Rochelle Park introduces $675,000 bond ordinance to fund radio and technology upgrades tied to county dispatch transition

The Rochelle Park Township Committee on July 8 introduced ordinance 12-71-26, which appropriates $675,000 and authorizes the issuance of up to $642,500 in bonds or notes to pay for radio and communications technology upgrades associated with the township's transition to the Bergen County Public Safety Operations Center.

Town officials said much of the equipment included in the ordinance was already due for replacement as part of normal life-cycle upgrades, and emphasized the transition is intended to improve interoperability, eliminate dead spots and enhance officer and public safety. A township memo read into the record (from Chief Pinto, read by Lieutenant Kukowski) described at least five meetings with county dispatch staff and outlined planned acquisitions including Motorola mobile and portable radios, lobby monitoring upgrades, and records/dispatch system changes to permit county monitoring and integration.

Committee members noted the CFO's estimate that repayment would be spread over 10 years and would cost the average household roughly $2 per month, and said they will pursue grant and reimbursement opportunities to reduce the local share. A $50,000 discount from the equipment vendor was also mentioned on the record.

The ordinance was introduced and ordered published for final reading and adoption at the township committee meeting on July 22 at 7:00 p.m. The introduction vote was taken by roll call on the record; committee members who voted in favor were recorded during the roll call.