Palisadian., 1924-11-28
DIETRICH ASKS that A BOARD OF
CITIZENS Be APPOINTED TO GOVERN
The FIRE Department IN CLIFFSIDE
Mayor and Attorney Do Not Favor Plan; New Assess
ment Law Is Branded Bad and Legislators Will
Be Asked to Repeal 1t; Borough Not Liable in Case
of c. Richards Car; Business Mems Association Asks
for Better Lights and Street Signs.

lIeSt StSn6.
| Councilman Henry Dietrich. of the
Cliffside Park Council Board. started
heated discussion at the meeting on
lest Monday night when he condemned
the suggested Fire Department ordi-
nance as being Objectionable.
~Jobs Political ptums'
He said that as drafted It makes
the various Jobs in the fre companies
political plums, and insisted the gov
ernment Of the Fire Department be out
Of the hands of the Mayor and Coun.
Gil. He recommended the appoint
ment of three citizens as flre commits
sioners to be the departments active
heads His second suggestion was
that the drivers Of the engines be paid
salary sufficient to make 1t unnec-
essary for them to have any other oc-
cupation. Mr.. Dietrich said, too, that
in his opinion the age for drivers
should be changed to read from 81 to
35 instead of 81 to 55, explaining that
if passed as 1t now reads a man of so
could be appointed, serve only five
years and get pension In the event
a pension fund was started for the
| firemen. He wants the department
operated under civil service, where 2
man can only be removed on proven
charges.
Mayor Marini said ne did not fully
understand what Councilman Dietrich
was getting at. He said they were
beautiful sounding phrases but didn't
mean anything" and limited that the
Counclman's remarks might be
"grandstand play"
'Why not appoint commission to
take care of the Collectors office, one
for the Police Department. etc. and do
away with the Mayor and Councii?"
asked the Mayor.
ut might be good idea," Mr.. Die
trich huiaorously replied.
Attorney Agnew said he had drawn
the ordinance In question only as
suggested ordinance and 1t could be
changed. He said, however. he was
opposed to the idea of three citizens
having control of the Fire Depart
ment.
1t was decided to lay the matter
over for consideration by the entire
Council at a special meeting to be
called for that purpose.
New Assessment Law
The attorney, in his report. told OF
the new assessment law which re-
quired the local assessment commits
sion to first have a hearing on assess
ments, then forward their report to
the Circuit Court judge in Hacken-
sack instead of to the local Council
Board as heretofore. After a second
hearing, under the new law, the Cir
cult Court judge passes on the JUS
tice OF the various assessments in
stead of the local governing body.
The attorney said it was a very bad
law because one man not acquainted
with the problems of the many small
boroughs was not in a position to pass
judgment as well as the various coun.
cilmen and mayors.
At his suggestion the clerk was in
structed to write to State Senator
Mackay and the four assemblymen
from Bergen asking them to do what
they can have the law repealed.
Borough Court Cases
The attorney reported on the case
in which Carmine Richard sued both
the borough and Naedler for damage
done to his car by the Cliffside fire
engine. The judge, several weeks ago.
found Naedler guilty and entered
judgment for the damages against
him. Recently. he handed down de-
cision saying the borough is not liable
He reported, too, that William Els
berg, who was suing the borough for
reinstatement on the police force and
back pay since 1916, having lost his
case in the first court, has appealed
to higher court in Trenton.
The case of the State Board of
Health VS.. Cliffside Park for the pol
luton of water in the West Grant
wood section will come up soon, the
attorney announced.
Want Street Signs
A letter from the Cliffside Business
Mems Association asked that some
thing be done toward the erection OF
street signs in the borough. and they
also asked for better lighting of the
business section. This will be con-
sidered at a later date and If possible
provision made in next years budget
for the street signs.
Memorial Park
An ordinance was passed officially
naming the triangle OF land at the
junction Of Palisade avenue and Gorge
road, Memorial Park