LAMBERTVILLE: City officials OK college tuition credit program

By John Tredrea, Special Writer
   LAMBERTVILLE — A program that can give Lambertville’s volunteer firefighters and volunteer emergency medical personnel up to $2,400 in tuition credits at a community college was adopted by the City Council Oct. 15.
   Under state law, municipalities in New Jersey are permitted to allow those volunteers to take advantage of the state’s Volunteer Tuition Credit Program. There is no cost to a municipality involved in this program.
   A resolution passed by Council states that the Council and Mayor “deem it appropriate to enhance the recruitment and retention” of the types of volunteers covered by the program. The tuition program gives individuals an added incentive to volunteer, and to stay with the organization they have joined voluntarily.
   Since Hunterdon County, in which Lambertville is located, does not have a community college, Hunterdon County residents who serve on Lambertville’s firefighting or emergency medical volunteer units may attend Raritan Valley College in Somerset County or Mercer County Community College and still qualify for the tuition credits.
   Under the resolution, Christie Ehret, the city’s finance officer, will administer the tuition credit program and is authorized to enter into all agreements and to maintain files of all documents as may be required state law.
   As for qualifying for the program, there are regulations on how long volunteers have been members in good standing of the volunteer organization to which they belong.
   ALSO at the Oct. 15 meeting, council passed a resolution authorizing Mayor David Del Vecchio and city Clerk Cindy Ege to sign an agreement with the firm of United Federal Data. The agreement permits the firm to use existing utility poles in the city to provide telecommunications services throughout the state.
   Council also introduced a proposed ordinance, which amends a previously adopted bond ordinance, under which a 9/11 Memorial Garden can be built in the pocket park at Bridge and Union streets.
   The proposed amendment would not change the dollar amount of the previously adopted bond ordinance.
   Instead, it would change the uses to which the money can be put so the Memorial Garden can be built.
   ”We’ve had many calls from residents” requesting a 9/11 memorial site in the city, Ms. Ege said.