Council Approves Cop Car Order

The Township Council on Monday unanimously approved the purchase of 12 new police vehicles from Cherry Hill's Winner Ford.

Winner Ford submitted the only bid to supply the all-wheel-drive vehicles to the Police Department, according to Police Chief W. Harry Earle.

The now-ordered vehicles are 12 "pursuit rated" sedans, labeled as "Police Interceptors."

The plan initially was to purchase 10 sedans and two sport-utilty vehicles, but the price on the SUVs came in higher than the township wanted to spend, according to Earle, who noted the all-wheel-drive sedans afford police most capabilities of the SUVs.

The township will pay Winner a total of $308,316 for the 12 vehicles, for an average price of $25,693 per vehicle.

The new vehicles were ordered this week, Earle said, and should be delivered in about eight weeks.

Council on Nov. 28 approved a $545,500 bond ordinance to help pay for the new police vehicles and equipment to outfit them.

In other news

Mayor David Mayer has appointed Josephine Costa as second alternate on the Township Planning Board.

Council appointed Dora Guevara and Joseph Pillo to five-year terms on the Gloucester Township Municipal Utilties Authority (GTMUA). The terms run Feb. 1, 2012, through Dec. 31, 2017.

Guevara will serve as a regular member, Pillo as alternate No. 1.

Former councilman Ken Garbowski will complete the remaining four years of Pillo's unexpired term as the GTMUA alternate No. 2. The term is Feb. 1, 2012, through Dec. 31, 2016.