$25K in Improvements May Come to Police Impound Garage

A successful vote to introduce an ordinance appropriating $25,000 to augment the police department’s impound garage was held Monday. 

The vote came during a regular meeting of the borough’s council. It will be up for a final vote at the next meeting, held on Sept. 9.

The ordinance, if approved, will appropriate the sum from the borough's general capital improvement fund to make the alterations.

The lot does not operate as a possession lot. The ordinance corresponds to an evidence impound yard, for possessions that cannot be accommodated at Madison’s police department.

“For example, if you get towed out of Stop & Shop tonight,” said Mayor Bob Conley. “They’re not going to take your car here, and extract storage fees (etc.). It’s for (police evidence).”

According to Conley, it’s operated under the attorney general’s guidelines, and can involve retaining evidence during criminal proceedings.

However, to operate the lot at a level of effectiveness, improvements must be made. Some of these, according to the mayor, include – HVAC, addressing mold problems, adding fences, adding security cameras and ensuring the lot cannot be tampered with.

Conley also said that the amount allotted for the project is consistent with how it was budgeted.