At the town’s Board of Commissioners meeting on Wednesday, the commissioners introduced an ordinance to build a parking lot for residential and public parking at 1132 Hillside Place. Currently, the land holds an abandoned building, officials said.
Town Administrator Christopher Pianese said to create the parking lot, the building must be demolished, and the lot will be leveled and striped. Pianese said there is enough money in the town’s capital budget to cover this project.
The ordinance will be up for a final vote next month.
15-mile-per-hour speed limit tabled
Also at the meeting, the commissioners tabled a vote for a second time that would establish a 15-mile-per-hour speed limit on streets surrounding seven township schools. The speed limit would be in effect 45 minutes before school starts and 30 minutes before the school day ends.
The commissioners are waiting for data collected by the traffic division and township engineers. The matter will be up for a vote again on Oct. 26.
It would affect streets near Fulton School, Horace Mann School, Lincoln School, Franklin School, McKinley School, Kennedy School, and the Fulton School Annex.
The current speed limit is 25 miles per hour.
Retiring police lieutenants, captain honored
Police Chief Dowd, the commissioners, and family and friends honored two retiring police lieutenants and one captain. Members of the department presented retirees with an American flag sealed in a large, triangular case.
“I don’t have a plan for retirement, but I’m just going to be a mom for a while.” – Christine Klag.
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“I always wanted to be a cop. I’ve been a Fire Department dispatcher from 1990 to 1998 while I was waiting to get hired here,” Klag said. “I knew I could retire in 25 years, but it came quick.”
Klag added, “Being a cop never leaves you.”
In 2004, Klag was promoted to detective, sergeant in 2006, and lieutenant in 2012. During her career with the Police Department, Klag was assigned to the Patrol Division, DARE, the Detective Bureau, and is the department’s first New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police Accreditation Manager.
Accreditation is a process that helps law enforcement agencies to improve overall performance.
Klag was responsible for the apprehension and conviction of several rapists who were sentenced up to 50 years in prison.
“I don’t have a plan for retirement, but I’m just going to be a mom for a while,” Klag said. Her 8-year-old son couldn’t make it to the honoring, because he was sick.
Also honored at the meeting was retiree Lt. Timothy Faranda who joined the department in 1991, and is retiring after 26 years. In 2006 he was promoted to sergeant, and then lieutenant in 2012. During his career Faranda served on the Patrol Division and to the Administrative Office of the Chief of Police.
Faranda was responsible for apprehending several felons in possession on weapons, ammunition, and narcotics. It was later learned that the weapons came from Oklahoma to be sold in New Jersey. Faranda has also received the Lifesaving Award during his career.
Captain Patrick Irwin retired after 27 years of department service. Since 1990 Irwin has been assigned to the Patrol Division, the Juvenile Aid Bureau, Detective Bureau Commander, ESU Commander, and the Department of Public Information Officer.
Irwin was responsible for apprehending two armed felons who committed a shooting in Union City. Irwin has also received many awards including a commendation from the Hudson County Prosecutors Office.
Other matters
The Commissioners also honored a Hindu successor to the tradition of Bhagwan Swaminarayan, Pramukh Swami Maharaj, who passed away in India on Aug. 16 at 95-years old. Maharaj traveled around the world to emphasize the importance of family, community service, and spiritual progress.
The commissioners approved two resolutions to accept funds from the New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety to replace old body armor and bulletproof vests for the Police Department. Over $9,000 was accepted for body armor, and over $3,000 for the vests.