By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff
LINWOOD — City Council appointed Jason Weber as deputy chief of the Linwood Police Department on Wednesday, Jan. 27, as the investigation of Chief John Hamilton continues.
The Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office took over supervision of the department effective Jan. 1 amid an investigation into claims of misconduct by Hamilton, who was hired as chief April 1, 2020.
In a news release, the Prosecutor’s Office stated City Council placed Hamilton on paid administrative leave. On Dec. 9, the city named Weber, a captain at the time, acting chief and Lt. Steve Cunningham acting captain.
A resolution passed Jan. 27 named Weber deputy chief with a salary of $137,242. Councilman Brian Heun, who oversees public safety, was absent from the meeting.
Council President Ralph Paolone said the city, police department and Prosecutor’s Office had a meeting planned for Monday, Feb. 1, to discuss the progress of the investigation into Hamilton’s alleged misconduct and reorganization of the department from top down.
Paolone also addressed an issue with emergency medical services for Linwood and Northfield. The city requested bids and received just one that was too costly, he said, noting officials would be meeting Feb. 1 to discuss the situation with their Northfield counterparts and that even though the current EMS contract expires in February, there is a 90-day extension clause.
Paolone said the city would revise its request for proposals to try to get more companies to bid on the contract with hopes of receiving bids by March 3 and approving a contract during the City Council meeting scheduled for March 10.
Also under public safety, Paolone said the city met with officials from Linwood Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 who said they need new radios. Their equipment is outdated and they were asking for help in applying to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for a grant to fund the purchase. He said City Clerk Leigh Ann Napoli has had a lot of success lately with grant applications and would assist the fire company. Paolone anticipated the city having to fund 10 percent of the cost, or $20,000, if the grant were secured.
The city’s beloved green firetruck is showing its age of 17 years, Paolone said, and already is two years past its anticipated lifespan.
“That’s the best-looking 17-year-old firetruck I’ve ever seen,” Mayor Darren Matik commented.
Paolone said the company that built the truck is out of business and it has become difficult to get parts and service. He suggested the city start budgeting part of the cost of a new truck — about $550,000 — going forward so that some funding is in place when it’s necessary to buy one. He said the fire company last bought a pumper truck in 2019.
In other news, city engineer Vince Polistina and Planning Board solicitor Eric Goldstein were awarded noncompetitive professional services contracts.
Council also appointed Chad Meyers to the Recreation Board, something seen as a possible first step toward working in the city government.
“That’s where it starts,” City Councilman Eric Ford said.
Resident John Miller thanked City Council for taking care of a graffiti problem and removing a concrete pad at South Jersey Industries Park off Wabash Avenue next to Seaview Elementary School, but council members were quick to point out it was the Public Works Department that handled the job.