DPW says library HVAC finished, road program designs near-complete as drainage fixes remain regional issue

The borough's public-works director told the council the ETAC/library project is "wrapping up," with all components installed and subcode inspections obtained and approved, and that staff is awaiting final payment concurrence from consultant T&M before closing the project out.

The director said interior HVAC work — funded in part by a Community Development Block Grant — has a pending reimbursement of $250,000 and that a final walk-through will follow receipt of that reimbursement.

On streets, the 2024 road program design is largely complete for Franklin Street (John to Livingston), Farm Lane (Schoolhouse to Watchung) and several mill overlays (Crescent, Thomas, Hayward and Maple). The director warned the engineer's estimate is coming in higher than the current budget, so staff plans to prepare alternate bids (Hayward and Maple are potential alternates) to stay within fiscal constraints and hopes to advertise the project this month with award targeted in early November if state concurrence is obtained.

Residents raised repeated concerns about localized flooding around Smalling and Cherry avenues. A resident said stormwater had earlier inundated garages and yards; the DPW director said a watershed study led to routing roof leaders into an underground pipe system two years ago, which alleviated some issues but that short-duration, high-intensity storms can still overwhelm the system. The director noted much of the primary conveyance is large (36-inch) pipe but problem sections exist downstream near Maple and along bank properties toward the brook, and that portions of the corridor are under state jurisdiction, which limits borough work.

Council members and staff emphasized the need to pursue regional partners and county coordination for significant detention or piping projects because the borough sits downstream in the watershed. The director said ideas under consideration include installing an underground detention basin and additional west-side piping with controlled outfalls, noting such projects would likely require outside funding and intergovernmental cooperation.

The director also reported the earlier 2022–23 road efforts remain in punch-list status and that final items are being addressed; with favorable weather, limited winter-start construction could begin if contracts are awarded quickly.

The council did not take action in this segment beyond receiving the update and asking questions about funding and scheduling for the road program and drainage planning.