Borough cuts back on garbage, bulk pickups

BY JESSICA SMITH
Staff Writer

"We don't want to do anything [to affect] public safety." - Tony LaMantia mayor JAMESBURG - In the face of a budgetary crisis stemming from state mandates and a new cap on municipal spending, the town has taken its first steps toward shaving off dollars.

"This year, we tried to trim around the edges to limit the increase," Councilman Otto Kostbar said. "I just hope we don't get into anything that is really going to impact the residents."

A new garbage pickup contract for the coming year presents a savings of more than $30,000, while cutting the service down to what officials deemed necessary for residents.

More savings will stem from borough officials' decision not to hire an officer when Chief Paul Karkoska retires this month, bringing the force from 13 officers down to 12.

Though the police decision was expected, borough officials announced the terms of the new garbage contract at the Borough Council's Aug. 8 meeting. The council adopted a budget carrying a 12-cent tax rate hike at the same meeting. The result of a significant drop in state extraordinary aid, the tax increase will be $148 on the average borough home, which is assessed at $124,000.

Garbage collection will be decreased from twice a week in the summer to once, on Wednesdays, according to Borough Administrator Denise Jawidzik. Summer Saturday pickups were not regularly used by most residents, Kostbar said.

Bulk pickup, which had taken place twice per year, has been eliminated entirely. Residents can still put out one bulk item each week, officials said.

Waste Management was the lowest bidder for the contract, which totals $98,064 for the year. Officials chose a one-year contract instead of the usual three to five years because of fiscal uncertainties, Kostbar said.

The new contract begins at the end of this month.

Since Jamesburg is one of 50 New Jersey municipalities that runs on a fiscal year budget, town officials have been forced to make quick decisions in light of the state-imposed 4 percent spending cap and decreased extraordinary state aid.

Though a replacement police officer would not have been hired until next year regardless of financial concerns, some officials see the decrease of an officer as a problem.

"It creates a tremendous amount of pressure on the police force," Kostbar said.

The lack of an officer will detract from the successful detective work that has been going on in the town, Kostbar said. He pointed out that Karkoska agreed with his assertions, and said another officer should be hired by the beginning of next year.

Mayor Anthony LaMantia said the decision is not really an issue until January, when a replacement officer would normally be hired.

"We don't want to do anything [to affect] public safety," LaMantia said. "That's our top priority."