Police Chief Robert Cimino asked the Township Committee on Saturday not to cut his department's budget - or jobs -- as plans loom for perhaps up to three police department slots eliminated, along with three in the fire department.

"He said he would appreciate it if cuts were not made in his department," TC Member Fred Profeta said after the budget meeting. "He also indicated a willingness to consider alternatives. He was offered the possibility of furloughs, but did not address that specifically."

Profeta declined to comment on the plans for potential police and fire cuts, first reported here last week. But he said Ciminio appered not to be in favor of furloughs for his offers: "He said he did not think it was appropriate for public safety."

The various non-profits funded by the township, meanwhile, ageed to a 10% cut in their own funding from the budget. Among those are the Maplewood Village Alliance, which offered to cut its $15,000 funding by 10% and came forth with a budget to reflect that. Youthnet offered an even further reduction, from $22,000 to $15,000.

The other two non-profit outlets, Springlfeild Avenue Partnership and Community Coalition on Race, accepted their 10% cuts as well.

Maplewood Green Day, the annual event spearheaded by Profeta, took a $5,000 cut from its $10,000 funding of last year. Profeta pointed out, however that the Green event actually raised $5,000 last year and returned that to the township.

Also in attendance were representatives from the July 4^th Celebration Committee, which does not receive direct funding, but ends up costing the township about $16,200 in overtime and $2,100 in materials for fencing, portable toilets, etc.

Tom Carlson, one of the July 4^th committee leaders, told the TC the group would seek to cover the materials cost, and may seek to boost ticket sales to do so.

Profeta said there was discussion of possibly raising ticket prices, but it was not instituted. "They are pretty set financially, the ticket sales average about $25,000 annuelly since 1999," he added. "Their expenses run about $24,000. Every year they seem to averge about $750 in the black. We discussed increasing ticket prices but they said that is not something they wouidl likely do."

The TC weeks ago announced 17 township-wide layoffs, most in the public works department. They also plan to institute a summer Friday furlough for all township employees, that would include a total of 12 unpaid days off during the three summer months.