HILLSDALE—Mayor Michael Sheinfield released the first YouTube video on Oct. 18 in a series called “What’s Happening Around Town” offering a tour of the local DPW facility and exploring upgrades to help reduce future flooding impacts.
Sheinfield previously told us that he hoped to produce a series of videos to increase public awareness and provide information on important local issues and concerns. The first six-minute video features the mayor conversing with interim DPW superintendent Barry Peterson as they discuss recent improvements at the DPW, and it concludes with a discussion on costs with administrator Mike Ghassali.
Sheinfield asked residents to send him comments and ideas for “live podcasts” at mayor@hillsdale.nj.org. He said an upcoming video topic will be a possible new cell tower to enhance cell phone coverage.
Flooding woes in focus
Earlier this year, the borough had to move office employees and light vehicles to two properties in nearby Woodcliff Lake due to flooding impacts and damage. Over the past nine months, DPW employees have improved facilities, moving materials out of harm’s way.
(See “Hillsdale DPW returns from WCL; ‘final design’ in on community center,” by Michael Olohan, Aug. 24, 2024.)
In the video, Peterson says the mechanic’s area was moved to a rear shed that is 2 to 3 feet higher in elevation than the building that normally floods, which is closer to Pascack Brook. Peterson points out where walls are cracking due to flood damage, and extra support beams have been added to shore up the second floor because of structural deficiencies.
He said the previous mechanic area, which floods, will be used for future storage. Two lifts will be installed in the back garage, one for smaller vehicles such as mason dumps and police cars, and one for larger pieces of equipment.
Ghassali told Sheinfield that fixing the main building by removing a wall and making repairs would likely cost $500,000 to $1 million.
He said the estimated cost to move the garage and lifts to the four-bay garage was about $200,000. Approximately $260,000 in insurance funds over Hurricane Ida should cover the cost of moving the mechanic area and lifts, plus utilities.
Ghassali added that they would look into moving the salt shed inside a building, based on input from the NJDEP and the borough’s engineer.