[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6096406,"mediaKeyId","2833112-fd698155c4ca482522042ffc5e600791","parentId",2833112,"title","Council advances police capital plan: ALPR cameras, 25 body-worn cameras and new in-car laptops included in budget","audioSeconds",415,"startMs",8279000,"endMs",8694000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2833112-fd698155c4ca482522042ffc5e600791&start=8279&end=8694","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2833112-fd698155c4ca482522042ffc5e600791/thumbnail_8279000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6096406/New-Jersey/Council-advances-police-capital-plan-ALPR-cameras-25-body-worn-cameras-and-new-in-car-laptops-included-in-budget","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6096406-27f77194b51d576f64041c67e5a5363b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771156584&Signature=Mv46zDv-xNxre8GZBzaJwQRC46o7PtMOnG12BMJ3y0VtNOkvJNV31UEmixbWL2t0pdGAZZJwJapbyfzQ1XuaksuJZeH0jYXKxjqPKG256vm7XraITAHz0g4daCM0rL9erVsRnFQs2OSwbPH8ZCs3Kibm4ZLPtw0bTzMyf~CYSKhEOp27h9TH~~q056bujSvCEYmCzba0skR2AYNKERbTWjv2Mm~p8DH0Ila5598-OTw~VneRbRnlDMyfhDtcbn3ilY5klMWl0hO3uHZcVEaR-vkB3M~wI~~VxV1pQ4v76ffJVarfvoRVeEjSjbyNxGFD0Nf4SExWrCIvp0CiLsRJ7A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Township of Washington","date","2025-04-01T02:26:14Z","article","The Township of Washington council reviewed several police capital items and debated Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) cameras after receiving written public concern about privacy. The police chief and administration explained system controls, county oversight, and strict access parameters before council approved the equipment as part of the capital plan.

Privacy and use limitations
Council members relayed a constituent email expressing privacy concerns about ALPRs. The chief and administration answered that the town’s ALPRs will be linked to the county-hosted system; the county controls retention and audit procedures. The chief said the system logs plates but that officers must have cause to run specific plates and that access is audited; two officers will be trained and certified and responsible for compliance. Council members requested details on retention and auditing; administration said the county is responsible for retention and the town would piggyback on the county service.

Capital items and approvals
- ALPRs: council agreed to buy into the county-hosted ALPR system and to install cameras at selected locations to aid investigations and regional plate-matching for criminal activity. The county maintains the data and provides technical hosting; the municipal expense is for hardware purchase and buy-in to the county program. Administration indicated there is no material ongoing town operating cost beyond power and traffic-light integration at many sites.
- Body-worn cameras (BWCs): council included $35,000 for 25 new BWCs in the capital plan to replace units and address operational needs.
- In-car laptops: council included $40,000 to purchase eight in-car laptops and mounts; administration said the existing units have reached end of service life and new mounts/adapters are required.
- Police vehicles: the council debated whether vehicle acquisition should be paid from current fund or capital. Several members argued capital treatment spreads cost (and may allow two vehicles rather than one). Council retained the vehicle request in the capital program so it would be part of a broader capital/bonding ordinance.

Other operational notes
The police chief and administration also said they would reflect one approved change in salary language for special officers (class 2 officers to $26/hour and a new class 1 at $22/hour) in the salary ordinance; that adjustment was informational for the capital discussion.

Nut graf: Council approved capital funding for multiple police technology and vehicle items after receiving assurances about ALPR governance and auditing; the purchases are intended to modernize equipment and reduce repair/operational burdens from aging devices.

