On June 14, after our last Commission meeting, the County Prosecutor, Warren Faulk, called me at home and asked to meet regarding the state of policing in Woodlynne after the Collingswood services end on July 3, 2010. He asked me to a meeting with a representative of the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs. 

    Chief Sarlo accompanied me and we were advised that Woodlynne had no plans in place for police services. We were asked to consider providing police service. We indicated we were also concerned about what policing there would be in the short term and in the long term. We were asked to a meeting in Trenton with a Deputy Commissioner, the Prosecutor and Woodlynne officials. 

    After a long meeting in Trenton, we have reached a tentative agreement to provide police services for an additional 90 days while the State and Woodlynne work to organize a permanent policing solution for Woodlynne. We agreed under certain conditions:             

    1. Woodlynne will pre-pay the full amount due plus an 8 percent increase;            

    2. Woodlynne will post an escrow to cover any police overtime; 

    3. Woodlynne has gone on record that the police services provided have been professional                                    and competent and there will be no more disparaging comments about our policing; and   

     4.  Woodlynne's Public Safety Director will now act as liaison with our Police Chief, rather than having our Chief deal directly with the Woodlynne Mayor.  

    We are agreeing to this extension because we are very concerned that without it, Woodlynne would have no police services beginning this holiday weekend. We have been assured by the State that they are now working to provide Woodlynne a permanent police solution. (The other valuable side effect of this extension is we will avoid 3 police layoffs for another 90 days. While my concern is we are wreaking havoc with the professional lives of these officers, we are pleased they will stay on for a time. Perhaps with a retirement or two in the Department, we might avoid further layoff.) 

    About one year ago, Collingswood advised Woodlynne it did not wish to continue police service beyond the expiration of our Agreement - July 3, 2010 - unless Collingswood returned to conduct the housing and rental inspections in Woodlynne. We had heard from the Police Chief and from our officers on the street that Woodlynne's decision to end our housing enforcement was making our policing less effective. I've attached a copy of the exchange of letters from last year so you can see the dialogue for yourself. 

    For right now, it looks like we will be policing Woodlynne an additional 90 days and keeping in contact with the State to see the progress on a permanent solution.