By Zenaida Mendez, Daily Record

WASHINGTON TWP. —Two new fire trucks and digital cameras for the police department are among the big-ticket capital purchases the township committee has agreed to make this year.

The committee, which will formally introduce the 2002 municipal budget Feb. 18, approved those purchases during final budget talks at its regular meeting Monday night.

Despite the purchases, the committee managed to keep the proposed municipal tax rate stable this year.

In 2001, taxpayers paid 45 cents per $100 of assessed value. Mayor John Krickus projected that using $190,000 from surplus funds would allow the township to keep the same tax rate, which means that owners of a house assessed at the township average of $247,000 would pay about $1,112 in municipal taxes this year. That doesn’t include school or county taxes.

After the $13.5 million proposed municipal budget is introduced, a public hearing will be scheduled.

The budget includes $1.7 million for capital projects. Almost half of that — $712,000 — will buy two new fire trucks, one for the Schooley’s Mountain Fire Association and another for the Fairmount Fire Company.

According to Kurt Wanner, township fire chief, the companies’ trucks, one from 1982 and the other from 1983, have reached the end of their life expectancy and should be replaced to keep up with safety and equipment changes.

For example, the Schooleys’ Mountain pumper truck has an open cab. New requirements say firefighters should ride in an enclosed cab.

The new trucks would also come equipped with antilock brakes, making it easier for firefighters to maneuver through hills and narrow roads, and a transmission retarder, another feature to slow the truck around curves and hills.

The committee had discussed purchasing one truck this year and another next year, but after several meetings agreed to buy both vehicles now.

"I’m very much for this," Krickus said Monday night. "It crimps us, but we’re on the right path. By doing this now, we wipe the slate clean. We’ll have no new expenditures for the fire department until 2004."

Fire department officials walked out of the municipal building wearing smiles.

"Naturally they needed to look at all of the needs of the town," Wanner said. "We’re very pleased the committee granted the request. I was very pleased by the entire budget process."

Fire officials weren’t the only ones satisfied after the meeting.

The committee also promised to give the police department $64,300 to purchase a dozen digital cameras for installation in patrol cars.

Initially, the committee considered approving half of the requested amount, but some members felt strongly that the entire amount should be provided.

"People think nothing happens out here, but look at all the strange things going on in the world," Committeman Walter Cullen said. "It (a camera) may keep our guys out of a fight, it can help in litigation. It protects our guys."

Police Chief Ted Ehrenburg agreed.

"We could start with any number you want," Ehrenburg told officials, "but then we’ll have some exposure because some will have it and some will not."

The recreation department will receive $6,000 to repair the roof of the Teen Center, $110,000 for improvements at Palmer Park and funds to install wooden guardrails at Califon Park.

The department of public works will get $438,000 for road improvements to east and west Springtown Road, East Avenue and roads in the Fawn Ridge development. The committee also approved the purchase of a salt spreader and a four-wheel-drive or similar truck to be shared with the recreation department.

The Long Valley First Aid Squad will receive $11,000 for new computers to process call sheets.

Zenaida Mendez can be reached at zmendez@morristo.gannett.com or (973)989-0652.