ENGINEERING DIVISION MONTHLY REPORT
JANUARY 2023

Charles Carbone, P.E., Supervising Engineering Aide

 

BUBBLING SPRINGS PARK

A site meeting was attended with Department of Community Services & Recreation, Department of Public Works, Building Department and Engineering Division staff to evaluate future conceptual projects at the recreation site.  Potential future projects will be evaluated further in the future as other projects are completed.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT FY2023

Eligible projects for the Passaic County Department of Planning and Economic Development Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) FY2023 were evaluated.  A webinar introducing the grant application process hosted by the Passaic County grant administrators is scheduled for February 10th.  The deadline for grant application submission is March 3, 2023.

LOT DEVELOPMENT PLAN REVIEW

Four (4) initial, single-family, residential lot development plans were reviewed for compliance with Section 110-4 of the Township Code and any applicable Board resolutions.  Three (3) as-built / final plans were reviewed, inspected and processed as needed.  All lot development plan review results are entered into the “Spatial Data Logic” system.  The results are also posted for public consumption within the Engineering Division section of the Township’s website (www.westmilford.org) under the Site Plan Tracker.

2023 MUNICIPAL LAWN MAINTENANCE

Revisions were made to existing municipal lawn maintenance maps in order to properly reflect current conditions and maintenance needs of municipal property, including athletic fields.  The revised pages were provided to the Community Services & Recreation Department and Department of Public Works for review prior to advertising.

PASSAIC COUNTY ROADS

The Passaic County Office of the County Engineer contacted the municipality for input regarding future Passaic County resurfacing programs.  An evaluation began for all Passaic County roadways within West Milford, including a review and rating of all County roadways and inspections during rain events.  Historical information was reviewed to determine concerns.  A response will be provided to the Passaic County Engineer prior to the February 10th deadline.

PAVEMENT MANAGEMENT PROGRAM

The Road Rating Lists, for local and main roads, were updated to include the completed 2023 ratings.  The lists are utilized to determine annual road resurfacing priorities.  Roads not resurfaced are re-rated every 3 years.

2022-2023 SNOW PLOWING SERVICES

Documentation regarding in-house winter services were received from Department of Public Works staff and recorded as needed.  The Department of Public Works is responsible for snow and ice removal on all 190+ miles of Township, non-Township and private roads within West Milford.  The Township utilizes five subcontractors (39 trucks and drivers) for the 2022-2023 winter season.  Revised maps were provided to the applicable subcontractors as needed.  Draft reports were prepared for winter operations since the submission of the previous report and will be provided once all data is compiled.

TOWNSHIP ANNEX PROJECT

A walk-through field meeting was scheduled and attended by various planholders on January 3rd.  Though the original receipt of bids date was scheduled for January 20th, an addendum was advertised in order to change the bid opening date to January 31st.  Seven bids were received and will be reviewed by the Township Attorney prior to a resolution being provided to the Governing Body for their consideration. The renovations project intends to convert the former Library building for municipal office use. 

TOWNSHIP TAX MAPS

As part of a long standing project, a pilot program to convert the existing mylar tax maps to an electronic environment began in December by procuring the services of a local New Jersey professional land surveyor.  The pilot program includes the conversion of three test tax map sheets.  One test sheet was returned for review and is being reviewed for accuracy.  A full conversion project would require two phases, including conversion and then review.  Historically, the mylar tax maps were revised manually using inking pens; the electronic conversion would allow the revisions to be completed in a computer drafting environment.  The 201-sheet set of tax maps are the primary tool for the Tax Assessor for assessing properties.

VETERAN’S OF FOREIGN WARS (VFW) POST #7198

Revisions were made and draft plan provided to the Construction Official regarding the improvements at the new VFW Post #7198 building (former Recreation Center concession stand).  The Construction Official, Director of Community Services & Recreation and Engineering Division staff have coordinated the improvements in order to assist the VFW volunteers.

MISCELLANEOUS

  • Technical assistance, regarding lot development plans, storm drainage issues, active construction projects, flood zones, right-of-way issues, etc. was provided to concerned residents on 30 occasions.  Field inspections, photographs, reports and/or follow up were required for 4 of these issues.
  • Technical assistance, regarding lot development plans, storm drainage issues, active construction projects, flood zones, right-of-way issues, etc. were provided to concerned residents on 26 occasions.  Field inspections, photographs, reports and/or follow up were required for 2 of these issues.
  • Technical assistance was provided, for various issues, to other departments on 47 occasions.
  • File research, map copies and/or information was provided to professionals on 6 occasions.
  • Assistance was provided to builders, contractors and utilities on 8 occasions.
  • 1 Right of Way Entry Permit Application was received, processed, and returned to the Clerk’s office.
  • 2 Board of Adjustment applications were reviewed.
  • 2 meetings with the Township Administrator were attended.
  • 1 Joint Environmental Remediation Committee was attended.
  • Inspections were provided at two future anticipated project sites for DPW construction as a result of drainage concerns.
  • One additional lot was reviewed for potential Township foreclosure upon request of the Tax Collector.  The Department of Public Works was consulted for additional inspections for remaining lots listed on the foreclosure list.  Engineering staff began the review process for the properties and will provide responsive information when complete.
  • A NJDOT rockfall mitigation meeting was attended for a potential future project on Route 23 in select areas.
  • Passaic County was contacted regarding the status of a previously requested traffic improvement at the Echo Lake Road and Route 23 intersection.
  • Property inspection(s) was performed on one occasion.
  • Rain inspections were performed on various Township streets regarding ongoing resident concerns when weather allowed.  Icing concerns were inspected and investigated as needed and reviewed for potential future drainage improvements, if warranted.
  • File records for Village on Ridge Section 1 & 2 were reviewed for past bond releases and recommendations of bond release.

