Im sure he does a great job. This is not the day and age of wasteful spending anymore. He should respectfully decline the car. Gas and maintenance for all future cars......no thanks. Tax payers should have had a vote...buy me a car,insurance,gas and maint to

He was hired knowing it wasn't a 9-5 job. What happens when the car needs to be replaced? Who pays for that cost? Bad precedent set. And who abstains? If you don't know all the facts, you owe it to the people that put you into office to vote no until more facts are given.

Kath, Ed is right on this one, one way or the other you have to vote. to abstain is taking the political way out so you can say, "I didn't say this or that". I'm not saying one way or the other but you need to vote, I hate it when ANY politician abstains, on any issue you need to grab as much info that you can at that time to vote. It's Up or Down, Kath not "I don't know". That is why you are in office to REPRESENT!

The vote should have been "no car". No offense intended to Mr. King, if he has been doing a great job for Cinnaminson, that is fantastic. That is what he was hired to do, we didn't hire him to do a below average job. When did "Thank you" and a Paycheck become not enough??? Thank you Mayor Brauckmann for making the only sensible vote in this taxpayer's mind. Elected officials need to think about the population they represent, the tired masses that drive their own cars to work each day to pay their bills and their taxes, and give us a break with all the spending. And Eddy is correct, you shouldn't abstain from a vote unless you have a conflict of interest. If you don't have all the information you need to vote yes for an increase in spending, you vote no and you can re-vist the issue later when you become more informed. It is easier to give something later than it is to take it away.

Another do as we want with the tax payer's money! Mr. King was hired knowing that there was "No Car" doing a great job...excellecent that's why he was chosen! He makes $80,000/year and collects a pension and can't afford a car, seriously?

If this is a compensation issue, then pay him for the good job and let the taxpayers see the cost.
Handing out cars is not the way to use taxpayers money in this situation. Mr. King should be able to expense any out of pocket costs to the township to eliminate any personal cost burden.
Young is right here! Why do we want to change from current township policy's ?
Rooney, "if King has earned it"....pay him and put it in his taxable paycheck !

Bad move...so what are they going to give him next year, when they say he's doing a great job, a house in Cinnaminson so hes here all the time....He gets a salary to do the great job...and he even said he would be here no matter if they gave him a car or not...

He won't move here, the taxes are too high.

Boy they love spending our money. If there is such a surplus in revenue who about giving it back to the tax payers. Thoughts like that never cross their mind. Well I know who I'm not voting for. This is setting a bad precedent.

"Or else, Rooney said, he’d pay the overage out of his own pocket." I hope they hold him to that.

This is outrageous! He knew the day he took the job that he wasn’t getting a car. What about the other township employees who do a good job? What do they get? Trips to Disney on our dime? And Fitzpatrick abstains???????????What a wimp move! Shame on Rooney for even bringing this up? Mr. Conservative. What a joke!

Who was issued the car before him? Why was it just sitting around unused anyway? Is this a marked township car? Does it have emergency lights and sirens? It seems as though they want to give him all the benefits of a police chief, even though the committee decided to eliminate that position.

Now hold on here. Some of you are criticizing Ms. Fitzpatrick for abstaining from a vote? You think she should vote no because she doesn't have all the information? That's EXACTLY why she should abstain. It's a smart move because she doesn't have all the information to make a decision one way or the other. Why does it have to be no?
Ms. Fitzpatrick, that was the right move. Will this meeting be on television?
Secondly, we need to support our police officers in town. Mr. King has done a fine job and one of my neighbors is friends with a police officer here and she said he just sings his praises. I personally have never met him before but I have seen him.

I bet they could care less what you all think

i totally support a brand new car for our public safety director. i couldn't imagine a more fiscally conservative expenditure than to buy a shiny new sedan for a six figure bureaucrat.

gotta love the hypocrisy of local republican politics. when i lived in mt holly it was the dems who spent money like drunken sailors - in cinnaminson it's the repubs.

can't mr king drive his own *#@! car?

Hey guys! I keep you safe from dangerous insects and wildlife on a daily basis. Scary wasps and hornets, home destroying termites, you name it- I'm on the frontlines... My personal car is kind of beat up though, I really fancy a new one... Since I'm doing such a good job protecting you, would you all mind throwing some taxpayer dollars my way? I could really use a new ride!

