TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON—Mayor Peter Calamari said he will reach out to Bergen County officials to see whether they can help the township fund emergency stop signals outside the new firehouse, or whether the township will need to install the signals itself.
At the Sept. 22 council meeting, Councilman Tom Sears, a longtime volunteer firefighter, said traffic in front of the Emergency Services Building on residential Washington Avenue is “getting out of hand.”
He called it especially dangerous at night for fire and ambulance vehicles pulling out of or backing into the building, which opened in late 2022 and also houses county EMS units.
On the same night, the council agreed to leave nearly $54,000 in the original firehouse building’s capital account untouched. The money could be used to install blinking warning lights to stop traffic when emergency vehicles exit or return.
Sears said firefighters are sometimes forced to jump off the truck to try to stop traffic when backing the fire engine into the bays. “It’s very dangerous at night,” he warned. “It’s becoming a critical, critical issue.”
Council President Michael DeSena noted that solar-powered flashing lights, remote-controlled by firefighters, were in the original plans.
Calamari said the county initially believed flashing lights would work but later ruled the firehouse “too far” from the intersection to tie the signals into the existing traffic light system.
Sears urged that whatever money remains in the firehouse account be used to protect firefighters and EMS volunteers. “It’s a major problem, and it’s getting scary,” he said.
Council Vice President Steven Cascio added that traffic merging from two lanes into one lane eastbound increases hazards for fire and ambulance vehicles leaving the building.
“It’s now critical that we get this,” Sears said of the signals.
Concerns about traffic safety outside the new firehouse were raised years ago, before the building even opened. In August 2022, Pascack Press reported it was “unclear whether the township would be installing a traffic signal outside the emergency services building to manage traffic for emergency vehicles, as previously noted in the shared-service agreement.” Architect Robbie Conley told Pascack Press at the time he did not know if a signal would be installed and suggested volunteers assess the traffic situation firsthand.
See “Emergency services building mostly ready,” by Michael Olohan, Aug. 6, 2022, thepressgroup.net, for background on the project.
At the groundbreaking ceremony in 2020 for the approximately $6 million replacement emergency services complex at 656 Washington Ave., Mayor Peter Calamari said it was an honor and privilege to participate.
“Thankfully, most of us do not have to think about our emergency services too often… because we’re blessed to have volunteers among us who do think about it every day and are ready to answer that call on a moment’s notice,” he said.
He added that the new construction “shows them our appreciation for all they do for our community. It shows that when it comes right down to it, nothing is more important than meeting the needs of our essential emergency services departments.”
That Sept. 1, the Township Council awarded a $5,329,183 base bid contract to Tekcon Construction of Somerset, as recommended by town architect Robbie Conley of Woodbury Heights.
In 2019, the governing body agreed to appropriate $6 million for the project, with $5,714,000 in financing
Sears, a Republican, is running for re-election with running mates Daisy Velez and Mayor Peter Calamari. Democrat Meghan Stamatopoulos is running for the gavel as well. Independent candidate Michael DeSena is running for re-election, with former councilwoman and now independent Desserie Morgan.
The general election is Tuesday, Nov. 4.
450 Pascack Road update
Administrator Mark DiCarlo said Lisko Environmental is completing soil tests on a small area contaminated with lead paint behind the house. He said the “exact delineation” of where soil must be excavated should be completed by October.
DiCarlo said he is also working with Beckmeyer Engineering on a demolition plan for the house and nearby barn. Earlier that day, he signed a voucher for a county Open Space reimbursement of $472,500 for the 3.2-acre site.
He also noted the township has a $66,000 grant to assist with demolition once remediation is complete.
DiCarlo previously told Pascack Press that a $250,000 escrow account was set up by the seller to cover environmental testing and remediation. The escrow was part of the township’s $750,000 purchase price.
Councilman Michael Ullman questioned whether the contamination found so far was the full extent. DiCarlo said the demolition plan would address on-site asbestos and lead paint.
DeSena said the township should make sure to “get the most” from the escrow account.