TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON—The Township Council unanimously approved a two-year contract Jan. 24 with Northwest Bergen Regional Health Commission, reflecting a 3.75% overall increase, following questions about what the township was getting for the increased cost.
In its original contract proposal, the regional health agency requested a 4% increase over the period.
The proposed 2022–2023 contract totaled $73,842; the revised contract amount was not available at press time.
“It’s not much but it’s a couple hundred [dollars]. I just feel that it’s really important that we definitely look at all these contracts prior to just pushing them through, which is what I did,” said Council President Desserie Morgan, who had tabled the question at earlier meetings.
She said she did not question the regional agency’s quality of services, calling the agency “fantastic.”
Morgan said the prior two-year contract with the regional health agency, which provides public health professionals and nursing services, included a 2% increase for two years. She stressed that the council should look at all contracts to see whether more savings or services can be found.
She said she questioned why the 2022–2023 contract was up 4%, plus a $1,036 “Covid fee” as opposed to the previous contract with a 2% jump over two years.
Administrator Robert Tovo said the Covid surcharge was related to increased hours for a public health nurse to handle Covid-related duties. The contract notes the added cost was for “administrative duties/cost and nursing hours specifically associated with Covid-19 response.”
The vote to approve the contract was added to the Jan. 24 agenda that night and approved at nearly 11:15, more than three hours into the meeting.
Morgan said prior to the vote, “If we have the ability to see the contract and negotiate a little bit I feel it’s the prudent thing to do and that’s why I tabled it. I’m willing to vote on it now because they have budged.”
She urged the council to “take full advantage” of the contract’s services, including anti-bullying programs.
The contract provides the services of a state-licensed health officer to administer and enforce state and local public health ordinances.
Moreover, it provides the services of a state-licensed registered environmental health specialist to ensure that all local boards of health conform to state public health standards and practices.
An addendum notes “other services provided in contract” as public health nursing for communicable disease investigations; monitoring school immunization records; nurses to administer vaccinations at annual flu clinics, home visits for evaluation/emergency response, health education, and animal bite investigations.
The health commission, organized in 1957, serves 11 county towns, also including Emerson, Hillsdale, Montvale, River Vale and Westwood in the Pascack Valley.