TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON—Mayor Peter Calamari urged councilors to evaluate three updated construction proposals totaling more than $7 million. These proposals include moving the council chambers to a renovated former ambulance building, constructing a new DPW facility, and expanding the police department footprint at the town hall.
He expressed his hope to discuss all three proposals at the upcoming July 15 council meeting. The council meets only twice over the summer—on July 15 and Aug. 12.
At least two of the three construction projects (DPW and P.D.) have been discussed over the last two years. The third proposal to shift council chambers into the former ambulance building comes after the council voiced concerns about possibly moving above a proposed DPW facility.
Noting that construction of the DPW facility and police department upgrades were a priority, Calamari said, “Personally, I think that’s a very good cost for what we’d be getting” on the DPW and police upgrades. “Especially when towns like River Vale are spending $20 million on a new Emergency Service Complex,” he added.
Calamari said he hoped to discuss the proposals in detail at the July 15 council meeting. Costs for the DPW facility ($5.2 million) and police department expansion ($1.6 million) were revealed, but no cost estimate was made public at either of the two June council meetings for renovating the ambulance building.
“This has been dragging out for quite some time. Our departments are making do, but I’d really like to fast-track this, so I would ask any questions on what you see here. Our DPW deserves a more permanent home than what they have, and our police are very tight for space, as everyone knows,” said the mayor, urging the council to take action.
At the June 5 council meeting, Calamari presented plans from architect Arcari Iovino for constructing a new DPW facility on its former footprint, expanding the police department facilities, and converting the former ambulance building behind town hall into new council chambers.
After the council approved the ambulance building conversion plan, Calamari said he would ask Arcari Iovino for an estimate. He stated on June 17 that the estimate had been received, but a Pascack Press public records request was not returned by press time.
Calamari said the new DPW facility, which would include a garage with five ground-level bays and offices above, would cost an estimated $5.2 million. Councilwoman Daisy Velez asked if the new facility would house all of DPW’s vehicles and equipment.
Calamari said the facility would house whatever fits into the five bays. “But no way will it house all of our equipment,” he noted. Currently, the DPW stores vehicles and some equipment at Our Lady of Good Counsel’s parking lot under a lease arrangement.
Calamari presented a DPW facility breakdown that showed costs of $412 per square foot for 10,166 square feet of project space, totaling $4,188,392, and $300,000 for site improvements, such as paving, utilities, landscaping, and drainage, for a total of $4,488,392.
He added that including project contingency ($448,839) and escalation (6%) of $269,303, the DPW facility totaled $5,296,534.
P.D. expansion
Calamari said it would cost about $1.6 million to renovate town hall to allow the police department to expand into the current council chambers, plus add a one-story addition for a required sally port garage, along with renovation of basement space.
The mayor described the police department plan as a “very favorable plan” because officers can operate within their current space while the conversion of council chambers occurs prior to the department’s expansion. The architect’s proposal mentioned “other costs” for the expansion, including furniture and professional fees needed to facilitate the renovations.
He told councilors he hoped to craft a shared-services municipal court agreement by year’s end that would allow the court sessions to be moved to another town.
The estimated $1,597,522 cost includes $540,500 to add 1,081 square feet at $500 per square foot; $736,700 to renovate 2,780 square feet at $265 per square foot; and site improvements for $100,000, adding up to $1,377,200.
Adding a 10% contingency ($137,720) and 6% escalation costs ($82,632) totals $1,597,522 for the police department expansion.
Police Chief John Calamari said the planned renovation would allow the department to continue operating in its current space while renovations were completed on the former council chamber space. Then the department could move into the new space while renovations begin on its existing town hall space, officials said.