ENGINEERING DIVISION MONTHLY REPORT
OCTOBER 2023

Charles Carbone, P.E., Supervising Engineering Aide

 

 

BRADRICK LANE STREAM CLEANING

The consulting Township Engineer provided a preliminary report regarding the existing water course, original design, environmental constraints and impact to adjacent properties as a result of potential projects.  The report was reviewed, revisions were requested and the finalized report was provided to the Township Administrator for review.  The consulting Township Engineer was requested for additional follow-up work to determine alternatives to the work.

bus shelter & BUS STOP

NJ Transit identified a path to move forward in addressing the two Township concerns regarding implementing a potential new bus stop on Marshall Hill Road and the replacement of a bus shelter at an updated location on Union Valley Road.  Formal requests are anticipated to be provided to NJ Transit in the near future.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT FY2023

A Passaic County Department of Planning and Economic Development Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) FY2023 application was submitted to Passaic County in March.  A sub-recipient agreement indicating the award of a $80,000 grant was received by the Township for the proposed project.  The proposed project is for barrier-free access and A.D.A. retrofit improvements to the Bubbling Springs Park Restroom Facility.  A resolution accepting the grant will be provided to the Governing Body for their consideration in November.

LOT DEVELOPMENT PLAN REVIEW

One (1) initial, single-family, residential lot development plan was reviewed for compliance with Section 110-4 of the Township Code and any applicable Board resolutions.  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.

RINGWOOD LANE

As part of evaluating a failing stormwater drainage pipe in an existing Township drainage easement, a recommendation was made to the Department of Public Works to obtain a drainage pipe camera or utilize the services of same to determine the point of pipe failure.  Assistance has been provided as needed in order to move forward with this concern.

SENIOR CENTER PROJECT

A construction estimating firm was consulted in order to obtain a construction cost estimate for the proposed Senior Center Project at the Nosenzo Pond Park.  The estimate will be utilized for bidding procedures when evaluating received bids if advertised in the future.

2023-2024 SNOW PLOWING SERVICES

A resolution was approved by the Governing Body at the October 4th meeting for 2023-2024 Snow Plowing Services to six contractors totaling 50 trucks.  Route design and documentation is anticipated to begin in November.  The Township contracts for private snow plowing services (trucks and drivers) annually to supplement in-house manpower and equipment.  The Department of Public Works is responsible for snow and ice removal on all 194 miles of Township, non-Township and private roads within West Milford.

TOWNSHIP ANNEX PROJECT / RIDGE ROAD BUILDING

Technical assistance was provided to the Contractor regarding the renovation project as needed.  The Contractor has been coordinating work efforts with other municipal staff throughout the project.  Various ongoing and outstanding items were discussed with the Contractor and other municipal staff in order to address potential revisions and changes as a result of existing conditions.  An architectural change order resolution was provided and approved by the Governing Body for revisions to the proposed floor plan.  The renovation project intends to convert the former Library building to municipal office space.

VEOLIA NORTH AMERICA – SERVICE LINE INSPECTION

Veolia North America contacted the Engineering Division advising that as a result of State of New Jersey regulations regarding lead to utility service lines, all of the public utility residential service lines will require inspection and evaluation to determine if the service lines are of lead material.  Though the utility company indicated the service lines are expected to be of non-lead material, the work is scheduled to begin immediately in order to have over 1,000 accounts reviewed by 2025.  It was indicated that most work would be completed off of roadways and in the case a roadway would require disturbance the Township would be contacted.  The required local permitting for this work was discussed and future conversations regarding the permitting is anticipated in the future.  The Township is still gathering information regarding the extents and schedule of work for the public utility project.

VILLAGE ON RIDGE – PHASE ONE

A draft letter was provided to the consultant Township Engineer for review prior to responding to the Developer’s request for release of Performance Bond.  A supplemental list of required repairs was provided with the draft letter for review.

WESTBROOK ROAD

Technical assistance was provided to the Department of Public Works regarding a residential drainage concern.  Construction of an underdrain was discussed with staff prior to in-house installation.  The area will be monitored during the next few months for the potential of an expansion of the project in 2024.

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 5 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 87 occasions.  Field inspections, photographs, reports and/or follow up were required for 12 of these issues.
  • Technical assistance was provided, for various issues, to other departments on 32 occasions.
  • File research, map copies and/or information was provided to professionals on 10 occasions.
  • Assistance was provided to builders, contractors and utilities on 9 occasions.
  • Assistance was provided to utility companies on 4 occasions.
  • 9 Right of Way Entry Permit Applications were received, processed, and returned to the Clerk’s office.
  • 6 OPRA requests were responded to.
  • One Administrator meeting was attended.
  • Follow-up to a line striping request was made to the State for the Echo Lake Road and Route 23 intersection
  • Rain inspections were performed during heavy rain events at various locations to record and identify potential improvements, if any.
  • A webinar “Flagger skills and safety” was attended.
  • A webinar “Mel Risk Management for Managers and Supervisors” was attended.
  • 1 outdoor permit application was reviewed and forwarded to the Recreation Department for their review.
  • The Highlands Watershed Management Report prepared by Princeton Hydro was reviewed and then the Highlands Councils suggested revisions and they were reviewed.
  • A Teams Pre-construction meeting for the New Jersey Department of Transportation Route 23 bridge over the Pequannock River in the area of Hamburg Turnpike to High Crest Drive was attended.
  • The 2024 preliminary budget was prepared and a budget meeting was attended with the Township Administrator, Township CFO and another member of the finance department.

