TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON, N.J.—Councilmembers likely will vote on whether to lease space for two years at more than $60,000 to temporarily store DPW vehicles at a local Roman Catholic church parking lot at the April 19 Township Council meeting.
The option was discussed and rejected in December 2020 due to cost, and other local parking options available for little to no cost. However, an ordinance to lease spaces at the church was introduced again April 5 with little notice or discussion.
A two-year lease for $60,600 proposed for the rental of 35 spaces at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, 668 Ridgewood Road, would allow township DPW vehicles to use the parking lot behind the church rectory from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, but not Sundays, due to church services.
The year-one lease is $30,000 and year-two lease is $30,600. No explanation is provided for the $600 increase between year one and two. The original OLGC release that was not signed offered 28 parking spaces—instead of 35 spaces—for the same cost.
The current proposed lease, obtained by Pascack Press via a public records request, allows a three-month option after year two, which includes a 3% percent annual increase. That would amount to a $900 yearly lease increase should the spaces be required beyond two years.
On April 5, the council voted, 3–0, to introduce ordinance 21-05 to authorize the lease. Council President Stacey Feeney, Vice President Desserie Morgan, and Tom Sears, and Mayor Peter Calamari, offered no public comment upon introduction.
The leasing of the church property for DPW parking was initially rejected due to costs, maintenance obligations required of the township, and ethics questions due to the mayor’s family ties to the church.
Calamari’s father is an OLGC trustee and serves on the church finance committee. The mayor said negotiations were with the Archdiocese of Newark.
Finding alternate parking spaces for DPW heavy equipment and multi-ton vehicles has been a months-long priority for Calamari, as the township faces a May deadline to begin remediation of soil contamination at its DPW facility.
The mayor and council previously explored alternate local options including Sherry Field, behind Dog House Saloon, a nearby bank parking lot, and at the end of Hudson Avenue.
Objections from nearby residents to the alternate local parking venues included noise, pollution, and safety concerns for children and adults due to large DPW vehicles and traffic.
The 23-page lease requires the township maintain and repair the leased premises … “including snow removal during times the tenant is permitted to use the leased premises pursuant to this agreement.”
Moreover, the lease requires the township to “neither encumber nor obstruct the sidewalks, driveways, parking areas, yards, entrances, hallways, and stairs, but shall keep them in a clean and safe condition, free from debris, trash, refuse, snow and ice.”
The lease shows authorized signatories to be Stephen J. Cinque, secretary, and Rev. Msgr. Thomas J. Nydegger, vice president, for Our Lady of Good Counsel Church.
Calamari is the township’s authorized signatory.
In late March, Pascack Press reported that Calamari said that a two-bay garage would be constructed at the current DPW site to assist with DPW storage needs.
Earlier this year, Calamari told a January reorganization meeting, “We have run out of time and options to find a temporary home in the Township for the [DPW] while the soil is being remediated and a new facility is constructed.”
He said then that the township would begin exploring out-of-town parking options for DPW vehicles. None met with success.
On Jan. 6, 2020, Calamari reported that “We have run out of time and options to find a temporary home in the township for the [DPW] while the soil is being remediated and a new facility is constructed.”
He advised at the time, “We will start exploring out-of-town options later this week.”