TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON—Township officials say they hope to begin work soon on a new driveway and security fencing at the Bethany Community Center property, the proposed site for an 18-month storage lease for Department of Public Works vehicles and equipment.
A public hearing on the lease agreement is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 10. [See our story here.]
According to purchase orders, upgrades to the site will cost $57,750:
- $38,900 for driveway construction by Cifelli & Son General Contracting of Nutley, and
- $18,850 for fencing by Bergen Fence of Ridgefield Park.
Combined with the proposed lease — $5,800 per month for 18 months (totaling $104,400) — the project comes to $161,900, including improvements.
The new driveway would be installed opposite 290 Woodfield Road, and fencing would create a gated storage area for DPW vehicles and equipment. Officials said the Bethany property was the only available in-town site that met the storage needs.
While the council has largely discussed the lease in closed session, it was briefly mentioned at the Oct. 6 meeting. On Oct. 20, the council introduced an ordinance to reappropriate $150,349.85 in leftover capital funds toward construction of the new DPW facility, which Administrator Mark DiCarlo said should cover the Bethany upgrades.
DiCarlo told Pascack Press he hopes construction at the Bethany lot will be completed “within the next month,” allowing the township to relocate equipment currently stored on the footprint of the former DPW facility behind Town Hall. That move is needed to clear the site for the new $4.9 million DPW building.
DPW equipment stored at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church—where the township has leased 35 parking spaces for most of the last four years—will also be moved to Bethany. Other temporary storage locations in recent years have included:
- Our Lady of Good Counsel (35 spaces; two-year lease approved December 2023 for nearly $64,000);
- The former Washington Township Swim and Recreation Club property after the April 2022 municipal acquisition (use ended after the township accepted County Open Space funds);
- A nearby bank parking lot; and
- An earlier two-year lease at OLGC approved in April 2021 for $60,600 (35 spaces).
DiCarlo said he sent certified letters on Sept. 29 to 37 Woodfield Road homeowners within roughly 200 feet of the proposed Bethany improvements.
There has been no public discussion among the mayor and council regarding where DPW equipment will go after the 18-month lease expires. Mayor Peter Calamari has said the new DPW building will not have enough storage for all vehicles and equipment, and that the Bethany lot is strictly a temporary—not permanent—solution to the township’s long-running storage shortfall.
Update: Mayor explains
Editor’s note: After we posted this story, Mayor Calamari, who is running for re-election, took to Facebook to underscore several related items:
He said, “It’s important to note that this site will not just be used for parking — essential DPW operations, including leaf transfer and related activities, will also take place there. The existing DPW Yard at Town Hall will remain open for resident drop-off, ensuring that public services continue without interruption.”
The mayor said the move to Bethany was prudent financially. “We are paying less per parking spot at Bethany than we did at OLGC, while gaining significantly more space to safely and efficiently operate. The council was part of the process of thoroughly exploring other potential sites, but ultimately agreed that this was the best and most cost-effective solution available.”
And he reiterated that “To ensure the safety and security of our equipment, we have made necessary site improvements — all completed using government-approved contractors to obtain the best possible pricing.”
Calamari also emphasized “decisions like this come only after substantial time, effort, and due diligence from your elected officials, the town administrator, and department leadership. While [residents] may not always see the full scope of that work during council meeting summaries, please know that every aspect of this transaction has been carefully reviewed. That diligence is one of the key reasons the council approved the funding for this project.”
For more on the election, see Michael Olohan’s 2025 Election Guide installment “Township hot-buttons drive lively mayor, council races.”