 

CAPITAL PROJECTS

 

BUBBLING SPRINGS LOWER DAM

The Township of West Milford previously received a loan from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to replace the lower dam at Bubbling Springs. The Engineering Division received the plans, specifications and application for the rehabilitation of the lower dam at Bubbling Springs. The plans and specifications were reviewed. 

CLINTON road – section 4

The first and final payment application for the resurfacing of Clinton Road, between Passaic County Structure #175 and 0.9-miles south, was processed for Contractor payment.  A 2-year / 10% maintenance bond for the project was received from the Contractor prior to final payment.  This resurfacing project was part of a New Jersey Department of Transportation Municipal Aid grant and requires grant close out submission in order for the Township to receive the remaining balance of the $284,000 State Aid roadway grant.  The grant close out paperwork is anticipated to be submitted in February.

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS – SITE IMPROVEMENTS

In-house survey work was completed in order to begin the design work for improvements to the Department of Public Works – Site Improvement project.  The DPW requested capital funding to regrade and improve the existing office parking lot, equipment storage area and site to improve the service life of Township equipment and vehicles.  The dirt / gravel surface prevents equipment from being stored properly and accelerates vehicle rot.  Site improvements will be designed after other prioritized road improvement projects are completed.

GERMANTOWN ROAD – SECTION 1

Preliminary field work began for this NJDOT FY2022 Municipal Aid grant resurfacing project of Germantown Road, between Macopin Road and 0.8-miles south.  Additional field work will be completed when weather and time allows in order start project design.  This resurfacing project is partially funded by a $332,000 State Aid roadway grant.

ROAD ASSESSMENT PROGRAM – HANOVER, ALPINE, ET AL

The future road assessment project was revisited once other time sensitive projects were completed.  The plan creation process for the project continued from where it was last left off.  The design of the proposed road assessment project will continue throughout the winter in order to move to the next phase of the project (plan review by the consultant Township Engineer).  The proposed project intends to improve, through special assessment charged to the potentially benefiting property owners, Hanover Road, Alpine Court, Princeton Road (portion), Lyons Road (portion), and Beverly Court.  These dirt/gravel roads were accepted by ordinance in the summer of 2019.  A special assessment ordinance was approved by the Governing Body in April 2022 at a Town Council meeting to award the funding for this project.

2022 TOWNSHIP GUIDE RAIL PROGRAM

The approved guide rail locations, as part of the change order, were constructed on January 17, 2023.  The final payment request will be reviewed when received from the Contractor.  The 2022 Township Guide Rail Program accounted for replacement or installation of guide rail along Clinton Road, Germantown Road, Otterhole Road, Pawnee Terrace and Ridge Road using 2022 capital funding and funding from prior years utilizing the Morris County Cooperative Pricing Council contract for guide rail installation.

2022 TOWNSHIP ROAD RESURFACING – Gould Road, Van Orden Road

A request for payment by the Contractor was reviewed and responded to for the Gould Road and Van Orden Road resurfacing project.  Weather sensitive restoration work, such as grass seed spreading, is anticipated to be completed in the spring of 2023.  The resurfacing project accounted for the repaving of 1.8-miles of Township roads.

2023 TOWNSHIP ROAD RESURFACING

Utilizing the 2023 Road Rating Lists, preliminary information was compiled to evaluate potential costs of possible road resurfacing programs for 2023.  Though only for budgeting purposes, possible programs are estimated based on their rating and program efficiency.  The Governing Body determines the available funds for the annual road resurfacing which dictates the extents of the program.  Preliminary programs are provided to the Department of Public Works to allow maintenance of the roads when weather and time permits, such as repairing stormwater structures, clearing debris from roadways, trimming vegetation and similar outstanding maintenance work.

UNION VALLEY ROAD, GREENWOOD LAKE TURNPIKE, LAKESIDE ROAD, & STAINSBY ROAD – TRAFFIC SIGNAL

The title company was contacted regarding the approved purchase order to establish the extents of the impacted roads’ right-of-ways.  Once the right-of-ways are established, the information will be provided to the design engineer for the next step towards final design for a signalized intersection at the Union Valley Road, Greenwood Lake Turnpike, Lakeside Road and Stainsby Road intersection.