HILLSDALE—The borough’s engineer said Oct. 1 officials were still waiting for approved permits from the state Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) before awarding a contract to the low bidder for Centennial Field improvements.
If the permits are not received by Nov. 8, the project may need to be re-bid, as contracts must be awarded within 60 days of bid openings under state law. (Bids were opened on Sept. 5, making the deadline Nov. 5.)
Nick Chelius of Colliers Engineering & Design said he did not know why the permits were delayed, though they were told the review was in its final steps. The permits have been awaiting NJDEP signoff for over a month.
The borough’s licensed site remediation professional, Lois Spagnola of The Environment Group, calls weekly to check on the status. Centennial Field was previously a landfill and requires monitoring to prevent future contamination.
Chelius said at the Sept. 10 council meeting that the low bid on Centennial Field improvements was $377,164.10 by Dakota Construction.
“We just hope we get the permits in time to award the project and get it built,” Chelius told the council Oct. 1. Ghassali noted that the permit is considered “minor,” but if it does not arrive soon, “We may have to make our own calls.”
Chelius added that when the NJDEP permit is received, the project will be awarded. “Fingers crossed we make the 60-day mark,” he said.
Chelius also reported the Memorial Field Project is in the “final stages of the concept phase.” Once the scope is developed, the project will move to the final design stage.
In an Oct. 1 memo, Chelius outlined the project, which will include synthetic turf baseball fields, a multi-sport field, and other athletic complex improvements.
No questions were asked by councilors on Oct. 1. However, at the July 16 meeting, Councilman John Ruocco and environmental advocate Fred Ruebel raised health and cost concerns about using synthetic turf on Memorial Field.
Similar concerns were raised in mid-June when the council approved a $2.7 million capital bond ordinance, including $1.8 million for unspecified funding for athletic fields, parks, and recreation. It was unclear if an analysis of synthetic turf versus natural grass was undertaken. (See “Artificial turf versus grass on Memorial Field,” Michael Olohan, July 29, 2024, thepressgroup.net).
Police ‘extra duty’ process
Councilors voted 5-0 to adopt Ordinance 24-14, establishing procedures for hiring off-duty officers for “contracted extra duty employment” such as traffic control for utilities.
The ordinance sets extra duty pay at time and a half of the officer’s contractual hourly rate.
Off-duty officers, selected on a rotating basis, will be considered “on-duty” and function under the supervision of the Chief of Police. Officers working extra duty assignments will be held to normal conduct standards and subject to disciplinary action for violations.
Council also passed Resolution 24261, setting a flat rate of $150 per hour, per officer, to be paid to the borough by outside vendors for off-duty officers.
Ghassali said the $150 hourly rate covers the officer’s extra duty salary and borough administrative costs. Attorney Mark Madaio noted the state passed guidelines on extra duty assignments in 2019 that were not previously adopted by the borough.
In other news…
Here’s a taste of what else is happening in Hillsdale, according to the borough website.
Final Yard Waste Pickup: Hillsdale’s curbside vegetative waste collection will have its final pickup for Zone 1 on Oct. 28 and Zone 2 on Oct. 29. Don’t miss your chance to clear out your yard waste before the season ends.
Community Mental Health Survey: Hillsdale residents are invited to participate in an anonymous survey to help shape future mental health programs tailored to the community’s needs. Your input will provide valuable insight for developing educational resources and support. Participation is voluntary. Take the survey here.
NJ Anchor Program: Eligible homeowners and renters can apply for property tax relief through New Jersey’s ANCHOR program, based on 2021 residency, income, and age. If you received the benefit last year and no details have changed, no action is needed. New applicants have until November 30 to submit. Payments will be distributed in the fall. For more details, visit the NJ Taxation Department website.
125th Anniversary Commemorative Bricks: The Hillsdale 125th Anniversary Committee is reopening orders for commemorative bricks to be installed in Veterans Park. Residents can personalize a brick with up to three lines of text (18 characters per line) for $40. Order by Oct. 15. Place your order here.
Fall Recreation Brochure: Discover a variety of activities planned for the fall in Hillsdale. From youth programs to adult fitness classes, there’s something for everyone. Click here to view the brochure.