RIVER VALE, N.J.—The Borough Council on June 23 approved a change order for nearly $35,000 at the under-construction Public Safety Complex, which officials told Pascack Press remains on schedule for a late 2025 opening.
The cost is subtracted from a $750,000 contingency fund established at the start of the project, said Township Administrator Gennaro Rotella.
Rotella told Pascack Press that the nearly $15 million police complex is progressing well despite some unanticipated changes and slight cost adjustments.
The fourteenth change order, approved under Resolution 2025-154, totals $34,994.19. After deducting this amount, the contingency fund balance stands at $522,533.56.
The change order includes: a gun locker cutout ($555); furring of concrete jail walls ($3,365); added sprinkler line and backflow preventer ($10,950.72); added wet wall panels ($10,231.47); and sloped ductwork ($9,892).
Rotella said the project remains on schedule for a late 2025 opening. Township Engineer Chris Statile previously reported the complex was 70% complete as of a late April council meeting.
The project’s winning bid, submitted by Dobco, Inc. of Wayne, was $14,778,500 and was approved in November 2023.
After initially bonding $13.3 million to finance the complex—and rejecting a first round of bids ranging from $15.5 million to $16 million—the council approved an additional $6 million in bonding to cover construction costs, the bond down payment, and so-called soft costs: engineering, architectural design, legal fees, furniture, and electronics and digital communications equipment.
In addition to the change order, the council approved a $65,841.35 contract with EAW Security of Warrington, Pa., for the installation of access control panels on exterior doors, intercoms, and panic buttons at the Public Safety Complex. Resolution 2025-149 notes that funds are available from the township’s capital account.
Road paving; RYCC drainage upgrades
The council also approved a 2025 road resurfacing program contract of $896,059.40 with 4 Clean-Up, Inc. of North Bergen. The funds will come from the capital account and the golf course capital account.
Roads scheduled for paving include: Brook Avenue (entire length); Barr Court; Goodell Court; Cedar Place; Keenan Court; Aster Lane; Margiasso Court; Sargent Road; Lockhaven Drive; Highland Court; Stanley Place; and the River Vale Country Club parking area, which will also receive drainage upgrades.
Additionally, the council approved a $49,970 contract with Watch Us Grow Landscape Design LLC for drainage improvements at the township-owned River Vale Country Club.
The council also approved a resolution endorsing the township’s fourth-round Housing Element and Fair Share Plan, which was required to be submitted under state law by June 30. Residents can access the plan online by clicking the “Master Plan” icon on the Joint Planning Board website.
The affordable housing plan identifies a “realistic development potential” of 10 new affordable units from 2025 through 2035—significantly reduced from an earlier obligation of 179 prospective-need units.