Wednesday, February 17, 2016

TOWNSHIP TAKES FIRST STEP TOWARD SHARED FIRE DEPARTMENT WITH SOUTH ORANGE

Maplewood took the first step toward possibly merging its fire department with South Orange on Tuesday night with a resolution authorizing a bidding process for a consultant to study the idea.

Mayor Vic Deluca said South Orange's Board of Trustees will also consider the idea and, if agreed, a request for proposals would go out later this month, with a deadline for proposals to be submitted in March, and a consultant hired in June.

"We've met a couple of times now," the mayor said about talks with South Orange. "We've decided that this go around what we thought was best was to engage a consultant sooner rather than later."

He said a consultant would likely cost between $35,000 and $50,000, with costs shared by Maplewood and South Orange. A consultant's report would expect to be presented by early 2017.

"There is willingness on the part of both governing bodies to enter into serious conversation about a merged or consolidated, shared fire department," Deluca said. "We really need to get some expertise in here to take a look at this."

The TC voted, 5-0, to authorize the bidding process to begin with South Orange to hire the consultant.

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