North Bergen’s police officers are set to receive new crime fighting gear for the upcoming year. The Board of Commissioners adopted two resolutions at their March 22 meeting, approving purchase of three police interceptor utility vehicles, for $73,581; and four Chevrolet Tahoe Sport Utility Vehicles, for $139,802. Funds for the purchases will come from the town’s $3.5 million capital budget.
Police Chief Robert Dowd said the purchases are necessary because of the town’s challenging topography.
“We have extremely steep hills in North Bergen,” Dowd said after the meeting. The SUV’s are designed for such landscapes, as opposed to traditional patrol cars. But the benefits don’t end there.
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“Our officers will now have the best equipment.” – Robert Dowd
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“They’re dependable, they’re efficient, they’re not a drain on fuel,” Dowd said about the cars. In the 1980’s, a few years before he began working as a police officer in the town, “The fleet was a disgrace. There were three working police cars in the township.”
The patrol cars operated so poorly that officers would head to police headquarters (located behind town hall), for roll call, then board NJ Transit buses on John F. Kennedy Boulevard to different post locations to start their shift.
“Our officers will now have the best equipment,” Dowd said. While the vehicles are mainly for police, various public safety departments will also use them from time to time.
Town Administrator Chris Pianese called the purchases a great deal.
“The reason we jumped on these is because if you divide the 139 by four, you’re talking about $35,000 for a Tahoe, which is an incredible price to buy a Tahoe on a state contract,” Pianese said.
Sidewalk café ordinance
Last year, the board passed an ordinance allowing outdoor café owners in town to have sidewalk tables. At their latest meeting, they adopted an additional cafe ordinance amending their original one. The new ordinance will also allow the businesses to have temporary seasonal enclosures, not permanently attached to sidewalks, that provide protection from weather conditions.
The town also introduced an ordinance to purchase the original Kennedy Furniture store property and adjacent properties, that were severely damaged by a fire in December. The town will begin eminent domain proceedings to use the property for the public.
Town Clerk to be honored
Mayor Nicholas Sacco also announced to the Board that Town Clerk Erin Barillas will receive a special award from the county for her work.
The ceremony was set to take place at the William J. Brennan Court House, 583 Newark Ave. in Jersey City, at 6 p.m. the same day as the meeting.
“I feel extremely honored that the mayor would even consider me for this,” Barillas said later. “I feel very lucky.”
Hannington Dia can be reached at hd@hudsonreporter.com
