Page 10 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • January 22, 2014 Midland Park Fund for new fire truck to get additional boost The Midland Park Borough Council is considering dou- bling its allocation towards the purchase of a new fire truck so as to reduce the ultimate amount that will need to be bonded. As it fined tuned its proposed 2014 municipal budget in anticipation of formal introduction in early March, the council tentatively decided to put aside $100,000 in its capital budget for the purchase of a new ladder truck. The vehicle will have to be replaced next year when it will reach the 25-year life expectancy mandated by state law. CFO Laurie O’Hanlon said the reserve for the purchase built up with set asides over the past several years is up to $450,000. The fire department anticipates the new truck will cost $950,000. Mayor Patrick “Bud” O’Hagan said reducing the amount that ultimately has to be bonded helps in the long run because the bond payments affect the cap and the operating costs in future budgets. He pointed out, however, that the newest fire truck will be totally paid off this year and that premium can then be applied to the new purchase. Addi- tionally, he said, he would like to see the truck to be retired sold at auction rather than traded in. “There have to be towns in Pennsylvania or elsewhere willing to pay for a well-maintained truck in excellent shape,” O’Hagan said. “We just haven’t tried hard enough,” he told the skeptical council members. To increase the reserve, the council decided to reallocate moneys initially requested for other fire department proj- ects. Funds requested for equipment upgrades, including hose, radios, pagers and turnout gear, $14,000 in all, were kept in the tentative budget, but only $5,000 will be put aside for the eventual purchase of a new fire chief’s car. The fire chief had recommended a new car updated to today’s standards as a command vehicle for the chief and using the current chief’s car for the assistant chief. In this way, if the chief’s car should be out for repairs, a fully equipped com- mand car would still be available at the fire scene. Council members questioned the need for a car for the assistant chief altogether. But Councilman Jack Consi- dine, the fire commissioner, said the assistant chief could be given the car on a one-year trial basis and required to justify its value to the department at the end of the trial period. “It costs nothing,” Considine pointed out. Police requests discussed Police department capital requests came under scrutiny New staff hired for shared service The Borough of Midland Park recently hired new staff to handle inspections and other activities related to the interlocal services agreement to provide construction code official services to the Borough of Ho-Ho-Kus. Midland Park’s official, Mark Berninger, is in charge of the depart- ment for both towns. Ralph Venturini was appointed building inspector. He will serve Ho-Ho-Kus at a salary of $13,341. Frank Giordano will serve as plumbing inspector at a salary of $10,600. Ralph Purrino was hired as fire sub code official for Midland Park only at a salary of $5,843. He will also serve as fire inspector for Ho-Ho-Kus at a salary of $3,700. Ho-Ho-Kus will retain its zoning official, property maintenance official, fire official, and fire prevention offi- cial. Ho-Ho-Kus will continue to maintain a basic construc- tion department, which will initiate permits and other paperwork, and will maintain related files. The shared construction code official will maintain hours at the Ho-Ho-Kus Construction Department on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3 pm. to 6 p.m. to meet with residents and contractors. The CCO will also be available to answer questions by phone. during the budget session as well, with council members questioning the choice of guns and police cruisers being requested. The department has to replace its duty weapons by 2015, and one of the choices being considered are 40 caliber Sig Sauer weapons at an estimated price of $8,350. Council- man Mark Braunius, who said he is familiar with guns, said that 40 caliber Glocks, which are much cheaper, are also standard issue in most area police departments. “They (Sig Sauer) are nothing else but vanity guns,” Braunius said. “Every weapon they are considering is an excellent choice. Why not the most reasonable?” asked Braunius. Councilman Scott Pruiksma said using standardized guns would also be more practical when officers participate in the county’s mandated Active Shooter program because everyone would be familiar with the other’s weapon. “We should fund the weapon that is standardized, meets their needs and is cost effective,” said Considine. Councilwoman Nancy Peet said the council should make a reasonable allocation for the weapons replacement and allow the chief to buy within those parameters. Council members also debated the type of car the depart- ment should purchase to replace two current SUVs. The department is recommending two, two-wheel drive SUVs, which are less expensive to operate. Mayor O’Hagan ques- tioned the need for SUVs over sedans, but Braunius said SUVs are roomier to carry all the necessary equipment. Pruiksma suggested getting one SUV as a patrol car and a sedan for use by the chief, whom he said uses his vehicle for meetings and not as a cruiser. “The chief’s car does not need to be totally outfitted,” Pruiksma said. Borough Administrator Addie Hanna cautioned that a sedan purchase would have to come from the operating budget and affect the state-imposed cap, whereas the SUV is funded from the capital budget. Further discussion will take place with the police chief as the budget gets finalized.