Mayor outlines October public-works timetable, markets and flood-buyout demolitions

The mayor opened the council meeting Sept. 30 by previewing a busy October for public-works work and community events. The report said water-main replacements will take place on West Oakland Avenue toward the Pompano Lakes border and sewer relining is planned for Academy Circle, West Sheffield and the Oak Crest condominium area.

The mayor also said the borough’s flood-buyout program will result in demolition of abandoned houses on Lenape Lane and Roosevelt Boulevard “in the next couple weeks,” and that fire, police and EMS personnel may use the vacant structures for training while they remain standing. On the Patience Way bridge, the mayor said test pits completed Sept. 19 allowed engineers and the contractor to refine designs; crews will return this week to install a crash attenuator and guide rail and the borough hopes for a soft opening once the work is complete.

Officials described a full schedule on Yawpo/Yawpo Avenue, including drainage work near Raritan Road, sidewalk and concrete repairs and a full mill-and-repave from Yawpo to McCoy Road expected to take a month to six weeks. The mayor encouraged patience as those projects proceed and noted the borough is still “several months ahead of schedule” on the bridge despite a recent hiccup.

On community events, the mayor announced the fire department’s open house for Fire Prevention Week on Oct. 6 at 7 p.m. at the Yawpo Firehouse; the borough market will run Oct. 11 from 10 a.m.–3 p.m., and a night market will be held Oct. 25 from 3–11 p.m. Other calendar items highlighted by council members included an Oct. 25 trunk-or-treat and library programming beginning in early October.

The mayor closed by urging residents to watch project notices and exercise caution around active work zones.