By Mark Rosman
Staff Writer
ALLENTOWN – Borough Council President Wil Borkowski said he will approach municipal officials in neighboring Robbinsville in a bid to reverse a decision by representatives of that community who are planning to end a shared services agreement with Allentown.
During the Sept. 27 meeting of the Allentown council, officials announced that Robbinsville’s representatives have informed them they will end a shared services agreement through which that municipality provides Department of Public Works (DPW) services to Allentown.
A Sept. 14 letter from Robbinsville Public Works Director Dino J. Colarocco to Allentown states that “the reason we are choosing not to renew is due to the increase in responsibilities within Robbinsville. Our current staff is barely keeping up with basic daily tasks and with many new programs and events coming on, we need to increase our resources to accomplish this. We feel that the most efficient way to do this is to retain the two employees that currently report to Allentown and assign them to tasks here in Robbinsville.”
Following the Sept. 27 council meeting, Borkowski provided additional details about the situation. He said Robbinsville has been providing DPW services to Allentown for nine years.
Allentown does not have a DPW department or DPW employees, but does have all of its own equipment and a DPW building, according to Borkowski. He said the borough has a fee schedule to rent larger equipment with a qualified operator through the shared services agreement on an as needed basis.
Borkowski said he has been notified by Mayor Greg Westfall that Robbinsville will extend the shared services agreement for three months, through March 31, 2017. He said that is not enough time for Allentown’s representatives to find an affordable alternative to the existing shared services agreement.
“The Allentown council will ask Robbinsville’s Township Council directly if they can continue to help Allentown longer than the three months. I will consult first with our council and go directly to Robbinsville’s governing body to request them to continue our current shared services agreement for the full year,” Borkowski said.
He went on to say, “Shared services were invented to help make New Jersey more affordable by sharing common expenses between two or more municipalities. For example, Allentown helps Plumsted (both very small towns) lower court costs by sharing a judge and clerk.
“How would Robbinsville feel if Hamilton Township decided it was cheaper to end shared sewer services? … I think the Allentown and Robbinsville mayors should sit down and recognize that every town has a moral obligation to share services.
“Somewhere in every shared service agreement, a larger municipality is helping out a smaller town. New Jersey residents in general are not feeling much is affordable in New Jersey anymore. However, I hope the two mayors can find a way to continue our public works agreement with Robbinsville,” Borkowski said.
