Boonton delays Roser Street paving to pursue grant; boiler replacement flagged as emergency

Boonton — Council members heard a detailed DPW report and agreed to delay standalone paving on Roser Street to pursue grant funding that would cover a full road, curb and sidewalk rehabilitation.

Council Member Balin said Boswell engineer Paul Ferraro advised the town that grant money is available to repair Roser Street comprehensively. To avoid repaving before needed subsurface sewer and drainage work, the committee recommended postponing Roser Street paving and instead proceeding with paving on Park and Wooten while notifying Roser residents of the delay and the town’s intent to apply for a grant.

"We thought by paving Roser without doing any of that work, we’re only going to be throwing good money after bad," Balin said, summarizing the committee’s view.

Administrator Neil Henry reported other ongoing infrastructure items: town-hall curb and sidewalk work is complete, milling and paving of the town-hall lot will follow weather permitting, and fire trucks are scheduled to return to their bays on Oct. 30 after concrete work is cured. Henry also noted the region is under a drought watch and described planned web guidance for conservation measures.

Separately, councilors were alerted that the town boiler may be at the end of its life. Balin said he would declare a procurement emergency to enable expedited replacement quotes and to circumvent the normal bidding process, citing the approaching heating season.

Council members asked for follow-up on whether crosswalk enhancements (including depressed curbs for accessibility) were budgeted; police approval for a proposed crosswalk at Wood and Green was confirmed but some accessibility features and budget timing remain under review.

The council did not take a final vote on the Roser Street grant application at this meeting; members directed staff to draft resident notices and pursue the grant application process.