Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Local Government Finance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Township council awards $669,280 Musquaps Brook contract, advances budget and several ordinances
Summary
At its April 6 meeting the Township of Washington council voted to award a $669,280 contract for Musquaps Brook work, introduced multiple ordinances including a bond ordinance and the 2026 municipal budget, and unanimously adopted a second-reading ordinance for Musquaps Brook improvements.
The Township of Washington council voted on April 6 to award a contract for the Musquaps Brook improvement project and advanced the municipality’s 2026 budget and several ordinances.
Council approved Resolution 26-224 to accept the low bid from Downs Tree Service, Inc. and award a contract “not to exceed $669,280.” The roll call showed four members voting in favor and one against: Councilman Sears recorded a “no” while Councilman Casio, Councilman Omen, Councilwoman BZ, and the Council President voted yes.
At the start of the meeting the council had adopted Ordinance 26-05 on second reading, authorizing a $100,000 appropriation from the capital fund balance for Musquaps Brook improvements. The public hearing for that ordinance was opened and closed with no public speakers, and the ordinance was approved by unanimous roll call.
The council also introduced at first reading a series of ordinances: 26-06 (clothing allowance for officers and firefighters), 26-07 (to exceed municipal budget appropriation limits and establish a cap bank), 26-08 (a bond ordinance authorizing approximately $1.8 million in improvements and issuance of about $1.46 million in bonds or notes), and 26-09 (employee compensation and payment methods for 2026). Councilman Omen asked for additional detail on a specific subsection of the bond ordinance and asked staff to provide clarification at the public hearing.
Resolution 26-219 introduced the 2026 Township municipal budget for the required hearing process; that motion carried on roll call. Several consent-agenda items were removed for separate consideration during the meeting, including escrow releases and a solid-waste service agreement amendment.
Planner and staff presentations accompanying the ordinances noted filing and public-notice requirements; the council also discussed statutory deadline extensions from the Division of Local Government Services and cited a DLGS notice on budget timing.
The meeting record shows the council handled the contract award and ordinance business as part of its regular meeting agenda and moved to closed session to address personnel and settlement matters at the end of the public portion.
