By: John Tredrea – Staff Writer
At the recommendation of Hopewell Township police Chief George Meyer, two new patrol officers have been hired to replace recent retirees from the Hopewell Township Police Department.
The two new officers are Joseph Maccaquano and Alexis Mirra.
Officer Maccaquano, of Lakewood, is employed as a policeman in Pennington Borough. Ms. Mirra graduated from the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in 2009 and worked as an intern at the Hunterdon County prosecutor’s office early this year. She resides in Belvidere.
Their appointments become effective Sept. 7. Their starting annual salaries are $50,727.
Voting in favor of the appointments at Monday night’s Township Committee meeting were Mayor Michael Markulec, Deputy Mayor Jim Burd and Committeewoman Kim Johnson.
Vanessa Sandom and John Murphy voted no without comment.
Asked Tuesday why she voted no, Ms. Sandom said: "Because the two officers will cost taxpayers approximately $1.2 million in salary and benefits over the next five years. The Township Committee should have instituted a hiring freeze until at least the end of this year, given the very precarious economic environment we are all facing."
"I have tremendous respect and support for Chief Meyer and the entire police force, but at a time when we are struggling to balance our budget, we need to make every effort to minimize costs. For months we reviewed the need for more police officers in the township. There were no statistics to indicate that we needed more police. Our current force has and continues to do a great job," Mr. Murphy said Tuesday.
IN OTHER BUSINESS, the committee voted to award a contract for sewer repairs for the 120-home Princeton Farms development, located off Pennington-Rocky Hill Road.
Under the contract, a maximum of $51,715 can be paid to the firm of R. Moslowski Excavating, Inc., of Robbinsville, for the repairs.
Awarding the contract was recommended by Gail Downey, the township’s longtime representative to the Stony Brook Regional Sewerage Authority. Ms. Downey said recent repairs to sewers in Princeton Farms have increased efficiency substantially.
– The committee also voted to appoint John H. Rittley to the township’s Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee for a three-year term.
– An ordinance authorizing the issuance of $3,145,746 in municipal bonds was adopted. The measure covers roadwork and improvements to municipal structures. It appropriates a total amount of $3,331,312 for the work. The portion not covered by the bonds is covered by cash down payments.
Nearly $2.9 million of the money will go toward roadwork, including work on New Road and Pennington Road at Search Avenue.
Also called for in the ordinance are new pneumatic sensors for the public works garage.
A new dump truck for public works, a 4-wheel-drive vehicle for the police department – along with radio and radar equipment for that department – are also covered by the ordinance.
– Also adopted was an ordinance appropriating $331,222 for sidewalk improvements in the Village of Titusville. The township will be reimbursed in full by the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission (DRJTBC).
The grant will fund replacement of deteriorated sidewalks along River Drive, Grant Street, Rivera Avenue and Church Road.
"Last year, we constructed handicapped ramps from the Washington Crossing bridge to the D&R Canal towpath and from the parking lot in Washington Crossing State Park to the towpath, improving accessibility in the area (with a similar grant). This (DRJTBC) award continues the theme of improving accessibility in that many sidewalks in the Village of Titusville are in disrepair," Paul Pogorzelski, administrator/engineer, said recently.
