Council Agrees Use Interpreter for Large Korean Population

A New Jersey town where more than half the residents are of Korean heritage will hire an interpreter when needed for public council meetings.

The Palisades Park Council approved a resolution to enter into a contract with a language translation service on an as needed basis.

Mayor James Rotundo says under the contract the interpreter would charge $150 for the first hour and would be available only for council meetings.

But The Record newspaper reports a resident on Tuesday brought in a wireless earphone system that allowed dozens of Korean-speaking residents to listen to a volunteer interpreter translate the council meeting.