Chief asks for changes in emergency radio plan Milltown plans to spend $50,000 to repair ailing system By nicole c. vaccaro Staff Writer

Chief asks for changes in emergency radio plan
Milltown plans
to spend $50,000
to repair ailing system By nicole c. vaccaro
Staff Writer

Milltown Police Chief Raymond Geipel has asked that Borough Council members re-evaluate their plans for a $50,000 bond ordinance currently earmarked for emergency radio system repairs.

Earlier this month, borough officials unanimously agreed to finance a $50,000 bond ordinance to repair the borough’s ailing emergency radio system; however, that agreement will likely be amended to include Geipel’s input.

At the Nov. 13 council meeting, Geipel told officials that he was never consulted on the matter, nor given any opportunity to present feedback. Thus, in his opinion, the needs of the police department were not being presented fairly.

"I could have given them a list of things in need of immediate attention, but they never asked," he said. "Repairs to the radio system are important, but so is fixing the problems with our police hot line and mobile radios."

On Oct. 23, Councilman Gerard Cappella motioned the council to hear expert testimony regarding system glitches from East Brunswick engineer and volunteer fireman Richard Twomey. A longtime friend of Fire Chief Joel Carasso, Twomey offered his services free of charge.

"The inadequacy and unreliability of the system is a point that has been repeatedly made by Chief Carasso over the years," Cappella told council members. "But in the last year alone, the system has proved to be an even greater threat to our volunteers."

While fighting a structure fire on Feb. 2, firemen outside the building were unable to communicate with those inside due to flaws in the communication system.

"This was an extremely dangerous situation that luckily did not get any worse," said Cappella. "We cannot put a price on safety."

In his report to the council, Twomey identified problems with the borough’s current radio system that include high-pitched static and severe overcrowding on the frequency.

"With the amount of radio traffic on the municipal frequency, emergency workers have a difficult, if not impossible, job discerning what is emergency traffic and what is business or pleasure-boat traffic," he wrote in his report.

While Twomey’s findings were enough to convince both the council and public to vote in favor of the $50,000 bond ordinance, they were not enough to convince Chief Geipel to drop his concerns.

"I agree that repairs to the radio system are important, but I also know there are other problems being overlooked," said Geipel. "All I want is the chance to be heard."

Twomey and Geipel are in the process of scheduling a meeting. If, in fact, Twomey finds problems in the police department requiring immediate attention, he will present those before the council and the ordinance may be amended.