BY STEVE KELMAN
CORRESPONDENT
The Cresskill governing body voted to introduce on first reading a $1.29 million multi-purpose bond ordinance last week, money that will be used to fund road improvements and purchase equipment for several municipal departments.
The measure, introduced June 5 calls for “the making of various public improvements and the acquisition of new or replacement equipment, machinery, and automotive vehicles,” according to wording in the measure.
Borough Chief Financial Officer Harold Laufeld III said $1 million from the introduced ordinance would be used to fund the 2019 road improvement program, “and the rest for other items that will be purchased by the police department, DPW, and fire department.”
Items to be acquired in the new $1,295,000 bond ordinance include a mason dump truck with a plow for the DPW ($112,000), an automatic CPR machine and automatic stretchers for emergency services ($76,500), and automatic license plate reader, in-vehicle and body cameras, tactical vests and tasers for the police department ($76,500).
A public hearing on the ordinance and vote for adoption is scheduled for Wednesday, June 19 at 7:30 p.m.
Students set to take reins of government
A group of students from the seventh grade at Cresskill Middle School are set to take over (for a night) the reins of municipal government this week.
The eight youngsters who are planning to run the Wednesday, June 12 committee of the whole meeting were on hand, along with their social studies teacher Thomas Goeller, at the June 6 regular council meeting to observe and learn.
Mayor Benedict Romeo had the students stand and lead the Pledge of Allegiance at the start of the meeting. The mayor went on to explain to the youngsters various aspects of municipal government. For example he explained that resolutions are “every day business transactions.”
The mayor encouraged the kids, who will “tail” and be counterparts to him and each of the council members, to prepare for the meeting.
“Think about things that you would like to see worked on or improved in town,” he said.
Board of Education President Denise Villani said the student involvement with the borough government was being arranged in conjunction with Cresskill’s 125th anniversary.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for these students to experience how municipal government works,” she said.