BY MICHAEL OLOHAN
OF PASCACK PRESS
RIVER VALE, N.J.—Voting 3–0, the Township Council agreed Feb. 25 to award $562,500 for architectural design services and construction oversight on a new River Vale public safety complex estimated at $7 million to $10 million.
Settembrino Architects of Red Bank was selected from among 16 bids received late last year. The bids were due by Nov. 28. Township officials hoped to award the architect’s contract by mid-December.
Township Business Administrator and Chief Financial Officer Gennaro Rotella said the architect was chosen based on past performance, experience with public safety buildings, experience with municipal buildings, the completeness of its proposal, and a firm bid price.
“We narrowed it down to three real solid candidates,” Rotella said following the vote. Council President Mark Bromberg, John Donovan and Councilwoman Denise Sieg approved the architect. Councilmen Ari Ben-Yishay and Paul Criscuolo were absent.
“Three were professional firms who have done this type of work before, done it in an economic fashion and delivered what they promised,” Mayor Glen Jasionowski said.
Funds for hiring the firm will come from a $1 million bond approved Oct. 22 by the council to cover upfront soft costs such as architectural designs, building specifications, bond counsel fees, legal fees, and construction oversight.
Jasionowski said Rotella recommended the $1 million bond funding to get the project moving.
“This is a scratch of the surface. There’s a lot of meetings we’re going to have to have to decide what we’re going to do,” Rotella said after the meeting.
In October, several residents questioned the $1 million bond issue. Jasionowski said he would be open to alternative sites for a new police building but was not aware of any other local sites that met federal and state building specs for such a municipal building.
He said then that should the complex cost $7 million it would cost the average taxpayer an additional $175 yearly and if construction costs $10 million, an average taxpayer would pay an extra $250 annually.
Over the past decade and more, previous councils, mayors and police chiefs have discussed the need for an upgraded building, including new prisoner facilities that meet state and federal standards. The current jail is not used due to inadequate and outdated facilities, said police officials.
The Request for Proposals, or RFP, issued last October, required firms that wanted to be considered for the project to meet certain standards and qualifications.
“Expertise of firm shall be demonstrated by past contract successes providing government agencies with similar services. Respondent will be evaluated based on knowledge, experience, prior collaboration and successful completion of projects/services similar to that requested in this RFP,” noted the 21-page RFP document.
The RFP stated the winning architect was to develop three design options for a public safety complex, provide cost estimates for each, and make a public presentation to the council.
Three designs likely
Last year, Rotella said the three designs would likely include a police department building only, a police department building and adjoining municipal court, and a police department building with an added third floor and a municipal court.
He said this would allow the Township Council “to make an educated decision” on the building design alternatives. Requests for a timetable for upcoming public safety building designs from Settembrino was not available by press time.
Meanwhile, the Township Council of the Township of River Vale will hold a budget meeting on Monday, March 18 at 7 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the Town Hall, 406 Rivervale Road.
Council meetings are the seccond and fourth Mondays at 8 p.m. except when there is a holiday. Members of the public are welcome.
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