Also, Eagle Scout Josh Dicks and Washington Township police officer Gary Egizi recognized for dedication, hard work in the community.
At last week’s council meeting, Mayor Joann Gattinelli presented a State of the Township Address, looking back on last year’s accomplishments and forward to this year’s goals.
One of the administration’s primary goals last year, Gattinelli said, was providing residents with a flat tax rate in the 2017 municipal budget. This year, she said, the municipality is “working diligently” to keep the municipal tax rate stable for the 2018 budget. According to Gattinelli, numerous initiatives have been implemented to cut municipal spending, while simultaneously improving township services. For example, in 2017, the municipality went out to bid for new energy, as well as banking services providers to “increase reliability and reduce fees and expenses.” Additionally, last year saw a decrease in costs related to IT services and the establishment of an HR department to mitigate litigation cases.
While there were various new businesses that opened last year, Gattinelli said economic development remains a priority in 2018. Notice of a request for proposal was made to the League of Municipalities on Jan. 29, Gattinelli said, to establish an economic development director or coordinator position. At the meeting, council voted to approve a resolution authorizing advertisement for this position.
Additional infrastructure improvements are to come this year, as well, Gattinelli said. A list of streets in need of paving, with a timeline for all roads in need, will be made available in the public works office within the coming months.
Gattinelli thanked members of council, the administration and the community for their support through the various township events and outreach programs that took place last year, and hopes to continue these efforts in 2018.
“Our overriding goal is to make Washington Township a great place in which to live, work and raise a family,” Gattinelli said.
During her mayoral presentations, Gattinelli also announced Officer Gary Egizi as the January Washington Township Employee of the Month. Egizi was presented with a certificate recognizing his “dedication, passion and hard work,” as well as a framed, signed photograph while he was on duty during a recent winter snowstorm.
Additionally, Gattinelli recognized Josh Dicks from Boy Scouts Troop 81 as a leader within the community for achieving the rank of Eagle Scout. Dicks earned 28 merit badges, more than the required minimum of 21, and became an order member of the Order of the Arrow in July 2014.
Dicks planned, developed and provided leadership to volunteers in a service project benefiting the community, where he worked on the Old Stone House Village train station. Dicks and his volunteers replaced boards and rotten wood in the platform, pressure-washed and weatherproofed stairs, as well as replaced broken glass, doors and installed LED lights in artifact display cases. According to Gattinelli, more than 140 volunteer hours were needed to complete the project.
In other news:
• Council introduced an ordinance on first reading setting the salary ranges for certain officers and employees of the municipality. While all ranges remained the same compared to the 2017 salary range ordinance, an additional line for $25,000 minimum and maximum salary was added for the Department of Law Director Solicitor Stuart Platt for redevelopment legal services. Second reading and public hearing for the ordinance is scheduled for the Feb. 7 council meeting.
• Council also introduced an ordinance on first reading that would decrease the number of administrative positions in the Washington Township Police Department to potentially allow for additional patrol officers later this year.
The ordinance amends the township code to allow for the department to consist of no more than 85 full-time active duty members, an increase from the previous 2015 ordinance that limited the force to 81 full-time active duty members. Additionally, the ordinance decreased the positions of captain from three to one, lieutenants from five to four and sergeants, including sergeants first class, from 15 to 13. However, the ordinance also increased the number of police officers, including first class officers, from 59 to 66.
“My intent with the ordinance is not to increase the municipal budget, but to keep it exactly where it is,” Councilman Sean Longfellow said. “A new officer makes significantly less than those administrators.”
According to Chief of Police Patrick Gurcsik, in 2017, officers answered 581 calls for domestic violence, made 1,895 arrests, 82 DUI arrests, 337 arrests for possession of narcotics and issued 6,070 motor vehicle summonses. Officers responded to more than 49,000 calls for service, including 2,358 motor vehicle crashes, four fatal motor vehicle accidents and one homicide. Additionally, Gurcsik said, officers “quadrupled” the number of community policing and outreach programs.
When asked by Longfellow if the department could effectively operate with the new position numbers proposed by the ordinance, Gurcsik said the department would be able to function efficiently with the changes made.
The second reading and public hearing on the ordinance is scheduled for the Feb. 7 council meeting.
