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Public Works outlines roadwork, stormwater duties and a shared‑service plan expected to cut waste costs
Summary
Public Works Superintendent Anthony Margicelli briefed council on pothole and stormwater work, capital needs for fleet and resurfacing, and a compost facility; he said a shared‑service agreement with Pompton Lakes should reduce the borough's solid‑waste costs by approximately $200,000 net.
Anthony Margicelli, superintendent of the Department of Public Works, gave the council a line‑by‑line briefing on operations and capital priorities, stressing regulatory stormwater duties, fleet upkeep, and a potential shared service for solid waste collection. "We've laid down more than 10 ton of material and filled well over a 100 potholes," Margicelli said, describing recent repair activity.
Nut graf: The DPW presentation outlined recurring maintenance obligations and capital requests (vehicles, resurfacing, stormwater outfall repairs) and described an agreement with Pompton Lakes that officials said would produce a net reduction in the garbage budget when annualized contract rates are applied.
Highlights included stormwater compliance (roughly 2,500 catch basins inspected and cleaned annually), compost facility capacity constraints on Skyline Drive, and a shared‑service agreement to start with six months at current rates and six months at new rates with projected net savings of about $204,000. Margicelli also described street sweeping, jetting/video inspection contracts and a five‑year capital scheduling approach that attempts to align water, sewer and resurfacing projects to reduce repeated road cuts.
Council members asked about service continuity during the transition to Pompton Lakes and whether resident service levels would change; DPW staff described route mapping, coordination on tight roads and contingency plans for crews. On recycling markets, DPW staff warned that commodity prices have become volatile (paper and commingled pricing moved significantly year to year).
The department also asked for resurfacing funds (the construction estimate cited in discussion: about $960,000 including soft costs) and outlined equipment and vehicle refurbishment plans to reduce large one‑time purchases. DPW said snow removal costs and storm‑response trust balances will be monitored as part of operating stability.
The council did not adopt specific capital appropriations at the meeting; department requests will be folded into the municipal budget introduction next week.
