Northfield Council approves amended specs, authorizes public bidding for Birch Grove Park grant project

The City of Northfield council on Jan. 15 adopted Resolution 38-2026, approving amended specifications, adding an alternate bid, and authorizing public bidding for the project tied to the "FY2024 NJDCA Local Government Recreation Grant for Improvements at Birch Grove Park." Councilman Notaro moved to adopt the resolution, Councilman Dewees seconded, and a roll call vote recorded unanimous approval. The clerk certified the motion as carried.

The resolution discussion focused on whether to solicit bids on the base scope, an alternate, or both. Engineer DeBlasio said the specifications were set to accept both options, stating, "the specifications were already set up for both, that is what was discussed." Solicitor Facenda confirmed the bid package will ask bidders to provide pricing for both the base and the alternate: "we are asking the bidders to bid on both." Those remarks framed the council's decision to include an alternate in the public bidding process.

Council President Bucci had opened a brief public-comment period but closed it after noting no members of the public wished to speak. The meeting record notes that the meeting had been advertised under Public Law 1975, Chapter 231 in the Press of Atlantic City on Jan. 10, 2026. On motions properly made and seconded, the council adjourned at approximately 4:06 p.m.

The resolution references the FY2024 NJDCA Local Government Recreation Grant as the funding source for improvements at Birch Grove Park; the minutes do not specify a dollar amount or a project schedule. Further procurement steps now follow: the city will publish the public bid and accept proposals for the base and the alternate scopes as authorized by the adopted specifications.