Council tables Bergen County fire mutual-aid plan item pending county clarification

Council members raised questions about Resolution No. 29-136, a Bergen County Fire and Mutual Aid Plan agreement, during the Jan. 5 meeting and voted to table the resolution until staff could provide more details.

A council member asked whether the county plan would "circumvent our mutual aid agreements with Paramus" and how the county would coordinate or assume responsibility for equipment damage or injuries that occur during mutual-aid calls. Township administrator Mark DiCarlo said he would obtain and report back with answers.

The mayor and council agreed to place the item on a future agenda after staff obtains clarifying information. The transcript records a motion to table and a roll-call vote in which the council agreed to postpone action to the next meeting to permit staff follow-up.

The council did not adopt the county plan at the Jan. 5 meeting and requested written clarification on the interplay between county-level mutual-aid arrangements and existing municipal agreements.