TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON—A scaled-down, less expensive DPW facility may soon be on the horizon.
At the Nov. 12 council meeting, Mayor Peter Calamari unveiled a revised $4.2 million proposal for a two-story, three-bay DPW building, $1 million less than the original $5.2 million plan. The new design takes up less space and reserves the second floor for DPW operations and storage.
“The DPW feels this would fit their needs, and there are cost savings,” Calamari told the council. He noted that DPW officials and Beckmeyer Engineering collaborated to downsize the project by reducing storage-focused bays and exploring offsite storage options for equipment.
The council plans to discuss and likely vote on the new design at its Dec. 2 meeting.
The prior DPW building was demolished three years ago due to contaminated soil caused by leaking fuel oil tanks in the 1970s and 1980s. The site has since been remediated to meet state environmental standards.
The new proposal prioritizes efficiency while leaving room for future upgrades. Calamari suggested reinvesting some of the $1 million savings into additional storage solutions, including potential covered facilities to protect equipment from the elements.
Currently, larger DPW vehicles and equipment are stored at the Our Lady of Good Counsel parking lot under a $2,500 monthly lease. Previous offsite storage locations included the former township swim club property, used temporarily from 2022 to late 2023.
Calamari clarified that the $4.2 million estimate does not include site work or a new salt storage shed—costs also excluded from the previous $5.2 million estimate.
The DPW facility project has been debated for years, with various designs and price tags considered. In late 2023, council deliberated a $7.6 million combined project for a five-bay DPW garage, new council chambers, and expanded police facilities. That plan was ultimately shelved.
Recent estimates for separate projects include $750,000 for council chambers in the former ambulance building and $1.2 million for expanded police facilities.
Both proposals remain on hold, pending a decision on the DPW facility.
Council President Michael DeSena encouraged council members to direct questions about the revised design to township administrator Mark DiCarlo, copying Calamari and Township Clerk Sue Witkowski, for answers at the Dec. 2 meeting.
The new facility will be constructed on the former DPW site behind town hall. During a brief presentation, Calamari shared plans for both floors and the site design, which includes parking for three garbage trucks and space for a future salt shed.
DeSena suggested extending the depth of a third bay to improve functionality and adding dumpsters for residents to drop off recyclables or white goods.
Councilman Michael Ullman requested a comparison of the new proposal with earlier designs and raised concerns about rising costs for security systems, referencing overruns on the township’s recently completed emergency services building.