By JACQUELINE DURETT
Correspondent
SAYREVILLE — Democratic Councilwoman Mary Novak has not forgotten that the two Republicans on the Borough Council voted against the budget, citing spending concerns.
With the final vote for the bond to purchase new borough vehicles coming up on June 13, Novak said at the May 23 Borough Council meeting that she wanted to give Republican Councilmen Pat Lembo and Art Rittenhouse the opportunity to voice any concerns they may have.
During the May 23 meeting, the council voted to introduce an ordinance to spend $1.92 million, $1.83 million of which would be through bonds, for the purchase of new borough vehicles for various departments.
Following the vote, Novak questioned why Lembo and Rittenhouse supported the bond ordinance.
“You voted in favor of it, on spending the money, but you voted against the budget,” she said to them.
That was not how Rittenhouse saw it.
“No, we voted to have the ordinance tonight, Mary. The final vote on the ordinance is at the next meeting,” he replied.
“So, well then, let’s discuss it now, so we know where we’re going,” Novak said, suggesting she go line by line through the planned vehicle and equipment purchases.
Mayor Kennedy O’Brien cautioned Novak that her fellow council members might not be prepared yet to discuss any concerns. O’Brien reminded her that these purchases were essentially approved since the budget had already passed.
When Novak pressed on, O’Brien said he felt her move was politically motivated. O’Brien recommended that Novak hold a separate meeting to discuss the purchases; Novak said she felt the finance portion of the agenda meeting, during which this discussion was taking place, was the most appropriate time.
Novak pointed out that cuts to the vehicle purchase plan have already been made, citing the example of a decrease in the number of police SUVs agreed to, from 10 to seven, saving $200,000. She also said that some purchases that leverage newer functionalities are also designed to save future costs, particularly in terms of manpower.
Initially, Novak received little feedback as she went through the items, but Lembo said he took issue with vehicle purchases for the fire and code enforcement departments.
“I’d like to see it dropped,” Lembo said of the $650,000 fire engine purchase, explaining that the current engine is still in working order. He said the upcoming spending required for new police radios meant that the borough has to be careful with other areas of spending.
“Anything that’s not an emergency or not absolutely necessary, we should take a second look at,” he said.
Novak said fire department representatives have told the council about the age and maintenance issues with the current engine. She said she would ensure that representatives from both the fire department and code enforcement would be at the next meeting to answer questions about vehicle needs.
Rittenhouse confirmed with Chief Financial Officer Wayne Kronowski that the larger purchases captured in the bonds would require individual resolutions, allowing officials another opportunity to discuss them. He requested that department heads attend meetings when vehicles for their departments are up for a vote.
A vote on the bond is planned for June 13.
