mark McCombs, Offi- cer Donald Wilson, and Officer Gregory Albert investigated. building where the jail cells are currently located. The basement below the addition will contain two large unassigned rooms. The borough council has introduced a $652,000 bond ordinance that would authorize capital improvements to police headquarters. That ordinance will be con- sidered for adoption at the Aug. 19 public council meeting. According to the ordinance, the bond issue would include a cost of $525,000 for the building addition, $67,500 for the HVAC replacement, and $52,500 for architectural services. Franklin Lakes Borough Administrator Gregory Hart advised at that public meet- ing that $300,000 will be reimbursed to the borough by private donations, and the borough has raised $36,970 in its Public Safety Trust Fund. He said the borough will receive a $100,000 donation before the ordinance is adopted and that money will be used as a down payment so it will not be necessary to borrow more than $552,000. Mayor Frank Bivona asked if any of the borough’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund money could be used for this project. Hart said that could not be done at this time, but if that were possible, it would reduce the amount to be borrowed. The administra- tor said he would look into that possibil- ity. Hart also advised that this bond issue would take care of most of the issues in police headquarters, including the indoor air quality, but the cost of removing some ceiling tiles to address a mold issue and a past rodent problem would not be sub- stantial and could possibly be covered by money from the Affordable Housing Trust Fund. The borough council has been consid- ering improvements to police headquarters since early 2012, when Bivona suggested the establishment of a Public Safety Trust Fund in order to collect private donations to be put toward the cost of public safety items or projects in the borough. Bivona said at the time that he wanted to start to plan fundraising for public safety capi- tal items with the objective of instituting a regular process of soliciting funds in support of the purchase or construction of large capital items that support public safety in the borough, especially in light of the state’s two percent cap on any increase in the borough’s tax levy, and the desire to lower outstanding borough debt levels. Bivona cited the urgent need for large capital items and stated it was clear the borough must begin a multi-year program to raise funds to meet the borough’s goals. He recommended a Public Safety Trust Fund be formed under the control of the borough council, but to be used only for public safety capital purchases. He also recommended that a PSTF advisory group, made up of residents who have a keen interest in public safety and/or who are large potential donors, should be formed to help guide fundraising activities and the use of the funds. That has led to donations to the bor- ough, and fundraising at various events in the borough such as the annual Oktober- fest event.