Hawthorne council approves emergency funding and introduces ordinance to buy radios for fire and ambulance crews

Hawthorne Borough Council introduced a capital ordinance to authorize the purchase of mobile radios and related equipment for the Hawthorne Fire Department and the Hawthorne Volunteer Ambulance Corps and approved an emergency appropriation to complete the purchase.

Administrator Eric Mower explained the purchases were accelerated because of equipment criticality and additional unforeseen costs; he said doing the purchase now “will accomplish the same thing a year earlier, also without impacting the tax rate.” The first reading of capital ordinance 23-70-25 would appropriate $74,000 from the borough’s general capital surplus for the radios.

Council then voted on R97-25, an emergency appropriation to fund the radios and related equipment. The roll call recorded an abstention by one member on that resolution; the motion carried. A subsequent consent agenda included R98-25 (Pan Chemical redevelopment designation), R99-25 (change order for downtown revitalization Phase 3), R100-25 (contract award for WAG Field 2 & 3 bleachers to Green Valley Group), and R101-25 (change order for portable radios to Motorola). The consent agenda passed; a few members registered abstentions on specific items.

Administration said prior expenditures to address dead zones and equipment extras required supplementing the previously appropriated funds. The council asked for clarity on which items were charged to the initial appropriation and which required the emergency funds; staff said they would provide detailed accounting and employ designers/consultants as needed to meet project timelines.

Action taken at the meeting authorizes procurement work to proceed and schedules the ordinance for final passage at the council’s July hearing, with public notice. Members noted the purchases support first responders’ communications and public safety.