North Caldwell Rec Plans to go High-Tech

Temperatures might be below freezing, but North Caldwell is busy planning online registration for the borough's spring and summer recreational programs.

Councilman Patty Fost, the Committee Chairperson for Recreation, presented a proposal from Capture Point, a company providing web-based, online registration software at Tuesday night's council meeting.

"This will create a database and significantly cut down on manpower," Fost said. She added problems with illegible handwriting, as well as the handling of checks and cash payment, will also be eliminated with online registration. 

Fost said the recreation department will continue to assist residents who do not want to access the system. However, online registration, she said, will allow residents to register 24/7  for programs.

Capture Point's software is called Community Pass, and is currently utilized by surrounding municipalities, including Roseland, Livingston, and the Caldwell-West Caldwell recreation department.

Fost is looking at a "bare bones" package, which would cost approximately $4,000. She explained the cost could be covered by other savings realized in the recreation department.

After some discussion, Mayor Joseph Alessi asked for a resolution for the council to vote on at its next meeting scheduled for Dec. 28.

"The downside is that it will cost us $4,000 upfront, but the upside is that this is a good program and it will not bankrupt the town," Alessi said.

Fost said once approval is received, the turnaround time will be 60 days, which should allow time for registrations for the town pool, tennis and Summer Fun programs.

Energy Efficiency Grants

The council unanimously passed a resolution to apply to participate in the 2010 NJ Direct Install and Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Rebate Program.

As explained in a phone interview by Public Works Director Frank Zichelli, a recent energy audit of municipal buildings indicated a projected yearly savings of approximately $7,000 if certain steps to improve energy-efficiency were taken.

Zichelli said the improvements were primarily in lighting and heating elements for borough hall, the police and fire department buildings, and the public works building. The installation cost is $50,564.

Of this amount, the town is looking for one grant that will have the state cover 60% of the costs. For the remaining 40% cost of $20,226, North Caldwell is looking at another $20,000 block grant, leaving the town to pick up the remaining $226.  

With the projected annual energy savings of $7,000, Zichelli joked this $226 is "not a bad investment for the town."

Zichelli said the town should hear back from the state in about a week. With state approval, the state will come in and do the work, he added, saving the town manhours in bidding out the contract.

Zichelli credits Councilman John Chiaia with initiating this project. Chiaia proposed the energy audit after learning about it at the League of Municipalities Conference he attended in Atlantic City in November.

At Tuesday night's meeting, Chiaia, who is chairperson for the public works committee, also announced an 8% decrease in the cost of bulk waste disposal for the town. "It is nice to see prices going down," he commented.

Also discussed at Tuesday night's meeting was a recommendation by Borough Administrator Mel Levine to mail sewer bills annually to residents rather than quarterly. "The bookkeeping and reminder notices for the amount of money collected quarterly is not worth it," he said. 

Reorganization Meeting Set for 1/1/11 at 1 p.m.

The council agreed to set the borough's reorganization meeting for Saturday, Jan. 1, 2011, at 1 p.m. 

The time of the next council meeting on Dec. 28 was moved from 8 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.