TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON, N.J.—A bid for a new Dairy Queen downtown; progress toward a new firehouse/EMS headquarters; new life for a notorious intersection; and a deeper bench for the Planning Board.
All this and a special Township Council meeting to apply a decades-old check for $1 million to this year’s capital projects is on tap this week in the Township of Washington.
Capital projects in focus
The council set a special public meeting on Monday, July 22 at 7:15 p.m. in the Council Chambers to introduce bond ordinance No. 19-17.
Mayor Peter Calamari told us the measure, revising tabled ordinance, 19-14 to fund 2019 capital projects, taps $1 million the township pocketed from the sale of school property decades ago.
Projects show in 19-14 as estimated at $4,288,650, covering $250,000 for improvement of properties and facilities, including the installation of a fiber-optic network; $650,000 for a new fire apparatus; just over $1 million for the road program; $1.3 million for a new Department of Municipal Facilities building; $265,000 for new DMF vehicles; $750,000 for a new public safety radio system; and $62,000 to improve town properties and facilities including playing fields, with bleachers.
Ordinance 19-17 calls for appropriating $4,288,650 and issuing bonds and notes for $3,024,000.
Meanwhile, the 2018 audit is newly received. Calamari suggested it will appear on the town website presently.
Planning Board to meet
Wednesday, July 24 at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers, the Planning Board is holding a special meeting that will take up an application from Ulus “Lou” Tasoz of Paramus for a Dairy Queen at the long vacant 257-B Pascack Road, near the theater.
Tasoz told Pascack Press July 19 that the 1,500 square-foot storefront is much larger than the previous DQ at the mall and that his will be state of the art and have ample seating and a new menu. He said he looks forward to opening in the fall. He operates DQ outlets in Rochelle Park and Allendale.
Moments before going to press we learned that the late James A. Viviano and assigns had requested their business before the Planning Board on Wednesday be pulled from the agenda.
They have been fighting for a subdivision, American Dream Estates, at 463 Van Emburgh Ave., across from Immaculate Heart Academy.
The project—48 single-family homes, 25 townhomes, and a commons—involves the conveyance of a piece of municipal land at 2001 prices.
Viviano project spurs vote on Planning Board alternates
At their regular meeting of July 15, the governing body, at the request of the Planning Board special attorney in the Viviano application, introduced an amendment to town code saying the mayor shall appoint two town residents as two-year alternate members of Class IV of the Planning Board.
Township Attorney Kenneth Poller explained that the request stemmed from a claim of conflict of interest against Calamari and Councilman Art Cumming, both of whom serve on the Planning Board.
The measure is scheduled to come back for a second required vote on Aug. 12.
Firehouse/EMS funding
The council on July 15 introduced a bond ordinance providing for the construction of a new firehouse/EMS facility, appropriating $6 million and authorizing the issuance of $5,714,000 in bonds or notes for financing.
That move followed a presentation from project architect Robbie Conley on the next phase of the project.
With dozens of local firefighters and EMS personnel in attendance, Conley ran through a slideshow of plans for the two-story, 44-foot-6-inch-tall neo-Federal-style building, and fielded questions.
The firehouse will have five bays with room for six pieces of equipment; the EMS space will accommodate three vehicles. The building was shown boasting a cupola and a clock.
Councilmen discussed relocating the site’s memorial and the commuter parking lot.
Conley agreed with councilmen that the project’s neighbors would feel some impact. Independent Councilman Michael Ullman said he went door to door to advise abutters and invite them to the meeting.
Ullman voted against the bond, assailing the cost for what he said amounts to a “shell” of a building with “complete duplicative space on the ground floor. … Two buildings under one roof.”
He said anything not integrated into the project, including furniture, appliances, and radio equipment—as well as security and information technology—will cost extra.
Conley, who has experience as a councilperson, mayor, and firefighter, defended the design, and said principally separating the functions made operational and economic sense.
Ancillary costs would appear in next year’s budget.
Intersection fix in gear
The governing body on July 15 heard an update from John G. Yakimik of Boswell Engineering on progress toward an updated intersection at Pascack Road and Washington Avenue.
He said he had met that day with Bergen County Planning & Engineering and reported that the project is headed toward land acquisition for easements.
He said adjusting the location of the bus stop was part of the project, there likely would be no soil moved on the project this year, and residents might see utilities relocated in the next few months.
Council takes up police contracts, housing litigation
The agenda for the council’s July 15 closed session said the governing body was to take up PBA negotiations and litigation over Viviano: concerned neighbors and COAH.
The next regularly scheduled council meeting is Monday, Aug. 12 at 7:30 p.m.