Ending: Administration and police will return with vendor specifications, expected delivery timelines and any available grant opportunities; council asked to be notified of retention and auditing rules for ALPR data.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Township Council Meeting 03.31.25","oneSentenceSummary","Township of Washington council approved capital items for the police department — including ALPR buy-in, 25 body-worn cameras and eight in-car laptops — after the chief described access controls and county auditing for ALPR data.","taxTitle","Township of Washington, Warren County, New Jersey","taxId",53893,"location","New Jersey","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6096410,"Council approves $5,000 to audit old encumbered purchase orders; administration proposes temporary staff to clear $276,000 in escrows",540,3323000,3863000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2833112-fd698155c4ca482522042ffc5e600791&start=3323&end=3863","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2833112-fd698155c4ca482522042ffc5e600791/thumbnail_3323000.jpg","/articles/6096410/New-Jersey/Council-approves-5000-to-audit-old-encumbered-purchase-orders-administration-proposes-temporary-staff-to-clear-276000-in-escrows","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6096410-29406926711182ae0a9a58263cd0d631/orig.mp4?Expires=1771156584&Signature=ddsCZIcGbYr8-eutu02qCNASlThEYFcWbKOJjmAvyqT33ClCUYmQLo9PFbw3b3uQJcYnazMZajsWZnB-0cfmg4BtWf-3iYBlkOyRCHG1Zpic7ldfqg3Yqp7tPQMt06kATqzPshDxk7v0YagEDoeS4jXvR~RdVQ7Yyp51T6xD0W7njHJCINxU0XLVdDcFJMrKWzuCWlF8-Y8CNdVRL~gyU~nve8rz8LnHFwtrhVzuW1FsSRc80Ttu-F5BemKalz7-ACWVDZlns2UowzST-e1g6jlEMFK0baRP~NgH6tHbhOcdN45I82~e4C93pOWPxpW0MlOerfMhmv7Gw3rLLmnZkA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Administrator DeCarlo told council that an audit of purchase orders found roughly $276,000 in encumbered funds tied to old purchase orders stretching back to 1999. The encumbrances were spread across hundreds of purchase orders; the administration recommended a short-term, internal resource to investigate and close the outstanding items and suggested a $5,000 special-project allocation to support the work.

DeCarlo described the work as investigative and administrative: matching purchase orders to invoices, resolving whether escrows or refunds were due to residents or vendors, and closing open permits in the building department. He proposed placing a temporary internal position in the salary ordinance at $25 per hour, with work performed within regular hours (not to exceed full-time overtime) and estimated the task could likely be completed within one year. Council asked about the number of accounts and was told the files included many entries and roughly 899 purchase orders flagged for review.

Council voted to approve the $5,000 special-project allocation to begin the cleanup and endorsed the administration’s plan to use internal staff (at an estimated $25/hour rate included in a salary ordinance line) to work through escrow and open-permit closures. DeCarlo agreed to provide regular updates — monthly or quarterly — to the council on progress.

Nut graf: The town is seeking to reconcile long-outstanding encumbrances and open permits that tie up municipal funds. The approved $5,000 allocation and proposed internal hire aim to return improperly held funds or close legacy administrative gaps and reduce unknown liabilities.

Clarifying details
- Total encumbered funds identified: approximately $276,000 tied to purchase orders dating back to 1999; about 899 purchase orders were identified for review. (Source: Administrator DeCarlo.)
- Special-project allocation: $5,000 approved by council to support the work to close escrows and reconcile POs.
- Proposed staffing: internal temporary position budgeted at $25/hour in the salary ordinance; work estimated at up to 40 hours/week when available but expected to be part-time (4–5 hours/week average) and finish within a year. (Source: Administrator DeCarlo.)

