Township considers ways to save gasoline

VERNON - Vernon is exploring ways to cut down on gas consumption, Township Manager Don Teolis told the council at a meeting on Sept. 12. "We've limited take-home use of township vehicles to three persons: Police Chief Roy Wherry, Assistant Road Superintendent Dave Pullis and me, " Teolis said. "We are facing a disaster that's effecting the entire country, and if gas prices continue as they are, or if they rise higher, we may face a budget shortfall of approximately $40,000." The council said it will do everything possible to avoid the necessity of passing on the higher cost to taxpayers through an emergency levy. Teolis said that the township is trying to educate employees on ways to reduce gas consumption, including limiting road trips to those that are essential, and curtailing other activities that involve driving, even those already planned. Deputy Mayor Janet Morrison said she is happy to find out that Teolis is ahead of this curve. "School and emergency budgets are seriously affected by these gas prices," Morrison said. "We won't know where we are going until we know where gas prices are going. We have lots of vehicles on the road, several ongoing public works projects, and the department of public works has the winter and snow clearing still to face." Councilman Austin Carew said that this gas crisis is a good time to talk about securing better public transportation in Vernon. New Jersey Transit buses provide service between Warwick, N.Y. and New York City, but do not come to Vernon, Carew said. Some Vernonites also pick up NJ Transit's 194 bus at the Victoria's Mountain Inn Park-and-Ride on Route 23 and County Route 515 in Stockholm. "Vernon would profit from mass transportation. If the push to get it here doesn't start with the council, maybe it won't start at all because people can't believe it could happen," Carew said. Morrison mentioned the complexities of the paperwork required to get a NJ Transit bus to serve a locality. Among the many documents required are an environmental study and a cost benefit analysis. "Let's find out what we would have to do," concluded Mayor Ira Weiner.