Tenafly administrator reports $1.6M HUD flood-control grant, post office lot RFP responses and Grove Street timing

Borough Administrator David reported on budget and capital matters at the March 4 Tenafly council meeting, saying the borough had a $1.6 million federal grant for stream cleaning and debris removal and that the grant requires a 25% local match of about $400,000.

David said the grant — assigned to HUD New Jersey for administration — covers debris removal and stream cleaning and will operate as a drawdown grant (monthly reimbursement of costs rather than full post-construction reimbursement). He said the borough must complete an environmental review before HUD can issue the first agreement and allow drawdowns. David also described a separate FEMA scoping grant opportunity to fund engineering and permitting work (NJDEP permits) that would put the borough in a stronger position to seek further resilience funding.

On a downtown site, David said the borough issued an RFP for the post office parking lot and received two responses by the February deadline; the borough will have its special planner and borough attorney review responses for responsiveness and responsibility, then schedule presentations so responders can present their proposals to the council. No selections were announced at the meeting.

David also said the Grove Street park project is on track for an early April opening (with a field meeting scheduled with the contractor the following day to confirm paving and skate-park equipment installation). He said the borough would provide a written status update after the site visit.

Ending: David told councilors he would upload grant documents once the environmental review is complete and that staff will continue to pursue a FEMA scoping grant to advance engineering and permit work for further flood-control projects.