WESTWOOD—At the mayor and council work session of April 5 the governing body approved a plan presented by Councilwoman and Parking Authority Liaison Cheryl Hodges to install four dual Level 2 electric vehicle charging stations in the borough’s three public parking lots: north, south, and Fairview.
The Westwood Parking Authority endorsed the plan at its April 12 meeting — the same meeting where, under chairman Gary Dragona, it separately voted for a resolution authorizing the filing of a certificate requesting the state’s termination of the authority, in favor of a less independent parking utility, more in the model of Park Ridge’s power and water utility.
Charged with greatness
According to Mayor Ray Arroyo, each EV charging location will provide four charging ports, enabling 12 vehicles to be charged simultaneously in the Central Business District. Level 2 chargers offer 40–65 miles of travel with every hour of charge.
Arroyo said the upgraded electrical service feeding each station will provide full charging without power sharing. He said power sharing lengthens the time it takes to reach full charge and is less desirable for this application.
“Fully powered Level 2 chargers are especially suitable, and efficient, for downtown installations, where parking is at a premium and two- or three-hour maximum meter times are in effect,” Arroyo said.
“There was some concern at Council as to whether there was sufficient demand for 12 ports. The question was whether we would needlessly be taking parking stalls out of general service,” he said.
He added, “But the governing body wisely decided to install this infrastructure now, anticipating growth in demand for this service. We also think of it as an amenity that will make the CBD more attractive as a destination.”
Arroyo said, quoting “Field of Dreams,” “‘If you build it, they will come.’ Installing these ports will make Westwood the only public electric charging station in New Jersey north of New Milford, between the parkway and Closter.”
To fund this initiative, the borough will purse PSEG’s Make Ready grant program.
“We are working closely with renowned industry vendor BLINK and the installation target is late spring of this year,” he said.
Resident John O’Sullivan was tapped to manage the project. Arroyo said O’Sullivan has extensive experience in this field as a former equity partner in an EV charging startup.
“John now heads a company installing EV infrastructure nationwide. We could not be more fortunate to have him coordinating Westwood’s first installation of EV charging stations,” said Arroyo.
He added kudos to Hodges, Westwood Parking Authority interim administrator Carol Knubel, Parking Authority member Joe Letizia, “and all the members of the PA for laying the groundwork for this important initiative.”
What’s in a name?
By statute, the purpose of the Westwood Parking Authority is, in part, the construction, provision, leasing or operation of off-street parking projects within the Borough of Westwood, “together with such accessory facilities as may promote the safe, orderly and convenient flow of pedestrian and vehicular traffic” within the borough.
It also establishes, charges, and collects “rents, rates or other charges” — think parking meters and fines — “to be determined exclusively by the authority for the use of any parking facility to be operated by the authority.”
According to former Westwood Parking Authority chairman, and now regular member, Joe Letizia in February, parking authorities are “really meant for places like Hoboken, Hackensack, Jersey City, that sort of thing: where there’s a need for a quasi-independent body to administer parking.”
He said the WPA had the power to initiate eminent domain procedures. “It’s nuts. So I’ve been pushing to either roll it into the BA’s [borough administrator’s] office, or the police department. Moreso the BA, frankly.”
Indeed, statute says the parking authority can “exercise the power of eminent domain for the acquisition of any real property deemed necessary for its purposes; provided, however, that the Parking Authority may not acquire any interest in real estate without the consent of the governing body.
Letizia said, “A utility may be that answer.” Akin to Park Ridge’s power and water utility, a Westwood parking utility, he said, “would still have a separate board, but the budgeting and everything goes back to the borough.”
He said, “It’s easier to administer, and we’d save money on accountants and lawyers. I wouldn’t need my own pros.”
Letizia said, “Basically, I’ve been in a position for like the past four years saying the way the WPA is structured doesn’t meet the needs of the borough.”
On May 24 he said the certificate requesting dissolution was headed for the state’s attention, along with one anticipated from the borough.