March 26, 2014 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 9 Midland Park Proposed adult day care center needs use variances An adult day care facility is being pro- posed for the property at 42-46 Prospect Street in Midland Park. The site, at the corner of East Center Street and around the corner from Godwin School, is zoned for retail/office use and was previously used by a building contractor. Danielle Kalb, the proposed tenant, plans to open a social, non-medical day care center for adults, to be called Horizon Adult Day Care. Patterned after a similar facil- ity in Chatham, the center would provide activities, social interaction and meals for up to 25 clients. It would be open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., but possibly have extended hours from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. if needed. Clients would be trans- ported by the center’s own van. The proposed facility would need two use variances from the Zoning Board of Adjustment, which heard the application at its last meeting. A variance is needed because adult day care is not specifically listed as a permitted use in the B-2 zone. As such, the board would have to determine the parking requirements for the proposed use. Additionally, the owner of the property, CE White II, LLC, proposes to convert the garage on the property into offices for a separate business, which would constitute having two principal uses on the same prop- erty. A previous restriction on the site limits the garage use as an accessory to the main building only. The main building’s second floor would be rented out as an office, as it has in the past. Kalb said that the state has no licensing requirements for adult day care but that she would follow and even exceed the standards set by the National Adult Day Services Association. She said she would hold to a ratio of one staff member per five clients, with a nutritionist to provide guidance and a Registered Nurse dropping in weekly to monitor the facility. She said meals would be brought in and heated in the center’s kitchen. The applicant’s engineer, Douglas Doo- little of Oakland, said drainage and land- scape improvements would also be made to the site, including repairing the retaining wall area and patio. Testimony on the application will con- tinue at the zoning board’s next meeting on April 9. Town seeks new patrolman Midland Park is again searching for a new police officer to bring the ranks up to full force. The department’s newest recruit, Matthew Lombardo, who was hired last July, resigned last month to take a job with the Mahwah Police Department. Police Chief Michael Marra said he has received more than 50 applications thus far to fill the vacancy. The deadline is March 25 and applicants who are not police acad- emy graduates as well as those who are, are welcome to apply. The starting salary for the position as per the police contract is $32,000. Midland Park had sent Lombardo through 22 weeks of training at the Bergen County Police Academy, so the Mahwah Police Department is now liable to Midland Park for costs related to hiring, including physical examination and training. Marra said those expenses amount to more than $17,000. Marra said the department’s person- nel committee, comprised of himself, the lieutenant and four sergeants would review all applications and recommend five to the borough council, which would conduct interviews and make the final decision on the hiring. The department now has 13 offi- cers, including the chief. ‘Operation Take Back’ announced On Saturday, April 26, the Midland Park Police Department, along with police departments throughout New Jersey, will participate in the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Operation Take Back initiative. This program provides the public with the opportunity to rid their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription and over-the-counter drugs in a responsible and ecologically safe manner. Midland Park police will collect the unwanted drugs at police headquarters, 280 Godwin Avenue, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Syringes and other sharp instruments cannot be accepted. What a great feeling! Harpist Nina Rubin lets a member of the Midland Park Branch of the Valley Hospital Auxiliary feel the vibration of the harp strings during a recent demonstration. Rubin spoke at a recent branch meeting about the benefits of harp therapy and shared some of the experiences she has had while playing at the Valley Hospital. She also played some music and read poems she has written based on her experiences. The branch is busy preparing for its 45 th Annual Fashion Show & Luncheon, scheduled for April 29 at the Brownstone. For ticket information, call JoAnn Levine at (201) 370-9891 or e-mail joanncotzlevine@optonline.net.