Outcome and next steps
- Council approved $5,000 to start the special-project escrow/PO cleanup; administration will report progress to the council periodically and move a salary-ordinance line as needed to fund the internal resource.","Administrator reported $276,000 in encumbered purchase orders dating to 1999; council approved a $5,000 special-project allocation to begin cleanup and administration recommended hiring an internal temporary worker (budgeted at $25/hour) to resolve open purchase orders and close permits.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6096416,"Council holds first-aid contribution at $40,000 after presentation from volunteer squad",1338,4479000,5817000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2833112-fd698155c4ca482522042ffc5e600791&start=4479&end=5817","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2833112-fd698155c4ca482522042ffc5e600791/thumbnail_4479000.jpg","/articles/6096416/New-Jersey/Council-holds-first-aid-contribution-at-40000-after-presentation-from-volunteer-squad","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6096416-fa3b74545eec9ce61a86373f25d05d86/orig.mp4?Expires=1771156584&Signature=YYk-HoLdJ-AaELmvEcigQAV2ouSsb9iZjiRnfNzf7yGNv2uMAVa3Nh6EtI-UIsWl6v98modyd6nA8Ewrjc9OupeKlhiWjN8i71ogkixuQA~To2MpL-bLgkjfLiXJ~6p-fv~bpKkcoPkfLgCCMgniH6rulBxAYxFgMaLzBjbhX5OMyXHE5jwusvhFkMi7cXE7p3yWSNnoM5lI3sGUaFQF1oHwwRAfpMAYx8Fxfil3wE2o8~sBVDpzO3HSmLPr6ka4PXCCiKVpXuSBWFQTwzLsQNH0j4cgvJ~EI1u3pvBlAW9MNhse9~VjhlWxGXFFijztN~RWXUqEHYWzQId1Q7EVOw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Council members reviewed the administration’s recommended $40,000 municipal contribution to the township’s volunteer first-aid organization and heard a detailed presentation from volunteer representatives about operations, costs and staffing.

Representatives described a mixed model of volunteer and county-supported coverage: the county provides no-cost daytime shared service in some periods, while the first-aid organization covers other shifts and relies on fundraising, donations and local contributions for vehicle purchases, maintenance, fuel and supplies. Volunteers said they buy and maintain their ambulances, supply disposable medical equipment, and run community events to raise funds. They noted rising equipment costs and lengthy lead times for new ambulances.

Administratively, the council considered whether to fund a paid weekend component or rely on the county’s no-cost coverage for weekday daytime service. The volunteers said the county offers a no-cost weekday service but that a paid weekend option had been discussed as a possible expansion to improve availability. The council asked for staffing, response and financial data; volunteers provided multi-year tax-return-based income/expense summaries and described how mutual-aid operations are recorded.

After discussion, council members left the contribution at the administration’s recommended $40,000 and signaled they were comfortable with the current combination of county shared service and volunteer coverage. One council member stated explicitly that they were “okay with the 40” during the budget review.

Nut graf: The contribution maintains current municipal support for the volunteer first-aid organization while the council weighs whether to add paid coverage for weekends or expand partnerships with nearby paid services. Volunteers emphasized their reliance on donations and the rising cost of ambulances and supplies.

Clarifying details
- Contribution amount: $40,000 (administration recommendation; council kept this figure during budget review). (Source: budget discussion and confirmation at meeting.)
- Shared service: county provides no-cost daytime coverage in some shifts; volunteers cover nights/weekends and other local events. (Source: first-aid representatives.)
- Volunteer staffing trends: the squad reported many younger volunteers currently in school and a seasonal pattern as students return in late spring; the squad is recruiting and training EMRs/EMTs.
- Major equipment costs: volunteers reported the most recent ambulance purchase was funded from their own fundraising; speakers cited recent ambulance prices in the high hundreds of thousands in current market conditions.

Outcome and next steps
- The council retained the $40,000 contribution in the proposed 2025 budget and asked administration and the squad to continue coordinating on coverage details and statistics to inform any future decisions about paid weekend coverage.","Council discussed a proposed $40,000 contribution to the local first-aid/ambulance organization; after reviewing staffing, mutual-aid and vehicle costs, members left the recommended $40,000 contribution in place.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6096420,"Township council restores 2% across-the-board raises after debate over 1.5% proposal",3513,2279000,5792000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2833112-fd698155c4ca482522042ffc5e600791&start=2279&end=5792","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2833112-fd698155c4ca482522042ffc5e600791/thumbnail_2279000.jpg","/articles/6096420/New-Jersey/Township-council-restores-2-across-the-board-raises-after-debate-over-15-proposal","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6096420-b59f75a73f7c1643796b4d145e264fdd/orig.mp4?Expires=1771156584&Signature=cTuXf8EqEbWYuAxH8TuaY3EHDOApGuNZ-27OuHd-TeZjioFgFqiBaZ7K8KwKRlvPl-n4DpHwphd2~JCBCj5nC7YRfuUckNuVUSw63bLcbFFA1B9StvMfSOgn1Sfq1qs3VcUn70Smb9Kt~uGnF1f~7j7lZLKnF53R5BRxXb8LDcxwmbhSKZJ2eMKNzmN7fa1MaSfsc1JwPejW-TZ8tMFhhitivhp-l9-cqIZMRUHU7li72z1RpanBFsCTJxBRyEe7cHW9ikfwxB77cHyI-gfzpSqXS9eavybZ9b43JtrdrKkrzzCf7o3EwG6DNqg~CxmRngAxQPzNQFjPKjBIcItYmQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Township of Washington council members debated changes to the proposed salary ordinance during a review of the 2025 budget and ultimately approved a 2% across-the-board increase for most noncontractual positions.

