By Katie Wagner, Staff Writer
ROCKY HILL — The Borough Council authorized the mayor to sign a two-year police contract with South Bound Brook following a closed session Monday.
The contract, which is to provide Rocky Hill with 50 hours of traffic enforcement from the South Bound Brook Police Department each month, is effective April 1 and is likely to be signed Monday, according to Rocky Hill Mayor Ed Zimmerman.
Rocky Hill has been contracting South Bound Brook’s police services for the past few years for varied lengths of time, with police currently working under a contract from last year that was renewed in February. While Rocky Hill currently pays South Bound Brook police on a per hour basis with rates depending on the experience of officers sent to Rocky Hill, the new contract establishes flat monthly fees for each year.
For the first 12 months of the contract, South Bound Brook would receive $3,300 per month and for the second year, $3,630 per month. The contract also calls for Rocky Hill to allocate an additional month’s worth of pay to South Bound Brook each year to cover “special details” in addition to the normal 50 hours of traffic enforcement, such as Click It or Ticket, bringing Rocky Hill’s total costs for the first year and second year to $42,900 and $47,190 respectively.
Another difference between the new agreement and the previous version is that it requires at least a six-month notice, instead of the prior two months, should either party wish to withdraw from the contract. The contract also prohibits South Bound Brook from withdrawing police service before Rocky Hill establishes an alternative plan for ensuring its citizens are adequately protected.
Mayor Zimmerman said he is happy South Bound Brook agreed to enter into such a lengthy contract with his municipality, adding that South Bound Brook’s previous mayor had threatened to stop providing services to Rocky Hill last year.
”They’ve (South Bound Brook police) done an outstanding job and the citizens are happy with their work for the most part,” Mayor Zimmerman said.
The mayor also credited Rocky Hill for deciding to share services with a town located 13 miles away.
”I think the agreement shows that we’re a leader in shared services.” Mayor Zimmerman said. “It’s unique for municipalities that are not adjacent to each other to share services.”
The Borough Council is planning to continue to use State Police as Rocky Hill’s police department, as long as the cost does not increase significantly, according to the mayor. While making arrests and responding to calls in Rocky Hill are the State Police’s responsibility, South Bound Brook police have responded and will continue to respond to calls and remain at the scene of incidents until State Police arrive, according to the current arrangement.
Rocky Hill’s decision to contract for South Bound Brook police services dates back to July 2003, when Brian Nolan was mayor. The initial interlocal police agreement was to provide 50 hours of service per month, at a cost of $2,162.50 for 90 days, but was stopped after its first day by the state Attorney General’s Office. In early September of the same year, Rocky Hill approved an amended agreement for a four-month police contract with South Bound Brook, costing Rocky Hill $2,162 per 50 hours of service, which was to be provided monthly. Rocky Hill officials began discussing ways of improving traffic policing in the borough after resident Brad Alexander was struck by a speeding car while crossing Washington Street on Dec. 16, 2002.
