4 Ford Hybrids Added To Fleet Of Moorestown Police Vehicles

MOORESTOWN, NJ — The Moorestown Police Department will soon have four new hybrid vehicles after council authorized the purchase Monday night.

Moorestown Council unanimously passed a consent agenda resolution authorizing the purchase of four 2020 Ford Explorer Hybrids for the police department for $207,538.89 Monday night at town hall.

The cars will be purchased from Cherry Hill-based Chas S. Winner under the program that replaces vehicles that have reached the end of their useful life as front line vehicles, according to the memo included in the agenda packet.

“It should be noted that these hybrid vehicles are purpose built by Ford specifically for police service,” Moorestown Police Chief Lee Lieber said in the memo. “The vehicles are expected to save fuel and could extend the life of the gasoline engines as they will shut off when stopped at incidents. They will still be able to support emergency lights, A/C and technology (computers, radios, etc.) utilized daily by officers.”

“These hybrids are good for the environment and will reduce the township’s carbon footprint,” said resident David Hess, who praised Lieber as a progressive chief.

It was one of four items approved as part of the consent agenda.

Council also awarded a $21,535.27 contract to Beechwood Landscape Architecture and Construction for the 2020 Main Street planter bed renovations/modifications. In 2019, the Moorestown Business Association (MBA) donated up to $25,000 for Main Street improvements if the township would match the donations. The MBA purchased new benches for $18,110.20, and the township installed them.

Council also supported the Perkins Center for the Arts’ for a state historic trust fund grant, and appointed Lisa Trakis to the Board of Ethical Standards to replace Jamie Boren. Trakis was installed as an unaffiliated representative to replace Boren, a registered Republican. The board now consists of two Democrats, two Republicans and two members who are unaffiliated.