ENGINEERING DIVISION MONTHLY REPORT
FEBRUARY 2023

Charles Carbone, P.E., Supervising Engineering Aide

 

BUBBLING SPRINGS PARK

A preliminary design and assessment for proposed recreational improvements was performed for the Bubbling Springs Park.  The preliminary design includes a potential conversion of the existing volleyball court to an outdoors sand court.  The viability of in-house construction in 2023 is dependent upon the availability of funds for materials and equipment.  The existing grass court is intended to be rehabilitated by removal of rock and debris in the interim.  The existing basketball area was inspected and evaluated for future rehabilitation.  A recommendation was made to the Director of Community Services & Recreation and DPW staff for impending work at the location, including but not limited to removal of overgrowth and debris, replacement / repair of existing equipment and potential replacement of court surface.  The rehabilitation work is intended to be performed in-house by DPW staff with Engineering technical assistance.

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 and proposed.  A webinar introducing the grant application process hosted by the Passaic County grant administrators was attended February 10th.  A grant application, including draft resolutions for Governing Body consideration, was prepared for a proposed project to include barrier-free access and A.D.A. retrofit improvements to the Bubbling Springs Park Restroom Facility.  The existing restroom facility is intended to be retrofit to provide A.D.A. compliant fixtures and access as part of the grant application.  Access to the facility is currently being evaluated and considered for in-house construction.  The deadline for grant application submission is March 3, 2023.

LOT DEVELOPMENT PLAN REVIEW

Three (3) initial, single-family, residential lot development plans were reviewed for compliance with Section 110-4 of the Township Code and any applicable Board resolutions.  Two (2) 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.

PASSAIC COUNTY ROADS

The Passaic County Office of the County Engineer contacted the municipality for input regarding future Passaic County resurfacing programs with a deadline of submittal of February 10th.  A response, including preliminary rankings and drainage concerns of county roadways, was provided to the County Engineer on February 1st.  The input was requested as part of the review and consideration for the 2024 Passaic County Road Resurfacing Program.

PASSAIC COUNTY ROADS – ROAD SIGNS

A review was performed to identify missing or incorrect regulatory and warning signs on a Passaic County roadway.  The data will be compiled and provided to the Township Administrator for comment in March.  The Township is responsible for the maintenance of regulatory signs and the County is responsible for maintenance of warning signs for Passaic County roads.

PAVEMENT MANAGEMENT PROGRAM

The Road Rating Lists, for local and main roads, were completed to reflect the completed 2023 ratings.  The lists are utilized to determine annual road resurfacing priorities and planning of future resurfacing programs.  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.  One report was provided for a winter event in December after all documentation was received and compiled.  A draft report began for winter operations since the submission of the previous report and will be provided once all data is received and compiled.

TOWNSHIP ANNEX PROJECT

A construction contract was awarded, by resolution, for the renovations and alterations to the Township Ridge Road Building (former library / annex).  Contract documents were exchanged between the awarded contractor and Township.  A preconstruction meeting will be scheduled for project pertinent members to attend and kick-off the renovation project.  The renovations project intends to convert the former Library building for municipal office use.  Other projects are anticipated to be performed concurrently with the renovation project and coordinated as needed.

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 24 occasions.  Field inspections, photographs, reports and/or follow up were required for 3 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 40 occasions.  Field inspections, photographs, reports and/or follow up were required for 4 of these issues.
  • Technical assistance was provided, for various issues, to other departments on 86 occasions.
  • File research, map copies and/or information was provided to professionals on 12 occasions.
  • Assistance was provided to builders, contractors and utilities on 5 occasions.
  • 1 Right of Way Entry Permit Application was received, processed, and returned to the Clerk’s office.
  • 2 OPRA requests were responded to.
  • 1 Board of Adjustment applications was reviewed.
  • 1 meeting with the Township Administrator was attended.
  • 1 American with Disabilities Act meeting was attended.
  • NJDEP Green Acres was contacted regarding a portion of Green Acres property in order to determine its current status.
  • Inspections were provided at seven potential project sites for possible DPW construction as a result of drainage concerns.
  • A property was evaluated for potential land exchange.
  • Procurement documentation was updated for current needs.
  • Draft specifications were created and anticipated to be completed in March for a future Township project utilizing previous CDBG funding.
  • 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 and Township Engineer consulted regarding past bond releases and recommendations of bond release.
  • File research was performed as to the ownership of Stephens Road.
  • A webinar was attended by Engineering Staff “DOT Grants Discretionary Opportunities”
  • At the request of the High Crest Lodge Board of Directors a site meeting was held with the Police Department to discuss “No Parking” signs along High Crest Drive in the area of the beach and bathing areas.

     

    CAPITAL PROJECTS

     

    CLINTON road – section 4

    As part of the grant for the Clinton Road – Section 4 project, a grant close out submittal package was provided to the New Jersey Department of Transportation Local Aid Office.  The close out package included various required documents in order to recover the remaining balance of the NJDOT Municipal Aid grant.  The project included resurfacing of Clinton Road, between Passaic County Structure #175 and 0.9-miles south.  This resurfacing project was partially funded by a $284,000 NJDOT Municipal Aid grant.

    GERMANTOWN ROAD – SECTION 1

    Preliminary field work continued for this NJDOT FY2022 Municipal Aid grant resurfacing project of Germantown Road, between Macopin Road and 0.8-miles south.  Project stationing was completed during a warm weather spell.  The next phase of field work includes a walk-through of existing conditions.  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 Hanover, Alpine, Princeton, Lyons and Beverly Road Improvement Project design continued.  Field confirmations of conditions are anticipated to be completed in March, when conditions allow, to continue moving forward with the project.  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 ROAD RESURFACING – Gould Road, Van Orden Road

    A request for payment for the second payment voucher was reviewed and submitted for partial payment of the 2022 Township Road Resurfacing – 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 in order to close out the project construction items.  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.  A preliminary program was 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.  Field work for the estimated proposed road list will begin once funding is available for the program.

    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 title searches were received from the title company.  The titles were provided to the consultant engineer to review and establish the right-of-way for the roads in question as part of the design.  Once complete, the design engineer can take the next step towards final design of the proposed signalized intersection at the Union Valley Road, Greenwood Lake Turnpike, Lakeside Road and Stainsby Road intersection.