Residents urge council to explore other options
By: Kerri Williams
HIGHTSTOWN Borough Council breezed through appropriations for a property revaluation and water and sewer improvements on Monday but hit a snag on a plan to buy a new garbage truck.
Some residents spoke out against buying the $178,500 truck during the public hearing portion of the meeting, urging council members to explore other options, such as leasing a vehicle or sharing services with East Windsor.
"You need to lay off until you have an open debate and study of the Public Works operation in this borough," said resident Torry Watkins, who serves as the chairman of the local Democratic committee.
The council voted unanimously to postpone voting on the truck until the next meeting, Nov. 20, when other options could be laid out for consideration. One of those options is a possible state grant to help with the funding, Councilman Walter Sikorski said.
The proposed truck would replace a 1972 vehicle that is currently used about three times a week to pick up grass, leaves, metal, carpet and some other bulk items from borough residents.
"It’s in desperate need of being replaced," said Councilman Larry Quattrone, who oversees the Public Works Department and owns Dom’s Getty in town. "It’s been patched, double-patched and patched again. We need it off the road as soon as possible."
Mr. Quattrone said borough officials did not look into a lease because the Public Works Department has a history of using vehicles for a long time, with the current truck being on the road for 30 years.
But some residents pointed out that the town may not need another truck for that long, as officials are looking into consolidating services with other municipalities.
Gene Sarafin added that he believes that some borough officials want to purchase a new truck so that they can resume regular garbage collection, a service that is now contracted.
"This is the biggest boondoggle in the history of the town," Mr. Sarafin told council members. "You do not want to be in the garbage business."
Borough Administrator Candace Gallagher has said that the truck purchase has nothing to do with the council’s ongoing review over whether it should buy another garbage truck or continue to contract for pickup.
There was no opposition to two other council appropriations, including one for $145,000 to perform a county-mandated property revaluation in the borough. Council members voted unanimously for the appropriation, which can be spread out over five years, according to Ms. Gallagher.
The council previously approved a separate $15,000 expenditure for updating borough tax maps in anticipation of the revaluation.
The council on Monday awarded the contract for preparing the revaluation to Vital Computer Resources of Trenton, which had the second lowest bid, Ms. Gallagher said. The lowest bid came in at $129,000 but did not meet the specifications, she added. When asked about the qualifications of Vital Computer Resources, Ms. Gallagher said the company is the supplier for assessment software used in most towns in the state.
Council members also voted unanimously in favor of a bond ordinance appropriating $105,000 for water and sewer improvements on Cole Avenue and Clinton Street. The improvements are necessary because of the recent discovery that a section of pipe in the area measures just 2 inches compared to the 6-inch pipe standard in the borough.
"We need to get all the piping in the borough up to snuff," said Councilman Quattrone.

