Ramsey council adopts $350,000 ordinance to replace two failing culverts on Alita Place

The Borough of Ramsey mayor and council on Sept. 24 adopted Ordinance No. 22 (2025), authorizing capital improvements to remove and replace two failing culverts on Alita Place and to repair abutments, guide rails, curbs and repave the road. The council appropriated $350,000 from the borough capital improvement fund to cover the project, officials said.

A borough representative told the council that Land Associates completed the engineering and design work and that the project has received the necessary New Jersey permits to proceed. The project was advertised and out to bid; the apparent low bid was found to be non‑compliant and the next closest bid exceeded the appropriation, so the borough intends to rebid the work, the official said.

Council members recorded a roll-call vote in favor of final adoption: Councilwoman Cusk, Councilman Gutwer, Councilman Kilman, Councilman Papo, Councilwoman Poppy and Councilwoman Woods all voted yes. The ordinance funds come from the borough’s capital improvement account, and the borough said no new debt will be issued for the project.

The borough clerk was directed to publish the title and adoption notice in the borough’s official newspaper as required by local law. The next step is to rebid the project; the council did not set a new bid date at the meeting.

Why it matters: Replacing the two failing culverts is intended to protect the roadway and adjacent infrastructure from further damage. The council emphasized permitting and design are in place; the procurement step will be restarted to secure a compliant low bidder.