Hey Elllie A
we'll remember that if you ever want to run for office, that any tough issue you would just vote to abstain. No you are wrong again, there was plenty of information on both sides of the issue and if not , then how can you vote on other issues? Up or down, that's all, you vote your conscious with the info you have, or believe in at the time of the vote on any matter, unless you have a conflict of interest.

Question. He got approved for the car does this mean he now gets to expense all the gas used now as well? I mean maintainence is paid for as its a twp owned vehicle. Why not just stipend him X dollars a month to use his own car. Im sure that will be cheaper in the long term.

Mr. King drives from Mercer County everyday...that's a big Gas Bill. You people sure don't sound like fiscal Conservatives to me!

A car with all the expenses paid...by the tax payers...this is why I hate politics. Cant wait to see my new tax bill.

Wait until he finds our that This PERK is TAXABLE by the IRS! Company Cars etc., are counted as Income by the I.R.S. EVEN if the Twp pays the taxes to the IRS that too than becomes Income! Former Chief Tom Adams Never abused his Office nor perks! ~Rick Magee, FL det. ret.

I did not mean my writings as a slam or to be misinterpreted against the Director. Obviously he is doing a good jiob. My recollections of Cinnaminson Twp. is one of being isolated from the constant political medlings by my Chief of police, who the Citizens loved as did we all. May God Bless Chief Tom Adams, Sgt. Tom Lillagore and all of my "Brothers" who have predeceeded me from this earth. May they All rest alongside of saint Michael the Archangel. ~Rick Magee, FL Det., Ret.

Rick your recollections sound like a time when life was great, but that is not how things are run around here now. The new Director takes his direct orders from the Twp. Committiee Members. John Rooney is on his way out the door, what an exit with this generous expenditure of our tax dollars. The Mayor (Don) votes "NO" brilliant with his candidacy up. Kathy Fitzpatrick votes with the typical abstain vote, and Young votes yes (but fought so hard to keep the car out of the deal origiinally) the classic is Minniti saying and I quote "I can easily say yes as easily as I could say no." It is mind blowing, the article goes even further to say that they are interviewing for a New Adminstrator? If he is doing such a great job why interview new candidates or offer a car? Great job as always Patch.

He earned it? I have nothing against the man or what he has done. But he is getting paid to do his job. The reward is his paycheck and his job, benefits, etc.... Are we in the business of handing over cars if employees do a good job? We are going to be giving out lots of cars. I think a plaque or public accolade is enough.

My advice to all Residents of Cinnaminson Twp. Beware of a Council or Committee that Removes a Chief of Police to only replace it with a Civilian under "their Control". Corruption follows. I guress Good Ol' Boy Politics is not just in the South. Payoffs take many forms, albeit perks, Bonusses or vehicles. Jan wrote that they are interviewing for a New Administrator. That's Interesting. Maureen, I agree with you too. Who does one have to know to get the job? Me? I am too darned Honest! I can still pass Polygraphs! ~Rick Magee, FL Det.,ret.

Sounds like a waste of taxpayer money and a way to pay someone more without having to put it in the budget for approval.

I have a company car for my job, For the benefit of using it for personal use my employer withholds a set amount of money every pay period as my share of the cost of the lease, insurance, gas, maintenance, etc . Personal mileage use of the vehicle is considered taxable income by the IRS. Will the director be charged for the personal use miles he puts on the vehicle? If he is involved in an at fault accident during personal use will he be required to pay the insurance deductible?What policies did the committee put into place for the non-township business use of the vehicle? Too many unanswered questions for me. The director is not a sworn police officer He has ZERO police powers. He is an administrator. How many after hours public safety emergencies has he had to respond to so far?

The River line runs from Mercer County and stops in Cinnaminson and Riverton. Let's just issue him some tokens. It will be cheeper, he still gets a ride to work on the tax payer dime and it is more environmentally friendly.

A great idea and I'll even buy the first week tickets. I have five tickets right now will stop at station get five more for round trip.

75% revenue is up over last year? Where did this new windfall come from and where is it going? 75 percent really? A year ago revenue was down due to all the appeals on reassessments. How much does that calculate in actual dollars?

