TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON—A proposed measure to mandate new review and notice requirements on Township Council development projects — spurred by residents’ issues with the new Emergency Services Building — was delayed until the Oct. 4 meeting, said the council president at the Sept. 20 meeting.
A requested discussion by Councilman Steven Cascio on possible new requirements that council should be required to meet was delayed until Oct. 4, said Council President Stacey Feeney, due to her request to town attorney Kenneth Poller to develop a proposal for council to discuss.
Cascio seemed surprised that his request for a discussion had “dropped off the [agenda] list.” Feeney assured him that the item would be on for Oct. 4.
Lynn Pistono, of 631 Washington Ave, a frequent critic about the height and scale of the new Emergency Services Building across the street from her home, called Cascio’s recommendation for an enhanced review of municipal projects “just lip service to make us feel better.”
She called on the mayor and council to do something “about the enormity of the building’s design,” noting “this building is an eyesore and you all know it.”
She previously asked the mayor and council to show by a vote of hands if they would like such a building built across from the homes; no one raised their hand. “It’s business and politics as usual,” she charged.
Also during public comment, John Pistono of 631 Washington Ave. criticized the mayor and council for allowing the new Emergency Services Building to be built at what he viewed as oversize height and scale, noting the cupola atop the structure “serves no purpose and looks horrible.”
He then told council members that the builder had told him the cupola served no purpose and he charged that the township paid $15,000 for it.
He claimed a floodlight on the project site was shining on his home and needed to be turned off. The mayor said he would investigate and address the matter following the meeting.
Pistono invited the mayor and council to come down and see what the new building looks like from his view across the street.
Councilman Michael DeSena, who is challenging Peter Calamari for mayor, said that he noticed one side of the building that had plywood on it also had black mold growing on it. He asked that the plywood be wrapped to seal the structure.
Later, resident Mary Ann Ozment pointed out that architect Robbie Conley said he would come back to discuss the project but did not.
Calamari has said that he felt neither Conley nor a representative of Tekcon, the site’s general contractor, were needed at a public meeting after he compiled a report that included reports from the architect, general contractor, and a third-party inspector that addressed issues with the building’s roof installation and roof trusses.
The report noted all issues had been resolved upon follow-up inspections. About a dozen plywood boards were replaced on the roof, Conley previously told Pascack Press, and a new roof was installed following reports that original roofing was installed during a July rain and hail storm. Following adjustments and re-inspections, Conley had confirmed that the roofing and trusses had been repaired and installed properly.
(See “Borough firehouse roof leaks: Montvale investigating; Township trusses fixed,” Pascack Press, Aug. 16, 2021.)