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BY MICHAEL OLOHAN
OF NORTHERN VALLEY PRESS
Englewood, New Jersey — A contract approved in 2017 to hire T&M Associates to determine whether Russell C. Major Liberty School on Tenafly Road should be declared an “area in need of redevelopment” also hired the firm to create a redevelopment plan for the site, catching the mayor and local activists by surprise at the Feb. 20 city council meeting.
However, Council President Wayne Hamer said “no discussions” have occurred on whether T&M Associates would move forward on a redevelopment plan for the Liberty School site.
Only two weeks ago, the city council heard a presentation from an architectural firm specializing in repurposing historical structures such as Liberty School.
Invoice raises questions
The contractual arrangement became apparent following questions on a resolution to pay an additional $5,000 invoice to T&M Associates for extra work hours required during preparation of a study on whether Liberty School should be redeveloped. Following numerous questions, the council voted 5-0 to table the amended contract resolution.
The original contract, approved in May 2017, hires T&M Associates “for a Redevelopment Study and Plan” for the Liberty School site, states the resolution.
What and why
Michael Shannon, a local activist with Project Liberty, initially questioned what the contract amendment resolution was for.
“What’s being amended and why?” he asked.
“Essentially there were additional hours that went outside the scope of the original contract that we approved,” said Hamer.
He said the extra $5,000 invoice being requested was for additional time that T&M Associates expended making a presentation on Liberty School’s redevelopment study to the planning board.
Franz Volcy, an engineer with T&M, said the $5,000 included “planning services” and “was an anticipated cost for helping with RFPs or even helping out with putting together a redevelopment plan,” added Volcy.
Former Mayor Sondra Greenberg followed up by asking what “future costs” Volcy was referring to.
“We don’t know what’s going to happen, what the city is going to request of us in the future. So we’re just getting prepared for what usually is a cost of a site being designated as in need of redevelopment, et cetera, usually there’s RFPs that go out, et cetera,” said Volcy.
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‘So you’re definitely saying’
He said “the $5,000 is for costs that have already been occurring…there may be future costs involved in regard to that site. We’re not sure,” Volcy added.
Greenberg questioned whether T&M Associates would do the redevelopment plan for Liberty School.
“So you’re definitely saying that this firm is definitely the one who is going to do all the work on redevelopment planning and helping you?” asked Greenberg.
“No, we are not saying that,” said Hamer.
Greenberg said she hoped other firms would be considered for creating a redevelopment plan for Liberty School.
“We are too, we are too. We are not making that commitment. Absolutely not,” said Hamer.
Cost increase questioned
Councilwoman Katharine Glynn said she did not have the original T&M contract and did not want to approve a contract where she did not “have the full picture.”
Under questioning from Mayor Frank Huttle III, Volcy repeated that the $5,000 invoice amendment was for hours already completed preparing and presenting the study on whether Liberty School should be designated for redevelopment, not future services.
“There have been no discussions on forward moving this,” said Hamer, referring to a redevelopment plan for a future Liberty School site.
Hynes said the original T&M contract was for $28,000, which included $10,000 for a study on whether Liberty School should be declared in need of redevelopment and $18,000 for a future site redevelopment plan yet to be started.
The $5,000 contract increase was for extra meetings required during the redevelopment study and presentation to the Planning Board, Volcy said. That amount raises the cost to $33,000. A resolution awarding the original contract is dated May 16, 2017.
‘A little surprised’
“I’m a little surprised that T&M was engaged to do a [future] redevelopment plan before the planning board acted to designate it as an area in need of redevelopment,” said Huttle, following a long discussion of T&M’s contract.
Hamer said this contract was entered into in early 2017 for a study on Liberty School
“In light that there’s already an agreement signed for that…the last time the city had a redevelopment plan did we engage and pay for a redevelopment plan or use the lawyers,” said Huttle.
He suggested reviewing the original contract the city council signed with T&M to make sure fees and services agreed to are followed.
Hamer suggested the amendment be tabled “until we can have a fuller discussion and get everything outlined.”
At the Feb. 6 council meeting, Shannon presented three speakers – including an architect from Beyer Blinder Belle who spoke of Liberty School’s potential for “adaptive reuse” – and how Liberty School might serve as a “cultural anchor” for the downtown district, along with Mackay Park, bergen PAC and Veterans’ Memorial Park.
Throughout 2017 and 2018, residents and community activists have repeatedly urged the city council to consider turning the 116-year-old Liberty School into a community center or arts and cultural center.
