Borough seeks study for EW police service

Patten ‘insulted,’ Schneider wants other options

By: Vic Monaco
   HIGHTSTOWN — The borough will seek proposals from companies to study the feasibility of having East Windsor provide it police services.
   That 4-1 Borough Council decision came Monday night despite strong objections from Mayor Bob Patten and Councilman and police liaison Dave Schneider. Ironically, it also occurred on the same night the council approved the establishment of a police K-9 unit.
   Both the mayor and Mr. Schneider, who cast the lone dissenting vote, railed against the wording of the approved resolution because it specifically called for a study of the township providing the service.
   "Why would we limit ourselves to one option?" asked Mr. Schneider.
   He said he would like to see a feasibility study of the borough providing police services to other communities. And, he suggested, that such feasibility studies could be done in-house.
   Council President Walter Sikorski — who has led the borough’s recent committee discussions on police consolidation with East Windsor leaders — said the two towns’ committees would consider Mr. Schneider’s suggestions.
   He also pointed out that the resolution is simply the first step in gathering information before seeking a state grant to finance the feasibility study, the cost of which has been estimated at $20,000 to $50,000.
   But that didn’t satisfy Mayor Patten or Mr. Schneider.
   "I am insulted by the language of this," said Mr. Patten, who stopped leading the borough consolidation committee in February after an argument with East Windsor Councilman and committee member Marc Lippman.
   "It sounds like our police aren’t good enough."
   Mr. Sikorski told the mayor he was "over-reacting."
   "This is not to be interpreted as a personal insult. It’s the logical way to proceed," he said. "We may not even get a grant or get a reply to the RFP (request for proposals)."
   Furthermore, he said, the borough would have its say if a police contract were eventually negotiated with East Windsor.
   Mr. Schneider went so far as to say he doesn’t believe East Windsor is interested in offering the service.
   "They would have prepared a price quote if they were," he said.
   Contacted later in the week, East Windsor Mayor Janice Mironov said township leaders wouldn’t be taking part in meetings that began last year if they weren’t open to the idea of providing the service. Furthermore, she said, the issue is too complex to easily offer a price quote.
   "The subject of police sharing is an involved one with a great many aspects to it and several other services that are impacted, such as court operations, dispatching and record-keeping," she said, while adding that other variables include police salaries, health benefits, pensions, vehicles, facilities and equipment.
   Mayor Mironov said she couldn’t understand Mayor Patten’s comments since Hightstown had approached East Windsor to discuss the subject and "the approach that is incorporated into the task of the RFP has been agreed to by Bob Patten" in the committee meetings he attended.
   Twice Monday night Mayor Patten asked that the resolution be tabled and twice he was rebuffed by Mr. Sikorski.
   Before the vote, Councilman Larry Quattrone, who sits on the consolidation committee and has expressed reservations about consolidation, explained the committee’s recommendation.
   "This subcommittee is only doing what this council asked it to do," he said in reference to a spring 2006 decision to explore consolidation.
   At that time, police-related expenditures stood at $1.5 million in a budget that contributed to an 18-cent tax hike. On Monday night, the council approved a 2007 budget that includes $1.6 million in police-related expenditures and carries a tax hike of 12.5 cents (see story on Page 3A).
   Monday’s voting did not include Borough Councilman Patrick Thompson, who was absent from the meeting. After the resolution was approved, council critic Gene Sarafin said he thinks a local citizens committee, rather than an outside consultant, should study the feasibility of police consolidation. But Republican council candidate Mike Theokas said he and Mr. Schneider’s comments were "naive."
   "I think we’re misunderstanding just how much goes into running a police department. I think we need an objective professional," he said. "I think it’s a little naive to think that a few people could sit in a room and shuffle the numbers and say it makes sense or it doesn’t. I also think it may be a little naive to think there would be other potential partners other than the one that surrounds us geographically."
   While saying he doesn’t know if contracting with East Windsor is the way to go, Mr. Theokas said he does believe it’s time to work cordially with the township.
   "At some point we’re going to kind of bury the hatchet with our neighbor," he said.
   Meanwhile, the council gave an enthusiastic 5-0 approval to the establishment of a K-9 unit suggested by Patrolman Frank Marchione and endorsed by Police Chief James Eufemia. Officer Marchione explained that the German shepherd eyed for the program could be trained for narcotics detection and patrol duties in about six months, starting in October. There would be little or no cost to the borough, he and the chief indicated, because the patrolman has received donations well exceeding the $5,200 cost of the dog.
   After the approval, Chief Eufemia said his department has no choice but to continue functioning as it normally would, despite the possibility that it could be abolished.
   "We’re going to operate the Police Department and do what’s best for the community," he said, while adding that he’d like to see the RFP before commenting further.
   Patrolman Marchione, a six-year veteran, said the consolidation talks are personally demoralizing.
   "Is it disheartening? Sure it is," he said. "I come here and dedicate myself and my living … to serve Hightstown, and every year I hear about consolidation. It’s frustrating at times."
   Mr. Marchione said he understands the reason for the discussion — the borough’s financial woes — but hopes another variable will be weighed.
   "Just because some money might be saved, will we have the same services?" he asked.
   If the two communities ever decide to enter into a contract with East Windsor providing police services, Mayor Mironov said the future of borough police employees "would have to be part of the discussion." And she said such a situation wouldn’t necessarily mean those employees would all lose their jobs, in part, because increased coverage would likely require more employees.
   The township Police Department has about 50 employees, while the borough has 13.