Fire Siren Relocation Possible While Decibel Levels Investigated at Remaining Sirens

While the River Edge Mayor and Council approved a motion from the floor to on Kensington and Elm Avenues at last week's meeting, the governing body may have to approve a more formal decision in early December.

According to Borough Administrator Alan Negreann, the borough received a legal opinion from former borough attorney and current municipal Judge Bruce Saffro that the council should approve a resolution or ordinance to change the status of a fire siren.

Current borough attorney Sam Cereste will provide the governing body with a decision on how they should be proceed regarding turning off the one siren at the Dec. 5 meeting.

"I'm looking for guidance on how the council would like to proceed," Negreann said. "I've also provided the Mayor and Council with a request for proposals from 1999 for decibel testings on the fire sirens. I believe it's a starting point on how to go forward with a survey of the existing sirens, their detailed locations, current decibel levels and if they are within federal and state standards and if they are adequate to notify the borough's firefighters."

The controversial siren is one of three in the borough with the remaining working sirens located on Tenney Avenue and Kinderkamack Road at and on Bloomfield Avenue. Five additional sirens are located throughout the borough but are currently not functioning.

Councilman Johnny Porco questioned if the study could include looking into new technology to replace the sirens while Councilman Edward Mignone asked that that study explore what similar towns have done.

"During my research I contacted Rutgers University and they have a noise reduction center," Councilman and Mayor-elect Sandy Moscaritolo said. "The director, Eric Zwerling, informed me of new technology that is available. Also Al [Councilman Bartelloni] mentioned there is a siren across from that PSE&G cut the electric off to. That might be an alternative we could study - reactivate it and see what the coverage is from that area and then do away with the one at Kensington and Elm Avenues."

Going forward at the Dec. 5 Mayor and Council meeting, the governing body will move ahead with the next steps for issuing a request for proposals for the fire siren study along with hearing from Cereste about shutting off the Kensington and Elm Avenues siren.