Proposals to hire an engineering firm to develop designs and specifications for street improvements for $15,800 and to release Open Space Trust funds for a survey and appraisals for unimproved property at 762 Pleasant Valley Way head a light agenda for the May 20, 2014, town council meeting.
The meeting agendas and related materials are here.
The administration is asking council approval for the contract to hire Keller & Kirkpatrick of Morris Plains to provide design and specification services for 10 streets as part of 2014 capital improvements. The town solicited competitive proposals from four firms, which bid from $15,800 to $24,900. The streets are:
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- Oak Crest Road
- Hickory Road
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- Beech Road
- Oak Ridge Road
- Ashland Avenue
- Wellington Avenue
- Hillside Avenue
- Pine Street
- Birch Street
- Amos Street
Town Engineer Leonard Lepore removed from the contract two other streets, Mayfair Drive and Nestro Road, for separate initiatives.
The administration is also asking council approval to release West Orange Open Space Trust Fund money to explore the potential to acquire a 9.7-acre parcel of unimproved property bounded to the east by Pleasant Valley Way and to the south by Hooper Avenue. The West Orange Open Space Commission requested the services, which Mr. Lepore estimated at the May 12 Open Space meeting at approximately $15,000.
The state Green Acres program requires two appraisals if it decides to fund up to half of a qualifying open space acquisition. Mr. Lepore recommended a survey of the property that will identify the various elements that will make the property difficult, if not impossible, to develop. The owner is listing the property for sale at a price of $725,000, although it has an appraised value of $291,300. West Orange property owners pay approximately $150,000 to fund the West Orange Open Space Trust Fund annually.
The administration is asking council approval to accept a $5,000 federal matching grant for the town office of emergency management. The town will provide match funding through existing salaries and wages. The resolution doesn’t specify what the funds will be used for. If approved, the grant will also amend the 2014 budget.
If you’d like to contact the council with your thoughts on any of these issues, please send an e-mail to council@westorange.org or call 973.325.4155 to leave a message.
I’m a West Orange Township councilman since 2010, reachable at jkrakoviak@westorange.org. I'm a business communications consultant in my spare time.
