HILLSDALE—In a 10-minute special Zoom meeting Jan. 22, the Borough Council unanimously approved an $85,000 contract for flood damage repairs at the police department as well as an $80,000 contract for lobby improvements at the Borough Hall.
Both contracts were awarded to TNS Construction LLC of Stanhope. The council approved both resolutions as part of a consent agenda. Resolution 24057 approved the borough hall lobby improvements; Resolution 24058 awarded the HPD’s flood repairs and flood mitigation work.
Borough administrator Michael Ghassali said an intense early September rainstorm caused up to 2 inches of water to pour through police department doors, contaminating walls and damaging the department’s furniture and some equipment.
Ghassali said so far the town had spent $60,000 on mold remediation, $60,000 for furniture to replace what was flood-damaged, and will spend the approved $85,000 for additional flood mitigation work and measures to help prevent future flooding.
He said the $85,000 will pay for the installation of three metal grates, or drains, to catch runoff water coming toward the police station and drain the water away from the building using gravity. He said one large area will also be regraded to direct water away from the building.
He said following the repairs and mitigation work, officials will evaluate whether the police department requires a sump pump or other measures to channel and redirect water away from the building.
He told councilors that some funds may be available from the borough’s flood insurance settlement should additional flood mitigation work be needed.
Ghassali thanked the council for holding a special meeting to help expedite the flood mitigation work needed at the police department. The next regular meeting is Feb. 6.
Ghassali said the $85,000 TNS Construction contract will include fixing and replacing drywall damaged by flooding, changing floor tiling, changing lights to LED lighting, installing new carpeting where it previously existed, and painting and finishing walls, offices and hallways.
He said he anticipated work to be completed by the end of March, or earlier, if no additional hold ups or delays occur. “We’ve been waiting for this day a long time,” said Police Chief Sean Smith, during the short meeting.
Ghassali said Resolution 24057, also approved 6-0, awarded an $80,000 contract to TNS Construction LLC, to fix the borough hall lobby, which will include installation of safety glass, a new main door locking mechanism, and make departments more accessible, such as the construction and recreation departments so residents can do all their business in the lobby without wandering through the building.
Some improvements will help increase resident safety and security, he said.
“We’ll be rearranging it [the lobby] to make it more resident-friendly,” said Ghassali.