Council supports firemen

New ordinance would help fund equipment

by Julie Fink, Gazette Staff Writer

HAMMONTON—At its regular meeting on February 25, the Hammonton Town Council unanimously approved an ordinance at first reading to permit the Hammonton Fire Department to obtain reimbursement for the cost of materials and equipment for services rendered.
According to Hammonton Fire Chief Michael Ruberton, the funds received will be placed in a trust fund to be used for capital expenses.
“It is in an effort to keep our taxes down, make something good out of a bad situation and to recoup some of the expenses we incur,” Ruberton said.
In the cases of motor vehicle accidents and response to fire calls, the fire department will be seeking reimbursement from the insurance companies, Ruberton told the council.
“The bill will not go to the person. It will go to the insurance company. If the insurance company denies the claim then it will be written off as a loss,” he said.
The only instance where an individual may be billed is in cases of multiple false fire alarms, he continued.
“Regarding homeowners that may be billed for house fires, a couple of residents expressed concern about their rates going up or that they may be dropped. Is there any type of cushion for that?” Councilman Anthony Marino said.
“I don’t really see a fear factor, the total median house value in Hammonton is about $114,000. If there is a total loss, the $1,000 that we are going to charge really won’t matter to the insurance company. If your rates are going to go up, it is because your house burned down, not because of us,” Assistant Chief Michael Pullia said.
The equipment the fire department uses at times is only capable of being used once. It becomes damaged or at a minimum requires professional cleaning after responding to a motor vehicle accident or fire call, Ruberton said.
In addition to the repair or replacement of equipment, another upcoming expense is the need to replace a 22-year-old town fire engine by 2012, Ruberton said.
“If there was money in the trust, when that time comes, it could help curb the costs for such a capital expense,” he said.
The ordinance presented to council was a model of an ordinance from the Borough of Glassboro, but similar ordinances are used in other municipalities throughout the country, according to Mayor John DiDonato.
Examples of the fee schedule imposed through the ordinance include: a response to a motor vehicle fire at $350 per fire apparatus per hour; a structure fire will be billed at $500 per hour; and alarm malfunctions at $25 for the first offense, with additional offenses increasing to $50 per offense within a 12-month period.
In other council news, the council unanimously approved granting the town solicitor permission to amend the town ordinance to eliminate the health benefit compensation for all council members.
The ordinance will eliminate buyouts to council members effective immediately upon the adoption of the amendment by the council. In addition, if the amendment is passed by the council, health benefits for council members would terminate on December 31, 2008, and would no longer be available to council members.
Council also granted town solicitor Brian Howell permission to draft a revised ordinance to ultimately phase out the current rent control board.
“Let me assure you that anyone living in a rent controlled apartment now would not be affected by any modifications to the ordinance but it would allow market forces to come back in,” Howell said.
According to Howell, in 1975 the rent control ordinance was adopted, motivated by a housing emergency of not having enough rental properties.
Since that time, in 33 years there have been no garden style apartments built, and the reason for this is because there is no market incentive to do this, he continued.
Current tenants will be grandfathered into the old ordinance under rent control, but when there is a gap in tenancy then the rent will be set by market value and no longer dictated by rent control, according to Howell.
The motivating factor to keep affordable rent is the competition that is created, Howell testified.
“If the market is allowed to operate more freely, then supply and demand will help off set that,” Councilman Edward Wuillermin said.
“The standard in the ordinance in 1975 when we could come off of rent control was when the number of rental apartments doubled. There has been zero in 33 years. So something is not working,” Howell said.
Corresponding to this modification of the ordinance was the resignations by rent control board members Norman LaFreda, Warren Johnson, Trina Scipione and Miguel Juan.
In response to the request by Councilman Jerry Vitalo, Howell presented an ordinance to reinstate the Municipal Utilities Authority Commission (MUAC) to council that was defeated four to three.
The advisory commission of MUAC was in effect prior to 2006 and by way of ordinance was replaced by the water and sewer committee, Howell said.
Vitalo expressed that the importance for MUAC was to give the residents a public forum where they can bring their concerns.
“It is a valuable asset to the town. It would give the residents some place to go,” he said
Currently, the water and sewer committee does not meet in a public forum.
“Couldn’t they come here to town council and ask questions in the same regard?” Councilman Jerome Barberio said.
“If you are looking for efficiency, one of the reasons why you have a lot of these ad hoc committees is so these issues can be discussed and ironed out, and then it comes to council with a decision from the chair asking council for action,” Councilman James Bertino said.
The MUAC would act in this capacity, he continued.
“It challenges you as an elected official and gives you multiple eyes,” he continued.
According to the mayor, the way the system is currently set up, council is MUAC.
“MUAC right now is this body. This body is the only one that is allowed to make decisions on water and sewer projects; so by the current system, the council is MUAC,” DiDonato said.
Bertino felt the commission allowed the public to become more involved in the process.
“It is simply more eyes and ears and opening it up to the public as opposed to sitting in our committee meetings in a non-public forum,” Bertino said.
Accepting the ordinance would create an advisory commission to the water and sewer committee that would report to the town council.
Wuillermin agreed that at one time MUAC was a good idea when there was a need for a town strategic plan.
“But today we really don’t have a need for a strategic plan anymore. For the most part all our land that is buildable is in our sewer collection system and water service area,” he said.
Mayor DiDonato felt that if the current system is working then it should not be changed.
“Two years ago projects were not getting done and we made a decision to try and streamline the process and MUAC was removed. Projects have been moving through the pipeline. So I say, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” he said.
The proposed ordinance was defeated by a vote of 4 to 3, with DiDonato, Barberio, Wuillermin and Councilwoman Tracy Petrongolo voting against the ordinance and Bertino, Marino and Vitalo voting for it.
Hammonton High School Student Council Treasurer Steve Atwell of Waterford asked for a resolution to be passed by mayor and town council to honor United States Marine Lance Cpl. Jon Hicks Jr. who was killed in combat on September 10, 2007 while serving his country in Iraq.
Hicks was a 2005 graduate of Hammonton High School, where for his senior year project developed an entire newspaper about himself including his goals and dreams, as well as, an editorial titled “Something Jon Believes in: the War on Terror,” Atwell said.
Hicks believed in the War on Terror and he died fighting for something he believed in, he continued.
“This is to honor his courage, his bravery and his love for his country,” Atwell said.
In the presence of Hicks’ mother, father, family and friends, members of the council adopted the resolution.
“Thank you very much. This means a lot,” Jon Hicks Sr. said.
Stephen DiDonato of the Town Hall Committee presented $29,650.59 worth of change orders to the council for review and approval.
Town council unanimously approved the change orders for a variety of items including the relocation of the HVAC system to the attic, ceramic tile in the first-floor bathroom and interior signage.
Council approved the date of August 23, 2008 for the parade and festivities of the Twinning of the municipalities of Hammonton and San Gregorio da la Sassola, Italy.
The event is expected to draw between 5,000 and 10,000 people, according to Mayor DiDonato.