 

CAPITAL PROJECTS

 

GERMANTOWN ROAD – SECTION 1

Construction began for this NJDOT Municipal Aid resurfacing project on October 23rd.  The resurfacing of Germantown Road, between Macopin Road and 0.8-miles south, was completed by October 27th excluding miscellaneous punch list items.  The NJDOT grant initial payment voucher (75% of the awarded grant) was processed and submitted to the State for review.  Remaining punch list items will be identified and provided to the Contractor for completion in the future and prior to project close out.  Material sampling (core tests) are required for all NJDOT funded projects.  This resurfacing project is partially funded by a $332,000 State Aid roadway grant.

ROAD ASSESSMENT PROGRAM – HANOVER, ALPINE, ET AL

The Hanover, Alpine, Princeton, Lyons and Beverly Road Improvement Project was provided to the consultant Township Engineer to review and complete final aspects of the project in an effort to expedite the timeliness of the project in anticipation of other in-house projects prioritizing staff time.  Follow-up conversations since the documents were provided in September was made in an attempt to expedite the process.  The consultant indicated a meeting would be held in November to discuss concerns and matters of the project and to determine a viable path forward.  Once the extent of work is confirmed, the completed design will be coordinated between both the consultant and Engineering Division.  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.  Field work was completed through the winter of 2022-2023 and design began as time permitted in 2023.

2023 township GUIDE RAIL program

The Contractor indicated a construction start date in November for the anticipated work.  This work is completed utilizing the Morris County Cooperative Pricing Council.

2023 TOWNSHIP ROAD RESURFACING

The replacement of failed or damaged Township concrete curb was completed by the end of the month as part of the replacement program.  The locations are based on needs of construction and preparatory work.  The curb that was replaced was a result of impending resurfacing work, drainage improvements or similar needs for replacement.  The primary function of road curbing is to attenuate drainage towards stormwater drainage infrastructure.  Concrete curb intended to be replaced was approved by the Governing Body, by resolution, as a construction contract through the Morris County Cooperative Pricing Council.  The 2023 Township Road Resurfacing Program – Phase One project began on September 29th and continued through October 16th.  Due to other conflicts, a small portion of roads remain to be resurfaced, intended by the end of the paving season or in 2024.  The Engineering Division does not permit resurfacing after November 15th unless by special waiver or emergency.  The Contractor was advised of concerns and repairs as a result of the operations and a list will be prepared in November and payment withheld until completion.  The Phase One program intends to resurface the following 3.6-miles of Township roads, or portions thereof: Cahill Cross Road (between 865’ west of Richmond Road and Ridge Road (North)), Edgar Drive, Schofield Road (between Maple Road and Hancock Drive), Grandview Lane, Hillside Lane, Orbit Road, Valley View Lane, Clermont Road, Daretown Road, Dover Road, Elberon Road, Ormond Road, Crawford Street, Weedon Drive, Yorkshire Avenue, Bracken Road, North Glenwood Road, Sweetbriar Road, Algonquian Way, Burlington Drive, Evanstan Avenue East, Mohican Trail, Newton Drive, Teo Terrace, Torne Mountain Road, Truro Road, Truro Road South, Stanley Street, Fox Court, Raven Court and Ryan Court.  The Department of Public Works was provided the list of roads previously in order to begin maintenance of the roadways when weather and time allows.  The field work to begin plan preparation of the 2023 Township Road Resurfacing – Phase Two project (Appletree Lane and Lake Shore Drive, between Fanwood Court and Longhouse Drive; approximately 1.21 miles) is anticipated to begin November and be completed throughout the winter for bidding procedures to occur next year and proposed resurfacing in early 2024.

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

As part of the ongoing work to move forward with the proposed traffic signal project at the Union Valley Road, Greenwood Lake Turnpike, Lakeside Road and Stainsby Road intersection, the revisions and work required for the traffic signal was discussed with Engineering Division staff and a proposal was requested for potential change orders for required work as a result of Passaic County’s requirements.  As a result of the Township Administrator meeting with the affected property owners, the owner of Block 3509 Lot 16 requested a driveway from Greenwood Lake Turnpike to his site. A one-way in driveway was proposed by the consultant traffic engineer and approved by the Passaic County Engineering Department and the Township Administrator. Final plans are being prepared for submission to Passaic County Engineering for their approval.