TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON—Almost a year after approving a design for a new public works facility, Township Council members decided to move forward on a $7.6 million design option for a new DPW facility that includes expanding police department space at town hall and moving the council and court chambers to the new DPW facility’s second floor.
At the Dec. 4 meeting, four of five Council members expressed support to get bid specifications and a preliminary site plan from architect Arcari Iovino for Option 3. Council members Tom Sears, Stacey Feeney, Daisy Velez and Desserie Morgan expressed support for Option 3.
Council Vice President Steven Cascio did not offer an opinion on Option 3, however, noting council should get an updated price on all three options from the architect.
Mayor Peter Calamari said he would talk to the architect, Arcari Iovino, about an updated cost estimate for Option 3 and “see what I can come back with” at the next meeting, Dec. 18.
Calamari said he wanted to solicit feedback on what design council wanted to move forward with. At its Nov. 8 meeting, police and DPW representatives told council that Option 3 was the best design for police department space and prisoner processing, as well as DPW vehicles and equipment storage.
The proposed DPW facility has five bays for vehicles, and a second floor, which will now be used for council chambers and a municipal courtroom. It was originally for DPW storage, lockers, showers, and a meeting room.
In early December 2022, the council approved moving forward with schematic designs for a new DPW facility, but the facility was delayed when the architect was later requested to develop designs that included updated space designs for the police department at town hall.
After newly returned councilman Michael DeSena, who takes his seat in 2024, requested a pause in moving ahead on the DPW building, noting more research needs to be done. Council President Desserie Morgan said she agreed. She also wondered if fumes from trucks operating below the new council chambers might interfere with council meetings.
Morgan said WCTV had noted costs to move their facilities were not included and clerk Sue Witkowski said elections would have to be changed, also incurring additional costs.
Calamari said he also agreed the new council, which includes DeSena and Michael Ullman, should weigh in on the matter. Incumbent Cascio, who was reelected, remains on the council. DeSena and Ullman replace Morgan and Feeney, who lost the Nov. 7 election.
Calamari said he was asking the council to take the process “to the next level” which would include bid specs and preliminary designs for Option 3. Morgan said she was for Option 3 but preferred to leave the decision to the incoming Council.
“I’m for letting the new Council have a lot more input because they have to live with it and so I want to be fair…but there’s more discussion that can be had around this,” Morgan said.
Councilman Tom Sears supported Option 3, saying “It gives more flexibility within this property. It takes care of police, it takes care of DPW, it allows us to forge ahead for the future.”
He added, “If anything else comes down the line, we’ll deal with it now,” he said, noting DPW employees are spending a third winter without a permanent home, adding, “It’s not fair to them.” He said the council owed it to employees and residents “to move ahead. We can’t stay stagnant any longer.”
The $7.6 million estimate included $5 million for construction of a new DPW facility, and an additional $2.6 million for new construction inside town hall to expand current police department space and provide the department needed facilities including an interview and evidence room.
(See “Council/courtroom can move to DPW, police recommend,” Michael Olohan, Nov. 19, 2023, Pascack Press.)