Westwood, Washington Twp. Considering Shared Services Agreement

Westwood's police dispatchers will also take calls for emergencies in Washington Township, Old Tappan and River Vale one day next week in a trial shift to see if the four municipalities can enter a shared services agreement to permanently use the same dispatchers.

"We have an opportunity to investigate potential real cost savings," Westwood Mayor John Birkner said.

Washington Township Mayor Janet Sobkowicz said they would still have a dispatcher working during the trial in case a backup is needed.

Borough and township officials will meet with Hillsdale and county officials next week to discuss another shared services agreement to share court facilities and possibly other emergency services.

The county prosecutor has also agreed to pay for a study of possible shared services with seized funds, as long as at least one item from the study is instituted. The municipalities are planning to send out a request for proposal, which invites bidders to offer their prices and what different services they could investigate.

According to Birkner, many different services could be shared, including D.A.R.E. programs and joint purchases of new equipment, such as narrowbanding radios that all police departments need to switch to by the end of the year. Borough Administrator Robert Hoffman said that seven local municipalities need to buy the radios this year, due to a new federal law.