Union County cites environmental delays at Ashbrook Restoration, approves multiple engineering and equipment contracts

Union County engineering officials on Jan. 29 updated the Board on the Ashbrook Restoration Project in Scotch Plains and brought several procurement and contract actions to the agenda.

Director Joseph Policay told commissioners that additional engineering services were needed for Ashbrook after dredging and silting work concluded and the new contractor demobilized; he said delays were driven by environmental protection reviews and permitting. The Board considered amending a contract with CME Associates to increase the amount by $96,809 for a new contract not to exceed $299,808.98.

Engineering also listed multiple on-call service contracts for 2026 (general engineering, bridge, traffic, MEP, hydraulic, parks and environmental engineering) with small not-to-exceed amounts for the year. The department presented a final change order for the 2022 road resurfacing project that reduces the contract by $4,345.91 for a final amount of $10,792,678.21, and sought authorization to purchase a Tennant S30 sweeper machine through ESCNJ for $82,015.40.

Commissioner James E. Baker asked about schedule impacts and Director Policay explained the permitting and environmental reviews that had prompted additional engineering services. Commissioner Mirabella acknowledged staff efforts on recent snow removal operations.

These items appeared on the agenda for the Regular Meeting; the agenda-setting transcript records the presentations and explanations but does not record final vote outcomes on these procurement items during the session.