TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON—Bethany Community Center officials told Pascack Press that DPW trucks were barred from entering a temporary parking lot there via the center’s Pascack Road entrance due to a “high volume of pedestrian activity” at the popular facility.
In response to questions, Bethany Church’s Board of Directors said it understood residents’ requests to route DPW vehicles through the main Pascack Road entrance but said the option was “not feasible” given the “very high volume of daily pedestrian activity at the Center.”
“On an average day, between 500 and 1,000 people, many of them children, walk through the main entrance to attend our preschool, music school, fitness and wellness programs, swimming lessons, church services, and many other activities,” the board said.
In recent public meetings leading up to the council’s Dec. 2 vote approving Bethany’s DPW lease, Woodfield Road residents criticized the temporary arrangement and called for trucks to enter Bethany via Pascack Road.
Council approved an 18-month, $104,400 temporary DPW lease for the 1.25-acre back lot at Bethany by a 3–1 vote. Supporting were council members Michael Ullman, Tom Sears, and Daisy Velez; Council President Michael DeSena voted no. Council Vice President Steven Cascio recused himself, telling Pascack Press he faced two conflicts of interest, which he did not disclose. (See “Council passes DPW lease at Bethany,” Dec. 4, 2025.)
A Dec. 8 statement from Bethany’s Board of Directors said the church “was initially approached by the Township approximately a year ago” about leasing the lot. “It was not an opportunity Bethany Church sought out nor one that was agreed upon without a great deal of thought and discussion,” the board said.
The board added that while an initial lease was entered into Oct. 6, 2025, the church learned weeks later that the Township required a second vote to authorize the action. “At that time, all work was paused at the Bethany Community Center,” the statement said. The church said it is re-entering the agreement with the understanding that it provides “a mutually beneficial temporary solution during the construction of the new DPW facility.”
Both Mayor Peter Calamari and Administrator Mark DiCarlo had previously said DPW access via Bethany’s Pascack Road driveway was off the table, calling Bethany’s position non-negotiable.
Most Woodfield Road residents and nearby neighbors said allowing DPW trucks to enter via Pascack Road would have alleviated their public safety concerns for children, bicyclists, walkers, joggers, and older adults who use Woodfield Road and the adjacent walking path.
Under the temporary lease, DPW trucks and equipment will be stored at Bethany while construction continues behind town hall. Vehicles previously stored at Our Lady of Good Counsel will also be moved to the Bethany site.
Residents also raised concerns about where extra vehicles and equipment would go after the lease expires. Some predicted officials would try to extend storage at Bethany, but Calamari and DiCarlo said that was not being considered. The lease includes up to three two-month extensions for potential construction delays.
Pascack Press requested a copy of the lease on Dec. 4; the OPRA request was denied Dec. 8 on the grounds that “no such government records” existed.
Bethany’s statement noted that after the council’s 5–0 vote on Oct. 6 to enter the lease agreement, church officials believed a signed lease was in place. They later learned a formal ordinance was required and that a quorum had been lacking at the Nov. 10 meeting, causing further delay. The lease was officially approved Dec. 2 after sustained neighborhood opposition.
During public hearings, the township attorney faced questions about why work had been undertaken without a signed lease and why no one recognized that an ordinance—and a quorum—was necessary. By the time work paused, most construction at the Bethany site had already been completed. The township spent $57,700 on a new driveway, security gates and fencing, and black screening.