I was at last nights meeting. There has been a requirement that a car be available for Mr. King's use while on the Job. For instance, if he is in the office and gets called on to perform official business outside the office. So therefore a car has been made available for his use during business hours. The issue at hand is after hours lets say 2:00 AM when there's a hurricane. Should we expect him to use his own vehicle to get in the office. That's the question. I am inclined to say say No. I would expect that as a township we would want him to have a reliable way of getting back to Cinnaminson if needed. Since We are already paying for maintenance and Insurance on this vehicle the only thing in question last night was the cost of the additional gas. For the record Ms. Fitzpatrick abstained because she wanted to know the cost involved before making a decision.

The statement about revenues being way up in interesting. So maybe there was not a good reason for a tax increase after all? Perhaps some of that excess revenue could have been used to hire back some police officers. I keep reading about houses being broken into, but rarely see a police car on the street (except for the Moorestown ones that have their headquarters right down the street.)
Ms. Fitzpatrick, just why is it you do not have enough information? Are the guys keeping things from you. Makeing sure you get enough information to cast an informed vote is your job.
As for the citizens who voted this group into office and now have complaints- when you keep doing the same thing, you will keep getting the same result.

How much information does one really need? It's a car! He lives in another County! Most of our Police Officers are on call during hurricanes, and other emergencies as well. Should we give them all a car too?? Also King is not a Police Officer, he can't have a police radio in his car, can't have police lights or a siren! Why does he need a a township vehicle? Also with his commute, he has a much greater chance of getting in an accident, then any lawsuits would be on our tab! I'm sure he's doing a fine job, so what. So do all of the officers, as they always have. So now, Mr. King will drive a township vehicle to and from work, from Mercer County, Monday through Friday, fill up his tank where the other officers fill up the Police cars, and drive on our dime! Fiscal conservatives my butt. And of course Mr. Brauckman votes no, someone has to look like they are looking out for us, and might as well be the one who's up for election. Same crap, different year. Goodbye Mr. Rooney, enjoy your promotion, or whatever your excuse was for not running for office again. We can't blame you, no one wants to work with these people, why do you think there is no other candidates?

I believe the revenues up 75 % that Mr. Rooney is referring to are citation revenues issued by the Department for motor vehicle violations etc.

Sylvia, read "Bull Pitts" comment at 1:06 on corresponding article. The car usage is being paid by the 75% increase from motor vehicle violations and courts costs, the increase in tickets by the department are paying for the head of the department's car usage. Let's increase the violations by 150% and give funnel that money into more free car usage. As far as the last comment, are you saying less tickets were written because the former COP lowered the moral and productivity so badly no one wanted to write tickets?? Seems that last comment was just an add on to rehash last election.

Christina, this article does not mention what kind of car he will be given. He was using an older Crown Vic, however, now there is a brand new Dodge Charger (with a Hemi I believe) parked there. Please advise.

Christina, A new Dodge Charger is a reliable car that can go from point A to B. A "Used Taxi" as I was issued in the 80's was a "Tow Job". I carried a large "Fire Extingusher", not for public safety, but mine. At that time, I was Second in Command
on call 24/7. How degrading, being called out at 2:00am & towed 2:15am., more times than I can remember. The retired members refer to that as the "Dark Ages"
Are we still in the "Dark Ages" ? When your out at night, see how many Verizon, Comcast, Fire, EMS,EM, PS&G, Maint., NJSP, Prosecutors, Investigators, and other corporation & executive vehicles are parked in town on call 24/7. Our Township
Committee hired Dir. (Chief) King to be the "Top Boss" of the CPD. He is our Director of the CPD. The Twp. buys cars, eguipment, & gasoline on State contract prices w/o tax, and are self insured. I hope I never see any representative of this Twp. on National TV, AOL, Patch, Facebook , etc. looking like they just got out of a trash dumpster. Sorry, if I offend anyone, I lived in the "Dark Ages" I know better. It's time for the residents, business owners & Twp. Committee to stop the
180 issue of "I was hoodwinked, I didn't know, mislead" I personally agree with the members of the township Commitee that voted yes to give Director King who as the leader of the CPD is on call 24-7 and should have a reliable vehicle.I know I've been there !