Council rejects carriage-house bids, accepts $75,000 grant for Fanwood train-station upgrades

Fanwood Borough Council voted to reject bids for the carriage-house roof project and to accept a Preserve New Jersey Historic Preservation Fund grant to advance repairs and planning for the railroad-station complex.

Councilwoman Patricia Walsh moved Resolution 2023-01-36 to reject the carriage-house bids under the New Jersey Public Contracts Law. Walsh said the bids came in lower than the amount budgeted, which allows the borough to revise specifications and add work to the contract rather than proceed with the original scope. The council approved the resolution on a roll-call vote with all members present voting in the affirmative.

On a related item, the council approved Resolution 2023-01-37 to enter a grant agreement with the Preserve New Jersey Historic Preservation Fund, administered by the New Jersey Historic Trust. The grant award is $75,000; council members stated the borough will provide a 25 percent local match of $25,000, yielding a $100,000 project to prepare plans and specifications for upgrades to the train-station building. An architect proposal has been received, and the borough expects to award a contract next month and to pursue a follow-on construction grant in April 2024.

The council’s stated approach—to reject the carriage-house bids so the borough can add work and respecify the contract—means the carriage-house project will be rebid after specification changes. There were no public speakers opposed to either action during the meeting’s agenda comment period.

What’s next: The borough will revise the carriage-house bid specifications and proceed to rebid; for the train station, staff anticipate an award of design services in the coming month and a subsequent grant application in April 2024.