BRIDGEWATER, NJ — Bridgewater Township Council approved a $2.95 million contract for emergency radio communications equipment, moving forward with part of a broader plan to equip first responders before Jan. 1.
The Council unanimously approved the contract to Motorola Solutions, Inc., of Chester at its Sept. 17 meeting.
Township Administrator Michael Pappas told the council the purchase is tied to a $4.25 million bond ordinance approved a few months earlier.
Mayor Matthew Moench previously said the upgrade is being driven by changes to the county radio system and the need to keep police, fire, rescue and public works communications working.
The township had worked with the police department, fire departments, volunteer fire departments, rescue squads, the Department of Public Works and the fire marshal's office to get the purchases squared away.
Pappas said the resolution on Sept. 17 before the council was for "just under $3 million," while the bond ordinance was $4.2 million.
He said the township would likely return with another resolution on Oct. 1 because one or two agencies were not yet ready to be included.
"We don't think that would impact the delivery and the ability to utilize the radios as of January 1st," Pappas said.
Council President Joan Geiger said the goal was to have the remaining details resolved by the next council meeting on Oct. 1.
She said there had been concern about ordering radios sooner rather than later because of competition from other buyers.
Pappas said the township had been in regular contact with the sales representative for many months and was "very confident" the radios would be available.
The discussion also turned to how radios would be distributed to volunteer agencies and what would happen if an organization stopped using them.
Councilman Timothy Ring said, "We're spending several million dollars for radios. I've been the advocate that we need to, in essence, retain ownership of that over the life of these radios."
He said the intent was not to control use of the radios, but to make sure the equipment would return to the township if no longer used as intended.
Council members also discussed fairness among fire districts if some had already purchased radios.
During public comment, Rand Milton, a member of the North Branch Fire Department, said, "My concern is as a citizen that we've already paid taxes within fire district 3. We shouldn't be paying additional taxes to cover the other fire districts."
Council Vice President Andrew Bucko said his main priority is making sure the equipment is purchased first.
Then, secondly, figuring out a way to equalize the payments.
When the resolution came up for a vote later in the meeting, it passed 5-0.
Pappas said at least 15 radios would be up for a vote through another resolution on Oct. 1.
Previous Reporting:
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