The discussion began when Administrator DeCarlo walked the council through the salary tables and noted that most lines were budgeted at 2%, while a small number of positions had higher requested increases. Councilman Cascio moved to make a uniform 1.5% increase for noncontractual positions; a colleague seconded the motion and the council proceeded through line-item adjustments under that assumption during the budget review.

The proposal drew sharp comments from other members. Several council members and speakers argued that the half-point difference was small in short-term savings but could affect employees’ retention and morale. Administrator DeCarlo repeatedly explained which lines already differed from 2% and why: the purchasing/payroll line, a deputy treasurer/benefits coordinator position, and a civilian police position were budgeted at higher amounts due to role-specific requests and partial-year funding in 2024.

After line-by-line review, a separate motion was made to restore raises to 2% for the affected salary lines. The council held a roll-call vote: Councilman Casio voted no; Councilman Sears voted yes; Councilman Ullman voted no; Councilwoman Velez voted yes; Council President DeSantis voted yes. The motion to restore 2% carried.

Nut graf: The council’s choice affects town employees’ pay and the municipal budget baseline. While some members framed a 1.5% raise as modest savings, others said the difference risked losing experienced staff. The final action maintained the administration’s recommended 2% baseline for most noncontractual positions while preserving separate treatment for contractual and specially budgeted lines.

Details and clarifications
- Positions excluded or handled separately: contractual police department lines and DPW collective-bargaining items were not changed by the council’s across-the-board decisions; those remain subject to contract terms. (Source: Administrator DeCarlo.)
- Exceptions to the 2% baseline: Administrator DeCarlo identified three lines with higher requested increases — purchasing/payroll, deputy treasurer/benefits coordinator, and a civilian police position — and explained some line increases reflected funding for only part of 2024, requiring a larger 2025 budgeted amount to fund a full year. (Source: Administrator DeCarlo.)
- Floating/part-time staffing: the “floating” tax office assistant positions are part-time (one at 20 hours/week, another at 16 hours/week); one of those lines’ increases reflected funding a full year after a prior vacancy. (Source: Administrator DeCarlo.)

Outcome and next steps
- Formal action recorded: council approved restoring the proposed raises to 2% for most noncontractual positions by roll-call vote (yes: Sears, Velez, DeSantis; no: Casio, Ullman). The administration will carry the 2% figures into the salary ordinance to be introduced for the council’s formal adoption process.
- The council and administration agreed to circulate the full salary ordinance before first reading so members can review exact lines and exemptions.

Ending: The council proceeded to complete the budget line review after the vote; additional budget and capital items remained on the agenda.","At a Township of Washington budget meeting, council members debated reducing noncontractual salary increases from 2% to 1.5% before voting to restore the 2% increase for most positions; contractual lines (police, DPW) and several individual positions remained excluded or had different adjustments.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council advances police capital plan: ALPR cameras, 25 body-worn cameras and new in-car laptops included in budget

Council approves $5,000 to audit old encumbered purchase orders; administration proposes temporary staff to clear $276,000 in escrows

Council holds first-aid contribution at $40,000 after presentation from volunteer squad

Township council restores 2% across-the-board raises after debate over 1.5% proposal