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Politics & Government

New Cop Car Won't Cost Taxpayers, Committee Says

Governing body also OKs ordinance to stiffen false alarm penalties.

The township will be getting a new police car without any cost to local taxpayers.

To replace a police vehicle that was severely damaged by fire and totaled by the township’s insurance carrier, the Township Committee on Tuesday voted to spend $46,707.95 to buy the new car.

Funding from the state’s Safe Corridors Grant will provide $25,103.75 toward the purchase while the remaining $21,577.20 will be funded through the insurance carrier.

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The vehicle will be purchased through the Cranford Police Cooperative Pricing System from Beyer-Warnock Fleet Sales and Lease.

Cost of the base car is $33,720.75. The equipment for the car, including a digital mobile video camera, VHF police radio, radar and laptop computer, will cost $12,987.20 also through the Cranford Police Cooperative Pricing System.

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“This is not impacting township taxpayers,” Mayor Carl Suraci said.

False Alarm Fee Going Up

The Township Committee also approved an ordinance that increased the fine from $25 to $100 for violating the township’s false alarm ordinance.

Suraci said that police Capt. Paul Merkler reported that township emergency responders–police, fire department and rescue squad–responded to 1,450 false alarms in 2011, with 1,103 violations. A total of 69 summonses were given, the mayor said.

The ordinance states that any alarm system which has between three and 10 false alarms within a 12-month will be considered in violation of the ordinance. That will subject the owner of the alarm system a fine of no less than $100 and more than $500 for each false alarm over the fourth false alarm.

The ordinance also shortens the time that alarm owners will be given warnings. The ordinance now states that verbal warnings will be given after the second false alarm and written warnings will be given after the third false alarm. In the previous ordinance, verbal warnings were given through the fifth false alarm and written warnings were given after the sixth false alarm.

Tuition Reimbursement Approved

The Township Committee also approved a tuition reimbursement for Officer Christopher McMinn who successfully completed the “Leadership Communications” and “Counterterrorism” courses through Thomas Edison State College.

Under the terms of the Hillsborough PBA contract, McMinn will be reimburse $817.53, 75 percent, of the $1,090.04 cost.

Police Chief Paul Kaminsky recommended McMinn receive the reimbursement.

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