TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON, N.J.—Mayor Peter Calamari, under care for Covid-19, posted on his official Facebook page March 24 an update on storage for DPW equipment while the current facilities are due for environmental remediation.
For lack of a better place, a two-bay garage is being erected at the tight municipal complex site where the existing DPW building is located, near homes, the ambulance corps, and the police station.
Construction at the site has proved a challenge for those turning around in the lot.
In the mayor’s words:
“An extensive search for a suitable temporary location for the DPW was conducted. We exhausted every possible location both in and out of town. We took suggestions from the council and residents and investigated anything that was feasible.”
Calamari said, “The decision was ultimately made to construct a two-bay garage at the Town Hall site where the existing DPW building is located. This decision was not easy and was based on the fact that the DPW already operates from this location and the deadline for remediating the soil is fast approaching.”
Calamari said “This remediation is a result of contamination by a fuel storage tank leak that occurred onsite in the 1970s and 1980s. A portion of this contamination is underneath the existing building, so the building must be taken down as part of the project.”
He said, “It should be noted that the existing building was long obsolete, unsuitable, and well past its service life. Prior administrations were aware of the problem and deadline for remediation but action was not taken until now.”
Said Calamari, “I can assure the residents that no additional hazmat [hazardous material] will be stored onsite. I will add that the town is doing all it can to minimize the impact to the surrounding residents.”
The administration has been trying to find a temporary home for the DPW for some time, exploring such options as a lease with a local church he and his family are connected to—the council went to far as to authorize him to enter that arrangement— space at Sherry Field, and town-owned land near the Dog House Saloon and Grill. All of these met with resistance.
Intersection fix taking shape
On March 18, Calamari apprised residents of progress on the overhaul planned at the intersection of Pascack Road and Washington Avenue under a shared services agreement with Bergen County.
“An agreement in lieu of condemnation has been executed. Deeds of easement for the township and county have been approved and are in the process of being circulated for execution. The PSE&G easements have been approved by Seasons and are out for approval by PSE&G,” he said.
He said of 680 Washington Ave.: We have a fully executed agreement in lieu of condemnation.”
Of 667 McKinley Ave.: “The county and property owners attorney reached accommodation on some changes to the county easement form. We are in discussions with the attorney to finalize the provisions of the agreement in lieu of condemnation.”
He said, “The property owner has hired an appraiser to do an appraisal for comparison to ours. This is not uncommon and was performed on the Seasons properties as well. The amount agreed upon will be the only open item for the agreement in lieu and easement to be executed.”
Regarding 680 McKinley Ave., the site of a used car dealership: “We are still in the process of negotiation in hopes of reaching an agreement with the property owner. They recently changed their representing attorney, which has naturally caused delays.”
Calamari added, “A title report was ordered as we did so for all the properties. Should our negotiations not succeed, we are simultaneously moving ahead with a condemnation filing.”
The intersection plans are posted at twpofwashington.us. Calamari said the county has not given the administration a start date for construction.
He noted, “As always, I encourage residents to stay informed by tuning in to council and budget meetings that are live streamed for your ease and convenience. Please utilize our many lines of communication to voice any concerns, ask questions and even share positive accolades.”
Posters began noting that the proposed acquisitions largely have not been discussed in public meetings and were not released in approved minutes.
Resident Michael Werfel asked three different ways, “How can you discuss closed session [items] when the minutes have yet to be approved?”
The Republican mayor—who is up for re-election this year and just lost his presumptive running mate, the late Arthur Cumming—said he releases information as soon as it is available under the law, and cast the question as politically motivated.