By Sophia Gonzalez
Staff Writer
Posted 1:19 p.m., April 2

Mayors of three Northern Valley towns have decided to wage battle against cutbacks together.

The mayors of Harrington Park, Northvale and Norwood cited state aid cuts totaling $55 million to small municipalities as their source of their inspiration.

The plan of attack is simple: to highlight areas where all three towns could save tax dollars by sharing and merging services.

Sharing of services exist among towns that participate in the Riverside Cooperative. The Riverside Cooperative practices fiscal responsibility by purchasing supplies and implementing road improvements together. Members range from Little Ferry to Northvale.

But Riverside Cooperative towns may not have all the same needs, said Northvale Mayor John Hogan.

He said that the state cuts have "opened our eyes" and that there are savings to be made in "areas we may have strayed from before."

At the March 13 meeting, the mayors discussed the possibility of joint purchasing equipment and eliminating duplicated services to save money.

Much-need equipment for the three towns consists of a $270,000 jet vacuum and a $175,000 street sweeper.

The mayors of Northvale and Norwood look to strike a financial agreement with the Borough of Harrington Park, which has already bonded for the Department of Public Works equipment.

"We’re working this out," said Harrington Park Mayor Paul Hoelscher. "The trust is there and the willingness to cooperate is there."

Hogan said, "everything is on the table," before indicating that the pistol range in Northvale and the salt shed in Norwood could be shared.

Other potential savings include splitting the cost of police camera equipment needed in Harrington Park and Northvale.

Norwood Mayor James Barsa said that the next step would be to tap into the $32 million the state Department of Community Affairs awards to small towns involved in sharing services. The three towns, he said, could apply for feasibility and implementation grants through the DCA.

Hoelscher said that the move makes sense.

"We’re all in the same boat and we’re all paddling in the same direction," he said.