HUDSON COUNTY — The North Hudson Regional Fire and Rescue, a fire department for five towns, passed several resolutions at their monthly meeting Tuesday afternoon in Weehawken, including their new budget.
NHRFR covers fire and rescue services of North Bergen, Union City, West New York, Guttenberg and Weehawken.
NHRFR Chairman and Weehawken Mayor Richard Turner said that their 2010 fiscal year budget is $55.9 million, as compared to $54.2 million in 2009. He said at the meeting that municipal contributions increased by 3 percent for all towns, which cover $49.9 million of this year’s spending.
The board also passed a resolution to allow the Regional to pay contractual terminal benefits to firefighters after they retire over five years, rather than the year they retire. The resolution followed the passing of a new state law that according to Regional officials supersedes contractual obligations with unions.
According to Co-Director Jeffery Welz, from January to July, the department owed $1.2 million in terminal leave funds, while another 12 firefighters retired since then, causing terminal leave monies to raise $1 million to about $2.2 million. He said that this change will allow the NHRFR to pay out packages while saving costs.
West New York Mayor Silverio “Sal” Vega was also sworn in as a member of the management committee at the meeting.
Read this week’s North Bergen Reporter and check back at www.hudsonreporter.com for updates on this story. – Tricia Tirella
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